It’s been a while since I’ve checked VPFree for video poker pay tables.  I’ll be staying on the boardwalk for the first time since last summer, so I figured that I should take a whirl.  Most of the pay tables look the same, but there are a few updates.

For this update I only included casinos that I’ll likely visit on this trip.  Head over to vpFREE for pay tables on all casinos anywhere.

Bally’s
99.54% JoB (FP): 25c, $1(3 lines, Prog)
1-2-3-4-6-9-25-50-800
25¢ – 1 Play – near poker area, towards cashier – 4 Uprights
$1 – 3 Play – in Park Place Video Poker area – 1 Slant top
$1 – 3 Play – in Diamond Pointe immediately to the left after entering – 3 Slant-tops
$1 – 1 Play – Prog – in Park Place to the right of the big six wheel – 4 Uprights
$1 – 1 Play – in Park Place Video Poker area – 4 Slant-tops
$1 – 5-10 Coins – 1 Play – in Park Place Video Poker area smoking section – 8 Slant-tops

99.17% BP (FP): 25c(3 lines, Prog), $1(3 lines, Prog), $5, $10, $25
1-2-3-4-5-8-25-40-80-50-800
25¢ – 1 Play – in Park Place Video Poker area – 1 Slant-top
25¢ – 3 Play – Prog – in Park Place to the right of the Big Six Wheel – 9 Slant-tops
25¢ – 3 Play – Prog – in Park Place near Big Six Wheel – 7 Slant-tops
$1 – 5-10 Coins – 1 Play – in Park Place Video Poker area smoking section – 8 Slant-tops
$1 – 3 Play – in Park Place Video Poker area – 1 Slant-top
$1 – 3 Play – in Diamond Pointe immediately to the left after entering – 3 Slant-tops
$1 – 1 Play – Prog – in Park Place Video Poker area – 4 Slant-tops
$5 – 1 Play – in back of Tower Slots – 3 Slant-tops
$10 – 1 Play – in Tower Slots – 1 Upright
$25 – 1 Play – in Tower Slots – 1 Upright

99.11% DB: $1
1-1-3-5-7-9-50-80-160-50-800
$1  – 1 Play – in Park Place Video Poker area – 4 Slant-tops

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

Caesars
99.54% JoB (FP): 25c(Prog), $1, $2, $5
1-2-3-4-6-9-25-50-800
25¢  – 1 Play – Prog – location unknown – 7 Slant-tops
$1, $2, $5 – 1 Play – about 3 rows past BJ tables as you walk towards Pacific Avenue – 3 Slant-tops
$2 – 1 Play – $2 Game Kings in high-limit room     Slant-tops

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

Showboat
99.54% JoB (FP): 25c, 50c, $1, $2
1-2-3-4-6-9-25-50-800
25¢, 50¢, $1 – 1 Play – In Main Casino across from Carousel Room/Jackson Square down steps, on left; two banks of four machines – 8 Uprights
$1, $2 – 1 Play – High Limit Area – 1 Slant-top

99.17% BP (FP): 25c, 50c, $1
1-2-3-4-5-8-25-40-80-50-800
25¢, 50¢, $1 – 1 Play – In Main Casino across from Carousel Room/Jackson Square down steps, on left; two banks of four machines – 8 Uprights

Trump Plaza
99.54% JoB (FP): 25c, 50c, $1, $2, $5
1-2-3-4-6-9-25-50-800
25¢ – 1 Play – near the Wheel of Fortune alcove (Boardwalk end) – 30 Slant-tops
25¢ – 1 Play – in Poker room – 1 Slant-top
25¢, 50¢, $1 – 1 Play – towards the Boardwalk end near the mass of the good VP; (“Jacks or Better” on the face glass; Little/no cashback on these machines) – 14 Uprights
50¢ – 1 Play – near the East Tower     1 Upright
$1 – 1 Play – in the alcove near the elevators – 2 Slant-tops
$2 – 1 Play – in the alcove near the elevators – 2 Slant-tops
$5 – 1 Play – in the raised alcove next to the center escalator – Slant-tops
$5 – 1 Play – in high-limit area – Slant-tops

99.17% BP (FP): 50c, $1, $5
1-2-3-4-5-8-25-40-80-50-800
50¢, $1, $5 – 1 Play – in the raised alcove next to the center escalator – Slant-tops

99.11% DB: 25c, $1, $2, $5
1-1-3-5-7-9-50-80-160-50-800
25¢ – 1 Play – near the Wheel of Fortune alcove (Boardwalk end) – Slant-tops
$1, $2, $5 – 1 Play – in the east tower – 2 Uprights

98.98% DDB (FP): 25c, 50c, $1, $5
1-1-3-4-6-9-50-80-160-160-400-50-800
25¢ – 1 Play – scattered around casino – Slant-tops
50¢, $1, $5 – 1 Play – in the raised alcove next to the center escalator – Slant-tops

Share on Facebook

Related Posts

• February 26, 2010 -- Atlantic City Video Poker Check
• December 1, 2009 -- Video Poker At Palazzo and Venetian
• August 2, 2009 -- ECG Week In Review
• July 14, 2009 -- Video Poker: Random Until You Press Draw
• April 8, 2009 -- Las Vegas Video Poker Research Part 2

Lots of good stuff this week on ECG.  I’m going to slowly start ECG 4.0 in the next few weeks.  I’m going to try to do this behind the scenes, but my lack of programming skills may not allow that.  So if the site looks as if it’s under construction then it probably is.  This won’t effect the blog updates, but some features may go away.

Feel free to email me if there’s something you’d like to see on the next version of ECG or if you have an idea for a logo.  You can reach me than [eastcoastgambler] at [gmail] dot [com].

• Planet Showboat Hollywood?
• Bills Gambling Hall Getting Cleaned Up
• Cosmopolitan Round Up
• Mandalay Bay and Las Vegas Hilton May Be For Sale
• Tim Tebow is #1
• Jeff Ma Interview
• 6-5 Blackjack is “Great” for Tourists
• World Series Of Poker Registration Up At Least 20%
• Seven Stars Insider – July
• New Blackjack Basic Strategy Calculator
• Did Charles Barkley Lose $100K Gambling For a Few Hours
• Ads on Slot Machines
• Harrah’s Resort Customer Service FTW! – Kinda

Buy Bringing Down The House

Buy 21

Share on Facebook

Related Posts

• June 6, 2010 -- Week In Review
• June 21, 2010 -- Las Vegas Round Up
• February 21, 2010 -- Week In Review
• August 23, 2009 -- Week in Review
• June 20, 2010 -- Week In Review

Jeff Ma wrote the awesome book Bringing Down The House with Ben Mezrich.  Looking at him, you may remember his cameo in 21. Besides being a card counter for the MIT blackjack team Jeff has also been a part of fantasy sports (he used to appear on the MLB fantasy podcast) and got into sports in general.

This interview, from tech crunch, touches on his new book in addition to blackjack, sports and movies.  It’s a nice view/listen.  Enjoy.

Buy Bringing Down The House

Buy 21

Share on Facebook

Related Posts

• July 11, 2010 -- Week In Review
• July 8, 2010 -- 6-5 Blackjack is “Great” For Tourists!?
• July 7, 2010 -- New Blackjack Basic Strategy Calculator
• December 2, 2009 -- Palazzo and Venetian Blackjack
• October 5, 2009 -- A Different and Simple Blackjack Strategy

I don’t know how this one slipped past me until today, but the headline says it all.

..6-5 games are “great” for tourists..

The exact quote is “The 6-5 games are “great” for tourists getting a feel for blackjack, Rubin says.”  Rubin is “Max Rubin, a casino consultant and gambling book author.”  It’s this attitude that angers people that pay attention to pay tables and such.

There is lots of great fodder in the article for me to spew anger at, but even in context there’s no way anyone can justify that 6/5 blackjack is better for the player than 3/2.

Like all casino games you just look for the slowest bleed and odds to maybe win a little.  6/5 blackjack speeds up the losses.  Animal psyche will run away if it endures too much pain too quickly.  Less people gambling less lead to $1 billion less in blackjack take for the Vegas casinos.

Time for the casinos to slow do the lust for money and get consultants that don’t look down on their core consumers.

This morning Vegas Tripping has an article that touches on a similar topic.  As usual, a good read on VT.

Share on Facebook

Related Posts

• July 11, 2010 -- Week In Review
• December 2, 2009 -- Palazzo and Venetian Blackjack
• June 6, 2010 -- Week In Review
• August 11, 2009 -- Roundup – It’s Been A While
• August 2, 2009 -- ECG Week In Review

Here’s the latest edition of Seven Stars Insider.  This is an easy read and an excellent resource for Harrah’s players.  Head over to Seven Stars Insider to sign up for the newsletter.  There is lots of information in this edition, so read on for all the goods.

Seven Stars Insider – July 2010

NOTE: While this newsletter was originally designed exclusively for Seven Stars members, there is useful information for anyone who has a Total Rewards^® player’s card and/or plays/stays at a Harrah’s property.  Please feel free to pass this on to your friends.  Back issues of the Seven Stars Insider newsletter are available online at http://sites.google.com/site/sevenstarsinsider/.  You will need Adobe Acrobat to view them, but this is a free program available at www.adobe.com.

Fall Signature Event

The fall Signature Event has been confirmed for September 10-12 at Planet Hollywood in Las Vegas.  September 10, however, is the last day of Rosh Hashanah, one of the holiest days on the Jewish calendar, and many players are not happy about the scheduling.

Harrah’s Plans Las Vegas Retail, Entertainment Complex

Harrah’s Entertainment plans to develop a retail and entertainment center in a short thoroughfare that runs from the Las Vegas Strip to Audrie Street, between the Flamingo and O’Sheas.  “Project Linq” will include 20 restaurants and bars, and 20 individual retailers along a promenade that leads to a 550-foot observation wheel in the back of the property.  Construction is expected to begin next year.  Here’s a link to a Las Vegas Review-Journal article which appeared July 1.

Cashback Back – Sort Of

It’s now official.  No need to look in your mailbox for those Reel Rewards coupons that replaced the actual cash cashback from Atlantic City casinos.  While you still won’t get cold hard cash, you now will be able to retrieve a coupon through the kiosks.  Simply print the voucher – minimum $5, in increments of $5 – and take it to the cashier.  In the future, the only thing you’ll get in the mail is a postcard telling you how much you’ve earned, and you’ll probably receive at least one last Reel Rewards coupon in the mail for all cashback earned prior to the conversion.  If you have any cashback balances prior to April 6, you can still get the cash up until July 15.  After that, you won’t get the cash, just Reel Rewards coupons available through the kiosks.  All existing cashback offers that were sent through the mail as Reel Rewards coupons will continue to be valid through their expiration date.  Finally, don’t cash out more coupons than you can use during your visit because they expire sometimes within a day or two after you receive them.

I don’t know about anyone else, but I received a survey from Harrah’s asking my thoughts on the “new” – now “old” – cashback program the day after the revised program was announced.  Some department wasted a lot of money, and a lot of our time, by polling us after the decision was made.

Great Gift Wrap Up^©

Those of you who play in Nevada and Arizona probably already know this, but, in addition to your Reward Credits, you also are earning points for the annual Gift Wrap Up.  (You earn approximately 10 Gift Points for every 7 Rewards Credits.)  The event will be held in Las Vegas at the Flamingo November 11-15 and at Caesars Palace December 2-6.  Originally, only play in Las Vegas at Bally’s, Harrah’s, Imperial Palace, Rio, Caesars Palace, Flamingo, Paris – and Ak Chin in Phoenix – counted.  However, the program has been restructured to include all play at Harrah’s in Laughlin since January 1, as well as play at Planet Hollywood once it was taken over by Harrah’s.

Harrah’s Atlantic City Curbside Check-In

While it doesn’t operate daily, Seven Stars members who valet park at Harrah’s Resort in Atlantic City can use a special curbside VIP check-in.

Casino Updates

• Rio Opens New Club – Darin Feinstein, owner of the Viper Room in Los Angeles, has opened the Crown Theater and Crown Nightclub.  Located in the former space of Club 3121, the 900-seat venue will present a mix of live concerts and nightlife events.
• George Wallace – George has signed a three-year extension to his contract at the Flamingo.
• munchbar – Caesars Palace takes “comfort food” to a new level.
• Sammy Hagar’s Beach Bar - Formerly Bally’s Bikini Beach Bar, Van Halen singer, tequila magnate and Cabo Wabo owner Sammy Hagar has opened his first East Coast operation in Atlantic City.  For more details, click here.
• Toga – The Atlantic City Caesars’ casino floor bar has expanded to become more like a club.
• D’Zio – Harrah’s Resort in Atlantic City has opened a rodizio – Brazilian steakhouse – on Fridays and Saturdays only through Labor Day weekend.  The all-you-can eat menu is $35 per person, but doesn’t include beverages or dessert.  For more details, click here.

Atlantis Trip Report

Here’s a first-hand report from a couple who took advantage of a special offer for Seven Stars players at the Atlantis Casino Resort and Spa in Reno.  [Atlantis is offering $500 in FreePlay, three nights in a luxurious suite and a $100 dining credit to all current Seven Stars Club members, as well as those who were Seven Stars Club members last year (April 1, 2009, to March 31, 2010).  For details, go to www.atlantiscasino.com/insider.]:  “[W]e were impressed by the property and the treatment we received there.  Our suite was a beautifully appointed, two-room layout with three large flat-screen TVs, a Jacuzzi tub in the bedroom, two bathrooms, leather sofas and chairs, a bar area, and a big dining room table.  The restaurants that we tried were excellent, including a wonderful anniversary dinner in the Steakhouse. We also liked the buffet, the Manhattan Deli and the Purple Parrot coffee shop.  The VIP Lounge on the 25th floor of the Concierge Tower was spacious and offered beautiful views of the city and free Internet access (two computer stations), including a printer. They served a continental breakfast that we loved.  Our host was extremely gracious, allowing us to combine offers so we could take advantage of the fact that [we] are both Seven Stars.  [My wife], in fact, was able to get a hair treatment in their salon using the offers we received.  We also liked the fact that we could play a lot of the games we like in the non-smoking area on the Sky Terrace and near the Java Coast.  [E]verything was nicely in our comfort zone and we’re looking forward to going back.”

Straight No Chaser

Harrah’s Resort in Atlantic City missed a great marketing opportunity last month when NJN Public Television aired two performances of Straight No Chaser, the a cappella singing group that’s playing in the Concert Venue through August 28.  One of NJN’s periodic fund-raisers, for certain minimum contributions the show offered two packages of opening night tickets, a meet-and-greet, a CD, and a DVD.  An email to all its Total Rewards members in the local viewing area would have been a terrific promotion for the show, as well as an opportunity to showcase Harrah’s generous public citizenship.

MGM Resorts International (MGM-Mirage) Introduces New Player’s Club

Believing its new name better reflects its global presence, MGM-Mirage has changed its name to MGM Resorts International.  At the same time, it is making changes to its player loyalty program, to be called M life.  Based on initial reports, the new program will be similar to those operated by Harrah’s, Trump, Tropicana and others.  The new program will feature tiers and be more “transparent” than the current program.  Currently, players really don’t know their comp balances or at what level they are playing.  Players are told to “charge everything to [their] room” and “when you check out we will evaluate your play and extend complimentaries based on your play.”  I’ve always found that a bit annoying. . .kind of like going to the principal’s office with your tail between your legs to beg for whatever you can get.  Expect to see the new program late this summer at MGM’s U.S. regional markets and in the fall in Las Vegas.

New ‘Old Favorite’ Restaurants

I recently had the opportunity to dine at two Atlantic City Harrah’s restaurants that I had not visited in a couple years.  I’m happy to report that Arturo’s at Bally’s and the Rib & Chophouse at Showboat are better than ever.

Question of the Month

Are there any “pet-friendly” Harrah’s casino hotels in Atlantic City? None of the casino hotels in Atlantic City allows guests to bring pets into their rooms for overnight stays.  However, the Atlantic City Pet Hotel – owned by a Seven Stars cardholder – is a great alternative if you need to travel with your dog or cat.  An exclusive 365-days-a-year 24-hour pet hotel, as well as a full-service pet salon, there are daily rates for short- and long-term stays, and pickup and drop-off services are available for an additional charge. You can visit any day of the week, and – at no extra charge – take your pet out with you to “The Dog Beach”, a beautiful stretch of sandy, white beach on the Atlantic Ocean about a 15-minute drive away.  While rates are subject to change, currently, daily charges are $25 for small dogs, $30 for medium and $35 for large; cats are $20.  There is a two-night minimum on national holidays.  For complete information call (609) 348-8660.

‘Do you take advantage of all the annual Seven Stars benefits (dinner, trip, gift, Signature Events)?’

While many respondents claim they take advantage of everything – except, in some cases, the Signature events because of scheduling conflicts or they just didn’t care for the location, quite a few players said they’ve missed out on the annual trip.  “I just forgot to book it” was the most common reason.  “I travel so much on business that the thought of getting on another plane was not appealing,” said others in one form or another.  “We’ve done the annual dinner,” reports another player, “but rarely spent the entire $500 because it was just the two of us.”  A number of others said they forgot to order their annual gift, but it wasn’t a “big deal” for them.

‘Have you ever earned the requisite 100,000 tier points (or more) in a calendar year, but were denied the Seven Stars player’s card?’

Many players believe that earning 100,000 tier points will automatically grant Seven Stars status.  To the contrary, players must be invited – after earning the minimum 100,000 points.  Have you been denied Seven Stars status, or do you know anyone who has?  Send me an email (sevenstarsinsider@gmail.com) and I’ll share your thoughts – anonymously, of course – with everyone in a future newsletter.

Share on Facebook

Related Posts

• June 6, 2010 -- Week In Review
• June 2, 2010 -- Seven Stars Insider – June
• July 11, 2010 -- Week In Review
• February 21, 2010 -- Week In Review
• September 6, 2009 -- Week In Review