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I didn't win squat this winter (or spring!)

 
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Mammothgambler



Joined: 25 Dec 2005
Posts: 619

PostPosted: Aug Tue 03, 2010 7:59 pm    Post subject: I didn't win squat this winter (or spring!) Reply with quote

Hello, hope everyone is doing well, it's been a while!

Looks like my last trip report was in December, so here's a quick rundown of my few Reno trips since then. In a nutshell - all around uneventful, no wins and not too much going on!

January 15-17, Harrah's Reno

Received 2 comped nights in the west tower, along with $100 free slot play and a $30 food voucher. The free play was gone within seconds with about a dollar profit, but the Carvings buffet was awesome!

March 5-7, Harrah's Reno

Almost identical to my January trip, but this time around with a $27.85 profit. Awesome prime rib at the Cafe Napa. My $30 of free play at the Peppermill yielded no return, right as someone hit a $4950 jackpot a few machines down. Never fails! Scarfed down a Big Boss at the Coffee Shop with my $25 food voucher.

April 2-4 - Harrah's Reno Harvey's Tahoe

After a quick stop off at Harrah's Reno with a comped buffet at the Carvings and about a $3 win off of $100 free play at Harrah's Reno, it was back off to South Lake. This was my first and last trip of the season to Tahoe - sad - didn't get much time over there at all this year! Got 2 comped nights in a premium room in the Tahoe tower - hadn't stayed there yet, so it was awesome in comparison to the usual tiny mountain tower rooms. Seems like the casino corridor sure had changed since my last visit - the Horizon was almost completely cleared out, it was almost spooky! No familiar machines and it looked like they moved the Sigma Derby over to Montbleu. Oh well, at least I have lots of fond memories of the place. Anxious to see if the new owners ever do anything with it. I also happened to notice that Bill's closed down. Seems like on my last trip they had just remodeled everything with their new logo, what a shame. No wins whatsoever and actually left down about $700. I decided to try out the new nonstop flight from Mammoth to Reno this trip - almost scary that I can be there in under 45 minutes now! Halfway home, the airline pilot pops up and says, "due to the storm and the winds in Mammoth, we can't land right now. We are re-routing to Los Angeles and sending another plane out." 8 hours later, I was finally back home - and that plane just barely landed!

These three trips along with a couple of random stop-offs at the Paiute Palace in Bishop, CA made for an uneventful winter and spring - hopefully the next ones will be better! Just got back from another trip to the Gold Coast, Australia and left up about $70 AU playin' the pokies - yes, I really did see some penny machines that would run as high as $40 per spin max bet, I don't know how those Aussies do it! Not to mention pokie bars being on every street corner in addition to the casino - I'd be a wreck if I lived there for sure.

Looks like my next trip will be over Labor Day weekend, wherever the comps land me. At least I can say that except for that April trip, most of the action was off of free play, so I didn't lose too much real money!

Mammothgambler
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LilyJDragonfly



Joined: 03 Mar 2009
Posts: 425

PostPosted: Aug Wed 04, 2010 8:50 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Quote:
yes, I really did see some penny machines that would run as high as $40 per spin max bet, I don't know how those Aussies do it!


Well, you know, that Aussie money isn't worth as much as USD, so... <grin>

Thanks for the quick rundown, sounds like your luck has been about as "good" as ours this summer season, but at least you had fun!!
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Mammothgambler



Joined: 25 Dec 2005
Posts: 619

PostPosted: Aug Wed 04, 2010 7:21 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Right on! I was saying the same thing about the currency exchange rate the whole time I was there...visited Jupiters Casino in Broadbeach and when I withdrew $200 from the ATM, I kept telling myself, "ok this is really only about $170!" Fortunately it worked out. What kills it down under is that everytime there is a win, whether small or big, a "gamble" feature clicks on. You can take the existing win or bet on a red or black card to double up. 5 of those in a row and your credit multiplier is 75. Bet five suits in a row and your credit multiplier is 1047! BUT - if you don't pick the right card, you not only get nothing, but lose your original jackpot as well. To me it was dangerous - but you know the drill, I only play max or play nothing! Those little "side bets" can add hundreds, thousands to your winnings. The other fun part was that everytime a cash-out is done, any "change" that's left over stays in the machine and whole dollars are returned to you. Another "gamble" feature clicks on where you can double up on your change - or lose it all. Never a dull moment with the pokies!

I also found it interesting that the pokies at the bars (or "hotels" like they're called down there) and surf rescue clubs seemed incredibly loose for not being in mainstream casinos. The only rule there is they can't pay out more than $25,000 in any one jackpot.

It was too funny that most of the pokies drop Australian dollars - little gold coins the size of US dimes - looked like chump change for its value!

Hopefully next trip to Reno will be much better.

Oh, forgot to include these in my report if anyone's interested. Here are a few shots of Jupiters Casino in Broadbeach, Gold Coast, Queensland. I was staying in an apartment right across the street so I was right there. They have it conveniently set up where a monorail goes between the casino, hotel and shopping complex, making it super easy for locals and visitors alike to lose their ass! The rest of the photos are some of the random pokie bars in the area. I did find a Pharoah's Fortune and a couple of other IGT machines, but for the most part, Aristocrat rules it! Mr. Cashman, Hyperlink, and the Money Train are the mainstream.

Mammothgambler





















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alison



Joined: 09 Jan 2006
Posts: 1150

PostPosted: Aug Thu 05, 2010 7:54 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thanks for posting pictures. Smile

How do you manage to get free play from Harrahs? Curious how much play you have to give them.
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Mammothgambler



Joined: 25 Dec 2005
Posts: 619

PostPosted: Aug Thu 05, 2010 6:34 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Hi Alison!

To this very minute I'm STILL not sure how exactly Harrah's calculates it. I started out not getting anything from any Harrah's anywhere, maybe $20 free play for the Tahoe casinos at most. Then, remember the trip I took over Thanksgiving, where I hit all those Blazing 7's? I left up about $1600 that weekend but I think I might have played thru at least $2000.

Ever since that trip, each month I've been getting 4 free nights in the West tower any day of the week, $100 free play, and $20-30 food credit. Except for a couple of trips since then, I've gone in there and just utilized the free play. Only over the last couple of months did it dip down to $50, then $25, but the free nights are still going strong. Meanwhile, I'm signing into Total Rewards (current tier score 637, rewards credit balance 584 - pretty much low roller status) - but - 43 OFFERS?!?!? Oh yeah, I took your advice early on and tried punching in some dates without any offer codes and sure enough, many are still popping up comped - including the 3 free nights in a deluxe suite they wanna give me at the Rio in Vegas over Labor Day Weekend! We'll see, as nothing is popping up for Reno right now. But it seems like I've gotten comped there without having to actually use any offers.

I've also gotten a few of the free buffets that LilyJDragonfly spoke of, after having low play over less than an hour or so, in addition to random double bonus day coupons, free slot tournament entries, extra express cash, everything. Still trying to figure out the pattern so it keeps on coming in!

I'm still thinking that it has more to do with how long you play (hours, minutes, etc.) vs. how much money you spend. I've blown thousands at Harrahs and Harveys in Tahoe and have gotten nothing, but have played pennies and quarters for hours on end and have gotten the world, especially in Reno it seems. Gotta say hands down they're ruling it right now for comps.

One of my New Years Resolutions was to make it to Platinum status by the end of the year because they're doing me right as of now - but it's one of those scenarios where I've been stuck at Gold for almost 7 years and want to move on. At least it's realistic in comparison to some other places. I haven't had a credit card in almost 9 years but am also eyeing their Total Rewards Visa card right now - dangerous!

Hard to believe this was the place I hated so bad a couple years back! The only thing I think they could improve on is that all of the free play comes in the form of Express Play bills in a coupon book. It's like sticking a $100 bill in a machine. But there is no option to play it among multiple machines so whatever one you play on is the one you're stuck with. Seems like it could be so much better if they just put it on your card and let you do whatever you want, but I guess everyone's got their own rules.

Mammothgambler
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LilyJDragonfly



Joined: 03 Mar 2009
Posts: 425

PostPosted: Aug Fri 06, 2010 9:26 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

You know, M, I noticed a small caveat at the bottom of their TR brochure in that they do have "discretion" to move you up a level; it's worth an ask, especially if you've been a regular player and member....
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Mammothgambler



Joined: 25 Dec 2005
Posts: 619

PostPosted: Aug Fri 06, 2010 12:52 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thanks for the info Lily! I keep forgetting that I know a few people that have gotten "bumped up" simply by asking or by invitation. In fact, just about 6 months ago, I got bumped up from burgundy to gold at the Eldorado and I NEVER play there...they just randomly sent me a new card. And, last year when I was at the Sands Regency (where I also hardly ever play at), they bumped me up from red to silver, but that could have had something to do with the points I've received at Terrible's in Vegas. I'll give it a whirl - both at Harrah's and the Pep!

Mammothgambler
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LilyJDragonfly



Joined: 03 Mar 2009
Posts: 425

PostPosted: Aug Sat 07, 2010 4:43 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Quote:
One of my New Years Resolutions


Heheee... love that upping your gambling is a New Year's resolution....
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stoneman



Joined: 20 Jun 2008
Posts: 88

PostPosted: Aug Sat 07, 2010 4:57 pm    Post subject: Attn: Lily Reply with quote

Hey, Lily, you can "bump" me anytime. I like tall women.
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