Back in my town after a long hiatus, I was greeted like a conquering hero by the hosts and band at the Pinky Ring and Royal and Pedro at Downtown Grand. And, thank you very much, open wallets. A successful trip is when you keep putting Jacksons BACK in the safe.
Oh, and I didn’t end up in the ER or UMC Hospital.
I also didn’t get to the Plaza or South Point (hence, the title of this post), but like Ahnold, “I’ll be back” soon.
Now folks, Santa Vegas has a wunnerful wunnerful present for you. It’s the RIO and a flood of 9/6 Jacks or better everywhere. 9/6 at all bars! It’s like 20 years ago. And all over the casino floor! You may like Deuces Wild (too high a variance for me), but I love to “play long time” and 2-for-1 on two pairs on 9/6 really stretches it out. Of course, hitting lots of full houses and (this trip) ONLY five 4-of-a-kinds (awwww, Bobby, we’re weeping crocodile tears for you) makes for this very happy scuffler.
So, people, go to the Rio. Haven’t asked Anthony if there will be another RIO no-resort-fee coupon next year, but this year’s saved me hundreds.
Years back I wrote a “Santa Vegas” article about my Golden Week coupon good karma adventures, giving away end-of-year expiring MRBs. This year again, I had another good karma incident — picking up an antique from an online auction over near Durango. The 92-year-old lady didn’t want to sell the item I won, so I gave it back to her. Immediately after, I was meeting Bobby Wilson for lunch at the (AWESOME) Durango and walking in, I immediately won over $200. Karma? Whatever, I’ll take it.
BTW, their food court is off the chart. Great $10 burgers, a Hawaiian spot with Bruno Mars pic, awesome noodle and oyster bar.
Now for the good, the bad, and the ugly.
Rio wins the super-good prize for this trip, hands down (tapping the 9/6 hold buttons).
As for the bad and ugly, I don’t know what they’re thinking at Downtown Grand. I love staying there, but they keep pulling the good games. The two-story ad facing Fremont says $1 blackjack and $5 roulette. The $1 electronic BJ is gone. (Is live still $1?) Meanwhile, roulette was $10. And please reopen Freedom Beat. At least the matchplays are still viable.
Four Queens pulled or downgraded their 9/6 bank. They still have $.25/$1 9/6 over by the FISH slots. Again, I love Four Queens, but come on.
Out in Henderson, Emerald Island pulled their bank of full-pay Double Double Bonus. Sigh. Still a great diner and Rainbow next store was fab as always. Their Super Multipliers? Incredible.
Overall, a great trip. So Happy New Year, people. Share with others. Spread joy.
Hi Bobby, can you clarify your comment on Emerald Island? The way I read that is they removed the 10/6 DDB multi-hand games? I was there in early December and they had about 6-8 of those machines. Can you please elaborate? I know they were older machines so perhaps they replaced with slots or modern cabinets?
VPFree2 still lists the full pay DDB as being there. I will be there in a few days and will know soon enough.
The three 10/6 DDB machines in front of the bar were recently moved to the poker alcove. Now six are in the poker alcove and twelve more on the mezzanine.
Thanks for verifying! Much appreciated.
My bad . Apparently they were moved. Glad I was wrong
I was out with some health issues over the holidays Sorry for the delay in responding