Vegas trip report 9/13-9/16

Vegas trip report 9/13-16
Just a short 3 nite trip.
Had Weekend off plus Mon and Tues, had a free airline ticket so I figured head out for a short trip.
Will be back in Vegas for a longer trip next month and December.
Arrived Saturday, head downstairs for the 2 dollar express bus to downtown, only 15 min wait.
Checkin into my room at the 4 Queens, take a shower and am ready to gamble.
1st my football victory.
I check WOV board for the Wiz's parlay football picks suggests Carolina, Bears and Eagles. He also has the Vikings but since the line is moving against the Pats , I take the Pats at -3.5 on the 1/2 point card when the line moved to -5 to -6.
So just 1 20 buck parlay bet 4 teams, Carolina, Bears, Pats and Eagles. Also lay 10 bucks on my home team Bucs and points.
Bucs lose so I lose 10 but my 20 dollar parlay is alive with Carolina and Pats win.
Bet 20 bucks on Bears since they are on my parlay Sun Nite football, I win and 4 team parlay alive.
Monday nite put 20 on the Eagles since last team to complete parlay, Eagles win
Total sport bets 70 bucks, won about 316 and change for a 246 profit. My best ever weekend betting football.

Saturday aftrernoon walked through Binions, Tournament just started, 8 tables full.
I like seeing that, little poker downtown and Binions seems to be doing good.
I played a tournament last year at Binions and only 3 tables, good to see 8 tables.
I saw a card swipe machine and swipe, nothing.
I go over to players club, They look at my card. Its old. Still has horseshoe on the card. I ask how rare is the card. They say they see about 2 a month.
I'm no longer in the system. woohoo, new player promotion. Quickly rack up 10 pionts for 10 bucks free play and 5 bucks from spin the wheel for 15 bucks free play.

Played a bunch of Pai Gow poker. yea house has a huge edge but its such a fun game.
PaI gOW is different everywhere.
Boyds casinos, I stayed away from Pai Gow, the fortune bet is weird and its chipless, small machine built into table. I dont like it.
Played PaiGow at the new SLS. They set aside a hand to play for a 2nd hand. You look at your hand, get pai gow, can play an optional 2nd hand but no fortune bet.
4 queens and Binions, standard pai gow with the 1 buck fortune bet and thats where I played and also the D.
The D I sit down to play, buy in, and get 3 cards and everbody is looking at the 3 cards. I'm thinking WTF. Turns out the D Pai Gow is 2 games in one. 3 card poker and Paigow. weird. I just play Pai Gow and its real slow, everybody is playing 3 card poker while I sit their not touching my 3 cards. Finally that round over, I get 4 more cards for pai gow.
I really like playing the D. Regular Pai Gow, 1 dollar fortune bet, TV for football above the table and party pit dealer cleavage.
I actually hit the Str Flush 1 dollar fortune bet and won 50 bucks.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/22787213@N02/15249876756/
I never tip during my typical 1 hour pai gow session, I think the party pit girl thought I was a total cheapskate.
I never tip during the game, just when cashing out.
I did tip 5 bucks coloring up. Usually I just tip single chip leftovers but for the cleavage 5 bucks. Cheap? Just about right? too much?

I walked over to El Cortez to play 3 dollar BJ. Late Mon afternoon and minimum is 5 so I did not play. Walked outside and the heat hits me. Against the El Cortez plain wall side of building on Freemont the heat just concentrates, brutal. I walk over to the container pARK, just way too hot outside, I turn around and go back to main part of downtown. I then walk over the downtown grand. I sit at a 5 dollar BJ table, no other players. A bit buzzed so I sit down with a strategy sheet and only buy in for 20 bucks. I am on fire, 1st hand double down and win, a regular win, BJ, another regular win. a push, BJ win.
I'm thinking gotta play this streak out. a few more hands and after cooling down, up about 32 bucks. Cash out and tip 2 bucks.

I had 2 5 dollar match play coupons for the D. I put down the coupon and 5 bucks on craps dont. Total low roller action and they ask for my players card. wow. win 1 bet, lose 2nd bet and walk away.

I checked out Bingo at the Plaza. I'm a total bingo virgin. I walk in and look around. Everybody is on tablets. I decide to go old school with paper and markers.
I figure a seniors game, gotta be pretty kick back.
I spend 18 bucks and get amarker and sit down. Wow, what a fast game. Not kickback at all. Actually pretty intense. As soon as I am finished marking my cards, next number is up. Any hesitation and forget it. I felt like I was at work. Guy next to me shows me his tablet, totally kickback, tablet does all the work.
Big mistake not going for the tablet. Probabbly my last ever bingo.

I have Ceasars money due to my Total rewards visa that I pay off every month. Now I want too see if the rewards are worth it using it to buy gas and groceries.
I am single and try to ride my bike to work so not spending huge amounts on gas and groceries. Walk up the the Bachanal buffet, I ask how much and how much do I have on players card. Breakfast at Bachanal is 47 bucks and Bachanal said I only had 15 bucks on card. I'm thinking WTF, only 15. Not paying 32 bucks for breakfast. I walk over to Harrahs, cheaper buffet. Its 17 bucks, I figure 15 with the Ceasars card and and 2 bucks out of my pocket. Harrahs said card covered whole thing. weird. Anyway pig out then walk over the the players card counter. I hand over card and ask how much I have left. They say 70 dollars. I geuss the clown at the Bachanal made a mistake. Oh well, got 2 more vagas trips planned this year so will hit up the bachanal next month or Dec.

Video poker. Played alot at the 4 Queens bar by Freemont ST. Interesting quarter JOB game. Spade royal was over 3k, other royals around 1200 so average Royal is around 1600 which bumps up payout about 0.6% . Not as good as 99.54 but getting close. Also played the 99.54 machines by the cashier. Played alot of Double Bonus at the D upstairs on the 100.17 machine. Hit 3333 for 100 bucks. That was sweet. Found the 100.17 double bonus at the California and got 4 aces for 200 dollars.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/22787213@N02/15272483872/
Never hit a Royal. I play alot of video poker and have never hit a Royal in Vegas.

Overall great trip money wise.
Won 246 football
Pai Gow, probabbly down some overall, maybe 50 bucks, played alot.
Video Poker probabbly up about 150, played alot
BJ up about 30. hardly played.
Craps down about 30. hardly played.

Flew home Yesterday, got up this morning to go to work. Pretty rough. west coast body clock and east coast job next am after flying home. Not doing this again, need a day to decompress.

Fly across the country to win 400? I won't lift my ass from the couch for that.

Quote: Dicenor33

Fly across the country to win 400? I won't lift my ass from the couch for that.

Will you do it to lose $10k though?

Quote: Dicenor33

Fly across the country to win 400? I won't lift my ass from the couch for that.

I'm a low roller.
Usually I fly across the country to lose 400 lol.
In fact I plan on going to Vegas next month and will have a 600 loss budgeted.
I just gamble for fun. Little risk, little reward.

Quote: Dicenor33

Fly across the country to win 400? I won't lift my ass from the couch for that.

Perhaps terapined wanted to get away for a few days and the gambling was entertainment, not a way to make a living.

I think there are plenty of us on this board who do not gamble for a living and enjoy getting away for a few days to relax and gamble a bit.

I think anytime you can come out on the plus side from a trip to LV you've had a good trip.

Quote: aceofspades

Perhaps terapined wanted to get away for a few days and the gambling was entertainment, not a way to make a living.

I think there are plenty of us on this board who do not gamble for a living and enjoy getting away for a few days to relax and gamble a bit.

I think anytime you can come out on the plus side from a trip to LV you've had a good trip.

You speak for many of us on here. A win is a win, and the play is the relief from everyday work life. And NO, that does not make us "problem" gamblers.


Great trip report by the way!

why in the world did you set the pai gow hand that way? makes zero sense unless im brain dead, why would yuo not play the queen and the 6 with the flush- at least you have some small chance of winning

Quote: strictlyAP

why in the world did you set the pai gow hand that way? makes zero sense unless im brain dead, why would yuo not play the queen and the 6 with the flush- at least you have some small chance of winning

You are right. The thing just jumped out at me. Sometimes you get blinders when those killer hands come through.

Quote: strictlyAP

why in the world did you set the pai gow hand that way? makes zero sense unless im brain dead, why would yuo not play the queen and the 6 with the flush- at least you have some small chance of winning

My guess is this is not the way he set the hand.

This is the way the dealer set it, AFTER the hand was played, to show the cameras why the dealer was paying out the fortune payout.

Edit: Looks like I guessed wrong...... again...

Wait did you say FREE AIRLINE TICKET?


Oh I wish..... hell us Canadians pay almost as much in taxes and fees on our tickets as people in US of A pay for their total ticket

Flights
Calgary (YYC)
Depart: Fri Oct 10, 8:50 AM
Las Vegas (LAS)
Arrive: Fri Oct 10, 10:33 AM
Las Vegas (LAS)
Depart: Mon Oct 13, 8:00 AM
Calgary (YYC)
Arrive: Mon Oct 13, 11:45 AM
Air transportation charges (ATC)
1 adult - base fare: $880.00 CAD
Other ATC: $15.00 CAD
Taxes, fees and charges: $159.89 CAD
Total with taxes: $1,054.89 CAD
Total price: $1,054.89 CAD
Currency converter

I enjoyed the read, terapined. I really enjoy reports where people come to Vegas and really enjoy themselves. One question though. You walked down to El Cortez to play $3 blackjack, presumably single or double deck, since that is all they have. Table minimums were $5 so you didn't play. Instead, you walked to Downtown Grand and played $5 minimum at the very mediocre 6 deck game. I am a little confused by this chain of events. You wouldn't play the $5 minimum, better single/double deck game, but would play the not as good 6 deck game at the same $5 minimum. Were you just holding a grudge that they didn't have your $3 game at that time of day? :)

Quote: kewlj

I enjoyed the read, terapined. I really enjoy reports where people come to Vegas and really enjoy themselves. One question though. You walked down to El Cortez to play $3 blackjack, presumably single or double deck, since that is all they have. Table minimums were $5 so you didn't play. Instead, you walked to Downtown Grand and played $5 minimum at the very mediocre 6 deck game. I am a little confused by this chain of events. You wouldn't play the $5 minimum, better single/double deck game, but would play the not as good 6 deck game at the same $5 minimum. Were you just holding a grudge that they didn't have your $3 game at that time of day? :)

It was the grudge :-)
I want the 3 dollar game. I did not want to reward their 5 dollar game with my low roller action :-)
I miss the Western, 1st place I ever played BJ in Vegas.
A lot of what influences where I play is I simply wander around, get tired and thirsty, sit down and play.
That's how I ended up playing pai gow at the SLS, I was dead tired from walking and thirsty.
I would actually consider myself a gamer rather then a gambler. I just love playing games.
That's why I'm a low roller, I just want to play. Its fun.

Quote: aceofspades

Perhaps terapined wanted to get away for a few days and the gambling was entertainment, not a way to make a living.

I think there are plenty of us on this board who do not gamble for a living and enjoy getting away for a few days to relax and gamble a bit.

I think anytime you can come out on the plus side from a trip to LV you've had a good trip.

+1, except I find gambling to be more stimulating than relaxing.

Quote: terapined

It was the grudge :-)
I want the 3 dollar game. I did not want to reward their 5 dollar game with my low roller action :-)
I miss the Western, 1st place I ever played BJ in Vegas.
A lot of what influences where I play is I simply wander around, get tired and thirsty, sit down and play.

I see. The grudge thing is funny. Here's a tip so you can find your $3 game in December. The $3 table opens at either 11am or noon on weekdays. It used to be 11am, but last time I was in there just after 11am it was not open, so they may have moved it back. I suppose sometime later in the afternoon, they bump it up to $5. I really don't keep too close of tabs on the game, because I am not interested in the $3 game, which almost immediately draws a full table, is slow, and has just slightly better than 50% cut (usually). The only reason that I AM interested in the $3 table is because when it is open, it draws all the low roller players away from the $5 table and I can often play heads up over there in the main pit and the penetration there is much better.

Quote: MrV

+1, except I find gambling to be more stimulating than relaxing.

With respect to -EV gambling, especially as pertains to Vegas, it really depends on what I am playing at the time.

Always Relaxing:

Video Keno
Pai-Gow Poker
Roulette (I think I've made exactly one Roulette bet in two years, though, other than a very brief session at a Vegas Star machine and some Roulette machine at Four Queens just because I wanted to try it out)
Live Keno

Always Stimulating:

Craps

Sometimes Stimulating, Sometimes Relaxing:

Video Poker
Blackjack

Quote: MrV

+1, except I find gambling to be more stimulating than relaxing.

I think in terms of Recreation and Escape. If your life is bogged down, you need Recreation. If problems are all around, you need Escape. Gambling fits these things IMO. Relaxation? not so much.

Great read terapined, I enjoyed it a lot regardless of advantage play... and I learned one or two things for my upcoming trip =). I'm in the group that enjoys reading about trip reports where people enjoy themselves, regardless of being an AP. Although I will admit I find the trip reports that center more around the play more exciting than anything else. CONGRATS on the fun, and WINNING, trip!

Quote: odiousgambit

I think in terms of Recreation and Escape. If your life is bogged down, you need Recreation. If problems are all around, you need Escape. Gambling fits these things IMO. Relaxation? not so much.

I guess I'm odd. As stated for other people they play to be stimulated as well. My brain is always rather active, so playing gives it a task that I also enjoy doing. So for example I find blackjack to be both stimulating and relaxing at the same time. I've been doing it long enough it's not hard to do, but yet it takes just that little bit of stimulating concentration to be on point. Stimulating can be relaxation for me =P.

Trip reports are one of the more enjoyable things on this forum for me and this was another good one.

If you tend to overlook blogs as I sometimes do, Mosca has been blogging from Atlantis. It's really good stuff that you may want to take a look at.

Quote: coilman

Wait did you say FREE AIRLINE TICKET?


Oh I wish..... hell us Canadians pay almost as much in taxes and fees on our tickets as people in US of A pay for their total ticket

Flights
Calgary (YYC)
Depart: Fri Oct 10, 8:50 AM
Las Vegas (LAS)
Arrive: Fri Oct 10, 10:33 AM
Las Vegas (LAS)
Depart: Mon Oct 13, 8:00 AM
Calgary (YYC)
Arrive: Mon Oct 13, 11:45 AM
Air transportation charges (ATC)
1 adult - base fare: $880.00 CAD
Other ATC: $15.00 CAD
Taxes, fees and charges: $159.89 CAD
Total with taxes: $1,054.89 CAD
Total price: $1,054.89 CAD
Currency converter

Join me in Vegas, will be flying out 11 OCT and return 15OCT.
I am primarily a USA based corp travel agent but I have clients in Canada and book and issue electronic tickets in Canada.
This is from my display at work on the Canada side. 379.75 CAD isn't too bad. 245.98 fare plus 133.77 canada taxes.

1 UA 576L 11OCT J YYCDEN*SS1 340P 602P /DCUA /E
2 UA1602L 11OCT J DENLAS*SS1 710P 807P /DCUA /E
3 AC1897K 15OCT W LASYYC SS1 235P 629P /DCAC /E

11OCT DEPARTURE DATE-----LAST DAY TO PURCHASE 18SEP/2359
BASE FARE TAXES/FEES/CHARGES TOTAL
1- CAD245.98 133.77XT CAD379.75ADT
XT 12.10CA 14.40XG 30.00SQ 39.66US
6.23YC 7.93XY 5.67XA 12.68AY
5.10XF
245.98 133.77 379.75TTL
ADT-01 LA14FS K7NS1TG
YYC UA X/DEN UA LAS Q YYCLAS6.86 120.86AC YYC Q6.86 90.64NUC
225.22END ROE1.09217 XFLAS4.5
NONREF/0VALUAFTDPT/CHGFEE
AC ONLY/NONREF/CHGFEE
VALIDATING CARRIER - UA
BAG ALLOWANCE -YYCLAS-NIL/UA
1STCHECKED BAG FEE-YYCLAS-CAD28.00/UA/UP TO 50 POUNDS/23 KILOGR
AMS AND UP TO 62 LINEAR INCHES/158 LINEAR CENTIMETERS**
2NDCHECKED BAG FEE-YYCLAS-CAD40.00/UA/UP TO 50 POUNDS/23 KILOGR
AMS AND UP TO 62 LINEAR INCHES/158 LINEAR CENTIMETERS**
BAG ALLOWANCE -LASYYC-NIL/UA

Quote: terapined

I had 2 5 dollar match play coupons for the D. I put down the coupon and 5 bucks on craps dont. Total low roller action and they ask for my players card. wow. win 1 bet, lose 2nd bet and walk away.

OMG...I saw a guy do something like that at The D. I think I may have seen you and didn't even realize it! Were you wearing glasses, and did you have a head full of unkempt hair that day???? lol :D

Quote: Beethoven9th

OMG...I saw a guy do something like that at The D. I think I may have seen you and didn't even realize it! Were you wearing glasses, and did you have a head full of unkempt hair that day???? lol :D

Could have been me :-)
I wear glasses but I keep my unkempt hair underneath my baseball cap.
Was wearing a dark blue t-shirt with 2 dancing turtles. The terrapins from the Terrapin Station album by the Grateful dead.
Did the guy look 1/2 asian?
Still owe me a chess game, how about a game in a few weeks, pick a bar downtown or strp and I'll be there.

Quote: 1BB

Trip reports are one of the more enjoyable things on this forum for me and this was another good one.

If you tend to overlook blogs as I sometimes do, Mosca has been blogging from Atlantis. It's really good stuff that you may want to take a look at.

Oh hell, I didn't realize there was a trip report sub forum!

No worries, just spare us the Speedo. :-)

Good report!

Thanks for taking the time to post your TR with photos. It is fun to read about trips to Vegas.

One small point, you left your Bingo expense out of your summary....