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Cal Neva

 
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Marian



Joined: 17 Dec 2005
Posts: 29

PostPosted: Feb Sat 18, 2006 12:04 am    Post subject: Cal Neva Reply with quote

I've been reading how Cal Neva is a favorite of some posters on here.

Cal Neva was my favorite for several years but the last 3 times I've been there it was empty. Has it picked up again? You used to have trouble getting a dollar machine, especially the train machines but the last few times no one was playing them at all.
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remano



Joined: 20 Dec 2005
Posts: 717

PostPosted: Feb Sat 18, 2006 8:42 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Slot machines suck. You can never tell what odds you are going up against, but you can be sure they are some of the worst in the house. With video poker and table games, you know the rules and payoffs, and from that you can determine your chances.

That being said, Cal Neva gives players better odds on video poker and table games than many of the other downtown casinos, and if they do it for those games they probably do it for slot machines as well. It doesn't matter how many other people are playing the machines or how busy the place is. What matters is the casino's philosophy for how much entertainment they want to give you while they take all of your money. Some of the other places want to get your money and get rid of you as fast as possible, Cal Neva will let you hang around for a while.
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Dave



Joined: 18 Dec 2005
Posts: 212

PostPosted: Feb Sat 18, 2006 2:56 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Remano does the Cal Neva still stay pretty busy? It seems like every time I am there (not often enough!) that is always pretty busy. I love their $1 watermelon machines. I am sure they are gone by now but those things were fun.
Dave Razz
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Marian



Joined: 17 Dec 2005
Posts: 29

PostPosted: Feb Sat 18, 2006 8:55 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Is it still under the same ownership that was there for years? It's dead now. You used to have to wait for breakfast for ages but now you could walk right in.
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remano



Joined: 20 Dec 2005
Posts: 717

PostPosted: Feb Sun 19, 2006 2:03 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Dave wrote:
Remano does the Cal Neva still stay pretty busy?Dave Razz


They seem to do OK. I think it depends on what day of the week and time of year you visit. To tell the truth, I don't often go there on a weekend evening so I don't know how busy it gets. I work near downtown and I'll occasionally go there after work or for lunch, but I'll usually go to Boomtown or Peppermill for any serious gambling.

To answer another question, Cal Neva is under the same management as they've had for a long time. They didn't renew the lease on the adjoining hotel tower, but they still have the building across the street. A couple months ago there was some talk about turning that into condominiums (along with every other building downtown except for the bus terminal), but that has fallen through. They will continue as usual for the forseeable future.
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Bama



Joined: 20 Dec 2005
Posts: 89

PostPosted: Feb Sun 19, 2006 5:18 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Cal Neva always seems busy when I am in town. Does get pretty slow on weeknights but most places are. Not as busy as the tables at the Legacy and El Dorado but those gamblers can stay there as far as I am concerned. I can almost always find the blackjack table I want at the Cal Neva. Slots have all seemed tight my last few times in town.

I too liked the watermelons and I likes the trains at the Cal Neva. I too remember waiting for a train 1$ slot to open. You wouldnt win a grand but I always seemed to hit quite a few 20's and 50's.

I would prefer no line for breakfast - Not sure why I had to comment on that except for the fact that I cant stand long in the morning without getting dizzy!

Huge win for 'Bama yesterday - March Madness is looking like a real possiblity for them. 'Bama on the MONEY LINE!
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mustangmike



Joined: 21 Dec 2005
Posts: 76

PostPosted: Feb Tue 21, 2006 8:20 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I've been going to Cal Neva for the last 20 or so years. I thinks what has hurt their business recently is they seem to cut back on the freebies and coupons. It use to be they would give you a free drink ticket at the cashier just for asking, but no more. They use to give coupon sheet out at the slot club booth with lots of BOGO coupons and a "Ace in the hole" but ended that a year or so ago. It is even getting harder and harder to get drink coupons when making sports bets. I remember being handed 3 or 4 for just making a $10 dollar bet, now it's 1 for a $20 bet. I realize there probably was a lot of free loaders taking advantage of them, but it seemed to be bringing in business, maybe it was the wrong type of business though.

All in all, it still downtown's casino with the best table odds, I just wish they would bring back the single 0 roulette table.

Mike
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Bama



Joined: 20 Dec 2005
Posts: 89

PostPosted: Feb Wed 22, 2006 7:49 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

what no coupon sheet? I loved getting those I think they came out on Thursdays. Some of the staff at the Sports Book will give you more than one coupon when they get to know you and you tip them when you turn in your winning tickets. But you are right they used to hand out a lot and now you must bet $20 and sometimes still have to ask them. I am into the freebies so I bet $20 at a time and go to different windows to feel the staff out. I bet a lot on the games so it takes me some time to place them all but it is worth it with all the free beer I receive the next few days.
I met a local two years ago who had some scam going and he sold me 50 of those free drink coupons for $20 bucks! Probably scammers like that and guys like me who bought from them who made them crack down. Shame on me - but I like a good deal!
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john
Site Admin


Joined: 17 Dec 2005
Posts: 1181

PostPosted: Feb Thu 23, 2006 6:50 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Lots of years ago when Harrah's was the local hangout, I had some friends who worked downtown for the phone company. Almost everyone in the building would cash their paychecks at Harrah's and get free VIP drink coupons, which could be used for any drink in the house. Those who had no use for the coupons would throw them in a box at the phone company and every month or so, we would have a big party at Harrah's and get hammered. I wonder if that's the kind of abuse that caused most of them to cut back on the freebies. I don't think they have the premium coupons anymore. Seems now you have to buy free drinks with gaming losses.
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JD



Joined: 18 Dec 2005
Posts: 956

PostPosted: Feb Thu 23, 2006 4:57 pm    Post subject: CAL NEVA free drink chit abuse Reply with quote

Nope John ..... it's because of me... well, and my parents.

You see when I was a little tyke, my folks would make it a point to stop in Reno to or from our car vacation to some exotic far off place (like Disneyland, the Grand Canyon or Salt Lake City). They never stayed in a casino/hotel but booked us into those motor lodges so common out South Virginia.

In the lobby of those motor lodges would be stacks of coupon books and a wicker basket FULL of those red plastic chips that the Cal Neva would give out when you cashed in coins. As you cashed out, they tossed a couple of those drink chips at you with the idea you would have "...one for the road..." and they would get one more chance at your bankroll.

Many years later, when I asked my folks for a few Reno tips, my Mother went downstairs and after much searching, came up with a plastic bag FULL of those red chips. We all agreed it was unlikely they would still be honored, but I tossed them in my suitcaseand gave it a try. On my first trip as an adult, I wandered in to Cal Neva and sheepishly asked, "... are these any good?"

"WHY THE HELL NOT?" (my introduction to Reno bartenders)

It took my ten years of Reno trips to use most of those drink chits. My favorite thing was use one for a coffee at one bar, then a bloody Mary at another. With two drinks in hand, I went to the Copper Ledge for the 99cent breakfast.

I'm so ashamed I ruined it for everyone.

Forgive me.

JD
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misterd51



Joined: 13 Mar 2006
Posts: 57

PostPosted: Mar Tue 14, 2006 8:15 pm    Post subject: CalNeve and Sportsbets Reply with quote

CalNeva is still one of my favorites, but I have to agree it is no where as generous with their drink tickets, a few years back with a sports bet and a tip 2 to 3 was common and sometimes 4 or 5. I would come up for the day and make several bets and tip the boys and save the tickets till the wife and I could come up and stay a night or two at their motel and then use them partying when we didn't have to drive home. Back then even though they had a date on the back it was never checked. Now if not used by the 3 day limit stamped on the back they are no good. I would think with the Indian Casinos in California they would be more generous with their drinks and rooms to get us to come up, but as I posted on another forum the Indian Casinos don't offer much either. I still come to Reno, but now find myself if the odds are the same going to Harrah's where at least the points go on your players club card, especially if I don't want to drink that day.
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misterd
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lvbear584



Joined: 07 Jun 2006
Posts: 140

PostPosted: Jun Fri 09, 2006 1:40 pm    Post subject: Cal Neva is on the Patron Abuse Black List Reply with quote

Cal Neva is the only Reno-area casino that routinely hassles skilled players (card counters, hole carders, etc.) using Las Vegas-type methods; i.e, trying to intimidate them with security goons; taking Polaroids from the pit, etc.

It is one of only two Reno casinos on the Patron Abuse Black List. (Eldorado is the other.) For that reason, it should be shunned and avoided by everyone.
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