Land Based Casino Blog

2014 started out really well for me. My favorite hot spot is Rivers Casino in Des Plaines, Il. It is close to downtown Chicago and conveniently located next to O'Hare Airport receiving a lot of locals and travelers alike.

Two weeks ago i had an unforgettable win that i am not sure will ever top it. But before i tell that story i have to mention that a week prior to that i hit a Jackpot on Super Triple Play Draw Video Poker for $1,400. Anything over $1,200 is hand paid so dear Uncle Sam can get his piece of the pie.

Rivers Casino runs a drawing every two weeks for Jackpot winners. Along with your cash payout winners receive a slip to enter the drawing the next Thursday. The drawing takes place in the Cube lounge and has appetizers and live music for the Jackpot winners. There are 6 names drawn for 1 $5,000 winner and 5 $1,000 winners at 7:00pm.

The day of the drawing i had no plans to go because i was out about and didn't think i would be home in time to go. This is where the real story begins...........

After being out with a couple of friends a good 45 minutes away from the Casino we started to head for home. My friend was driving on the expressway and the last thing on my mind at that moment was the drawing. That was until i saw Rivers Casino to the right of us across the expressway. I looked at the time and it was 6:45. I thought quick trying to decide whether or not to ask my friend to stop in real quick for the drawing.

We had just passed the exit for the Casino when i said OMG would you please do me a huge favor, get off at the next exit turn around and drop me off at the Casino for a drawing that is going to start in 15 minutes. I said you guys don't even have to get out of the car, i will run in, put slip in barrel and make it just in time for the drawing.

My friend said no problem and turned the car around and dropped me off at the front door while they waited in the car. I said i won't be more than 10 minutes as it was 6:55 at this point. I made a mad dash with only minutes to spare to the Cube and dropped my name in the barrel.

So being the gambler i am i decided to play a quick game of Super Times Video Poker while i waited for the winners to be announced. I sat down and thought ok this will be the fasted game ever slipped a $20 into the machine and played ten lines per game at .25 when all of a sudden..............

O
M
G

I got a three times multiplier and was dealt, yes dealt four 3's with the kicker that would pay on alllllllll ten lines. The machine instantly locked and flashed "Hand Pay". I was so excited i couldn't even think straight as to how much i won. Then the Jackpot amount flashed $6,000! I was so excited i was jumping up and down in my seat!

Needless to say i didn't win the Jackpot drawing but at that point who cares! It took me about 20 minutes before i got paid out. I flew out of the casino to the waiting car. I tried as hard as i could to look disappointed. My friend rolls down the passenger's window and said did you win the drawing and i shook my head no looking all down and out.

I hopped in the car and said nah i didn't win the drawing............BUT...........but i did win.........
And i said hold your hand out.........and counted out $6,000 in $100 bills! I gave my friend a $100 for taking me there and waiting for me and said i wouldn't of went or won otherwise!

It was the best win i ever had considering i played on only $20 and left the second i got paid out!

hahhaha an awesome story Lips.  You surely got the lucky of the Irish

That's the way to do it lips. Get paid and get outta there! Congrats again on that awesome win!

    Congrats Lips,  that's awesome     Good thing you were in a hurry 'cause  who knows what might've happened  if you had more time.    Glad to hear you took it and ran.

Thanks bongo, the stars i guess were lined up just right. And knowing me i would of definitely given some of it back if i didn't have them waiting for me in the car!

Great story Lips. Get in - win - get out.  Perfect.

A Gambler is Born

My first winning gambling experience was at Grand Victoria Casino. My father used to say when someone would win for the first time "a gambler has just been born". It couldn't be a more true sentiment.

Here is my very first winning story:

My mom who loved Casinos was initially a lover of Slots, it wasn't until later that she grew a passion for Video Poker. She had asked me shortly after i turned 21 to go to the Casino with her.  I didn't have much luck and to be quite honest didn't completely understand how the reels produced winning combinations. I didn't win and wasn't taken too much to the whole gambling world at first.

I went back with her again for the second time and i if my memory serves me correct i believe it was a US holiday President's Day. My mom always had the luck of the Irish on her side. Walking into Grand Victoria Riverboat Casino with just $50 in my pocket we went our separate ways wishing each other good luck and were on our way to play the Slots.

Needless to say i went through that $50 bucks in a half hour with zero luck. Roaming the Casino i went searching for my mom and found her at a machine. She had won over $1,000 on the Slot she was playing.

She told me to go cash in her winnings and would give me a few bucks to continue to play. Heading back from the cashier to where my mom was i spotted a Slot machine that looked intriguing.



It was a Double Diamond 3 reel $1 Slot machine with the moving diamond symbols. I couldn't help but take just a couple bucks to try it on my way back. Feeling a little guilty because i thought i should really bring back her winnings first before i run off playing! Telling myself i will make sure to let her know i did stop and throw a couple bucks in the machine, i took my first spin!

The reels came to a stop showing two Double Diamond symbols and one triple purple bar. At first being such a naive gambler at the time thought i lost because all symbols didn't match. Before the machine could even kick out the winnings i started to walk away when a woman sitting next to the machine said "where are you going, you just won"!

I looked back and the machine tallied up $400 and i was thrilled to pieces! I went flying through the Casino to my mom and said just so you know i did take a couple dollars but you won't need to give me any money because i turned it into $400!

Til this day i will often past a Double Diamond Slot machine and throw in a couple bucks here or there. Unfortunately there are not many around anymore at the casinos as new Slot releases replaced them.

My dad was right, a gambler was born!

I remember those slots. Gosh I never played it though. I was hooked on video slots when I first went to the casino. I loved Instant Winner, Jackpot Party, Life of Luxury and Winning Bid back then. All WMS by the way.

Those slots bring back lots of memories, I just find them to be so nostalgic. A true slot machine. 

My Casino adventures took me to Harrahs Laughlin Casino.

I never imagined i would go to the state of Nevada and not opt to go to Las Vegas but i was offered a free trip through Harrah's Casino flight and hotel included for three days. It was an offer i couldn't pass up. I never understood why they chose me because it was the first time ever went to one of their properties in Joliet. I won a $400 Jackpot on a Slot and the next thing i knew i received an invitation for a Free trip in the mail.

I flew on one of Harrah's privately owned planes with about 200 other passengers who also got the free offer. We had a blast on the plane as the flight attendants played games with the passengers with real cash money awarded to the winners!  I didn't win but it was fun trying.

Laughlin is about a two hour drive from Las Vegas and rests along the Colorado River with about ten Casino lined up along the river bank. What was really cool was the water taxi that transported players from one casino to the next. Its just as easy to walk but had to experience it at least once there.

Harrah's Laughlin had a beach in front of the resort adding a really nice touch to the Casino. I wasn't having any luck the first two days i was there. One night my good friend i brought with me wasn't winning either and headed for the room later that night.

I found one Slot (can't remember the name of it) that gave away diamond rings, bracelets and earrings as a bonus prize including cash prizes. Everyone there was playing these bank of machines like crazy and i could never get a seat. That night a seat was free so i made a mad dash to it. I ended up winning a diamond ring that was like a quarter of a carat. I would of much rather won the cash! When i got back to the room my friend asked how i did and i said all i won was this stupid diamond! She said are you serious, how can you not be excited! I was looking for hard cold cash to keep gambling that's why! That was my highlight at Harrah's.

Money was tight by the last day of our trip. We hit every Casino on the strip and took another trip to Tropicana Laughlin Casino. I sat down and played Red White and Blue 7's Slot.



It was a $1 three reel Slot and played the max bet of $3 per spin. I was holding my own pretty well on $40 when i hit three white glorious 7's! Payout was $600 big ones! It didn't pay for all my losses but it certainly helped!

If you are looking for a spot in Nevada that is away from the hustle and bustle i highly recommend Laughlin. Unfortunately there are no commercial flights that go there but they do offer bus transportation from Las Vegas.

lmaooooo @ the diamond! Ah good stuff.  Sounds like it was a fun trip though. Definitely sounds like a great alternative to Vegas.

Sounds Like the place to hit once your over the club scene of Vegas which I def am! I have to check it out. The water taxis sound awesome!

All i can say is keep it on, Lips and good luck, i am glad for you as it happened to me back in 2007 to play at a land based casino in Vegas and i know the feeling 

Thanks SheWolf! Where did you stay in Vegas and did you have any luck?

Hey Lips do you recommend any particular casinos there?

I stayed at Goldstrike casino (it is 15 miles far from Vegas) and played both in Vegas and in Goldstrike - the luck was even with the loss  so that was the start and the start i think is always more for pleasure then for making money

Breaking out even is as good as winning! Don't think anything can to Vegas. It's def a gambler's paradise!

Got a Phone Call From the Casino.........

Last month i received a phone call from my local casino congratulating me on receiving the highest level players card. My first thought was is that a good thing or a bad thing! I guess that means i am considered a high roller with a black players card to prove it.

She introduced herself as my new "Slot Host" and if need anything to call her. She also invited me to a complimentary fancy dinner at the Casino as her guest and to bring along a guest of my own. I figured why not right?

When i arrived to the restaurant there was another couple joining us. The sky was the limit to what we could order off the menu including appetizers, salads and an entree. I told my friend go ahead and order the most expensive thing on the menu because in reality i have bought these dinners a hundred times over throughout the year in gambling!

I had king crab legs that were out of this world followed by turtle chocolate brownie pie that was big enough to feed the whole table!

After dinner i headed for the ladies room and when i came out there was the Slot host waiting for me. She said i forgot to tell you i loaded $160 on your players card! That was better than the dessert!

We arrived a bit early and i played some Video Poker before dinner with no luck. So after dinner we were going to leave but now i have this free cash so i head to Game King multiple Video Poker games machine.

I popped in my card entered my PIN number and got my $160 in free play credited to the machine. Because it was free cash i decided to play ten hands. It was going pretty fast at 60 quarters a game. I was down to a mere $20 when i hit the glorious four Aces and the kicker on one of the hands and what made it even sweeter is it paid $1,000 unlike other variations that pay $500.

I cashed that baby out as soon as it was exactly down to $1,000 and left the casino! I ended up making a $800 profit after spending $200 before dinner.

It was the second time ever i won big off free cash! I couldn't be happier and my friend said to me " wow i am so proud of you for cashing out and not continuing to play"! To be honest i was proud of myself too..........

Lips

That's a great day at the casino lips. It's awesome to win that much from free cash. SOunds like you were treated to a fun evening. What poker game were you playing?

One of those lucky days! That is another great story of your, Lips

A Race to the Machine

Its like two sprint runners racing to an open machine and all i can think about is getting there first!

On one of my trips to the Casino i saw one of my fav VIdeo Poker machines from across the aisle when the Casino was super crowded. It was like seeing a mirage and there is this halo of brilliant light around it that says don't walk to it RUNNNNN fast or it will be gone!

There was a woman who had her eye on it too and we both were moving across the Casino floor to get to it. Its kind of funny because neither one of us wanted to be real obvious that we both had our eye on the same machine!

I have seen other players do this and they all act the same way, as if they are totally oblivious that there is another person in hot pursuit of the same darn machine at the same time!

As it was a fight to the finish line neither one of us wanted to walk super fast and tried to have this casual stroll that at the same time had a certain adrenaline rush and speed in our step. It seemed to be an eternity to get there (which was like more like 10 seconds) and the whole while i am thinking please don't let someone else come around the corner and take it!

Just a mere second from the Video Poker machine i had a slight advantage and was a hair ahead of her when i grabbed the back of the chair and quickly sat down. I do have to admit i kinda felt a bit guilty because i hate to be that kind of pushy aggressive person but nevertheless i was in it to win it.

Ironically her husband was sitting at the machine next to me which made me feel slightly more uncomfortable. It was an aisle seat so she decided to sit across from me and watch me play, maybe as a form of intimidation. I thought oh boy this is not good and is creating way too much negative energy and i am not enjoying this at all.

So i decided to play for a short time and get the heck out of there and give up the seat. I started out playing 5 lines and had no luck at all. I switched my game to three lines and on like the third hand i hit the Royal Flush!

The woman popped up from her seat and ran over to her husband next to me and whispered something in his ear. I can only imagine what she said to him! That's when i decided its my exit point and i got up to leave and she immediately sat down although i do think she missed her chance at winning.

And what did i do with that great big $1,000 win? I gave every single bit of it back that day......sigh. Oh well they say breaking out even is as good as winning. What else could i think for playing so stupid and not leaving. But i sure had fun spending back the Casino's money!

Lips

Lips, your stories are always so interesting!  I was at the casino about two weeks ago playing the 3 lines, 5 lines, etc. video poker.  There are 6 machines in a row and I sat down in the middle.  There was only one other lady there playing at the end of the row.  I started putting 20 after 20 in and she said something to me like "tight machines" or something.  So I agreed with her and we started talking back and forth about how much she had in, not winning, etc.  At one point she said something to me as I was hitting the deal button.  I looked over to answer her and when I looked back at my machine I had hit a royal flush for $1000 on one line.  Too funny!  Maybe it works to complain.

medtrans

Rude Machine Thieves!

Something must have been in the air when I went to Horseshoe Casino in Hammond Indiana over the weekend. I am not sure if it was a full moon or stars were lined up poorly in the cosmos. It was the worst experience I ever had as far as other players go.

Every once in a while I take a trip to Horseshoe Casino that is right outside the city limits of Chicago. I love this Casino for several reasons. It is by far one of the most beautiful Casinos in my area and one of the largest. It sits along Lake Michigan and the views are breathtaking. The buffet is probably one of the best within the general area of where I live. The panoramic view of lake while you are eating is incredible.

When I have that itch to go and don’t have a large bankroll that week to play with it’s the perfect spot for me because they offer nickel and dime Video Poker and my money lasts a bit longer.

As soon as I got there I found a nickel Super Times Pay Video Poker machine. Within 5 minutes I hit the Royal Flush on one of the five lines I was playing. I have to admit winning $250 was not nearly as exciting as playing on quarter machines and winning $1,000 for a Royal but I wasn’t going to complain. I had only wished I had the multiplier with it!

I played a bit longer and made my way over to the nickel Double Double Poker and landed 4 threes with the kicker and thought ok I am off to a great start! I stayed on that machine for quite a while when I decided to get up and head for the ladies room.

I left my card in the machine and my coat over the chair. I was not gone more than 5 minutes when I came back and this guy was sitting in my seat! It’s not like the place was packed and machines were limited and I was fuming mad at the audacity! I didn’t say anything other than “excuse me can I get my coat you are leaning on”! He didn’t say a word and leaned forward without even so much as a glance. My card was still in the machine and grabbed that too mumbling under my breath that I hope he loses for being so rude!

I decided to play Slots for a change of pace and found my favorite spot, an end machine. It caught my eye too because it was a Slot I use to play a lot; The Drifter.

There was a woman sitting directly next to me but across the center aisle on an end machine. She got up, leaned her chair against the Slot, left her coat draped on the chair and her card in the machine.

A woman walks up, pulls the chair back, rips the card out of the machine, pulls her coat off chair and throws them both on the side of machine and sits down to play. All the while I am thinking oh this is gonna get ugly when this woman comes back the way she slung her coat and card!

The woman returns and stops dead in her tracks in disbelief. She leans down and says “excuse me I was playing this Slot”. The Slot thief looks up at her and says sorry but you got up from the machine. This poor woman said yes but my card and coat were here and the chair was pushed up. Again the woman repeats “but you left, so go away”! She was very lucky this woman held her temper because I could see she was seething mad. She grabbed her card and coat and just walked away shaking her head.

Now here was the real kicker of the day.........that woman actually got up herself at one point and leaned her chair up, left her card and went to go cash-out her voucher. I had a good mind to want to grab that seat and let her see how it feels!

How rude can some people be, I just don’t get it especially since it is so obvious someone is coming back!

As for me winning……….let’s just say it was a bad day all the way around. I didn’t have another good hit the rest of the day but boy oh boy there sure was a couple of people I could have hit!

It is amazing how rude people can be!  When I have to leave my machine for a short time I put the "change" light on and wait for an attendant so I can ask them to watch my machine.  Sometimes it takes a while for someone to come, but I'd rather wait than have someone take over my machine when I have all the money in it. 

medtrans

Wow, that's unreal Lips. People are soooo ignorant. I would have love to take her seat, karma!

Only a couple of casino here allow attendants to hold machines. I know that Harrah's Casino Joliet would hold your machine and lock it if you wanted to go eat or be gone for 30 minutes or up to one hour. But you had to have Seven Stars status to get that kind of privilege. Would be nice if all Casinos allowed that and based it on the length of time or money spent on a particular machine.

Haha yep karma is a bi**ch!

LOL I love the title of that blog! People never cease to amaze me. Just when you think you've seen it all someone does the next mean, rude or dumb @ss thing!

Don't Snap Pictures in the Casino or Else!

My sister and her friend came into town for a visit this week and naturally (he he he) we had to stop at the Casino. Her friend is not much of a Casino gal and said she would opt to head to the bar for a couple of beers instead. So, she wouldn't be too bored while sis and i were busy playing i came up with an idea........

I asked her to walk around the Casino discretely and snap pictures of interesting people that i could share with the members here at the forum. She thought it would be a fun adventure.

As we head to the machines she is off on her paparazzi mission. She ran into a snag and finds me at the Poker machine saying she can't get her cell phone off of Video and on Camera. I check the phone and tell her yep its stuck for sure! My sis saves the day, fixes the phone and she is off and running again through the Casino.

Nearly an hour goes by before before she comes back. Excited, i asked her if she got any pictures. She got plenty around 30, but there is one problem......she got busted!

Seems the eye in the sky was watching her go from one end of the Casino to the other and became suddenly suspicious. Surveillance watched her every move and though she was discrete it didn't take them long to figure out what she was doing.

The next thing that happens is a tap on her shoulder from security. "Excuse miss but you are NOT allowed to take pictures in this casino"! A bit worried she was going to be escorted out of the Casino, she apologizes profusely. Security says every single picture on her phone must be deleted and to ensure they were........security stood over her shoulder and watched as each one was deleted and then checked it to make sure they were all removed!

I felt super bad this happened to her and couldn't apologize enough but she was really cool about it and just thankful she wasn't bounced out of the Casino and so was i.

We then went to the buffet for dinner and on the way i teased her and said please don't walk too close next to me because she was now a marked woman and a criminal of the Casino and could mar my reputation by association!

Then the frosting on the cake was checking her phone to see if any photos were spared and what we found was a Video of herself looking in the lens trying to figure out how to shut it off totally unaware she was filming herself. Omg i think we all laughed til we cried with her completely dumbfounded expression oblivious she was videoing herself! I told her i was going to post the video here and she said you better not!

It is amazing how that eye in the sky doesn't miss a trick and how opposed to picture taking the Casino is. After dinner there was a big commotion around the cashier's cage. Laying on the floor was an elderly man. I went into a complete panic thinking he might of passed away from a heart attack. My sis and her friend were way ahead of me in the crowd. I lingered behind because i just had to know this man was still alive. So i pretended to play a Slot near where he laid because security was not allowing anyone to stand next to him! Pheww he was ok and coming around so i felt relieved.

At this point i said lets get the heck out of here. It was a bad day all the way around.

I guess I can see the point of the casino.  They don't want people taking pictures as someone might get busted by their husband or wife etc.  The proof is in the picture!  However, I am shocked that she got caught doing it.  Guess it is true about the eye in the sky...they are always watching.

medtrans

LOL that's way too funny lips! OMG I am always nervous to even take a pic of my own win much less walk around and snap pics of other people. lmaooooooo Glad the man was okay though. That would have taken all the fun out of that day!

OMG I almost peed my pants reading your story lips!  they really are watching every detail makes ya think twice about pulling that wedgie out or anything else embarrassing! 

Lmao you guys crack me up! I guess i will have to be the one to take pics. I have just have to order myself a new cell phone first. I dropped it in a glass of water and was able to salvage it for the most part but it won't take pics or ringer doesn't work. As soon as i get one i will be on the sly!

Gambling on the Other Side of the Pond

I was fortunate enough to spend a couple months in England. And naturally one of the first things i asked..........is there a casino nearby and if so when can we go!

I really had no idea what the Casinos would be like and i suppose i envisioned them to be pretty much like they are at home. But i quickly learned they are completely different at least the one i went to was. I went to Grosvenor Casino before they were acquired by Gala Casino Group.

The Casino was very small with a max of 20 multi-game Slot machines and a few table games. It was not very crowded with a couple people at the tables and one or two players at the Slots. Call it beginners luck because i ended up winning £300 on my first visit playing Fort Knox Progressive Slot.

Although it was much smaller than what i am use to i enjoyed the quaint atmosphere and winning certainly left a nice impression! My only complaint was don't order a drink at the bar unless it is a beer or a glass of wine. We ordered a fancy Mai Tai that was on their drink list and took the bartender a half hour to figure out how to make it! I kinda of felt bad because he said no one rarely ever orders the fancy drinks and the poor guy was a wreck.

Staying at my dear friend and husbands house, i was invited later in the week to go visit her mother in-law because it was her birthday. I said no go ahead i have a lot of work to do anyway! But see i had other ideas on my mind........lmao.

They headed for the front door to leave and asked if i was sure i didn't want to change my mind and go with them. I said no you guys need some time on your own too and after all i will be here for two months so go on ahead its absolutely fine.

I had my head buried in my laptop typing away as they were walking out and as soon as i heard the door close behind them i slammed the lid down on my laptop and started to dial up a taxi to take me to the Casino!

I arrived at the Casino with about $200 on me and didn't have a single bit of luck on the Slots this time. Unfortunately (or should i say fortunately) there is no ATM inside the Casino. I had to go outside across the street to an outdoor ATM located in the heart of town. I happened to know the area a wee bit because we went shopping around there and remembered where it was. It's amazing how when need be you can find your way around in a foreign place!

So here i am walking down the street to get more cash out to gamble and who do i see? My friends going by in a taxi heading back to the flat! They spot  me and start cracking up and call me on my cell. Her husband could not stop laughing saying i acted like i owned that neighborhood and been there my whole life!

They absolutely could not believe that i knew the number to call a taxi plus was able to tell them the right location "Bottom of town to Grosvenor Casino" and gave the address of where i was staying to pick me up. What's crazy is if i had to go somewhere else i would most likely have a million excuses of why i couldn't do this on my own in another part of the world!

I got my cash out of the ATM and waltz right back over to the Casino and ended up walking out with £500! I strolled down the street, sat down at a bench and called them to come meet me at this corner and i am going to treat them for dinner at this nice Chinese restaurant there in town!

I don't think i ever heard the end of how i just took care of business and push come to shove i found my way around. Well it's easy to do ya know because we are talking about Casinos here!

Lips

nice story lips :} i often go to the grosvenor to play poker mostly but do have a shot at the slots a fair bit if there is no cash game on and i have busted from a tourney. i hit the fort knox progressive twice in the space of 2 hours one night ! sadly for me i only hit the bronze and silver for a total of around £250 but it still made me leave winning that night which was good .

You sure did strut like you owned that town lips! lmaoooo way too funny! I never had luck on Fort Knox.  You won a few times on that didn't you? What was the game you liked?

I liked Fort Knox the best and won the Bronze and Silver progressive several times!

That's awesome carlito! Those progressive pop often if i remember correctly i thought there was a max the progressive went to and then it triggers.

Lighting up the Entire Slot machine with all Wilds......

Every once in awhile i go to Blue Chip Casino Hotel Spa in Michigan City Indiana. It's a smaller Casino in comparison to many others but it offers a nice hotel and Spa too.

I had decided to go for an overnight stay with another couple. They had a free room comp and asked me to join them and leave that Friday night after they got off work. As soon as we got there and my friend's husband registered at the front hotel desk and handed me a spare key and we wished each other luck and off i went on my separate way to the Video Poker machines.

I really like the nickel Progressive Video Poker section but there was one problem, the location. It was at the farthest corner of the Casino and the whole row faced the wall. I felt like i was a kid in school who got caught chewing gum and had to sit in the corner!

Of course it never stopped me from playing. After sitting there a couple of hours my friends came and found me and were ready for dinner. Having no luck so far, i thought maybe things might turn around after we ate.

I headed right back to Video Poker and really had nothing big worth mentioning so i decided to try my luck on Slots. Clear across the other side of the Casino floor is the Penny Slots room. I decided to try the Aristocrat's Buffalo Slot.

I slipped in a $20 bill and played when i landed the Free Spins Bonus feature. That's when my screen lit up gloriously with buffalo alllllllll the way across my screen. I don't know what's more thrilling seeing that or the actual win! I ended up winning $500!

At this point i am still head of the game and omg where do i  go next? The freakin Video Poker section again, but this time i played the quarter machines. It was after midnight by this time and my friends decided to go up to the room and i said i will be up there shortly.

Now i am notorious for staying up all night long and never even seeing the hotel room at all (like i did on a previous trip). It was around 1am when i hit 4 Aces with the kicker winning another $500. It was a good thing too because i had already blew my first Jackpot!

I ended up heading to the room about 4am be woken up by two people who were ready to rumble a 8am! I staggered out of bed, took a shower and went down for breakfast. We stayed until mid afternoon.

I ended up walking out with $120 of the original $400 i brought with me so all in all it was a losing trip!

But what is amazing is how i had little sleep and once i hit that Casino floor in the morning i was wide awake and ready to go non-stop. We were invited to a cookout later that day and on the car ride home it hit me how tired i was and wasn't sure i would make it there without some sleep. But i had a quick remedy for that, a couple shots at the bbq and i was as good as new lmaooo!

Lips

Lips,

Your casino stories are always so interesting and fun to read.  You sure do get around to a lot of casinos!

I am the same.  Never want to go to bed.  Then in the morning I could kick myself because I am tired and wished I had more sleep.

Sounds like you had a good time.

medtrans

LOL great story lips. Even I get tired at some point. You crack me up!

Lips,

I loved reading your story and I too know the feeling of going without sleep to gamble, of course that was back many, many, moons ago!

You wrote in your story that you left the casino with $120.00 of the original $400.00 you brought to play.  Kiddo that’s a winner every day in my book!  Anytime you can leave the casino with any of your original grubstake, have had fun gambling, and stay in a comp’d room, is a definite win.

I was in the casino business for 24 years and believe me when I say, “You’re a winner!”

Great story and by the way CONGRATULATIONS!

Playing 1 Coin at a time………

There is nothing like heading to the Casino on the spur of the moment and that’s exactly what I did today. A good friend of mine got into a jam and needed a ride to work so I volunteered to take her. It took me all of 30 seconds after I found out where I had to drive her to that it was only 10 minutes away from my fav stomping ground Rivers Casino in Des Plaines.

There was no way I could pass that up! Wednesday’s are never free money day because it is gift give away day. I picked up my gift which was an electric cooker steamer but not until I first headed to the Video Poker section.

This time I was smart and took cash out of the ATM machine in the VIP Ten Lounge where there is no $5 fee. Every Wednesday the Casino is packed not only for the free gift but its Crab night at the buffet so it was a nut house.

My favorite Super Times Pay machine was taken but there was the same machine right next to it so I played there. I put $100 in the machine, played .25 Double Bonus Poker 5 lines and hit four 3’s with the kicker winning $200 and was off to a good start.

Unfortunately that was my only hit and $400 later I went back to the ATM machine and like a fool got out $400 more! Went straight back to the same machine and was hoping and praying the women next to me would get off my machine.

What really frustrated me was that she was playing one credit at a time. Max credits for this machine is 21 coins and a minimum of three lines and this darn woman was playing only one hand, one coin at a time for a total bet of one quarter! Ya just don’t do that on those poker machines and waste a good seat!

At this point I have already put $500 in my machine when this lady’s husband came up to her and wanted to leave. I was thrilled to death so I could jump on the machine the second she left. The waiting seemed like an eternity as she had to fumble in her purse for ten minutes looking for her valet parking ticket………..argggggggg! She finally got up and I promptly sat down and played the machine the way it should be played; Max bet!

Whenever I sit down at a Poker machine I will always start out playing 10 lines. It’s a bit pricey but I have a much better chance of hitting a decent hand with ten of them in play. I was thinking this poor machine wants to be played right, NOT some silly one coin player and maybe just maybe it’s ready to pop. I played about 5 hands when I got dealt an Ace Jack of hearts and held it.  With only two to the Royal I wasn’t too confident it would come up. Oh boy oh boy was I wrong! The fourth line gave me a Royal Flush in hearts paying me $1000!

I was already $600 in the hole and ended up making a $400 profit. The machine was holding its own for a while but I was determined to cashout at $1,000 no matter what. And guess what………….i did!

Me and my steam cooker walked right to the exit door and went home. I am soooo glad I offered to drive my friend to work today. Any time she needs a ride in the future I will happily take her!

Lips

Congrats Lips! 

Those darn royals do seem to come up when you least expect it.  Ever get dealt 4 to the royal and have 3 hands or 5 hands to get the other one?  Never seems to come up.  So happy for you.

What are your thoughts on getting a straight flush?  I NEVER get one when I hold 3 or 4 cards.  I am to the point that I don't even go for them any more.  And I do think they should pay more too if you get one.

medtrans

Nice win lips. I hate when I see people waste those poker machines with one coin. You don't take advantage of all the hands nor do you even get the multiplier or whatever the little extra is. I woulda been mad to gurl! You pulled it off in the end though. Congrats!

Hi Med,

Couldn't agree with you more.........

I kid you not i have been dealt 4 to the royal on ten hands many times in a single session and get nothing. It always seems to hit when you have only two and a couple of times i have held only one card and hit the royal. Sometimes i really do think the RNG is set up that way to tease and give players the illusion it is about to hit.

Straight Flushes are not easy at all to get. I don't know who was responsible for the pay-out for Straight Flushes but as far as i see it they were way off considering they are just as hard to get as a Royal Flush.

I did though one time get dealt a SF on ten hands (no multiplier) and that was sweet.

Lips

Ameristar Casino in Indiana Didn’t Offer Star Treatment but I Got Even by Winning!

Ameristar Casino in East Chicago Indiana is just a stone’s throw from Chicago but I have never been there, always opting for Horseshoe Casino that’s only 15 minutes away from there.

I decided to spread my wings a bit more and give Ameristar Casino a whirl. On the spur of the moment (isn’t that always the most fun) a friend and I jumped in my car and had GPS lead the way on Monday!

I have to admit I was pretty impressed with the outside and lobby of this Casino/hotel and really wasn’t expecting it to look quite as luxurious.

I immediately said to my friend “oh I want to spend the night here sometime”! I already had a player’s card from going to Ameristar in Council Bluffs Iowa a few years ago but needed to head to the rewards center to get a new My Choice card.

I was hoping since I had never played at this location I might get some type of freebie but didn’t! My friend never played at any Ameristar Casino and told her to sign up for a player’s card because surely she would get at least a free buffet. Boy oh boy was I wrong, the gal handed her the new card and simply said “good luck”.

I don’t think I have ever been to a Casino that didn’t offer new players some type of gift so this was a disappointing first!

The Casino is a Riverboat that has 4 levels. My target hot spot was of course to find the Video Poker section! I got a bit side tracked when I first walked in and saw the Bier Haus Slot and couldn’t resist playing it. After $100 down I wasn’t off to a good start.

Having 4 floors it was like trying to find a needle in hay stack for the Video Poker section. I finally had to ask a worker who told me it was on the lower level.

I couldn’t get to the elevator fast enough! I sat down to play Super Times Pay Poker and after another $100 bucks decided it was time to move on. That’s when I found my dream machine: Double Super Times Poker!

There were only two of these machines in the entire Casino. One guy was sitting on the end machine and I sat in the empty seat next to him.

My vibe told me that the machine he was on is the one that was going to pay and could only hope he wouldn’t linger too long. As luck would have it he got up after about ten minutes and I promptly sat down to play.

Because it took nearly an hour to get there I decided to play at lower stakes. The last thing I wanted to do is be flat out of money in an hour’s time and have to head home so I decided to play .10 coin denomination at 10 lines per hand (still pretty pricey I know)!

I didn’t take me long before I hit the Royal Flush on one of the lines paying me a sweet $400. This was followed by a look of disbelief and sarcastic comment by my friend who sat at the machine next to me “You have a real horseshoe up you’re a$$”! I said guurl you got to believe you are gonna win that’s the secret!

I held my own on that machine for quite a long time and of course my credit balance dwindled down to zero and slipped more money in the machine with no luck.

We decided to go have the buffet which was by the way really very good and reasonably priced at $15.99.

By this time it was rush hour and the highway would be crazy with traffic heading back to Chicago. So what is a player to do but go back to the Casino right?

I had to pull more money out of the ATM machine and on my way back to Video Poker I spotted the one cent machine Kronos Slot by WMS. I love that machine and this particular one had a Progressive Jackpot, something I had never seen before at home.

I decided to play max bet at $3.00 and hit the Bonus round for 25 Free Spins and ended up with $700 win! I immediately cashout, slipped the voucher in my purse and went to play some more Video Poker with the rest of my ATM withdrawal vowing that wants that was gone I would NOT touch the voucher.

Well never promising to do what I say I am going to do I decided to pull out the damn voucher and go back to the machine I won the Royal Flush on after my cash was gone!

Back at .10 ten lines two hands later I get dealt four of kind 7’s and prayed the multiplier would come up and it did at 2x! I won a cool $500 and was soooo happy I decided to play my voucher.
I didn’t want to push my luck so I played a $100 off it and came up a couple $100 more ahead. The machine was on fire but I knew it was time go while I was ahead with a sweet $900 profit for the day!

Ameristar Casino didn’t give us any exciting offers for our visit but I got even lmao!

Lips

Your friend was right about that horseshoe lips! I never saw anyone have luck like you. Quite nauseating really.

Now, Now froggy its not nice to be so jealous! Just because you have to sit hours on end waiting for me to get done because you have lost your bankroll in an hour flat doesn't mean you should take it out on me! 

Yeah, yeah, yeah 

Very nice lips.  Congrats to you.  It is always nice to come home a winner, even a small win is nice knowing that you can go gambling again very soon since you still have the original money you brought plus a little more.  My problem is going home at that point so I can go back again soon. 

medtrans