LVA Coupon for Sand Dollar royal flush at the Plaza

What I observed was that the couple were making a sucker play. Unless you play .50 JOB or .50 9/6 Bonus Deluxe, you figure to lose MUCH more than the $500 bonus, even when you do hit the royal. I believe they were playing 9/5 Double Double Bonus, a game I call "Garbage Garbage" because even the full pay (9/6) version is below 99 percent, and 9/5 is well below 98 percent.

What this means in practical terms is that you'll need to play $50,000+ (assuming a .25 game) to get a royal, and when you do get that royal, you'll still be down over $1,000. Better to have played straight-up Garbage Double Bonus (9/6) somewhere else and ignore the coupon.

It's a savvy play on the part of the casino. While it can be made positive by a savvy, well-bankrolled player with a lot of time on his hands, it will mostly attract people who play junk games and don't know any better. 

That some folks have gotten lucky--good for them--doesnt change that essential reality. And of course, we don't see posts or YouTube videos from those players who dumped in two grand and never hit 

I'll translate what Kevin means here.  You might think he is insulting the winner, but he really isn't.   He is giving his congratulations on the royal.  You just have read between the lines a bit!

I'm doing neither. I'm pointing out that the coupon, while having concrete value, also entices most players to lose money. Those who are careful about their gambling--playing only the best games--will profit from the coupon by using it correctly. Most players, however, won't. It's an unusual coupon in that how you use it matters--a matchplay or a restaurant twofer can't be used incorrectly.

Lots of people play 97% video poker, 6:5 blackjack, slots, bad bets at the crap table, sports parlay bets, etc. etc. etc. Sometimes they win. Good for them.

I'm the guy who submitted this to LVA, my wife and I got the royals.   I live downtown within walking distance to fremont. and play video poker a couple days a week. I keep very careful track of our gambling. I used to be militant about only playing the best pay tables, and the best games, mostly at 4 Queens.   Love their bartenders.  When QQQQ got rid of their great 10/6 DDB paytables at the bar a few years ago, I ditched them and went to Plaza and played at Sand Dollar.  Then Plaza nuked their 9/6 DDB at their bars.  I went to DTG, but they have essentially no draft beer and I hate the atmosphere.  It felt like it became a chore to play there.  

I finally decided that gambling was supposed to be fun, and quit chasing paytables.  We like DDB at bartops, with good drink selection, good bartenders, good chairs, and good machines.   I still occasionally go to QQQQ, and there is usually a sticky button, a wobbly short chair, the bar is sticky, and some homeless guy harrassing people. Their music is stuck in the 70s and the buskers are blasting speakers just outside the open doors.  It still pains me a bit playing crappy paytables, but now we stick to Bar Canada, Circa, and Sand Dollar which are always great experiences.  Much happier overall.

Any other suggestions for bartop DDB downtown besides those?

The El Corpse, despite their drastic VP downgrades of recent years, still has medium-crappy bartop games. And by medium-crappy, I mean 97-98% games like 9/5 DDB or 8/5 JOB. You'll rarely find even sorta good games on bartops.

The scuttlebutt is that the bartops on the second floor of the D have fast multi-hit progressives and often go positive. However...you may need to bring a gun so you can get on a machine when the meters go positive. Also, bring some kind of hearing protection, or you will be deafened by the time you get up to the second floor.

Nothing Boyd offers is worth it any more, especially since they destroyed their players' club, but you can go to MSS, play junk VP at the bar(s), and drink their very good beer (served verrrry slowly in small glasses, so...sip). I don't know about the California, but they've often had decent VP here and there. Forget the Fremont.

Circa is loud (LOUD) and trashy, but you may be able to find their best game, 8/5 Bonus, on bartops. Golden Gate has only junk VP. Plaza may have some decent choices--I'm not up to date on that one.

I went through an El Cortez "phase" but I don't think the bartop experience is all that great.  I went into that small martini type lounge bar last week, and 3 of the machines (out of I think 7) were either out of order or multiple sticky buttons.  The bartenders seem to be strict about the free drinks too even though I play lightning fast. 

And the restaurant Siegels is just terrible, not even worth the tip when they comp you the food.  Circa restaurants are great - overpriced - but they comp enough that the prices don't really matter.  

There is certainly things I would change at Circa, but I don't see how you can call it "trashy".    The El Cortez and QQQQ are way trashier.   And I don't have super high standards, but even I refuse to gamble at Binions now - whole place is complete trash.   

I call Circa trashy because the atmosphere--constant ear-bleed loud music--is trashy, the clientele (downscale trailer park) is trashy, the gambling (crummy games, high limits) is trashy, the food ($26 pastrami sandwiches!) is trashy, the idiot Stadium Swim is trashy in the extreme, and most of all, Derek is trashy.

Of course, pretty much all of downtown is one giant waste disposal facility.

I am with you Chris.  Downtown almost seems like a tourist trap anymore. Circia, and Bar canada, are 1, and 2 with the sports bar at Cal and the Lounge bar at El cortez a distant 3 and 4.  We really only play downtown about 6 hours each trip just to take advantage of offers and to keep thing active.

I'll need to check out that Cal bar, I don't think I have been in the Cal since 2022.  I actually really enjoy Circa, but it's good to have a change of pace.  

Sand Dollar I go to mostly for the craft beer options (or to see a band).  

Bar Canada I mostly go to for Knights games, as I can play VP and they have the sound on.  

Are the VP bars at the Fremont any good?