OK! finally got to check out the heralded Pepp VP Early March, 4 nights.
First: Peppermill - nice room (comped corner suite), nice host (Chris - see
vpfree casino database link) and relaxing, "good enough" music. Lot of Frank
Sinatra and country, but it fit the mood of the place. I ate at the Steak House -
good food, first class service. Decor was neon everywhere, and TVs
everywhere too.
Poker room looked comfy, 4 or more tables open at peak hours. But the
incessant PA break-ins to the music became annoying: "Mitch, your 2-4
hold'em seat is avaialble, last call, Mitch!" "Clem, 20-40 hold'em seat is open,
Clem."
But - the VP- well, let me say that this joint is 10/6 Dbl Dbl Bonus Mecca.
You have to check every dang Gamemaker paytable at every denom on the
machine, but there are plenty of these machines. Slant-tops, big screen, big
cards, fast. over 100% return. These TITO Gamemakers had 10/6 DDB:
(4) @ .25 between Main cashier & Fireside lounge
(2) @ $1 near Romanzo restaurant
(multi denoms - MAY have had .50 & .25 also?)
(2) (& probably more) @ $1/$2/$5 in High Limit area
Also, the Multistrikes still had 10/6 DDB on them - 4 slant tops still near
cabaret stage and (2 or 4) uprights near "back of the buffet line" elevators.
.05/.10/.25 denoms.
I found a "full pay" Nevada deuces @ .25. I found NO full pay Kings or better
Joker at $.25 nor at $1 (?) And no full-pay deuces. NSUD were somewhat
common, at .25 & $1 I think.
I found the 10-coin $1's 9/6 JoB with the Progressive Royal, which a lady hit
while I was nearby for $10,500. It re-set at $9,400. Behind it is a fun bank of
$1 Bonus with progs on the Quad A's, SF and Royal. The SF never got above
$300 before being hit and the Quad A's never got to $500 before being hit
while I was there. These are old machines, kind of slow, with annoying coin
payoffs. Handpays were automatic at 400, but maybe even anything over 200,
I never figured it out.
I guess my only revealing find was the $2/$5 10/6 DDB in the high limit area.
Sorry if the local "pro's" were hiding these, but I never saw anyone playing
them the whole time I was there except me. Maybe 100.07% isn't "worthy",
Peppermill not offering any cash back.
My highlight jackpots were a Royal on the .25 DDB late my first night for +
$1000. Plus Quad 2's w/kicker on $1 DDB for +$800. Also Quad A's w/kicker
on .25 DDB for +$500. and a quad K's on $2 DDB for +$500.
Silver: just a Sat/Sun there for me. grabbed the cash back offer we talked
about in a different thread. my last 24 hours at Pepp and my whole stay at
Silver were BIG downers for me. Nothing hit and bankroll took a big dive. A
couple $400 Jackpots on the $1 DDB where highlights, but no relief to my
bankroll. MIA: the $5 JoB in the high limit area. replaced with $5 9/6 DDB.
Also, the .25 FPDW new machines ARE now Progressive Royals. each bank
(6 & 8 machines on main floor + 6 upstairs near gift shop) are independent
Prog pools.
Service at the Silver was all-around slow Sat. I copped an attitude about the
9/6 DDB's at Silver, having been "spoiled" with the 10/6 version at Peppermill.
Perhaps they think their Progressive Royals make up for the 9/6, but I began
to dislike the old machines, even tho' they've been so good to me in the past.
Quick comparison of the two casinos:
Pepp:
plusses: Brighter, 10/6DDB at all levels, hotel room a little nicer, poker room
available, much better employee attitude, bigger place, didn't feel quite as
crowded. More TITO's. some FP games on the Multistrikes.
negatives: seemed less secure: lotsa dreggy people "hanging around"; no
visible security presence on the floor. no FPDW.
Silver:
plusses: those new .25 FPDW Progs. some good promotions, .25 FPJW, a
little classier joint with good security.
negatives: a lttle stuffier, not much FP above .25 (but 4 -10/7 DB progs still
there) . Older beat up VP machines, slow to change to TITO.
BOTH places:
good hosts, great food, clean, lots of VP, a comping competition for business
-Play it!
~MP