Breaking News: Harrah's Rincon Kills Its Video Poker Games
March 15th, 2012 at 4:57:25 AM
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I feel like I am back in the news business again with "breaking news" but this is happening right now. Harrah's Rincon has absolutely destroyed its full pay video poker machines and drastically reduced all pay tables from the 25-cent machines up through the $100/coin machines.
I was tipped off Wednesday night and drove down to Rincon to take a look -- to confirm, take photos of some paytables, and even of the technicians changing the chips.
The full pay games are GONE. My full report: http://alanbestbuys.com/id104.html
I was tipped off Wednesday night and drove down to Rincon to take a look -- to confirm, take photos of some paytables, and even of the technicians changing the chips.
The full pay games are GONE. My full report: http://alanbestbuys.com/id104.html
March 15th, 2012 at 5:51:32 AM
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I am sure you will continue to learn of new Cheap ass moves by CZR /Harrahs
as they struggle to service their 19 billion dollar debt....
as they struggle to service their 19 billion dollar debt....
In a bet, there is a fool and a thief.
- Proverb.
March 21st, 2012 at 3:35:24 AM
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The "latest" is that a couple of the supervisors and managers there told me that they now realize they made a big mistake and they will be returning to the old, full pay pay tables. But when I asked "when" they didn't know. They did take a lot of heat over this, and when I was back there on Sunday the casino was packed except the video poker machines were not being used at all in the high limit room, and the video poker room was seeing very little activity. Word spreads pretty darn fast, doesn't it?
March 28th, 2012 at 4:56:10 AM
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As of Monday night, Rincon is now "improving" some of the rotten pay tables they installed two weeks ago. But the improvements aren't good enough by a long shot. Still can't find any 9/6 Jacks machines... even the $100 machines only have 8/5 jacks. Bonus poker pay tables are now looking very weird.
March 28th, 2012 at 5:33:29 AM
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Let us face a few things about this:
Dust will settle, time will go by and press releases will be issued about "adjustments" and then later about "upwards adjustments" and their will then be accompanying mouthings about "meeting the needs our customers," "player demand" and "favorite games".
How long will it take for dust to settle? California dust settled at a different rate than Vegas dust does.
Just as casinos are paranoid about card counting they are paranoid about Video Poker. The view "favorable" pay tables most unfavorably. Just as they think one five dollar card counter will bankrupt them they feel one VP addict will drive away all those customers who lose on their shirts on other slot machines.
The pendulum will swing back, be patient.
Dust will settle, time will go by and press releases will be issued about "adjustments" and then later about "upwards adjustments" and their will then be accompanying mouthings about "meeting the needs our customers," "player demand" and "favorite games".
How long will it take for dust to settle? California dust settled at a different rate than Vegas dust does.
Just as casinos are paranoid about card counting they are paranoid about Video Poker. The view "favorable" pay tables most unfavorably. Just as they think one five dollar card counter will bankrupt them they feel one VP addict will drive away all those customers who lose on their shirts on other slot machines.
The pendulum will swing back, be patient.
March 28th, 2012 at 6:35:39 AM
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Actually no one is being patient. The casino is getting hit hard with complaints. My host called me this past Thursday to tell me that others have told them they would stop going there.
Im not a $100/coin player or a $25 or $10 player... but I can just imagine what those people are saying.
Usually when I go in there, there are at least two $100 players but no more. Ive been there on nights when all 8 $100 machines are in use. I dont think a $100 player has been there in the past two weeks.
Im not a $100/coin player or a $25 or $10 player... but I can just imagine what those people are saying.
Usually when I go in there, there are at least two $100 players but no more. Ive been there on nights when all 8 $100 machines are in use. I dont think a $100 player has been there in the past two weeks.
March 28th, 2012 at 6:42:48 AM
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deleted
DUHHIIIIIIIII HEARD THAT!
March 28th, 2012 at 7:27:43 AM
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Quote: AlanMendelsonThe casino is getting hit hard with complaints. Others have told them they would stop going there.
Usually there are at least two $100 players but no more. Ive been there on nights when all 8 $100 machines are in use. I dont think a $100 player has been there in the past two weeks.
Okay, so the player revolt is immediate and impressively strong... the casino will let things be for awhile and then cave in with appropriate mouthings about restoration of favorite games or something about focus on the customer.
Vegas had some casinos that were great for VP but have now become merely good for VP. The Evil Empire will always find its proper point at which to shear. Barona is an upscale place in the San Diego market, I believe. There is competition, the casino is worried. There will be meetings.... and more meetings. Then there will finally be some action.
March 28th, 2012 at 9:37:26 AM
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Yeah I was very unhappy with the changes at Rincon. This was becoming my home casino and I was willing to drive half an hour past 3 other casinos to get to Harrahs and their good VP. I should contact them and complain. Alan, any idea who the best person to contact at Rincon is?
Vote for Nobody 2020!
March 28th, 2012 at 12:06:05 PM
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99% of the time when customers complain about a downgrade in VP the casino does it anyway. May you be the 1%.
"Dice, verily, are armed with goads and driving-hooks, deceiving and tormenting, causing grievous woe." -Rig Veda 10.34.4
March 28th, 2012 at 1:56:48 PM
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Quote: teddys99% of the time when customers complain about a downgrade in VP the casino does it anyway. May you be the 1%.
Heck, at Horseshoe Southern Indiana, nearly half of their bill acceptors won't accept any $100 bills. The screens are faded and in some cases, the lights make it very difficult to see. Still, I'm not going to say A WORD, since most of the machines still have good paytables (9-6 JoB, even at the bar). I don't want them taking my complaint as a reason to "fix" the machines!
"One out of every four people are [morons]"- Kyle, South Park
March 28th, 2012 at 2:27:32 PM
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Quote: bigfoot66Yeah I was very unhappy with the changes at Rincon. This was becoming my home casino and I was willing to drive half an hour past 3 other casinos to get to Harrahs and their good VP. I should contact them and complain. Alan, any idea who the best person to contact at Rincon is?
When I first noticed the change two weeks ago, I complained to EVERYBODY I saw. Slot personnel, cage people, supervisors. Then using my Blackberry I put a post about it on my website, and then I went back to everybody on the casino floor and showed the web page to them on my cell phone.
When I got home I posted on Rincon's facebook page... and posted again... some of the posts have survived but some they removed.
I called my host. bigfoot -- I would just call anybody and tell everybody. start with the hotel operator and say "I have a complaint" and see who you get transferred to. Post here. Post on other message boards. Trust me on this: they see it-- and they see everything. NOTHING gets erased in this web world we live in. It will be there to haunt them forever, or until Google's server warehouses is swept up in the black hole that we don't know is coming cause we can't see it. (lol)
March 28th, 2012 at 3:40:12 PM
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I posted on their facebook page, checked back 2 minutes later. Deleted.
Btw Alan after they put the good machines back in we should celebrate over a beer down there. Would be fun to meet someone from the board.
Btw Alan after they put the good machines back in we should celebrate over a beer down there. Would be fun to meet someone from the board.
Vote for Nobody 2020!
March 28th, 2012 at 5:14:18 PM
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Wow, I'm glad I was one of the last people to play those machines...
I was in there on a Friday night in February, and they weren't even really being played...
Barona is a much nicer casino anyway...
I was in there on a Friday night in February, and they weren't even really being played...
Barona is a much nicer casino anyway...
Gambling calls to me...like this ~> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Nap37mNSmQ
March 28th, 2012 at 5:16:11 PM
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Quote: TIMSPEEDBarona is a much nicer casino anyway...
Nicer but much farther away and no alcohol. And I like getting comps in Vegas based on play in SoCal.
Vote for Nobody 2020!
March 29th, 2012 at 10:37:19 AM
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I wrote on their facebook wall
"Hi Friends,
Very disapointed to see the changes in your Video Poker paytables at my last visit. I had decided to go for Diamond status this year and my plan to get here was playing 9/6 Jacks or better poker, 8/5 Bonus poker, and Baccarat. On my last trip, the machines had been changed from 9/6 to 6/5!!! I appreciate the fact that a casino needs to make money, but you increased the house edge by approximately 1000% on these machines. I am not sure why I would drive an extra half an hour, past 3 other casinos, to get to what has become the worst VP I am aware of in southern California. I really hope you change this back!"
They responded,
"
It is true that we have recently adjusted the pay tables on some of our video poker games. While some of the pay tables have changed slightly we still have some of newest, fun and exciting video poker games anywhere - something for everyone! Combine that with our industry leading Total Rewards program which we just enhanced and the nearly 40 casinos in the United States and we still have a very compelling proposition for our video poker players."
Adjusted the machines slightly? I would hate to see what a major adjustment looks like! I told them to give me a heads up if they put any more quarter 9/6 JOB in. If they do I will be going back!
"Hi Friends,
Very disapointed to see the changes in your Video Poker paytables at my last visit. I had decided to go for Diamond status this year and my plan to get here was playing 9/6 Jacks or better poker, 8/5 Bonus poker, and Baccarat. On my last trip, the machines had been changed from 9/6 to 6/5!!! I appreciate the fact that a casino needs to make money, but you increased the house edge by approximately 1000% on these machines. I am not sure why I would drive an extra half an hour, past 3 other casinos, to get to what has become the worst VP I am aware of in southern California. I really hope you change this back!"
They responded,
"
It is true that we have recently adjusted the pay tables on some of our video poker games. While some of the pay tables have changed slightly we still have some of newest, fun and exciting video poker games anywhere - something for everyone! Combine that with our industry leading Total Rewards program which we just enhanced and the nearly 40 casinos in the United States and we still have a very compelling proposition for our video poker players."
Adjusted the machines slightly? I would hate to see what a major adjustment looks like! I told them to give me a heads up if they put any more quarter 9/6 JOB in. If they do I will be going back!
Vote for Nobody 2020!
March 29th, 2012 at 1:36:53 PM
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Quote: bigfoot66They responded,
"It is true that we have recently adjusted the pay tables on some of our video poker games. While some of the pay tables have changed slightly we still have some of newest, fun and exciting video poker games anywhere - something for everyone! Combine that with our industry leading Total Rewards program which we just enhanced and the nearly 40 casinos in the United States and we still have a very compelling proposition for our video poker players."
When I first read this, I was mortified and angry with the Evil Empire. This is an ignorant response to a deliberate and calculated change in Video Poker paytables that, in my opinion, paints them in a negative light.
However, you did post this on their Facebook wall. While it's still a terrible response, I can't say I disagree with the choice of wording. You did choose to go public about your transgressions, and this was probably the most PC response to your post. I'm sure the response is the same if you go in a private email, but at least then, I lay full blame for idiocy on them.
I will also say that they don't really care for people getting Diamond status on 9/6 JoB. That's where I earn probably 60-70% of my points, and this year, my offers are squat. Sad thing is I still play other higher house edge games on occasion, like Mississippi Stud and heck every once in a while I play slot machine (when I'm terribly bored).
"One out of every four people are [morons]"- Kyle, South Park
March 29th, 2012 at 3:31:17 PM
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Hey Alan and Bigfoot
Id love to meet up for some beers as well. Its always fun to gamble with buddies. Hows your Diamond coming along Bigoffoot?
Id love to meet up for some beers as well. Its always fun to gamble with buddies. Hows your Diamond coming along Bigoffoot?
Bang Biscuit!
March 29th, 2012 at 9:29:41 PM
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For all parties interested...I'll be playing craps at Barona April 13-15th...
Gambling calls to me...like this ~> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Nap37mNSmQ
March 31st, 2012 at 11:28:31 AM
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Quote: JamieVHey Alan and Bigfoot
Id love to meet up for some beers as well. Its always fun to gamble with buddies. Hows your Diamond coming along Bigoffoot?
I am at about 2400 points so far and I have a trip to vegas in a month. I earn about 800 points a trip on average but I have not been back to Rincon since they killed the VP. I may not go for it after all unless the put some good VP back in. I will give you a heads up before I head down there again
Vote for Nobody 2020!
March 31st, 2012 at 2:00:11 PM
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Quote: bigfoot66I am at about 2400 points so far and I have a trip to vegas in a month. I earn about 800 points a trip on average but I have not been back to Rincon since they killed the VP. I may not go for it after all unless the put some good VP back in. I will give you a heads up before I head down there again
I will let you know about other decent VP offerings across the country, in case you get to the Midwest. For example, at least on March 2, Horseshoe Southern Indiana still offered 9/6 JoB throughout the entire casino. Tunica Roadhouse has a ton of full-pay (though no 100% + machines) at many denominations.
"One out of every four people are [morons]"- Kyle, South Park
March 31st, 2012 at 2:03:09 PM
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Rincon did restore a few games back to full pay... but only a few games. Ironically, the games I play... aces and faces, and there are just two of those with 8/5. the other few aces and faces games are still showing the lower pay tables.
I updated the article on my site and showed the improvements that they made, but they still don't come close to full pay on games such as bonus. And the improvements came only at the higher denominations of $5 and up.
I can't believe that the $100 players will tolerate 8/5 jacks or better.
there are still two 8/5 Bonus games on the casino floor, both in the video poker section, at the $1 and $2 levels. they are 7/5 for 25-cents and 50-cents.
My posts are quickly deleted on their Facebook page too.
The reality is they want penny slots players. And the 15% to 18% hold they have over them.
I updated the article on my site and showed the improvements that they made, but they still don't come close to full pay on games such as bonus. And the improvements came only at the higher denominations of $5 and up.
I can't believe that the $100 players will tolerate 8/5 jacks or better.
there are still two 8/5 Bonus games on the casino floor, both in the video poker section, at the $1 and $2 levels. they are 7/5 for 25-cents and 50-cents.
My posts are quickly deleted on their Facebook page too.
The reality is they want penny slots players. And the 15% to 18% hold they have over them.
March 31st, 2012 at 2:24:29 PM
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at least 7/5 is better than what they had there, which was 8/5 with two pair paying only 1 coin instead of 2!
Vote for Nobody 2020!
March 31st, 2012 at 10:54:51 PM
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bigfoot I should have been more clear: those 7/5 pays on the 25cent and 50cent bonus games are only on two machines. the rest of the machines are at 6/5 bonus, including $5.
April 17th, 2012 at 10:20:40 PM
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Rincon has put in new Game King machines with full pay tables restored on many if not all of the games. These are in the video poker room. And I was told that the 8/5 Bonus games in particular are available at 25-cents again.
Does anyone have any details?
Does anyone have any details?
April 17th, 2012 at 11:38:36 PM
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85 bonus poker was there at the 25 cent level. it was also 8/5 JOB on the same machines when I was there a few weeks ago....
Vote for Nobody 2020!
April 18th, 2012 at 10:25:19 AM
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Quote: TiltpoulI will let you know about other decent VP offerings across the country, in case you get to the Midwest. For example, at least on March 2, Horseshoe Southern Indiana still offered 9/6 JoB throughout the entire casino. Tunica Roadhouse has a ton of full-pay (though no 100% + machines) at many denominations.
As an update, Tunica Roadhouse and Horseshoe Southern Indiana still both offer 9/6 JoB on most of the machines (including bartop machines at HSI). I think most of the games at Roadhouse are Full-pay if one is on that machine.
"One out of every four people are [morons]"- Kyle, South Park
