2 Nighter in Tunica

[Mousey]

Seems like ages ago, but it was only last week. We went for Mon & Tues night. Hubby still needs to stay away from large crowds and I really, really hate weekends in casinos, anyway. LOL

Not so much a trip report as a whine about the influx of multiline 'penny' machines and the fading away of the plain jane 3 reelers. *sigh* I used to love mixing my first night play between 50 cent slot machines and VP. I think I found only 4 ... that's right FOUR... .50 3 reelers at the GoldStrike and they were nearly always taken. Fewer and fewer .25 and $1 3 reelers, too.

Don't get me wrong, I love the multi liner penny vid slots! but! ... enough is enough! They must hog fully 75% of the gaming floor -- unless of course I went to the high roller section for the $5 3 reelers. And there weren't many of those, either. Than again, who needs 2 coin $5 3 reelers ($10 bet per spin) when you've got a gajillion 50 and 100 line 'penny' machines. Very, very easy to bet like a high roller on those,-- just accidently hit the max bet button. (You can ask hubby about that one LOL -- he hates the vid slots.)

I do like the multigame machines -- where the player can choose between 4 (or more) preloaded games. Then there are the machines where you play 4 instances of the same game. *whew!* Low rollers beware..... It was great fun playing the new games, but no major hits this trip -- got $150 out of Princess somethingerother multi liner a couple of times. Just as an aside, I'm really not fond of the WMS games, and I'm not quite sure why. Graphics just aren't what they should be... too ... what? ... amateurish, I guess is the word I'm looking for.

All that aside... free room, free food (no buffet, all meals at the Atrium), free booze, $160 in free play (up front), hubby -- BJ player mostly -- had $60 freeplay, and all for playing with about as much gambling money that I once used to deposit online casino in 2 weeks (with NO comps to show for it). And I fully expect the same (or better!) offers to come off this little trip. We came home with half our stash, so that's good seed money for the next trip.

I only wish we didn't have to drive 5 or 6 hours..... dammit....

[jod5413]

I know that getting to and from to have some fun is a drag to me, too. But overall, it sounds like you had way more fun than me lately playing on line!! Lose, lose, lose, lose. And no free booze either!!

[pmutts]

Seems like ages ago, but it was only last week. We went for Mon & Tues night. Hubby still needs to stay away from large crowds and I really, really hate weekends in casinos, anyway. LOL

Not so much a trip report as a whine about the influx of multiline 'penny' machines and the fading away of the plain jane 3 reelers. *sigh* I used to love mixing my first night play between 50 cent slot machines and VP. I think I found only 4 ... that's right FOUR... .50 3 reelers at the GoldStrike and they were nearly always taken. Fewer and fewer .25 and $1 3 reelers, too.

Don't get me wrong, I love the multi liner penny vid slots! but! ... enough is enough! They must hog fully 75% of the gaming floor -- unless of course I went to the high roller section for the $5 3 reelers. And there weren't many of those, either. Than again, who needs 2 coin $5 3 reelers ($10 bet per spin) when you've got a gajillion 50 and 100 line 'penny' machines. Very, very easy to bet like a high roller on those,-- just accidently hit the max bet button. (You can ask hubby about that one LOL -- he hates the vid slots.)

I do like the multigame machines -- where the player can choose between 4 (or more) preloaded games. Then there are the machines where you play 4 instances of the same game. *whew!* Low rollers beware..... It was great fun playing the new games, but no major hits this trip -- got $150 out of Princess somethingerother multi liner a couple of times. Just as an aside, I'm really not fond of the WMS games, and I'm not quite sure why. Graphics just aren't what they should be... too ... what? ... amateurish, I guess is the word I'm looking for.

All that aside... free room, free food (no buffet, all meals at the Atrium), free booze, $160 in free play (up front), hubby -- BJ player mostly -- had $60 freeplay, and all for playing with about as much gambling money that I once used to deposit online casino in 2 weeks (with NO comps to show for it). And I fully expect the same (or better!) offers to come off this little trip. We came home with half our stash, so that's good seed money for the next trip.

I only wish we didn't have to drive 5 or 6 hours..... dammit....

I received a postcard offering a very cheap flight & free room at Harrah's. I have gambled on the Gulf Coast of MS many times and in fact, Beau Rivage is my favorite B&M casino.

Do you or anyone else have specific information regarding the playing conditions for Blackjack in Tunica? How many decks, deck penetration, ability to find a good game (2 or 3 players who know how to play max). Would be looking for $25 or $50 minimum bet tables. Also, are the cards shuffled by hand or by a Shuffle Master in most places--which of course requires two separate sets of cards effectively eliminating any player bias that my develop in the game.

Please share any info you are willing to offer. Thank!

[Mousey]

I received a postcard offering a very cheap flight & free room at Harrah's. I have gambled on the Gulf Coast of MS many times and in fact, Beau Rivage is my favorite B&M casino.

Do you or anyone else have specific information regarding the playing conditions for Blackjack in Tunica? How many decks, deck penetration, ability to find a good game (2 or 3 players who know how to play max). Would be looking for $25 or $50 minimum bet tables. Also, are the cards shuffled by hand or by a Shuffle Master in most places--which of course requires two separate sets of cards effectively eliminating any player bias that my develop in the game.

Please share any info you are willing to offer. Thank!

I believe the Beau Rivage is a 'sister' casino to the GoldStrike in Tunica (which is where we hang out). If you have a host at the Beau, ask them to hook you up with a host at the GoldStrike. You might be able to garner game specifics from her (or him). I'm thinking the GS does have $25 single deck, 3/2, hand shuffle, but 6/5 $5 & $10 is to be found and you have to be careful. (I haven't been in the high roller room, so I do not know what is offered there.) I will make myself a note and speak with Hubby when I get home from work and hopefully post a little more info for you.

As for Harrah's.... we haven't played at any Harrah's casinos to speak of in recent years, so will not be able to help with specifics. Perhaps Diane can help you there?

If you have never been to Tunica, as most casinos are scattered about please be aware that a car is necessary for casino hopping, unless you stay in one the 3 Casino Center casinos. (GoldStrike, HorseShoe (a Harrah's casino), and the other one -- used to be Sheraton -(also Harrah's owned)- my mind went blank LOL) These 3 are right beside each other and are easy to go from one to the other. With your level of table play, the HorseShoe might be your best bet.

Meanwhile, read some of the Tunica posts here for more tidbits.

[pmutts]

I believe the Beau Rivage is a 'sister' casino to the GoldStrike in Tunica (which is where we hang out). If you have a host at the Beau, ask them to hook you up with a host at the GoldStrike. You might be able to garner game specifics from her (or him). I'm thinking the GS does have $25 single deck, 3/2, hand shuffle, but 6/5 $5 & $10 is to be found and you have to be careful. (I haven't been in the high roller room, so I do not know what is offered there.) I will make myself a note and speak with Hubby when I get home from work and hopefully post a little more info for you.

As for Harrah's.... we haven't played at any Harrah's casinos to speak of in recent years, so will not be able to help with specifics. Perhaps Diane can help you there?

If you have never been to Tunica, as most casinos are scattered about please be aware that a car is necessary for casino hopping, unless you stay in one the 3 Casino Center casinos. (GoldStrike, HorseShoe (a Harrah's casino), and the other one -- used to be Sheraton -(also Harrah's owned)- my mind went blank LOL) These 3 are right beside each other and are easy to go from one to the other. With your level of table play, the HorseShoe might be your best bet.

Meanwhile, read some of the Tunica posts here for more tidbits.

As far as I know, GoldStrike is still an MGM/Mirage owned property. For BJ players, conditions at higher limit tables (hopefully $50 or $25--not $100 which as a minimum is too rich for my blood). Sure, you can find some good games at Harrah's casinos sometimes but they are getting tougher and tougher. Double Decks rarely deal more than 1/2 the cards prior to shuffle. Most employ that blasted Shuffle Master which definitely affects the game. Cards that are hand shuffled tend to develop either a player or house bias very often. The idea is to find the player bias and exploit it of course.

A good friend of mine went last year and he did not like much of the staff at the Harrah's property he stayed at. He said it was hard to get a drink--real hard--playing 25 cent Video Poker. I don't imagine Quarter bettors at the tables have that problem though.

Any additional BJ specific info your husband can add will be most appreciated. In need to make my decision and book if I'm going to go.

Thanks again.

[BMWSTACK]

That is correct, Gold Strike is MGM and so is Beau Rivage. I hate harrahs properties, but have no choice in Tunica. My favorite places are Horshoe and The Grand. But I stopped going when Harrahs took over the Grand or the Horseshoe. Actually Horseshoe recently tried to get me to go to a $200,000 slot tournament, but that still didnt appetize me. In terms of the Gulf Coast, I do like the Beau sometimes, and like the IP sometimes.
It seems most casinos are reverting to the shufflemaster on 2 deck pitch. I think in these tough times they want to get more hands out to players rather quickly.

[Mousey]

Well... just shows what I get for thinking...

Hubby says GS has 2 deck pitch. Shufflemaster. Penetration about 2/3 before shuffle. Check out the high roller room for $50 min and up. For your level of action, $25 - $50 min, you may want to give the Horseshoe a try.

Hotels at the GS and the 'Shoe and Roadhouse (used to be Sheraton) are attached to their casinos.

[Mousey]

Another Tunica 2-nighter at the GoldStrike. Not a trip report as such, just a few thoughts and ramblings.

Talked to another player who also played online a bit. His bank had closed his account. Too many 'strange' wire transactions. He was one of the smart ones and kept his poker/online gambling account at a different bank from his household account.

Also talked with 3 other people in the elevator on the way down to the casino. 4 people in one elevator, all four of us were from Alabama.... For those who don't know. Gambling is illegal in Alabama, thus we have no casinos and take our money to Mississippi. Alabama legislators and politicians have their heads buried up their .... well... you know....

Video poker ate me alive for two days... not one quad. And I'm not exaggerating. Considering the # of hands played, I should have had at least 5 maybe 6 quads in that length of time. Very weird. The morning we were to leave, we had a wonderful breakfast at the Atrium, then went out to the casino to play for an hour or so before we hit the road. (It was double points day.) I hit 5 quads within the space of an hour - nothing exciting (like A's with a kicker)- which brought my expected hands back to near normal range. Sheesh... I was beginning to think someone had been monkeying with the RNGs.

The reason we keep going back to the GoldStrike - even with their less than stellar VP tables? Nice rooms, good food, and decent offers. What I'm getting around to is: player retention. We are not high rollers by any means. But I had a couple hundred in freeplay, free rooms, and between the 2 of us, we had enough coupons to cover our meals. And I still have enough comps left on my account to feed us the next trip - even if they don't send more freebies... but they will. Online casinos have much to learn about player retention. Treat me like a customer you'd like to welcome back as a guest, not as a necessary evil to be pacified.

[harrys99]

Another Tunica 2-nighter at the GoldStrike. Not a trip report as such, just a few thoughts and ramblings.

Talked to another player who also played online a bit. His bank had closed his account. Too many 'strange' wire transactions. He was one of the smart ones and kept his poker/online gambling account at a different bank from his household account. Also talked with 3 other people in the elevator on the way down to the casino. 4 people in one elevator, all four of us were from Alabama.... For those who don't know. Gambling is illegal in Alabama, thus we have no casinos and take our money to Mississippi. Alabama legislators and politicians have their heads buried up their .... well... you know....

Video poker ate me alive for two days... not one quad. And I'm not exaggerating. Considering the # of hands played, I should have had at least 5 maybe 6 quads in that length of time. Very weird. The morning we were to leave, we had a wonderful breakfast at the Atrium, then went out to the casino to play for an hour or so before we hit the road. (It was double points day.) I hit 5 quads within the space of an hour - nothing exciting (like A's with a kicker)- which brought my expected hands back to near normal range. Sheesh... I was beginning to think someone had been monkeying with the RNGs.

The reason we keep going back to the GoldStrike - even with their less than stellar VP tables? Nice rooms, good food, and decent offers. What I'm getting around to is: player retention. We are not high rollers by any means. But I had a couple hundred in freeplay, free rooms, and between the 2 of us, we had enough coupons to cover our meals. And I still have enough comps left on my account to feed us the next trip - even if they don't send more freebies... but they will. Online casinos have much to learn about player retention. Treat me like a customer you'd like to welcome back as a guest, not as a necessary evil to be pacified.

Sounds like a nice trip all in all-did that person who had his bank account closed happen to mention the name? (just curious with all the scares lately)

[Mousey]

Sounds like a nice trip all in all-did that person who had his bank account closed happen to mention the name? (just curious with all the scares lately)

He merely said it was 'one of the big ones' - he had opened up his account when they had a free checking account promo a few years back... but didn't say specifically which bank. I thought about asking, but it was just sort of casual conversation and I didn't want to pick at him further.