It has been over a year since our last trip to Vegas. This is the first time in over 22 years that we have had such a long time between Vegas trips. We had one planned in December but an epic ice storm cancelled our plans.
Our work schedules have changed to limit our available trip time, and we have started to frequent two Indian casinos, both are one hour's drive from our house.
A few years ago, we didn't see too much appeal in these casinos. You have to pay a .50 ante to play cards, and they have a different kind of slot machine that pays on bingo payouts. The casinos were dark, smoky and a bit hokey.
In the past few years, though, they've worked hard to make the machines the same kind as you see in Vegas (they still payout on bingo wins, but they look like the same machine). They've also upgraded the look of their casinos and hotel to almost Vegas standards. While we still don't play table games (that ante has got to go!), the slot machines have been kind to us this past year. We started strictly playing $1 to $10 machines, skipping those fun but money sucking penny machines. While we still have losing trips, we've signed for over 15 hand pays in the past 14 months. On Saturday, we had our best win ever - a $4800 hand pay. It was nice to put the money in our pocket and be home again within a few hours.
Hand pays used to be common during our Vegas trips, but they took a nose dive about eight years ago. Was it due to the massive influx of penny machines? Maybe. We got sucked into those bells and whistles easily. We drifted away from our video poker and $5 machines. Or did Vegas just stop paying out? It seems like they've stopped courting the gamblers and are just focusing on the 20 something clubbers. We have what I would call a moderate bankroll, but it has been over a year since we've gotten a call from a host. The offers are few now, only from Station, Silverton and Caesar's.
I'm not done with Vegas - I miss the fun and excitement, plus the beautiful desert scenery. But if the winning continues at home, it will be hard to convince my husband to pack a bag from now on. Anyone else feel the same?
Our work schedules have changed to limit our available trip time, and we have started to frequent two Indian casinos, both are one hour's drive from our house.
A few years ago, we didn't see too much appeal in these casinos. You have to pay a .50 ante to play cards, and they have a different kind of slot machine that pays on bingo payouts. The casinos were dark, smoky and a bit hokey.
In the past few years, though, they've worked hard to make the machines the same kind as you see in Vegas (they still payout on bingo wins, but they look like the same machine). They've also upgraded the look of their casinos and hotel to almost Vegas standards. While we still don't play table games (that ante has got to go!), the slot machines have been kind to us this past year. We started strictly playing $1 to $10 machines, skipping those fun but money sucking penny machines. While we still have losing trips, we've signed for over 15 hand pays in the past 14 months. On Saturday, we had our best win ever - a $4800 hand pay. It was nice to put the money in our pocket and be home again within a few hours.
Hand pays used to be common during our Vegas trips, but they took a nose dive about eight years ago. Was it due to the massive influx of penny machines? Maybe. We got sucked into those bells and whistles easily. We drifted away from our video poker and $5 machines. Or did Vegas just stop paying out? It seems like they've stopped courting the gamblers and are just focusing on the 20 something clubbers. We have what I would call a moderate bankroll, but it has been over a year since we've gotten a call from a host. The offers are few now, only from Station, Silverton and Caesar's.
I'm not done with Vegas - I miss the fun and excitement, plus the beautiful desert scenery. But if the winning continues at home, it will be hard to convince my husband to pack a bag from now on. Anyone else feel the same?
