local press has written that 12 video poker machines have been
installed at
Saratoga harness raceway and went officially active at 10AM on Friday
August 13th. I visited Monticello raceway on Sunday August 15th and
saw
that 12 machines have been installed there as well, and possibly at
other
racinos at buffalo and finger lakes. I got there relatively early and
played for
about 2 hours, by noon the rows were packed 2 people deep at each
machine, even mix of VP newbies and veterans.
the machine look to be fairly standard jacks of better format 8/5
payback,
though there is a bonus "match the card" feature where a random card
is
picked from a separate 52 card deck to compare with your fifth card
after the
draw (all the way on the right). if the two cards match exactly
(number and
suit), then you receive a bonus of anywhere from even money to 4
times your
original wager (could be more though). all machines are single line
and you
can bet from 1 to 20 coins per play (standard 4000 RF bonus if you
bet 5 or
more). assuming the machine is honest, net payback is probably 97.5
to 98%
including the match bonus, well above the fixed 92% return that the
NY
Lottery programs into all of the video slot machines networked
together.
Monticello does have a players club program with cash back, not sure
exactly
how much coin-in to earn one point but I'd estimate $100 per. 50
points earns
$5 cash back so estimate 0.1% return, not great but not terrible
either...we're
talking the New York Lottery here folks. you can also get a mug for
15 points (I
got two), an ugly bobblehead doll for 25, lunch buffet for 40 and
dinner for 60.
Plenty of nearby free parking in the lot, high rollers can get a
valet for $2
more. I didn't try the food but overall the facility is clean and
quiet (no reel
spinners...double diamond/blazing 7's/etc are simulated on video
screens). I
suppose all casinos look good in their first month or two of
operation.
Currently all VP machines are 25 cents, each racino should have 22
units
operational by this week, and $1 denomination should be ready soon if
not
already. However, all video gaming machines in New York State are
still
being challenged in supreme court - Lottery regulations indicate that
all
revenue not paid out as winnings or administrative expenses must go
solely
to education purposes. the percentage that the racetrack receives is
debated
as being unconstitutional. The installation of the poker machines,
along with
their differing payback percentages which cannot be regulated by a
central
computer, will probably compilcate things even more. While the
lawyers hash
out the details, business goes on at all racinos as normal.
the catskills are already advertising future casinos to be built by
the cayugas
(at monticello) and the st. regis mohawk tribe in nearby
thompsonville
(managed by Harrahs/Caesars Entertainment). Along with the recent
authorization of slots in Pennsylvania which will undoubtedly impact
the
Poconos region across the state border, an impressive battleground is
taking
shape.