East Coast Gambler -

On a recent trip to Harrah’s Resort in Atlantic City i was offered a handicapped room in the Waterfront Tower.  I love the Waterfront Tower because it’s the newest tower at Harrah’s and prefer to stay there.  I also don’t mind handicapped rooms as they are usually easy to get to and a little larger than normal rooms.  Both cases were true.

First, I had to get to Atlantic City.  I wasn’t sure how the trip would go because there was a “snowicane” which brought anywhere from 6-28 inches of snow to NY and NJ.  As the day progressed the roads were tended to and there was clear sailing with a cup of coffee in hand.

The trip took about the normal 2.5 hours and with one pit stop for overpriced wiper fluid about halfway through the trip

I finally arrived at Harrah’s Resort at about 6pm.  I love the lights on the outside of the Waterfront Tower.  This is a pretty awesome feature.

The main area of the room was about the same size as other Waterfront Tower rooms.  There may have been a little more space for wheelchair access, but I don’t think so.  Excuse the dark photo, it was overcast much of the trip.

The sitting area was as tight and, somewhat, comfortable as the other Waterfront Tower rooms.

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Meadowlands Raceway in East Rutherford, NJ asks state lawmakers, again, to allow them to have slot machines at racetracks in New Jersey.

Assemblyman Vincent Polistina, R-Atlantic, said after the hearing that he felt the discussion missed the significance of Atlantic City. “I recognize how critical the complex is to New Jersey’s economy. In determining the best course of action to help the Meadowlands, it is just as critical that consideration be given to the vital role that casinos play in New Jersey’s economy.”

I think I hear similar pleas a couple times a year.  I understand how having slot parlors at racetrack would cannibalize gamblers that might visit Atlantic City, but with all of the increased competition from other states I think New Jersey should look at the overall tax dollars gained.  Allowing racinos may actually keep gamblers, and tax dollars, in the state instead of allowing the money possibly going elsewhere.

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Carl Icahn has, finally, received full approval from the New Jersey Gaming Control Commission to take control over the Tropicana in Atlantic City.

“Carl Icahn’s return to the business of gaming in New Jersey certainly brings … signs of rejuvenation and optimism in the market,” Sharon Anne Harrington, the commission’s vice-chair, said in a statement.

There you have it.  Atlantic City found some rejuvenation and optimism this week.  Now it’s time to get to work Mr. Icahn.

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Here are my trip notes in reverse chronological order via pictures on my tumblr page.  I caught a cold on Saturday night and it’s been slaying me and I don’t expect to get many more posts up this week.  For now, enjoy my trip in brief.

• Medicine
• Straight Flush!
• I found 1 of 3 quarter 9/6 Jacks or Better machines
• Time Machine Slot #2
• Time Machine Slot #1
• Handi-capable Toilet
• Club Cap Now Serves Lavazza Cofee
• Grey Goose + Soda + Lotsa Lime and Lemon
• Chillin in the 19th floor lobby
• View of Borgata from 19th floor lobby in Waterfront Tower
• Extreme Slots Winner!
• Cheeseburger with fried egg. Great Hangover cure, but looks nasty!
• Penny Slot.  No idea what was happening here.
• 4 of a kind! Good morning!
• Sign says up way too early
• Arriving at Harrahs
• 79 Miles to go!

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Doing a check of video poker inventory in Atlantic City on vpFREE doesn’t show much.  Harrah’s hasn’t been updated this year, while Borgata still has plenty of good machines to play.  Here are some of my findings.

If you’re not familiar with vpFREE, it is a database of video poker pay tables that are updated by video poker players.  It’s a great resource if you play a specific game like me.  I always check to see where the Jacks or Better machines are.

Bally’s (last updated: Feb 10, 10 04:35 AM UTC)

99.54% JoB 1-2-3-4-6-9-25-50-800 JoB (FP)
(2) 25¢ Up in Park Place Video Poker area
(4) 25¢ Up near poker area, towards cashier
(4) $1 Prog Up in Park Place to the right of the big six wheel
(3) $1 3 Play Slant in Diamond Pointe immediately to the left after entering
(1) $1 3 Play Slant in Park Place Video Poker area
(4) $1 1 Play Slant in Park Place Video Poker area
(4) $1, $2 Slant in Park Place Video Poker area
(1) $10 Up in Diamond Pointe
(1) $25 Up in Diamond Pointe

99.17% BP 1-2-3-4-5-8-25-40-80-50-800 BP (FP)
(3) $1 3 Play Slant in Diamond Pointe immediately to the left after entering
(1) $1 3 Play Slant in Park Place Video Poker area
(4) $1, $2 Slant in Park Place Video Poker area
(3) $5 Slant in back of Diamond Pointe
(1) $5 Up in Diamond Pointe
(1) $5 1/3 Play Slant in Diamond Pointe against opposite wall from doorway entrance
(1) $10 Up in Diamond Pointe
(1) $25 Up in Diamond Pointe
(1) 25¢ Slant in Park Place Video Poker area
(9) 25¢ Prog Slant in Park Place to the right of the Big Six Wheel
(7) 25¢ 3 Play Prog Slant in Park Place near Big Six Wheel
(4) $1 Prog Slant in Park Place Video Poker area

99.11% DB 1-1-3-5-7-9-50-80-160-50-800
(4) $1 Slant in Park Place Video Poker area
(1) $5 Up in Diamond Pointe

(3) $5 Slant in the back of Diamond Pointe
99.00% JWD 1-1-4-6-8-10-25-50-100-1000
(5) 25¢ Slant Game King bank in Little Joe’s (WWW) 2nd Row from back wall
(3) 25¢ Up non-smoking section of Park Place Poker just opposite the casino host desk

Borgata (last updated: Feb 10, 10 04:35 AM UTC)

99.54% JoB 1-2-3-4-6-9-25-50-800 JoB (FP)
(14) 25¢ Slant (Panel says Joker Poker) near the buffet
(6) 25¢ Up (Panel says Joker Wild Poker) between buffet & box office by the ATM
(4)  25¢ Slant in video poker area near the buffet
(8) 25¢ Up by high energy slots (one side of bank is 8/5, other side is 9/6)
(13) 25¢, 50¢, $1 Slant (various names on them – including Either way Royals, Triple Bonus Plus, Draw Poker) These are the next bank up from a huge sign that says Joker Poker – that bank is all 8/5’s between B-bar and the new section of the Borgata
(14) 25¢, 50¢, $1 Slant near buffet
(6) 25¢ Up just into new section of casino by change booth
(10) 25¢, 50¢ Slant (2 panels say draw poker, 8 say Joker Wild Poker) just outside of B-bar entrance
(11) 25¢, 50¢, $1 @ the B-bar
(6) 50¢ Slant (panel says Draw Poker) 2 Banks into the new section going from B-bar to Wolfgang Pucks
(10) $1, $2, $5 @ the B-bar
(4) $1, $2 Slant near the high-limit area
(6) $2, $5 Slant in high-limit area
(6) $5, $10 Slant in high-limit area
(4) $10, $25 Slant in high-limit area99.17% BP 1-2-3-4-5-8-25-40-80-50-800 BP (FP)
(3) $1, $2 Slant outside high-limit area next to roulette tables

98.98% DDB 1-1-3-4-6-9-50-80-160-160-400-50-800 DDB (FP)
(4) 25¢ Slant in video poker area near the buffet
(6) $1, $2 next to main cashier at ends of $1 bank

97.25% DJW 1-2-3-3-3-5-8-10-25-800-2000(11) 25¢, 50¢, $1 @ the B-bar
(10) $1, $2, $5 @ the B-bar
(5) 25¢, 50¢, $1 located between the Italian restaurant and The Salon ( High Limit Table Area )

Caesars (last updated: Dec 07, 09 03:39 AM UTC)

99.54% JoB 1-2-3-4-6-9-25-50-800 JoB (FP)
(7) 25¢ Prog Slant behind escalator near the Emperor’s Club
(3) $1, $2, $5 Slant about 3 rows past BJ tables as you walk towards Pacific Avenue
$2 Slant $2 Game Kings in high-limit room

99.11% DB 1-1-3-5-7-9-50-80-160-50-800
(2) 25¢ Up on the rear right wall near the race book. Some on this row are short pay

98.98% DDB 1-1-3-4-6-9-50-80-160-160-400-50-800 DDB (FP)
(5) $1, $2, $5 Slant in middle of casino near mens rooom on left

Harrah’s (last updated: Sep 14, 09 08:14 PM UTC)

99.54% JoB 1-2-3-4-6-9-25-50-800 JoB (FP)
(4) $1, $2 Slant in Diamond Cove
(3) $5, $10 Slant in Diamond Cove
(2) 25¢, 50¢, $1 Up near the Xhibition Bar (2 of three in group)
(1) 25¢, 50¢, $1, $2 Up near the Xhibition Bar (1 of three in group)

98.98% DDB 1-1-3-4-6-9-50-80-160-160-400-50-800 DDB (FP)
(8) $1 Prog Up around a circle to the left of Xhibition Bar (with your back to women’s bathroom)
(2) 25¢, 50¢, $1 Up near the Xhibition Bar (2 of three in group)
(1) 25¢, 50¢, $1, $2 Up near the Xhibition Bar (1 of three in group)
(10) 25¢, 50¢, $1 Third carousel down from Total Rewards booth w/”World Series of Poker” sign

97.30% JoB 1-2-3-4-5-8-25-50-800
(8) $1 Prog Up around a circle to the left of Xhibition Bar (with your back to women’s bathroom)

These are the casinos that I will probably visit on my next trip.  To see all of the pay tables at the east coast casinos, head over to vpFREE.

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Still dealing with bankruptcy, Trump Resorts in Atlantic City is reconsidering the possibility of selling Trump marina.

In testimony Wednesday, Trump Entertainment’s financial adviser said Trump Marina’s sale would help stabilize the company amid declining revenue and lower earnings projections. He predicted a deal with Fields would be completed by the end of 2011, if not sooner.

“It is our strong belief that the Marina will be sold,” said Andrew Yearley, managing director at Lazard Freres & Co. “They will find a way to sell that asset. There is a legitimate buyer out there.”

This could also still be an option that Carl Icahn had in mind if he wins the battle for the Trump casinos.  The article also mentions that if Icahn were to get control of Trump casinos that he would keep Taj Mahal and try to sell Trump Marina and Trump Plaza.

There is hopes for the Parrotheads after all!  Now, things get interesting.

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Revel is being allowed the possibility of receiving $300 million in tax breaks should they complete construction on the casino that’s about half way done in Atlantic City.

In a move that caught opponents by surprise, New Jersey senators voted Monday to ensure that hundreds of millions of dollars in tax breaks for the Revel Entertainment Group’s Atlantic City casino project cannot be overturned by public petition.

Sure tax breaks for corporations aren’t nice to look at on the surface, but the Atlantic City casino market needs Revel to be completed to compete with the increased competition it’s facing from the surrounding states.  If the casino was not completed New Jersey would never see a penny in casino, real estate and other taxes.  This is a smart, aggressive move by New Jersey.  Something you don’t see very often.

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