recent changes at Fond-du-Luth

[Minn. Fatz]

We just got back from an overnight trip to Duluth's Canal Park and the North Shore which included, for me, a couple hours at Fond-du-Luth, the nation's original off-rez Indian casino in the old Sears building on Superior Street. They're remodeling the Black Bear and as FdL gets the leftovers there have been a few changes, unfortunately including a lot less VP.
 
They've 86ed the poker room in favor of more slots and a few $1 OEJ full pay machines. As shadowman has pointed out these are the only VP machines in MN that pay more than 98 percent, having been grandfathered in when the current compact was ratified. VP presence otherwise is much less than before. The five Game King machines that carry DB 9/6, otherwise the best game available, are still there but hard to get to as they are understandably much in use. There are some nickel VP/Keno multi-game machines but BP 6/5 is the best deal you'll get on those. There are also a few quarter OEJ machines with an odd paytable (800-150-75-30-15-5-3-2-1-1) that I assume returns around the allowed 98 just a bit more than 95 percent; I'll set VIPoker to work on that and let you all know. If you're a real masochist you can play up to 20 quarters a spin on these. Many of the updated and new machines no longer take tokens or coins and there are more ticket/cash-in ticket-out slots. Overall the place seems roomier and brighter throughout and was noticably less smoky than on previous visits.
 
We stay at the Hawthorne/Suites at Waterfront Plaza when we go, which offers the best Sun-Thurs casino package: 20 percent off the room plus $15 in match play for blackjack and $15 in tokens. Ask for the Gambler's Delight, which I figure is worth about $30 every time we make the trip. The tokens worked in the $1 OEJ machine so I put those through one at a time until I had five left. Not so lucky at the BJ tables and was down to $10, then doubled down with 11 against a low dealer card which busted. Tipped $5 (most of it was house money) so broke even there. Couldn't get on the Game Kings so played the odd paytable OEJ and with the help of a couple timely 4Ks broke even. Had a typically lengthy 15-minute wait for a coin refill, which is the one bone I have to pick with the otherwise prompt and friendly service at FdL. Finally got on one of the Game Kings at around 10:45 Tues. nite for some DB and went up $30 off of four Queens. As an homage to my last trip, when I couldn't put a quarter in a slot that didn't pay off and would've been up $200 if only I could have shaken my costly (!) VP habit, I put six bucks through a quarter Blazing 7s and lost it all. So, exclusive of generous tips, I was up $34 for the night.
 
Instead of paying for undersized drinks at the casino (they can't give alcohol away free in MN casinos, though you can get comp coffee and soft drinks) I wound up at the Old Chicago pizza joint next to the hotel, where I ordered a dry Manhattan and got bourbon over ice with a dash of bitters and two olives, which was not my idea of a dry Manhattan but was eminently drinkable. Incidentally the Canal Park district is one of the more diverse in what can be a pretty white bread town. I chased my whaddyacallit with a Framboise Lambic while down the bar on my right a blue collar guy with a hand tattoo and a cell phone pounded Bud Lights, a couple Asian gals caroused with their friends over parasol drinks and a black guy enjoyed a cold draft.
 
One other disappointment at FdL has to be the cash back. $7.50 through the machines gets you a point and 300 points gets you $10 cash back which makes it a little less than 0.45 percent, pretty slim considering they're holding at least 2 percent on nearly every VP machine. You can also get cancer sticks, whcih might be a better deal, or casino swag, which probably isn't, with your points. Something I haven't seen anywhere else, you can cash in points for chances in must-be-present-to-win drawings for cash, trips, or better quality merchandise.