Here are some updates to Palm Springs area casinos:
Soboba:
This casino is located in San Jacinto. Most, if not all Jacks or
better games in the Game King MG/MDs are full-pay at the dollar
level. These are scattered around the casino. Also, there were
several banks of Pot 'O Gold machines (made by Vision Gaming)
scattered throughout the casino that had a 25cent 8/5 JOB
progressive game. The machines within a single bank were linked to
a common progressive, and on my visit, a couple of these banks were
well into positive territory.
There is no cashback, comps only. Based on the restaurant discounts
available for point purchase (400 points buys a $5 discount), it
appears that the comp rate is 0.125%. Points can also be used to
purchase their logo merchandise.
Morongo:
The only update to what's already in the vpFREE database is that
points expire after 13 months of inactivity.
Agua Caliente/Spa Casino:
Agua Caliente is technically in Rancho Mirage, and the Spa Casino is
in Palm Springs proper. Both of these casinos share the same
player's club, called Club Paradise. $1 played earns 1 point; 1000
points is good for $1 towards meals and dining discounts and mostly
logo merchandise at both casinos.
I have nothing of note for Agua Caliente in terms of playable VP,
but the Spa had some good stuff. The lone Multi-Strike on the main
casino floor that's mentioned in the database with full-pay 9/6 JOB
also has full-pay 9/5 Super Double Bonus which should be even better
($1 denom only; 25,50 cent are short-pay). There is a circular bar
in the center of the casino that has about 5 bartop Multi-Strikes
with 9/6 JOBs and NSU Deuces at the $1 denom only. Be careful, one
of these bartops pays only $1250 instead of $4000 on 5-coin royal in
the 9/6 JOB game (according to the displayed paytable). The 4 $1
8/5 Bonus prog. machines mentioned in the database are not in the
high limit room; they are on the main casino floor. Same goes for
the machines with 9/6 JOB flattop and 8/5 Aces$. These flattops
also have 9/6 Bonus Deluxe, 9/4 Bonus Deuces Wild (99.45%), and 9/5
Triple Bonus Plus (99.8%).
Fantasy Springs:
I spent the most time here due to the good blackjack (my roots), so
I have the best notes on the VP here.
The slot club is $10/point, 100 points/$1 cashback for a 0.1% rate.
New signups get half of their slot losses reimbursed, up to $100,
for a minimum of 30 minutes played. This is in the form of a mail-
in voucher, not on the spot. They have a Diamond card, which you
can get for 7500 points earned in a year, or at host discretion, a
Platinum-type card from another casino chain (such as Harrah's
Diamond) will get you the auto bump-up.
In the Fantasy Slots room (a low-roller room), there are 3 slant top
GameKings tucked in a corner of the room with 25cent NSU Deuces and
Triple Bonus Plus. This is all you got at the 25cent level.
At dollar level, the options increase. Adjacent to the table games
section, there is a bar that has 25c/50c/$1/$2/$5 bartop GameKings
with 9/6 JOB at $1 and up, and NSU Deuces, 2Pair Jokers (99.92%),
8/5 Ace$, 9/6 Bonus Deluxe, Triple Bonus Plus, and 9/4 Bonus Deuces,
all at the $5 level only. (Not all of the bartops had these $5
fullpays; sorry, I didn't count)
Also on the perimeter of the table games area were 4 GameKing MG/MD
uprights: 2 of these were $1/$2/$5 and the other 2 were $5/$10/
$25. Of the 2 $1/$2/$5 machines, one of them had 9/6 JOB at $5
only, and the other one had 9/6 JOB at $1 and $5 ($2 was short-pay)
and FP Triple Deuces and 2Pair Jokers at $5 only. Of the 2 $5/$10/
$25 machines, one of them had 9/6 JOB in all denoms and NSU and 2PJW
at $25 only, and the other one had 9/6 JOB, Triple Deuces and 2PJW
in all denoms.
San Manuel Indian Bingo and Casino:
25c Pot O' Golds everywhere with either 7/5 or 8/5 JOB progs. I
believe you can get a slot card, not play a single penny on it, and
get discounts at many of the local businesses in the San Bernardino
area. If you die, your points and benefits are non-transferable,
otherwise I don't remember too much else, except the mob scene.
Linus
"In my madness, I roam the desert..."
-- Rumi