Another Trip Report

[alpax]

Actually, we have been to the Aquarius many , many times. Up until this current trip, we had pretty much restricted our play to single line 25c on the optimum machines, the 9/6 JOB machines in the non smoking area near the main entrance, and at the bar tops at the Cove bar.

On a previous trip, I had seen the All Star machines in the high limit area while on a casino wander, and we decided to try them this trip. There was no motivation other than a liking for multi line play.

I, too, have had little success in trying to figure out their slot play reward system. Asking staff at the players' club how much coin-in is needed to earn a point at video poker usually produces a response of "it depends which machine you're playing". I think that the machines we played at in the high limit room were $4 per point.

I don't know the value of that point, nor do I have any clue as to the relationship between those points and the points that determine tier status there. I don't worry too much about it, since it is not a major play for us.



I appreciate that you have at least tried to find out what it takes to advance in tier on ace|Play. I suppose it will remain an enigma on the intraweb. All they promote is that most people achieve the newly created Orange status on ace|Play. The other place the ace|Play is good for is the Stratosphere in Vegas and a few other places, but glorious VP days there are far gone.

I suppose it will be worthless to advance in tier if you are not looking to stay at their resort. I knew of someone who went to Laughlin recently, I recommended the Aquarius to the person and advised him to play 40/10/6 DDB and DDB+ (recreationally with basic strategy charts). He did not like the buffet because of the excessive amount of flies and the food quality, the weather was very warm too.

I hope you guys have enough gas in the bankroll tank to last 4 more days of action back in Vegas. The last one week trip to Vegas in the past have left a huge hurt in my personal finances. The combination of multiline and Bonus Poker is about as low of a variance you can get in bankroll swings in video poker.

Understandable that this will be the last update until returning home. I am baffled by the amount of casino resorts that will charge their guests for wifi access, the Gold Coast (property that is operated by Boyd like MSS) at least provided me with a manageable 1 Mbps connection (costs extra for 10 Mbps service). Hope the fortunes swing back to the positive. Thanks for going beyond your norm with these reports, if there were screenshots it can rival with the ones on VegasMessageBoard. Good luck!

[onemoretry]

Having been home for several days now, and having dealt with most of the consequences of leaving flower beds, etc., unattended for three weeks, I will try to wrap up my trip account.

If you happened to hear a very loud thud two weeks ago, on July 5, that was me crashing back to earth after my early successes on the trip. At the time, I was ahead about $6400.

From Tuesday afternoon through to the following Monday evening, in the roller coaster ride that we all know video poker can be, I played 26 sessions, 10 at Harrahs, and 16 at Main Street Station. Three were break even, two were positive (total of $200), while the remaining 21 were negative (total of $4300). Included was one session at Main Street Station playing triple line 25c bonus poker where, on about the fifth deal, I was dealt trips and made a quad, but did not make another quad for about 1150 deals (3450 hands).

Fortunately, my very last session at Main Street Station that Monday evening was a positive one, with a dealt quad early, and later, a royal, while playing five line 25c bonus poker, for a $1255 win. That final session win, plus $200 in cashback, along with 97 scratch cards totalling $196, enabled me to come away from Main Street Station up around $300 there, and ahead by a little over $3800 for the entire Nevada trip.

From the time that she was dealt the royal at Aquarius on July 4, bringing her to within $300 of being even, my wife was able to, essentially, break even for the balance of the Nevada trip. She was helped by a royal at Main Street Station while playing that weird "Aces no Faces" game that they have there, and by $350 in cashback and around $200 in scratch cards from there, as well.

We stayed two nights at Seneca Niagara before finally returning home. I lost $1000 there, and she won $200, all on five line 50c bonus poker. All in all, it was an extremely successful trip, beyond any reasonable expectation, as, once again, I was considerably "over royalled". I totalled nine 5c royals, five 10c ones, and five 25c ones.

My total play in Nevada was about $253,000. There were about 55000 total hands of 10c multiline (not deals), 410,000 of 5c multiline, and 98,000 of 25c, mostly multiline, but with a small amount of single line 25c mixed in. My wife's numbers would be a bit higher, as she plays quicker (and, usually, longer) than I do, but I don't have them handy.

One final comment, and it's something I find somewhat disconcerting, is the number of those "oh sh.." moments I experienced, i.e., as I hit the draw button I saw that I had missed something in the hand, and was not making the best play. I certainly hope that trend does not continue.     

[notes1]

congrats on a financially successful and more importantly a safe and fun trip. I enjoyed the reports.

[alpax]

Excellent conclusion to such an epic trip spread out in that many casinos. Well accounted details from start to end, again I appreciate the effort. Players can learn from what you did; I know I will.


One final comment, and it's something I find somewhat disconcerting, is the number of those "oh sh.." moments I experienced, i.e., as I hit the draw button I saw that I had missed something in the hand, and was not making the best play. I certainly hope that trend does not continue.     


I hope it was due to the buttons not functioning properly rather than skill or tiredness from long periods of play. It is important to get as much play in at least for the Caesars properties since you only get a day's timeframe to earn the tier credit bonuses. I do not know any other good reasons to play swiftly unless there was a promotion going on. The scratchcards are abundant at MSS from what I hear.

Playing as many multilines as you do, the mistakes hurt much more than a single line game. Rest up and hopefully Caesars can keep sending you guys to Vegas on their dime.

[Tedlark]

OMT I'm glad that you and your wife both: enjoyed some video poker success and had a fantastic trip.

Good luck to you both on your next trip.

[Sea Lion]

Glad you had a successful trip, OMT!  One thing about Laughlin is that all the buffets there pretty much suck. You are better off crossing the river into Bullhead City. They have a Black Bear Diner there as well as an El Charro, on HWY 95. I do like the Saltgrass steakhouse at the Golden Nugget though. Arizona Charlies also uses the  ace I PLAY card, with 10 tier credits to move from Blue to Orange. Not sure on how much $$$ it takes to get 10 tier credits.Riverside and Golden Nugget players club also has food comps and slot play in 2 different reward amounts on your card. Food comps will not take from or affect your slot play like most card do here in LV.

[onemoretry]

I hope it was due to the buttons not functioning properly rather than skill or tiredness from long periods of play.
Unfortunately, with one exception, I cannot blame the machine. And, even on the one occasion when a sticky button got me, it was still my own fault - you're supposed to make sure everything is right before drawing.

As for all the other times, I don't really know why they happened - loss of focus and concentration, I guess.

And, I remember a comment from a fellow player a few years ago - if you start finding yourself making errors, you've probably already made others that you didn't notice.

[onemoretry]

Good luck to you both on your next trip.
Thank you for the thought, and for reading my rather lengthy account. Thanks to others who have waded through it as well.

Based on your recent results, you seem to be faring pretty well yourself. I hope it continues for you.

[onemoretry]

I have a question. You mentioned playing 5 and 10 cent multi line 8-5 Bonus poker at Tropicana. There has to be a catch as this would be close to full pay at nickels and dimes. Is this not real Bonus poker that only pays even for 2 pair instead of 2-1? I have never heard of full pay bonus poker on the strip at those low stakes for a long time. Please tell me it is true!
While others have more or less addressed your question, I do want to absolutely confirm that the multiline 8/5 bonus poker we were playing at the Tropicana was true bonus poker, paying 2 for 1 for 2 pair.

[notes1]

omt, I am assuming you got comped rooms and food, did you also get comp airfare?

what do you feel was the biggest reasons for your success, better paytables, more premium wins or just luck?

noticed you lost at NF, just bad luck, worse paytables? I always play at the same denomination, you increased to 50 cents at NF, do they not have the smaller bet available? it may not make mathematical sense, but, I am always worried I will have good luck on the smaller bet and bad luck on the bigger bet.