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[Mammothgambler]

Tahoe Trip Report 2/13-2/14

OK, here's another trip report, I think Lady Luck and company have been watching over me big time since I moved here!

Some of my neighbors and I decided to head to Tahoe the afternoon of Feb. 13. After my successful drive-in-the-snow-all-night trip to the Peppermill a couple of weeks back, in addition to winning a total of $700 among two different Double Double Diamond machines at the Paiute Palace Indian Casino in Bishop, CA about a week ago (I had never been there and "just stopped in to sign up for a card"), I figured it would be fun...third time's a charmer like they always say. After looking through all of our comps, we decided to stay at Montbleu (NOT my idea but one neighbor had a free night that expired in two days...hey, as long as it was someone else's debit card at risk, it was fine with me!)

I think I mentioned it in my last trip report, but it felt a little weird once we got to Tahoe and I was driving in my own truck! So used to all those rental cars over the years while in the area. We arrived at Montbleu at around 7 pm and were given a standard room on the 4th floor as one of my neighbors had her Chow/Akita mix with her. Although I don't particularly like Montbleu since that hell visit last year, it is good to know there's somewhere in the casino corridor that allows big dogs, something I'll consider in the future.

Since my plan was to give all the players clubs my updated address, we started out downstairs, although I only played about $30 there, just enough to keep their marketing machines rolling. It went pretty quick, like the case usually is at Montbleu! Everything seemed exactly the same as it was on my visit last year, including the super-tight machines.

Next stop was across the street to the Horizon. I had some coupons for $20 free slot play, $15 food credit and also still had $10 cash back and $30 in comps from my last visit in July. Looks like they're keeping it up pretty good and it's still my home base in Tahoe, and they put me back on track with some good comps and offers over the past year. Tried out some of the new 15-quarter Wheel of Fortunes in there but didn't have any luck. After losing about $40 more, we decided to head to Harveys.

I forgot how quickly your points and tier credits can disappear at Harrah's properties if you don't use them promptly...I had about 300 or so but was told that they were gone and that I had just missed the expiration date which was January 25. Oh, well, they are still being very good with the free room offers. A few spins on the Wheel of Fortune Super Spin gave nothing back, although the lady sitting beside me happened to hit the bonus round twice in about 10 minutes and walked away with about $700. A few quarter machines here and there also gave nothing back.

Here's where the good luck begins! I approached a round kiosk of the classic 3-coin $1 Blazing 7's progressive machines. I like the simplicity of these, and have had fairly decent luck with small wins in the past here and there so I thought I'd try a few spins. The machine I was on hit a $200 jackpot landing on three mixed 7's. After that, I decided to try another one out on the other side of the kiosk. The very first spin into it, I hit...3 Blazing 7's! I WON THE PROGRESSIVE! The unfortunate (well, not really) thing about the Blazing 7's machines is that I've never seen the progressive jackpot level get very high. But, I got a hand pay of $1038.42 and a couple of handshakes from the passers-by, so I definitely wasn't complaining between hitting $200 followed by the progressive, all within 5 minutes. I've NEVER had luck at Harveys or any Harrah's property for that matter, with the exception of that $200 win I had on a Big Times Pay last July. Fortunately, my friend had his cell phone camera handy so we were able to snap some shots of the wins without anybody catching on. I guess this makes up for the debit card mishap I had there a few winters ago...oh well, at least now I know that you really can win at Harveys!

We decided to stop playing as some of the people in our party were WAY mad about not winning and actually losing quite a bit. Headed downstairs to the Cabo Wabo Cantina which is always great (and PACKED!) A few victory rounds of Vodka & Red Bull and we were back over to Montbleu. Checked out the Blu nightclub which I believe used to be the Broiler Room restaurant when the place was still Caesars Tahoe. I hadn't been in there yet and was pretty impressed with the way they re-did it. It's good there was no cover, because we paid $68 for a round of Jager Bombs, although the ladies were happy because they got to drink for free all night! Back up at the room, we stayed up until about 5 am sipping on Absolut and finally passed out.

A few hours later, we woke up and called Kirkwood resort to check the snow conditions and which chairlifts were open as snowboarding there for the day was also in the plan. Unfortunately, although it was very cold there, most of Kirkwood was iced, harsh wind and many of the chairlifts were closed or on wind hold, so we passed it up.

Went downstairs to the Starbucks they have off the lobby. $9 for a for a packaged banana muffin. Yup, that's Montbleu! I told my friend I didn't want to play there because their machines are super tight and I wouldn't win anything, but we wound up playing quarter machines for about 45 minutes waiting for the rest of our party to come downstairs. Darn, sucked in! Lost about another $40. I'm also hearing that they just recently started incorporating a resort fee to use the spa/pool/weight room/other amenities and it's mandatory just like some of the bigger resorts in Vegas. If only it was comparable, it might be worth it...

After check-out, it was back off to the Horizon. We sat around the Sigma Derby for a good couple of hours just having a slow day. Glad to see the Sigma Derby is still there. I think the maximum I saw anyone hit on it that day was about 70 quarters. I had a 15 quarter hit on it, but that was about it.

Back off to the lucky dollar area by Josh's restaurant where I've had many wins in the past. A few random machines here and there, but no luck. I screwed up big-time on one of the Pinball machines...I got Pinball on the third reel but was only playing one coin instead of 3, so I only got one bonus spin of $15. Happens every time you don't play max coins! Hit a $20 bonus on a Top Dollar and got $35 off a Triple Cash right beside it.

Here's where the good luck, parts 3-6 come in. I wandered over to another row and jumped on a Triple Red Hot 7's machine...one I've never had any luck on in any denomination at all, 3 reel, 5 reel or video. I decided to give it a try. About 5 spins into it, I hit 2 Triple Red Hot 7's symbols, followed by a Double Red Hot 7's symbol...the bell rang, the candle lit up, and the sign read, "Hand Pay Required - $1,440!" I can't be certain, but I think this machine was in the exact same location as the now-removed Double 5 Times Pay machine I had a $1500 win on there back in 2004. Unfortunately, the Horizon's old machines are gone, but it's good to see that there are still some winners there!

From there, we decided to play a bit longer before heading to the Four Seasons Coffee Shop for lunch. Most of my party went back to the Sigma Derby, but I decided to try out a penny Pharoah's Fortune that was nearby. Hit the bonus round about 4 spins into it, and was fortunately able to turn over most of the blocks on the board. I wound up with 14 bonus spins with a 4 times multiplier and got a nice $125 bonus.

Next, it was back over to the dollar area...$280 on a Triple Bucks (double blue bar, Double symbol, and Triple symbol). Tried out a penny Tabasco 5 reel and hit another $185 in the Country Store Bonus. I was long overdue for a good day at the Horizon (or anywhere in Tahoe period!) My only qualm was that two of my favorite machines in there, Press Your Luck and the Price is Right Cliffhanger, are now gone.

We all got the prime rib special at the Four Seasons and it was excellent. Everything was comped there and they even gave us a free round of Screwdrivers because my friend's side of prawns took a long time to fry.

This was definitely my most successful Tahoe trip yet (and all in less than 24 hours!) I got back home $3012 ahead, which is never something I've never expected doing in Tahoe...fun, but it's just not lucky like Reno.

Once I got home, I immediately phoned the Peppermill to make plans for my next trip next month...going back March 10-13 for my birthday and was able to use my $39 Imperial Suite offer. Hopefully that Double Ten Times Pay machine will be ready to drop me some more cash! Who knows, I might be back before then. I have to find some new FTP space as I cancelled my Earthlink account so I will upload some pics of the jackpots soon.

Mammothgambler

[CaSwede]

Man, you are on a lucky streak a la mode. I read your Reno trip too, and the drive sounded nasty, but you will learn the ropes if you plan on living in this area. Sounds like a fun group you hang with.

[RenoLady]

It's hard taking money out of Tahoe, good job!

It's funny, you play so many different games, penny slots, dollar reels, quarter wheel of fortune, tell me, do you play the same amount in them? Twenty bucks a time? will you play more in a dollar machine cuz it takes more to get the jackpot?

Which game do you like the best? I love penny slots, play video poker because I can win on it, and avoid the old fashioned reel slots because they bore me when the first reel brings up air, and I know I get to watch the next ones come in without a chance. Ya know?

[stan_allen]

Way to go! Always, always a good thing to hear of a winning trip.

I agree that this doesn't make up for all the past foibles of these establishments, but you sure put a dent in them!

[Mammothgambler]

hey thanks everybody, yeah I'm sure those wins in Tahoe aren't going to happen like that for a long time, if ever!

RenoLady, I try to keep the mix going with the different types of machines so I don't get bored. I'm still a big fan of traditional reels (mostly 2 coin) because a couple of bucks a spin is about the same amount you'd pay to play on a penny multiliner at max bet and alot of times you can win alot more, it all depends on the paytables and denominations, I try to stick with the ones that pay higher. I see some of these new multiliners where, although they're pennies, they go up to $15 a spin max bet and the top jackpot is only 800 dollars or so. But I've had some good smaller wins on the multiliners too, although I think the max I've ever won on one at one time is about $600. The upside to those is, there are so many ways to win and multiple jackpots in succession is definitely a possibility (especially at the Peppermill!). And I always try to play at least one Wheel of Fortune here and there because you just never know...

Whatever happens I try to follow the "3-5 spins or get up and move" rule as much as possible, although at times I get a gut instinct something's about to hit and I may play it for a bit longer. I can never seem to get a drink anywhere because I jump around so much.

Getting ready for my next trip to Reno in about 20 days, hope the winning streak continues!

Mammothgambler

[alison]

Wow! you sure are on a roll. i bet your friends were getting a little jelous watching you win while they were loosing. Congrats on the lucky trip.

[hawk]

Your machine beat me up this week. I tried it about 4 times : ZIP....
Stay lucky.

[Mammothgambler]

Hawk, if that one's not paying, try the 3 coin model on the other side of the kiosk, that one hits good too!

Mammothgambler

[CaSwede]

Hawk said: "Your machine beat me up this week. I tried it about 4 times : ZIP...."

OK> Just a theory here. Mammothgambler talks up these machines, so John Doe, Jane Doe, John Smith and Hawk play them and feed them to the point where they are ripe. Up walks Mammonthgambler and cleans out the ready to pay machines.

[stan_allen]

Well, this would be that old saw called "The fallacy of the maturity of chances", referred to by the mathematicians, gaming experts cited in books, and such - but it can't be disputed that the drama level persists, even if the numerical concepts don't bear it out.

And I wouldn't try explaining this to someone who's just given up on a machine after spending hours on it, just to watch another person walk up, bet once, and hit a huge win. Proffering advice to remain calm in a situation like that is a terrific way to end up with a head injury of some sort, and those so-called "Little old ladies" wield tremendous deadly power with their umbrellas and such.

[remano]

[john]

Great run, MG. Time to quit your day job!