East Coast Gambler

I was checking my twitter feed yesterday when i came across this this video for WMS Slots new Wizard of Oz slot machine – Ruby Slippers.

I have a love hate relationship with nickle/penny slots, but this looks like a lot of fun.  Most of the WMS slots have similar features and I dig them.

Unfortunately, Ruby Slippers is only at Trump Taj Mahal in Atlantic City right now.  I don’t see myself making it down there on my next trip to Atlantic City.  At least I have this video.

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Atlantic City casinos have been taking a higher percentage of money since 2001 as per a study by Dr. Dave Schwartz at UNLV Gaming.  In fact, slots in Atlantic City are at their highest hold percentages since 1993.

Casinos in Atlantic City aren’t holding as much from slot machines as they did in the 80′s, but the fact remains that casinos are slowly taking on a little money (by percentage) each year.

For the complete study, and other similar studies, head over to the Center for Gaming Research.

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I played a lot of machines this trip to Atlantic City for a few reasons.  I caught a cold about halfway through my weekend and didn’t want to get others sick and also wasn’t in the mood to be around people.  I also didn’t do too well at the tables, so I decided to stay away.

I played a myriad of penny, nickle, quarter and dollar slot machines along with nickle, quarter, dollar and five dollar video poker.  I had a pretty good run at all of the machines and made up just about everything I lost at the tables.

The first night of machines started with some drinks and video poker at the bar.  As usual, I was drinking Grey Goose and club soda.  The pay tables at the bars aren’t very good, but after 3 drinks I only lost $4 plus $10 for a tip.  Not too shabby.

After losing $200 at 3 card poker I wandered back to the the machines and decided to try a game I’m not too familiar with – Anything But 6.

Evidently there is a strategy when getting to the bonus game, but I was not in condition to figure that out.  The Goose was loose!  A very nice young lady decided to give me some advice, but I never got another bonus to try.  That was a fun $100 down the tube.

After the loss I regrouped at went to look for my friend who was still rocking on the 3 card poker table.  The night ended with a little more losing and a burger.

The next morning I was hungover and it started off very similarly.   A disgusting looking cheeseburger with a fried egg.

While this looks nasty, it did the trick and the hangover was gone.  The two latte’s didn’t hurt either.  Before the burger I won back some of my losses from the previous night.  I was lucky enough to get four 7′s playing my favorite $1 9/6 Jacks or Better machines.

I walked away up about $150 and decided to wander off to play some pennies.  I found a 40 coin/line machine.  I have no idea what I was doing, but the idea was to get 2x, 3x, 4x and/or 5x.

I inserted $20 and after a while I was up a little but got bored and moved on.  After breakfast I hit the tables for a while.  Nothing special there so I hopped back to video poker.  I played a little more video poker and had a net positive.

I then went to one of my favorite nickle machines – “X-Treme Reels.”  After about 2 minutes I hit 7-7-7 times 5 times 2.  I don’t know exactly what it paid, but I walked away up $500!

The only other machine I would play was at the X-Bar later on that afternoon.  I watched some college hoops and had a couple more Grey Goose and soda while playing video poker.  Again a small loss and tip, but a couple more drinks.  When the bartender doesn’t change glasses the fruit tends to build up…lame.

My final day brought some good and bad.  I caught a nasty cold and that slowed me down as the day progressed.  The good news is that I found one of the 25 cent 9/6 Jacks or Better video poker machines that have alluded for about a year.

I don’t play quarters too often, but it’s nice to know where the machines are in case I want to slow things down.  I placed twenty bucks in and won a few bucks after hitting my second straight flush!  Here’s my first.

The highlight of my day was when I found a new favorite nickle (or penny) slot called Time Machine.

This game had everything I like in a nickle slot.  Bright lights.  Loud noises.  Fun bonuses.  Surprises and most importantly MONEY!

The bonuses are random occurrences and happen in the past, present and future.  The first bonus I received was a dinosaur attack which yielded me 4 wild stripes which turned my $20 into $500+!

After another 4 of a kind at $1 Bonus Poker, I shut myself down and got some medicine and headed back to the room.

It was a great weekend with the machines.  I had great wins on the low limit slots and enough nice hits on video poker to keep the money rolling.  The machines made up for a few bad sessions of 3 card poker.  Sometimes it happens the other way around.  Almost even is always good.  Another successful trip.

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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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I like to play slot machines and I know that the lower the denomination put in, the lower the payout.  I like to think of myself as a somewhat intelligent gambler.  Well, when it comes to the loud noises and bright lights of penny slots I become zombie-like and move forward slobbering for a new penny slot.

Dr. Dave Schwartz at Die Is Cast has a breakdown of which slots are most played and make the most money.  The answer this year is penny slots.

The information is from Las Vegas and I’ve certainly contributed a few bucks to the totals for 2009.  Dr. Dave has more information on the subject and economy on Die is Cast.

Even though I know penny slots will take my money, I’m pretty sure I’ll keep on playing.  Thankfully I have the one bill rule per slot now to quell my losses.

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Last week I realized that I didn’t write up all of my gambling in Las Vegas.  I’d like to touch on slots here.  Video Poker was good to me and Slots were ok.

I’ve had a love/hate relationship with slot machines and I’m closer to love right now, probably in the “like” zone.  I guess I like the highs and lows as well as the time spent without thinking.  I will play anywhere from penny slots to $5 slots.  Last year I even threw away money in a $25 slot after hitting getting a royal flush in video poker.

I’m an early riser and instead of staying in my room I will head out and grab a cup of coffee and get my day started.  The day usually starts with low limit slots.  Along with coffee, the bright lights and loud noises give the day a kick start.

To go along with a wide selection of coffee, the Palazzo had plenty of slots from me to choose from.  The casino, itself, is on the small side but there were plenty of morning slots (low limits) for me to choose from.

Millionaire Sevens was one of the obnoxious games I played.  The bonus round sends you to a multiplier ladder.  This was a penny slot and I walked away up $40.  Not bad!  I’ve only seen this once before in Atlantic City.  It’s in a corner by the Harrah’s Poker Bar.  There’s only one and it’s always being played.

It seems that the new thing in penny slots are layover screens.  Basically, the bonuses are laid over a reel slot.  Bonuses come up often to entertain and slow the bleed of money.  The games I played allowed me to choose a theme.  If I didn’t get a bonus after a few spins I’d switch themes, hopefully changing the RNG.  All of the games are loud and fun.  Jackpot Party may be the most fun and (loud) annoying of all the penny slots.

Another of the interchangeable games was Red Hot 7′s.  This became another favorite.

Overall I was about even on the penny slots, never going above my $20 per machine limit.  They did the job for me.  I played a few other $1 slots at Palazzo.  All were losers.  However, my trip to Aria proved fruitful.  All of the slot machines were new and I found a new $1 Top Dollar slot machine.  Top Dollar is a favorite.  I won a couple hundred dollars and walked out of Aria with a smile.

Up next…Video Poker

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