Spent some time in the Reno area Sunday and Monday and can report the
following:
The vpFREE database was totally accurate on the Reno Hilton. Amid a
sea of vp
machines there is only one bank of slant-tops (ten machines) with
full-pay quarter
play. These are MG's and offer positive games on both deuces and DB.
Located, as
described, by Johnny Rockets. Made the mistake of eating at Johnny
Rockets, by the
way. Not recommended unless you're due for greasing. Also, I can
verify that the
Hilton still offers its COD bonus. It's available seven days a week
but certain dates
(like last weekend!) are blacked out. Daily card is posted at the
slot club booth.
Stayed in a comped room at Boomtown--they send comp offers to
EVERYONE--and
found some interesting play. (The Boomtown database info needs
updating.) No FPDW
here at all, but plenty of 10/7 DB at the $1 & $2 level. These
machines are scattered
throughout the casino. I found only one 10/7 DB for 50¢. It's on
the end of a bank of
machines between the High Limit Salon and a change counter, just
steps away from a
bank of four $1 10/7 DB machines.
The progressives at the End of the Trail Bar looked OK. The quarter
progressive was
well over $1100 and the DB paytable was 9/7. These are MG/MD machines
and had a
similar DB paytable on a $1 progressive. (Machines at the other bar
had no positive
paytables.) Played most at the 25¢ Triple DB progressive. The
paytable put it close to
positive; the progressive was over $1200 when I left. (No royal for
me. No complaints
though, since I hit one $500 payout and my son hit two.) These are
near the Cantina,
facing the stage of the little "club" area. Band was pretty good too.
Players' Club benefits: Cash back is given in $5 increments for 170
points (34 pts =
$1). Or, take $5 in "Boomtown Bucks" for 125 points (25 pts = $1).
The "Bucks" are
good for food, rooms, gas, gift shop, etc. These are in addition to
discretionary
comps based on evaluation of your play. The computers were down when
we were
there, so I'm not sure how much play is needed for comps, but the
club staff
encouraged us to have our play evaluated regularly to be sure to get
our comps. Just
ask at the Players' Club booth.