East Coast Gambler -

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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While I was writing up rumor of Penn National’s purchase of the Rio in Las Vegas, I saw a tweet wondering where the World Series of Poker (WSOP) will move.

Harrah’s owns the hosting rights to the location of the WSOP.  If this deal is put into motion quickly location will likely be moved from the Rio, unless that is part of the deal Penn National makes with Harrah’s.

Let’s assume that this deal happens quickly and rights remain with Harrah’s and the WSOP moves.  Where does the WSOP go?

Most people, and my initial thought, is that the WSOP is a natural to move to Caesars Palace.  Caesars Palace is the flagship casino for Harrah’s in Las Vegas.

However, there may be a thought to use the WSOP to raise the visibility of another property.  Here are some possibilities.

Planet Hollywood isn’t much of a poker oriented casino, but it’s a coo, hip spot and the bright and shiny star of the Harrah’s empire.  It’s also been set up to host special events such as movie premiers and TV events.  Going to Planet Hollywood would also allow for Caesars Palace to keep their Heads Up Poker/NBC alignment.

Paris (and Bally’s) is another option.  Paris is just down the list of Harrah’s property priority scale.  Barry Manilow and Pussy Cat Dolls are possibly going to add a little life to the property.  Adding the WSOP would add even more shine on Paris.  Because it’s connected with Bally’s you have a very large selection of rooms attached to one area.

I think Caesars Palace is top of the list to get the WSOP from Harrah’s, but I could see it going somewhere else as leverage to bring people to other properties.  I’m a little past my poker prime, but I’m a marketing guy and curious to see what happens here.

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I’m fully converted to my macbook and loving it.  I know I’m not using it to it’s fullest ability, but I’ve been enjoying it.  This week I decided to write up a review for the movie “Tyson” and enjoyed doing it.  I’ll do some more of these in the future when I watch movies that involve gambling, casinos and sports.  Now for the week that was, excluding the Super Bowl.

• 10 Suggestions for Atlantic City
• “Tyson” Review
• Sports Betting and New Jersey Getting Closer..
• Saints Make Vegas Casinos Winners
• Pinnacle Puts Atlantic City Land Up For Sale

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The Atlantic City Press has a great article looking back at the past year and forward to this year for each Atlantic City casino.  Click here to see all of the analyst comments.  Below are the bullets for each casino.  I covered most of this as it was announced (go me!), but here’s a consolidated list.

Trump Plaza Hotel and Casino

Opened: May 14, 1984

Owner: Trump Entertainment Resorts Inc.

Employees: 2,187

2009 revenue: $202.3 million

Trump Plaza’s dismal performance in 2009 included a 28.7 percent decline in table game revenue and a 20.2 percent drop in slot winnings. The property will likely fall below $200 million in revenue in 2010. In 2005, it had more than $303 million in revenue.

This Boardwalk casino could use a facelift. Not much has happened since the casino floor was remodeled in 2006. Its architecture is hopelessly outdated. The Boardwalk entryway is like a portal to the 1980s.

Whoever wins in the bankruptcy fight over the Trump casinos will have to decide whether to unload the Plaza or upgrade it to take advantage of its prime Boardwalk location.

In what seems far-fetched now, in the pre-recession days of 2006, casino titans Donald Trump and Steve Wynn briefly played with the idea of redeveloping the Plaza into a

$3 billion megaresort.

Trump Taj Mahal Casino Resort

Opened: April 2, 1990

Owner: Trump Entertainment Resorts Inc.

Employees: 4,097

2009 revenue: $446 million

Donald Trump once boasted that this Indian-themed gaming palace was the “eighth wonder of the world.” Although it falls short of that lofty assessment, it did prove to be one of the few casino standouts in a dreadful year. The Taj joined Borgata as the only casinos that avoided double-digit revenue declines. For the Taj, it was 7.6 percent.

Moreover, the Taj was the only casino to have only a single-digit decline in both slot and table game revenue. Taj’s ace is its new 800-room hotel tower. Opened in Labor Day 2008, the $255 million expansion has generated extra hotel and convention business without using slot machines or table games as the main attraction. The tower is completely gaming-free.

Taj’s new owner will get the new tower, a remodeled casino, surrounding property good for expansion and the world-famous Steel Pier amusement park. Trump Entertainment flirted with redevelopment plans for the historic pier, but always lacked the money. With the right vision, and enough financing, a revamped pier jutting 1,000 feet over the ocean could become, well, the “eighth wonder of the world.”

Trump Marina Hotel Casino

Opened: June 17, 1985

Owner: Trump Entertainment Resorts Inc.

Employees: 1,799

2009 revenue: $162.6 million

Trump Marina is the cellar-dweller for gaming revenue. Overshadowed by Marina District neighbors Harrah’s Resort and Borgata, the smallest of the three Trump casinos pulled in only $10 million in revenue in December. That was 25 percent lower than December of 2008.

For 2009, Trump Marina’s slot winnings plummeted 19.2 percent, to $125.3 million, and table game revenue fell 23 percent, to $37.3 million. Its total revenue of $162.6 million was even less than the $176.6 million that the tiny Sands Casino Hotel had in its last full year of operation in 2005.

The Sands closed down in November 2006 and was imploded a year later to make room for a proposed new casino. Analysts wonder whether Trump Marina awaits the same fate. Efforts to sell the Marina for $270 million failed last year, and now the casino is part of the Chapter 11 bankruptcy battle for the entire Trump Entertainment gaming empire.

Icahn is vying with a bondholder group backed by Donald Trump for control of the Trump casinos. A U.S. Bankruptcy Court judge is scheduled to rule in February whether Icahn or the bondholders will take over.

Read the rest of this entry →

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Bally’s announced that they will be renovating their Atlantic City casino starting with the Claridge Tower.

The Claridge, meanwhile, will have its rooms redone as part of Bally’s renovation. Claridge operated as a separate casino hotel before it was folded into Bally’s in 2002. Marrandino said the Claridge will take on a boutique atmosphere, comparable to the luxury W Hotels chain, when its rooms are refurbished.

“It will have more of a W vibe to the hotel. An older W,” he said.

When I first started ECG, back in January, I recommended that Bally’s close and renovate the Claridge Tower while things were just beginning to head down hill for Atlantic City.

Las Vegas “reinvents” itself every 10 years or so for this reason.  The Atlantic City casinos don’t change.  I think this is just the beginning of a possible re-invention of Atlantic City casinos.  Even day trippers want to feel good when they walk into a casino.

Many of the exsisting buildings are dated and not in good shape.  A simple solution would be for Bally’s to close the Claridge tower.  They should gut it and modify it or tear it down.  There are ways to create a modern classic feel to a beautiful old building.  Casino and restaurant design can come from the same design ideas as the rooms.  Upon completion the Wild Wild West can undergo a similar country renovation.  As much as I hate country themes there are people that like it.

Obviously, these aren’t new or groundbreaking ideas, but it’s nice to see the new boss come to town and shake things up a little.  This is a move I’ve been hoping to see for a while.  Bally’s needs to do something and it’s nice to see management finally taking a proactive approach.

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Bally’s and Caesars in Atlantic City were recently fined for allowing underage gamblers in their casinos.  Bally’s had to pay $55,000 because they let a 15 year old boy play roulette while Caesars was fined just $30,000 for letting a 20 year old girl play blackjack.

Bally’s Atlantic City was fined $55,000 by the state Casino Control Commission for allowing the teenager to play roulette in June 2008. The boy was caught on the casino floor by state gaming investigators who suspected he was under the legal gambling age of 21.

In the second case, Caesars Atlantic City paid a $30,000 fine for failing to catch a 20-year-old woman who won $8,500 while playing blackjack in January 2006. Just three weeks earlier, she had been arrested for underage gambling at another casino.

I understand that casinos can’t catch all underage gamblers, but a 15 year old boy seems to be easy to notice.  The 20 year old girl is almost as comical as she took Caesars for $8,500!  That’s a hot streak.  Way to go security.

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I didn’t write up a traditional trip report after my last trip to Atlantic City and noticed I have a few things I want discuss even though it’s over a month later.  I started this trip alone and a friend of mine met me after a couple of days.  I enjoyed the time alone, but it’s always fun having a friend around to share some laughs.

All pictures from this trip are in the various blog posts on ECG and also on my flickr.  Here are some things I missed.

Checc$

I’m guessing this is a check cashing place, but the spelling made me laugh so I snapped a picture while at a red light.

Bally’s Diamond Lounge and Preview Bar

My first night at Bally’s was Mike Vicks first game with the Eagles.  Even though it was pre-season I wanted to see him in action.  He was only set to play in the first quarter so I figured 30 minutes wouldn’t be too bad to get away from the tables.

Since the casinos in Atlantic City only show games on local TV (BS!) I didn’t think this would be a problem.  I sat down at the Diamond Lounge bar and ordered a Grey Goose and Soda.  I kindly asked the bartenders if they’ll be switching to the Eagles game and was given a verbal yes.  Of course they didn’t switch over from CNN and instead of flagging down the bartender I just left and ran out to Preview, which is on the same floor.  I was in the rush and didn’t want to waste time when the bartenders didn’t seem to care.

Preview is the bar outside of The Reserve and in the lobby of the 6th floor.  They have a nice HDTV at the end of the bar and I caught most of the 1st quarter of the Eagles game as well as a mediocre flight of wine.  I don’t know wine very well, so I like flights so I can sample different wines.  1 of the 3 was really good.  I enjoyed my 30 minutes at Preview and even through I won’t frequent the bar, but it was perfect for the moment.

6ix

6ix has my favorite cure for a hangover in Atlantic City.  Breakfast Sliders!  Just look at these sloppy, greasy little treats.

They look kind of nasty, but the combination of sausage, eggs and cheese taste pretty good.  Perfect for a morning after.  I will get these almost every time I can.  They’re quick to eat and do the trick.

6ix isn’t a great restaurant and is usually too crowded for good service, but I’ve found that sneaking in the exit and sitting at the counter will get me served coffee and a meal before most people will get their coffee.  I almost always tip larger than my normal 20% here.

Chelsea Prime

WOW!  What a find.  This is THE BEST STEAKHOUSE IN ATLANTIC CITY!  Great service, great vibe, extensive wine list and most importantly great food are on tap here.

Chelsea Prime is in the Chelsea Hotel and with no casino attached is a hidden gem.  The night of my visit had all attractive female waiters.  I’m sure this is by design and I had no problem with that.  Every seat has a view of the Atlantic Ocean, which is nice.

Everything we ordered was really good.  The only item I was able to take a picture of was the slider appetizer.  It was so cute and buttery.  I could have eaten about 20 of these bad boys.

The only negative I found is that the wine cellar was very cold and that kept the wine cold.  I don’t prefer cold red wine, so I wasn’t very happy about this but after warming up the selection was fine.

That’s all for the outstanding items.  I’ll be taking my next trip this weekend, so I’m happy to finally be caught up on my last trip.  Nothing too new or exciting is planned and I’m OK with that.  Follow me on twitter for pics and highlights from the trip, during the trip.

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