Grand Casino Hinckley - PTOOEY

[cook1947]

Just returned from a week's visit to Minnesota, and I felt like giving Hinckley one more try. Years ago, the machines were very nice, but now most of the machines are one-eyed jacks. Just one word to describe the machines there?....P-U. Another word, ISH!. I guess you get the point. Sad because it was fun to go too.

[Tedlark]

  Some people I know on this site like OEJ's, especially in Minnesota. Too bad you didn't have decent luck cookie.

[cook1947]

Ted..I have gone to Hinckley since the first summer it was open. Aces and Faces were the predominent game and they were hot little machines. I was dealt 2 royals during those years and usually cashed in enough to share with my daughter, who was going to dental school in Minneapolis. In the last few years, they have changed most of the machines to OEJ's. but it is a lovely ride up, so I still enjoyed it.

[Tedlark]

  I've made the drive up there several times and I think I liked Treasure Island a bit better than Grand. We stayed at Mystic Lake but we almost didn't make it up to the room, we knew it was a dry reservation but we thought, mistakedly, that we could sneak 4 wine coolers up to our room for my girlfriend. Security stopped us before the elevator and asked if we had any alcohol and I told them about the wine coolers, they told me to take them out to my car and leave them in there. I decided to stash them in our luggage, not remembering that there were cameras everywhere. We again entered the hotel and security stopped me and asked about the wine coolers. I told them we put them away but they made me wait for a supervisor and when they arrived I fessed up about the wine coolers being in our luggage. With that they asked for them;  I surrendered them and told them to " have yourselves a party with the 4 wine coolers". At this point I thought we were getting kicked out but they allowed us to stay, had a losing session in their casino, karma?
 
  We went to Treasure Island 3 times, staying in their hotel twice and once in Red Wing. You are right about the drive cookie, it was very scenic.
 
  Better luck to you up there next time.
 
Ted

[cook1947]

Oh, Ted, I forgot about them checking your bags. This happened to me when I stayed at the Grand in Hinckley. I definately like Treasure Island better, but it is a 75 mile one way drive for me, and to get to Mystic Lake is even farther. We are only 20 miles from Turtle Lake, Wisc. so we cruise up there for lunch and alittle video poker. This trip though was one of the prettiest we have been on. Green and beautiful and for once, most of the lakes were full of water, unlike last year when the ducks were wading through mud up to their little beaks.

[shadowman]

OEJs is not an intuitive game. While the game return is about 2.5% more than any aces and faces game they had at the Grands, it requires knowing and using the correct strategy. Not easy.

In most respects I like the Grand better than TI (Treasure Island). Probably because they had more OEJs machines (with better graphics) but also I liked the restaurants better and the rooms better.

The big problem for me is the opposite of Cook's. TI is much closer so I haven't been to the Grand in several years. That will change now. They just took out all the full pay OEJs from TI. No reason to go there at all now.

[Vman96]

It sorta amazes me that Minnesota grandfathered this game in of all things; almost as amazing as putting in a crappy 98% return cap. The game is hard to find in any other state, and if you do, I'm pretty sure the pay table sucks. My nearest casino may offer the 96.97% version of the game on some Game Kings, but I'd have to look again.

[Minn. Fatz]

Mystic Lake is no longer dry, in fact they have big billboards advertising their new liquor service. We were just there during a stormy Friday evening. Mrs. Minn. saw Menopause: The Musical, which she enjoyed greatly, whilst I was feeding the golden buffalo. We had a nice dinner in the steakhouse (advance reservations are a good idea there); the food is simply prepared but well done. About the best VP payoff is BP 6/5 for quarters (or more), something less than 97%. I confess to dropping a few bucks on the Dean Martin penny slots but did not feel the "that's amore" this trip.

Sorry to hear they took the full pay OEJ out of TI but not surprised.