Going to Reno!

I'll probably stop by Reno for a few hours later today with my in-laws. What's new? What's cool?!

Honestly, I'll be limited to what can be done while I chauffeur seniors and kids. But I'll probably be able to get at least an hour of casino time in, so what should I do??

Pai gow tiles at Silver Legacy? Video poker at Peppermill? $3 blackjack at Cal-Neva???

Anything different now that there's all those Tesla battery and Apple server folks in town?

Reno trip from Sunday, Dec. 29, 2019.

First stop: Circus Circus. AP advice for kids: play the small claw games for $1.50. High-quality prizes, and no rigging of the claw strength—when you grab a prize, it’ll stay grabbed. We had quite a haul! Ticket-based games have been and still are a ripoff.

Silver Legacy pai gow: Only two $25 minimum tables. I played anyway and lost the first hand, won the second, three pushes, a win, and two pushes. So I guess I lost $2.50.

Stayed at Nugget for the first time since the days of John Ascuaga’s ownership.

Video poker I saw:
JoB
25 cents—8-6 (98.39%)
50 cents/$1—9-5 (98.44%)

DDB
10 cents—8-5 (96.78%)
$1—9-5 (97.87%)


Bartop JoB
25 cents—7-5 (96.1%)
$1—8-5 (96.78%)

Bartop BP
25 cents—6-5 (96.87%)

The poker room had two tables running, both $3/$6 limit hold’em with a full kill pot—I haven’t seen a poker room without a no-limit game in a long time.

I bought in for $60 and won $55 on the first hand with pocket jacks after I flopped a set. The woman to the left of me showed her cracked aces. She got to spin the wheel, which still had the John Ascuaga’s Nugget logo, and got $10. The best spot is $50, but there’s also a double winnings spot.

Afterward I got decent cards, but didn’t win another hand—finally busted out all-in when I had pocket 6s, flopped a 6, and made a 6s full of 9s, but lost to a pocket 9-7 boat.

At 11:30 p.m., the craps table was $5 minimum. Didn't play, but happy to see the words "Pays Triple" on the Field.

Blackjack:
Single deck, 6-5 DAS
Double deck, BJ pays 3-2 no DAS
Six decks, 6-5 DAS

Thought about putting down $22 on Oregon +3 against Wisconsin in the Rose Bowl, but couldn’t pull the trigger.

Walked across the street to Dotty’s. This one seems tiny compared to their other locations—they have four tables for eating their microwaved fare.
They have 12 Game King, 14 other slots (including a WMS Game Chest, including Bier Haus at 1, 2, and 5-cent denominations), and 8 U1 machines.

Video poker on their Game King:
Bonus Poker
5 cents—6-5 (96.87%)
25 cents—7-5 (not sure which variant)
$2—8-5 (99.16%)

Other observations:
Circus Circus circus acts no longer uses a live drummer—a pity.
Dinner at 2 Tha Joint Sushi—it’s packed with locals—was really good, and a great value. Usually I’d get all-you-can-eat, but the prices were low enough that our group got a bunch of rolls, and I didn’t need the AYCE option. I loved the hand rolls ($5).
At the Nugget self-parking garage, the spaces next to the skywalk entrance are now Tesla charging stations.
The Nugget indoor pool was packed with kids on winter break.
The receipt for my Glenfiddich 12YO at Nugget said it was comped at $4.50—does this mean I could have just bought a shot for that price? Seems way cheap!
I asked at Dotty’s how much is a shot of Crown Royal, and was told $3.25 (or maybe $3.75?), so maybe $4.50 for a shot at the Nugget really is the actual charge?
Dotty’s no longer has danishes, according to the employee, though it’s still on the menu.
Dotty’s “Cake in a Cup” at $2.29 is a trashy fun dessert—get it with whipped cream.
Late night steak, eggs, hash browns, and toast for $8.99 at Rosie's Cafe in the Nugget—great after a night of drinkin' and gamblin'
I love Reno.

Thanks for the report, Smooth! I love Reno too, but it's difficult to get out there reasonably from NE Florida. That and Mrs. Joeman doesn't care for it much. :(

It’s likewise difficult for me to get to NE Florida. ;)

Quote: smoothgrh

It’s likewise difficult for me to get to NE Florida. ;)

The only reason I could think of to go to Northeast Florida would be to see BeachBumBabs.

Glad you had a good time in Reno!

Quote: smoothgrh

Reno trip from Sunday, Dec. 29, 2019.

First stop: Circus Circus. AP advice for kids: play the small claw games for $1.50. High-quality prizes, and no rigging of the claw strength—when you grab a prize, it’ll stay grabbed. We had quite a haul! Ticket-based games have been and still are a ripoff.

Silver Legacy pai gow: Only two $25 minimum tables. I played anyway and lost the first hand, won the second, three pushes, a win, and two pushes. So I guess I lost $2.50.

Stayed at Nugget for the first time since the days of John Ascuaga’s ownership.

Video poker I saw:
JoB
25 cents—8-6 (98.39%)
50 cents/$1—9-5 (98.44%)

DDB
10 cents—8-5 (96.78%)
$1—9-5 (97.87%)


Bartop JoB
25 cents—7-5 (96.1%)
$1—8-5 (96.78%)

Bartop BP
25 cents—6-5 (96.87%)

The poker room had two tables running, both $3/$6 limit hold’em with a full kill pot—I haven’t seen a poker room without a no-limit game in a long time.

I bought in for $60 and won $55 on the first hand with pocket jacks after I flopped a set. The woman to the left of me showed her cracked aces. She got to spin the wheel, which still had the John Ascuaga’s Nugget logo, and got $10. The best spot is $50, but there’s also a double winnings spot.

Afterward I got decent cards, but didn’t win another hand—finally busted out all-in when I had pocket 6s, flopped a 6, and made a 6s full of 9s, but lost to a pocket 9-7 boat.

At 11:30 p.m., the craps table was $5 minimum. Didn't play, but happy to see the words "Pays Triple" on the Field.

Blackjack:
Single deck, 6-5 DAS
Double deck, BJ pays 3-2 no DAS
Six decks, 6-5 DAS

Thought about putting down $22 on Oregon +3 against Wisconsin in the Rose Bowl, but couldn’t pull the trigger.

Walked across the street to Dotty’s. This one seems tiny compared to their other locations—they have four tables for eating their microwaved fare.
They have 12 Game King, 14 other slots (including a WMS Game Chest, including Bier Haus at 1, 2, and 5-cent denominations), and 8 U1 machines.

Video poker on their Game King:
Bonus Poker
5 cents—6-5 (96.87%)
25 cents—7-5 (not sure which variant)
$2—8-5 (99.16%)

Other observations:
Circus Circus circus acts no longer uses a live drummer—a pity.
Dinner at 2 Tha Joint Sushi—it’s packed with locals—was really good, and a great value. Usually I’d get all-you-can-eat, but the prices were low enough that our group got a bunch of rolls, and I didn’t need the AYCE option. I loved the hand rolls ($5).
At the Nugget self-parking garage, the spaces next to the skywalk entrance are now Tesla charging stations.
The Nugget indoor pool was packed with kids on winter break.
The receipt for my Glenfiddich 12YO at Nugget said it was comped at $4.50—does this mean I could have just bought a shot for that price? Seems way cheap!
I asked at Dotty’s how much is a shot of Crown Royal, and was told $3.25 (or maybe $3.75?), so maybe $4.50 for a shot at the Nugget really is the actual charge?
Dotty’s no longer has danishes, according to the employee, though it’s still on the menu.
Dotty’s “Cake in a Cup” at $2.29 is a trashy fun dessert—get it with whipped cream.
Late night steak, eggs, hash browns, and toast for $8.99 at Rosie's Cafe in the Nugget—great after a night of drinkin' and gamblin'
I love Reno.

You should have PM me, I'm there almost every day since I live across the street. And I was there on New Years day and night. I could have shown you where the 9/6 VP macines were.