Laughlin

Despite my comment on page 2, I didn't have a chance to read the whole thing until now.

Great article.



In the Pioneer section, you provide an URL to your Three Card Poker page. That should be a link.



Harrah's... del Rio ?

It's listed as Harrah's Laughlin on their web page. This Wikipedia page, indicates Harrah's Del Rio is a former name.

Regarding the potential Pick-10 error in Keno, I again suggest you contact them to verify it.



Even though that was a former trip, I loved the story about counting cards at the Avi. It helped put to rest a nagging bad feeling I've had.

When I was in Vegas for G2E, Mike, Miplet and I went to Terrible's to play BlackJack after the WoV dinner. We found an empty table - a $5 pitch game (dealt face down) with rules Mike liked, so we sat down.

As I have mentioned before, when playing BJ, I lose the ability to add several small numbers, so I sometimes get caught in a gear-grind trying to decide if I need to take a hit. Several of those times, I showed my cards and Mike or Miplet would advise me.

At one point, I had asked Mike, "Since they are making no effort for me to not show my cards, why do they bother dealing face down? After all, isn't the purpose of dealing face down to keep important info from a card counter?" I kinda figured Mike would have a good answer, since he was not only the Wiz, but the BJ champ. I had been reminded of that fact because, earlier in the day, I ran into Max Rubin, and introduced myself as the guy who used PhotoShop to clean up the cell-phone photo of him giving Mike the trophy.

As I recall, Mike's answer was partly because of tradition that it's still face down, party because it's low stakes that they don't stop me, but that it's also a good question for Ask The Wizard.

It was shortly after asking Mike that question, that I thought to myself, "IDIOT! Why don't you just stand up and tell the casino that the guy in third base is nicknamed the Wizard of Odds, is the BJ champion, and is counting cards!" And the other thing that went thru my head was, "If he's counting, maybe I should stop distracting him."

For the record, I never asked him if he was counting, but I thought that it's a safe assumption that he was. Miplet too, probably.

So it was comforting to read the story about counting at the Avi. Not only did you tell a floor supervisor that you were counting, but that you got no heat for it, and was able carry on a conversation about counting at the same time.

So I guess my conversation wasn't distracting.

Thanks.

Final Laughlin thought...

I believe that Vegas casino ownership is wise to support the continued viability of Lauglin. You somewhat see that with Harrahs and Golden Nugget continuing to foster the Laughlin market. It's kinda like the principle that three fast-food places on a busy street corner are better for each than just one. It makes the whole corner a 'Destination' for those in need of a fast food fix.

Nevada needs Laughlin to remain viable - if it wants to remain the junk food capital of Gambling.

Quote: midwestgb

Nevada needs Laughlin to remain viable - if it wants to remain the junk food capital of Gambling.

An interesting analogy, though I think you may have meant that Las Vegas needs Laughlin.

Laughlin is the Motorcycle, pick-up truck and busloads of Geezers market. If Las Vegas is dripping in Champagne, Laughlin is dripping in Geritol. If Vegas is offering buffet bargains, Laughlin is offering inedible buffets and five dollar bus rides to those "free" buffets.

Is it that Vegas wants to preserve an oasis free of TimeShare Hawkers and PornoSlappers and weird people in weird costumes blocking the sidewalks? Nah, its just that the market down there has always been for those the "real" entrepreneurs forgot about.

Don't get me wrong. I have fond memories of Laughlin: I'll never forget how nice it was for the airport to hold my flight when they saw my water taxi chugging along trying to make the landing dock. ONE additional passenger chugging his way across the river and they radio the airport to hold that wound-up rubber band for a few minutes. Now that's service!! Of course this was all long ago when youngsters in Los Angeles were all yacking about Bullhead City, AZ and its one Red-Light and booming real estate because the casinos were just a hop, skip and jump across the river. (Well, hop, skip and jump for those who were able, a water-taxi for others). Did it turn out to be a Real Estate Boom? Yup, sure did. Boom in traffic lights and stop signs too.

But its still a place where no entrepreneur envisioned a limousine, just RVs, Pick-Up Trucks and Motorcycles. BBQs and two dollar movies may have increased in price and RVs may now have to register and join the players clubs but its still the same low price town pulling a market share that knows that very much "more" is available only a short distance away but just as motorists often prefer a suburban Fast Food joint to the traffic of a Downtown one, some people prefer Laughlin to Las Vegas. Its a town that reminds me of Long Beach, California. It was one third retirees, one third bikers and one-third gay but it was an oasis of fresh air and cheap real estate near Los Angeles. Laughlin seems the same thing. Its an oasis of no glitter, no glamor, no porn, no peddlers, no panhandlers. Its an oasis of meeting the needs for a limited market ... and what is wrong with that?

True, in the downturn some elevator maintenance got deferred that probably shouldn't have been deferred. Some places have changed a bit, but in reality its a nice place to have. If a man is 70 and wealthy, he will continue to drive his Cadillac in Vegas traffic. If he is 70 and less well off, he may opt for Laughlin. If someone is having fun tearing through Arizona roads and stopping at various Biker Bars enroute, there is a pleasant run into Laughlin. Its not a high rollers pipeline but its a pipeline to people who do like the Poker Runs, BBQs, Ghost Towns and Free Buffets.

Wife and I are next week visiting her folks in Phoenix. Off mid-week with them to Vegas, but we plan to return via Laughlin for a night there. Love the place. ;-)