Oh-Oh machines disapearing

[Rayser]

Shadowman, For what it is worth, I have been having a dialog with the Casino games Manager at TI (Randy Sivigny). It started out with E-mail suggestion on their website about raising their video poker paytables to be competitive with other markets and not just regional with Mystic Lake. Received an email back, indicating that all TI paytables were set as high as the state allows, which he quoted as 98.6%. Well I know for a fact that this was not true, most of their machines were set around 95-96%, think I found something as high as 97% but that was it.  I e-mailed back indicating that I may be remiss, but could not find the higher payout machines that he was talking about, could he indicate where those were. Our E-mails were all very cordial and not adversarial.  I did indicate that I was selfishly interested in getting the best video poker tables available and indicating how the casino could capitalize through marketing strategies to increase their customer base if they increased their paytables. I even indicated that perhaps they should try and lobby the state to increase the 98.6% threshold to compete with border states like Iowa and Wisconsin.  Well, we progressed from E-mails, to an invitation to talk on the phone or in person. I did call him, and found him to a very personable and friendly guy on the phone. He again reitereated that T.I. had the best paytables allowed by law. He aslo stated that if he was able to increase them he would, and admitted that he believed the profit for the casino would still be there, so that was not a concern. He indicated that he was a gambler also and understood what I was suggesting but again he was bound by the law.  I then laid out the facts on the paytables that they had on their machines, and how they could be increased by at least two levels, and still be under the 98.6% threshold. Giving several examples starting with as their JOB set at 6/5.  I was then told that I was just looking at nickle games, and if I went up in denomination, the paytables were better.  I then asked what his best paytable for JOB was, and he then looked it up, and admitted, "huh, your right thats the best we have".  I asked if he could have his slot techs change the paytables, and he said that they were set by the manufacturer for the "Minnesota Package" to comply with state law and made it sound like they couldn't be changed.  Through some questioning, he did state that the slot techs could program the machines to a higher paytable, however i did not get the impression that he was going to do that. All in all, I felt like he did listen to my concerns and suggestions, but I also felt like I was alone in voicing the concerns, so most likely nothing will change.

[shadowman]

Interesting conversation. As far as I know the compacts maximum is 98% for VP and 95% for slots. I've read several of the compacts (each tribe has a unique compact) although I've never seen the one with TI.  I wonder where he came up with 98.6%.
 


In addition, the best game I have found (outside of the old OEJs machines) is 97.9%. So, I would guess he was somewhat confused. 

[Lucky Larry]

I'ts just disgusting to see them being replaced by 1 cent or 5 cent video slot machines.  They seem to be taking over the market.

We've faced the same issue at Isle a few years ago and many of us went directly to the Director of Slots and the GM. We even pointed out the bad publicity they were getting on this site. Several of us did a comparison of pay tables with the other local casino. As a result, the next round of changes was delayed and tables have not been lowered and only a few additional machines removed as they wore out.

Good luck.

LL

[cook1947]

We have all discussed TI in Redwing, Hinckley and Mille Lacs..what about Mystic Lake in Shacopee? We are closer to Hinckley than TI or Mystic Lake (lets not even discuss the drive right through Minneapolis!) so I have not been to Mystic, but it seems that all Minnesota Casinos seem to have the same machines, no matter the locations. Just a suggestion.

[shadowman]

Mystic does not have the favored, good pay table OEJs machines. They do occasionally have promotions that can be good but not often enough to tweak my interest. I know some guys that play there occasionally when they see a good promotion.
 
BTW, there are times where going through the cities is not a big deal. When I go to Hinckley I can make the 150 mile trip in 2:10 quite regularly.

[cook1947]

If you guys want to make a little longer trip, Black Bear is right off the 35N at the Cloquet exit. The machines were not terrific, but the buffet was very nice and the trip was fun. Compared to LA, no the traffic is not bad thru Minneapolis, but when I go to Hinckley, I take all the back roads up from Taylors Falls, Rush City, Pine City and jump on the 35 for the last few miles. Fun drive and very memorable from trips I made as a child. Live in Kentucky now, but Minn. will always be my home. We still go up at least 3 times a year, but REALLY try to avoid coming in the winter. 

[Tedlark]

  Mystic Lake is also a COMPLETELY dry reservation, I tried to smuggle 4 wine coolers into the hotel for my girlfriend and I was sent to wine cooler jail.

[olds442jetaway]

Had one bank of OEJ machines at Mohegan Sun in Ct. They were always busy even in the middle of the night. They yanked them out last year and replaced them with junk penny machines. None in the casino now.

[cook1947]

  Mystic Lake is also a COMPLETELY dry reservation, I tried to smuggle 4 wine coolers into the hotel for my girlfriend and I was sent to wine cooler jail.
 I did not know it was a dry casino (but since I don't drink it just zipped past me anyway) Is it busier than TI? I also go to Turtle Lake, which has not changed one machine in the last 15 years.

[Tedlark]

cookie I was not impressed with Mystic Lake and I shant be returning there. Maybe others here have a different opinion but thats mine. It didn't appear to be busier than TI.