s2dbaker
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December 11th, 2011 at 8:32:23 AM permalink
I went to Circus Circus last night. It was infested with children. This casino could be razed and I would not miss it; not one bit.

The evening started innocently enough, I wanted to go to Wynn/Encore and get some points on by red card. Before I could do that I needed to hit the Chase ATM so I looked in the Google Maps for a Chase ATM and there was one not far from Encore to the North. I get to where the GPS told me to go and there's nothing there. That's okay, I just wanted to avoid paying the ATM fee, no biggie.

Then inspiration struck! Instead of going to Wynn/Encore, I'll just pop into the Riviera. The Riviera was empty on a Saturday night and I played Texas Hold'em Bonus for an hour and change. The dealers were a little surly but otherwise my experience there was quite pleasant. The Riviera is clean and uncluttered, a little labyrinthine but that was my first time there so my unfamiliarity shouldn't be held against it. After winning a little at Texas Hold'em Bonus and then giving it back breaking in my new player's club card, it was time to walk across the street.

This post is really about Circus Circus. Oh My God! I walked in through the front and went right over to sign up for the Circus Circus player's club card. There seems to be no ventilation in the place. My voice immediately dropped to irritated rasp from all the smoke. I can only imagine what those poor trapeze artists must go through. At the club card sign up desk, a nice lady ( there was only one working ) signed me up and presented an offer where if you buy $35 in chips, you get something like $50 in special chips that you can use for Blackjack, Craps or Roulette. That sounded like a good deal, so I did it. Once I got the special chips, I went to the roulette table and placed some bets, I was not lucky but that's okay. That's gambling. They really need to work on the ventilation. It was hazy with smoke and the place is cluttered. It has levels, you can walk up down around and there's even a moving circular platform cluttered with slot machines if you really want to get disoriented. I did like the red Camaro convertible 2SS/RS that they have in the 'Win This Car' section. There was also a Corvette in another area but at that point, I was so turned off by Circus Circus that I had lost all curiosity and didn't bother to check it out.

I was feeling little peckish so I went to the food court area. There's a pizza place there and I ordered a calzone. The calzone was large and yummy. No complaints there. What is with Circus Circus and the children though? There were people, smoking up clouds and dragging their kids all around the casino area at 11pm. It was loud ( as kids tend to be when overly stimulated ) and smokey and weird. I kept thinking, I would not see this at the Encore. Who takes their kids to a smoke filled casino at 11pm? I feel sorry for the people who work there. I guess my objections are less about the Casino itself than it is about its patrons. Still, if they knocked the place down and started over, only then will I ever visit again.

Go to the Riviera across the street, it's so much a better experience.
Someday, joor goin' to see the name of Googie Gomez in lights and joor goin' to say to joorself, "Was that her?" and then joor goin' to answer to joorself, "That was her!" But you know somethin' mister? I was always her yuss nobody knows it! - Googie Gomez
Tiltpoul
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December 11th, 2011 at 8:39:14 AM permalink
Did you notice all the signs around the perimeter of the casino area that explains where children can and cannot be? Then did you notice that they are written very clearly, both in Spanish and in English?

My feeling is, and I could be wrong, that Circus Circus is going after a rare breed of clientele; the Hispanic community who happens to like having gambling options on the side. It's no surprise that MGM has distanced this property as far as they can from their own resorts. They have their own players club, their own website and the only connection to the rest of the properties is found at the bottom in small print.

On my trip to Vegas, I found all the same things to be very disturbing. There are kids in Vegas, and you kind of get used to seeing them. But Circus Circus is even worse about it.
"One out of every four people are [morons]"- Kyle, South Park
AZDuffman
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December 11th, 2011 at 8:43:11 AM permalink
Quote: s2dbaker

I was feeling little peckish so I went to the food court area. There's a pizza place there and I ordered a calzone. The calzone was large and yummy. No complaints there. What is with Circus Circus and the children though? There were people, smoking up clouds and dragging their kids all around the casino area at 11pm. It was loud ( as kids tend to be when overly stimulated ) and smokey and weird. I kept thinking, I would not see this at the Encore. Who takes their kids to a smoke filled casino at 11pm? I feel sorry for the people who work there. I guess my objections are less about the Casino itself than it is about its patrons. Still, if they knocked the place down and started over, only then will I ever visit again.

Go to the Riviera across the street, it's so much a better experience.



In the book "Super Casino" they state that CC was once known as "Vegas' Largest Babysitter." People would let the kids play the midway, alone sometimes, while they gambled downstairs. This was after Sarno lost the place and the new owners took over, changing the midway from a sort of adult circus atmosphere and evicting the Tony Stuart, Ltd jewelry store and making it the first "family friendly" casino.

I *hate* when kids are at a casino or bar, running around as if it was Romper Room. What goes thru people's heads?

Word was a few years back CC was to be imploded but replaced with a new CC, updated but same theme. With the end of the "theme casino" I think it will be here to stay. Construction costs were paid off decades ago, positive cash flow, why fool around? I like the old-vegas feel of the place, though rarely stay for long. Never been to Rivera, never had time. Plan to go there next trip, though.
All animals are equal, but some are more equal than others
FleaStiff
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December 11th, 2011 at 8:47:22 AM permalink
I don't know what you are angry about:
Circus Circus, kids or smoking.

Circus Circus has long been a Family Friendly place in that they cater to young couples who have kids. Its a market niche. Originally it worked well for them. So did their humungous buffets and their eighteen dollar rooms.

Smoke? The parents don't think they are polluting their air though some might admit they are polluting your air. Ain't no big deal to them. Kids have learned to deal with it too.

Raze Circus Circus? Bean counters been talking about that for fifteen years. Just remember though... if you don't have the kids at Circus Circus then they will be stretched out all over town at other casinos. We don't want that.
Wizard
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December 11th, 2011 at 8:50:31 AM permalink
A review is planned for Circus Circus later this month. I'm looking forward to what the reviewer has to say for this ... one of a kind ... casino.
"For with much wisdom comes much sorrow." -- Ecclesiastes 1:18 (NIV)
ncfatcat
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December 11th, 2011 at 8:59:58 AM permalink
Last time I was in Vegas for the APA pool tornament at the Riviera in August, I thought the Riviera was awfully smokey compared to about everywhere but the downtown casinos. Glad I didn't go to CC.
Gambling is a metaphor for life. Hang around long enough and it's all gone.
s2dbaker
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December 11th, 2011 at 9:01:08 AM permalink
Quote: FleaStiff

I don't know what you are angry about:
Circus Circus, kids or smoking.

Yes!
Someday, joor goin' to see the name of Googie Gomez in lights and joor goin' to say to joorself, "Was that her?" and then joor goin' to answer to joorself, "That was her!" But you know somethin' mister? I was always her yuss nobody knows it! - Googie Gomez
JB
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December 11th, 2011 at 9:09:52 AM permalink
My memory may not be correct about this, but when I lived in Vegas I went to CC a couple of times to play what I believe was a full-pay Aces and Eights game that had a progressive jackpot for a sequential royal. Different denominations had their own jackpot, of course. What I don't remember is whether the lower denominations had the same paytable as the higher ones, but I think they were all full-pay (8/5), which returns 99.78% before considering the added value of the Sequential Royal, and just over 100% if the jackpot starts at 50,000 coins. It certainly seemed out of place; CC strikes me as a place that you would expect to be full of those quarter-bulldozer machines.
Wizard
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December 11th, 2011 at 9:42:12 AM permalink
Circus used to be pretty good for video poker. They had NSUD at the $5 denom until about 2008. It was evidently positive when considering slot club points.

As far as I know they are still running the 2 to 1 on blackjacks promotion, for about 5 minutes every hour, up to $500 max bet.
"For with much wisdom comes much sorrow." -- Ecclesiastes 1:18 (NIV)
pacomartin
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December 11th, 2011 at 11:11:27 AM permalink
Quote: JB

It certainly seemed out of place; CC strikes me as a place that you would expect to be full of those quarter-bulldozer machines.



Wikipedia says that those 2 episodes of Roseanne were filmed at LVH, twenty years ago.

Circus Circus Las Vegas has an operating income of $6.343 million for the first 9 months of 2011 on revenue of $149.694 million, compared to an operating loss of $2.529 million for the first 9 months of 2010 on revenue of $143.176 million. At least it is making some profit compared to the money pit called City Center. I guess catering too smokers is keeping them in business.
Tiltpoul
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December 11th, 2011 at 11:21:15 AM permalink
Quote: JB

It certainly seemed out of place; CC strikes me as a place that you would expect to be full of those quarter-bulldozer machines.



Sandra Bernhardt was on the last episode of Hot in Cleveland, playing the lesbian lover of Laura San Giacomo's character. It was pretty funny to see that her face really hasn't changed in 20 years. She looked ragged back then, and she still does!

If LVH could bottle that scene and bring it back today, I'm pretty sure it would...
"One out of every four people are [morons]"- Kyle, South Park
teddys
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December 11th, 2011 at 11:23:30 AM permalink
Quote: pacomartin

Wikipedia says that those 2 episodes of Roseanne were filmed at LVH, twenty years ago.

That's odd because Circus Circus is definitely where I imagine Roseanne and Dan staying. (Maybe if they were bringing DJ and Darlene).
"Dice, verily, are armed with goads and driving-hooks, deceiving and tormenting, causing grievous woe." -Rig Veda 10.34.4
JB
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December 11th, 2011 at 11:31:22 AM permalink
Quote: pacomartin

Wikipedia says that those 2 episodes of Roseanne were filmed at LVH, twenty years ago.


I don't doubt it. I only linked to it to try to point out the game (whose actual name is Flip It).
EvenBob
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December 11th, 2011 at 12:18:55 PM permalink
CC was the only place I was ever backroomed. My wife put
a $50 bill in a slot in 1998 and nothing happened. I called
a slot tech and they called security and we were asked to
follow some giant guy in a suit. He took us off the casino
floor, down a long hallway, into a tiny room. He sat behind
a desk and we had to stand. He was very rude and asked
us about 10 times to tell him what happened. My wife was
terrified. Eventually his phone rang and he opened a drawer
and gave me fifty dollars, got up and left. Never apologised,
never said we could go, he just disappeared. We left CC and
never went back. He was straight out of a mob movie, fat,
55, no neck, gruff voice.
"It's not called gambling if the math is on your side."
1BB
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December 11th, 2011 at 1:44:39 PM permalink
Quote: EvenBob

CC was the only place I was ever backroomed. My wife put
a $50 bill in a slot in 1998 and nothing happened. I called
a slot tech and they called security and we were asked to
follow some giant guy in a suit. He took us off the casino
floor, down a long hallway, into a tiny room. He sat behind
a desk and we had to stand. He was very rude and asked
us about 10 times to tell him what happened. My wife was
terrified. Eventually his phone rang and he opened a drawer
and gave me fifty dollars, got up and left. Never apologised,
never said we could go, he just disappeared. We left CC and
never went back. He was straight out of a mob movie, fat,
55, no neck, gruff voice.



I don't know if that fits my definition of backroomed. In any event, never ever go anywhere with these goons.
Many people, especially ignorant people, want to punish you for speaking the truth. - Mahatma Ghandi
EvenBob
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December 11th, 2011 at 1:51:02 PM permalink
Quote: 1BB

I don't know if that fits my definition of backroomed. In any event, never ever go anywhere with these goons.



If they take you anywhere off the casino floor, thats
backroomed. They kept asking if we were going to
stick with our story because they were reviewing the
video. He told us if it didn't match what we said, they
would call the police. This guy never smiled, was never
friendly, was in fact quite scary. A tech told us later
that people try to scam the casino all the time by saying
they put in a hundred when they put in ten. If it
shows on the video that it was a ten, he said they do
indeed call the police and have them arrested. There
were at least 2 cameras in the small office where we
were questioned.
"It's not called gambling if the math is on your side."
IvanYerkanoff
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August 30th, 2012 at 2:41:34 AM permalink
Circus Circus was the first casino I ever went into... I was 11 years old and I found it fascinating. It was a Yerkanoff family outing sort of event...That place has been there a while! It was the 2nd casino that I ever played blackjack at years later also. The first casino I played my first hand of blackjack at was Bob Stupak's Vegasworld but Circus Circus was the 2nd place I ever played. Smokey, dingy, kids howling like little monkeys and raising hell sounds about right! Dingy and old as the place is, it's sort of special to me in a nostalgic way so I hope they don't tear it down and risk upsetting a nice positive cash flow since the place is paid for.

Anyway, in keeping up with Yerkanoff family tradition I brought my nephew there when he was about 8 or so and found out the hard way that a kid can spend more money on the arcade games and such than you are likely to lose gambling! Although I've spent a lot of time way back when in that place it's been a few years since I've popped in there.
FleaStiff
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August 30th, 2012 at 4:59:22 AM permalink
Okay, so at one time it was the most profitable casino on the strip, now its the most hated, but it still makes money serving a market niche and catering to what might be called "the lower class" partly for their values as relates to noise and dragging kids around everywhere.

Lets face it. Parents get tired of this One Spouse gambles while the other is a prisoner up in the room trying to keep the kids quiet or else somewhere in some age-appropriate arcade trying to keep an eye on them when they really hate them and want to be away from them. Until someone makes it a felony to bring brats to Vegas, its going to happen and it has to happen somewhere. So all hail until Circus Circus for keeping that sort of thing in one area of town and not having it in the nicer areas ruining things for decent people. Wives probably like a place where they get "half a vacation" rather than "no vacation at all" because they can't really ditch the kids. I mean how many episodes of Dora The Explorer can you watch before you feel like screaming?

I don't know about the ages and children situation of the various members of this forum but I'm sure people probably have different views. Do you teach your "Tweens and up" blackjack? Do you have them gamble at home for money? Do you gamble with them? Or do you keep it more at the level of "playing cards"? Do the teenagers really enjoy those Game Arcades or are they too tame and too out of date? An adult arcade opened downtown, so there must be some money in it.

In Vegas, the licenses are too important to have the under 21 set actually gambling, but in reality I can not imagine kids are not growing up without craps, poker of some sort, 21, etc.

So Yes, we are agreed. Circus Circus is a smoke filled dump stuffed to the gills with noisy brats and noisy parents who drag them around at all hours in a mix between 'semi supervise' and 'semi have our own fun' blur of sights and sounds and louder sounds.
What would you have them do?
What do you do in your own home?
No mock slot machines in your basement rec room?
No allowance money allowed on the 21 games?
Do you smoke like a chimney but give anti-smoking lectures to your kids?
Can you count down an eight deck shoe yourself but somehow not find even one deck for the kids to have?
Mission146
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August 30th, 2012 at 2:23:34 PM permalink
Exactly!!!

I gave my four-year old $5.00 for helping me clean his room and helping hand me the dishes from the dishwasher because there was a little $4.99 toy he wanted next time we went to the store, so I figured it was a good early lesson.

In any event, when he found out I was going to the casino, he handed me his $5.00 and said, "Forget that little toy, Dad, I want a new bike and I have a damn good feeling about 16-Red."

The above is a joke, by the way, you never know who is watching what you post!
https://wizardofvegas.com/forum/off-topic/gripes/11182-pet-peeves/120/#post815219
kulin
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August 30th, 2012 at 2:40:26 PM permalink
FleaStiff, I don't think Circus Circus is doing anyone at other casinos a service. Even if Circus Circus didn't exist, casinos would not be an appropriate place for kids. I suppose there is a portion of the populace that cannot leave their kids with parents or siblings while they get away for a weekend but it can't be that big.

Any casino that caters to a family with children should have the best air filtration on the strip just as a matter of principle. Maybe the parents are too stupid to realize that they are harming their children but the science is in and the casino should know better.

Also, when I first entered a casino as a child I remember that the slots were exciting and forbidden looking (kind of like looking at the inside of a bar as you walk by) but not tempting on a gambling level. I think for the 17-20 crowd the casino club scene is an attractive concept and the gambling a curiosity but I would be shocked that anyone younger cared at all for actual gambling. Most kids that age don't even understand money, it's a thing they get from their parents when they want something.
FleaStiff
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August 30th, 2012 at 11:44:51 PM permalink
Quote: kulin

FleaStiff, I don't think Circus Circus is doing anyone at other casinos a service.


Yes, they are. They are keeping that sort of thing in one area of town.
Its bad enough to have streetwalkers all over Las Vegas but at least kids are being kept in one place.
FleaStiff
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August 30th, 2012 at 11:46:17 PM permalink
Quote: Mission146

The above is a joke, by the way, you never know who is watching what you post!

You fooled me!
MonkeyMonkey
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August 31st, 2012 at 1:40:46 AM permalink
Quote: kulin

FleaStiff, I don't think Circus Circus is doing anyone at other casinos a service.



Sure they are. When people with kids think about what they can do with them when they go to Vegas, CC is likely the first thing that comes to mind.

Quote: kulin

Any casino that caters to a family with children should have the best air filtration on the strip just as a matter of principle.



Why? If the parents aren't concerned about second-hand smoke why should the casino have to parent their kids?

Quote: kulin

Maybe the parents are too stupid to realize that they are harming their children but the science is in and the casino should know better.



I'm not in favor of anything that comes off like a Nanny state. If the parents deem the environment permissible, who is the casino to object to their parenting decisions?

Quote: kulin


Also, when I first entered a casino as a child I remember that the slots were exciting and forbidden looking (kind of like looking at the inside of a bar as you walk by) but not tempting on a gambling level.



You went in a casino as a kid? Did the place have the best air filtration system on the strip?


Quote: kulin

I think for the 17-20 crowd the casino club scene is an attractive concept and the gambling a curiosity but I would be shocked that anyone younger cared at all for actual gambling.



Prepare to be shocked...

Quote: kulin

Most kids that age don't even understand money, it's a thing they get from their parents when they want something.



The first time I got in serious trouble as a kid (maybe 6 years old or so) it was because my mother overheard me asking a cousin: Wanna bet? But this wasn't where personal pride or whatever was on the line, I wanted us to put up toys to be won or lost. A few years later I was busted for gambling at school with money. And the thing is I never had to search far for someone else that wanted to bet.
Mission146
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August 31st, 2012 at 7:47:36 AM permalink
Quote: Kulin

I think for the 17-20 crowd the casino club scene is an attractive concept and the gambling a curiosity but I would be shocked that anyone younger cared at all for actual gambling.



I forgot to respond to this! I had Ceasar's Palace for Sega Genesis when I was about ten! I was obsessed with that game! I tried every Roulette System that I have since heard of on that game by the age of twelve! I tried horse-picking systems, I still remember the name of one of the horses, "Monotreme Dream!" I did find Craps more complicated, but didn't know about sites such as WOO, it took me a long time to finally understand Craps.

I played, "Concentration," for nickles at the age of Seven. My allowance was $2.00/week for keeping my room reasonably clean and doing the dishes every other night. If I did the dishes on nights I wasnt scheduled, that was $0.50/night. I also got report card money, and money for losing teeth!

In any event, anytime I got money for something, I had the option of playing, "Concentration," against my Dad. The price was $0.05/game, I was not allowed to lose more than $0.50/allowance, and I was not allowed to profit more than $1.00. You just fanned out the 54 (Jokers counted for double points), picked two cards per turn and tried to pick the same value. If you picked right, you went again. Alternating shuffles.

Even at that age, I was smart enough to flash myself the bottom card! I would also occasionally try to fix the card on top and make it look like I was shuffling it, but I got caught most of the time trying that. I was pretty crafty about that bottom card flash, though, nothing blatant, slight corner-bend on cards that were pretty well-used anyway.

We eventually tired of that and got into 500 Rummy at a $0.25/game, same win/loss parameters.

There are two types of people in the world: Those who gamble, and everyone else. I think you're born with it.
https://wizardofvegas.com/forum/off-topic/gripes/11182-pet-peeves/120/#post815219
Ayecarumba
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August 31st, 2012 at 9:11:28 AM permalink
Mission, it sounds more like you were trained for it. Were your parents into the Vegas scene?
Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication - Leonardo da Vinci
MidwestAP
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August 31st, 2012 at 9:13:43 AM permalink
Quote: Mission146

There are two types of people in the world: Those who gamble, and everyone else. I think you're born with it.



I'd agree with that, always had a penchant for gambling. When I was 11 years old we took a family trip and drove out to California from the midwest. We stopped in Reno and I vividly remember looking in the casino's and wishing I could play.
Mission146
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August 31st, 2012 at 10:25:56 AM permalink
Quote: Ayecarumba

Mission, it sounds more like you were trained for it. Were your parents into the Vegas scene?



Ironically, not at all. My Dad almost never gambles, he just liked gambling with me, for whatever reason. My Mom and I used to play Poker all the time, Texas Hold 'Em, for a few years, but I could never get her to plunk money down. I've been involved in any number of Prop Bets with them, but my Mom's only been to a casino once in the last decade! She lost $20 to the Slots, first time at the casino. I told her that was the second-worst result for a first-time Slots player, we all know what the worst result is...
https://wizardofvegas.com/forum/off-topic/gripes/11182-pet-peeves/120/#post815219
Mission146
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August 31st, 2012 at 10:29:40 AM permalink
Quote: MidwestAP

I'd agree with that, always had a penchant for gambling. When I was 11 years old we took a family trip and drove out to California from the midwest. We stopped in Reno and I vividly remember looking in the casino's and wishing I could play.



Exactly! When I turned eighteen, WI was slots/VP(maybe) only and you could play at that age. I tried three times between 10:00-12:00 to get in, everytime there was a different security guard!

"Come on, man, we're talking two hours, here! I've been buying smokes illegally for nearly five years, you can give me two hours!!!"
https://wizardofvegas.com/forum/off-topic/gripes/11182-pet-peeves/120/#post815219
buzzpaff
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August 31st, 2012 at 11:15:51 AM permalink
My daughter would stand outside a window and watch wife play slots. Mary Jo would hold up 1, 2 , or 3 fingers to indicate how may coins my wife was to play each turn. Now Mary Jo is 30 , going to college, to become a teacher. She wants to teach on a reservation.

Luckily, the apple does not always fall close to the tree. !
Venthus
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June 14th, 2013 at 2:35:16 PM permalink
This made me raise an eyebrow-- I believe it was taken at the Excalibur, but the point is the same:



I'm also willing to bet that the return on Big Wheel is waaaaay higher than, uhm, 'Lot-o-Fun'.

Edit: Er. Didn't mean to unncessarily necro this post.
Wizard
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June 14th, 2013 at 2:50:02 PM permalink
They have such games, especially roulette based, in lots of arcades. When my older daughter was about 7 she spent her quota of game tokens entirely on ticket roulette. I have a picture somewhere when she hit the progressive with a huge stack of tickets she presented at the counter.

I'm a little uncomfortable with the concept too, but the libertarian in me says I wouldn't go so far as to ban them. I obviously didn't prohibit my daughter from playing them.
"For with much wisdom comes much sorrow." -- Ecclesiastes 1:18 (NIV)
tringlomane
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June 14th, 2013 at 3:03:55 PM permalink
Quote: Wizard

They have such games, especially roulette based, in lots of arcades. When my older daughter was about 7 she spent her quota of game tokens entirely on ticket roulette. I have a picture somewhere when she hit the progressive with a huge stack of tickets she presented at the counter.

I'm a little uncomfortable with the concept too, but the libertarian in me says I wouldn't go so far as to ban them. I obviously didn't prohibit my daughter from playing them.



Yep, places like Dave n Busters are filled with these things too or "Flip It" games using tokens to win tickets. Dave n Busters even offers a fruit machine for tickets now; skill based as you get bonuses for finding the winning combo faster. One of my favorites is "Colorama". I usually pick yellow at DnB since tickets/area is the largest there, imo. I'm definitely uncomfortable with the concept as well, but today arcade-quality video games are on home consoles, so ticket skill games is the biggest niche they have left.



Also Excalibur has my favorite game while in grad school. I was tempted to play it, but my g/f didn't want to wait 15+ minutes for me to play....lol There is a slot machine in Vegas based on the game now...lol But didn't like it since it ate my money.



djatc
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June 14th, 2013 at 3:31:12 PM permalink
Before Crazy Taxi came out on Dreamcast I spent some quarters trying to be the best cab driver in town, trying to earn speed bonuses to play as long as possible.

Way before that, I remember throwing down a lot of allowance money on Street Fighter II. It just came out on SNES, and until I got one my friends would go to the Fun Factory arcade and play. They also had "slot" type games, where you can wager their coins for more coins, with machines such as flip-it. I'm pretty sure the returns are more horrible on these games then actual slots.

Don't get me started on the beatmania DJ machine games when they first came out..... at $1.00 for 3 rounds if you make it through the stages it was an expensive hobby. It did not translate into real life DJ'ing skills. I did get good at pushing buttons however, and beat every song on Guitar Hero 2 on expert. Trying to squeak by a progression of crazy notes (such as Freebird) was a pain in the ass.
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Nareed
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June 14th, 2013 at 3:40:56 PM permalink
In Vegas you can take the kids to the Pinball Hall of Fame and let them discover the excitement of batting real steel spheres around a table.

Just don't let them even look at the vintage video games ;)
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Venthus
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June 14th, 2013 at 3:44:54 PM permalink
Quote: Nareed

In Vegas you can take the kids to the Pinball Hall of Fame and let them discover the excitement of batting real steel spheres around a table.



Some days, I think I lose more there than at the casinos...
Wizard
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June 14th, 2013 at 3:55:30 PM permalink


Here is the picture of my daughter after hitting the jackpot in a ticket roulette game. This was in 2008 at the Las Vegas Mini Gran' Prix.
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Beardgoat
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June 14th, 2013 at 4:34:49 PM permalink
Where is the crazy taxi slot at? I'd love to play
tringlomane
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June 14th, 2013 at 4:35:36 PM permalink
For winning that much, she doesn't look that happy. :-\

Quote: Beardgoat

Where is the crazy taxi slot at? I'd love to play



Ugh...it was at Palms in December. I saw it somewhere on the strip in May...maybe Monte Carlo? Don't quote me on the last one though.
djatc
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June 14th, 2013 at 4:38:46 PM permalink
Quote: tringlomane

For winning that much, she doesn't look that happy. :-\



I bet the prizes you get for winning that type of jackpot aren't too great.... 1 million + tickets for a toaster or something.
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RogerKint
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June 14th, 2013 at 4:40:07 PM permalink
Quote: tringlomane

For winning that much, she doesn't look that happy. :-\



As a child of the Wizard she knows it was just brief positive variance during a negative play.
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Beethoven9th
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June 14th, 2013 at 7:14:16 PM permalink
Quote: Wizard

Here is the picture of my daughter after hitting the jackpot in a ticket roulette game. This was in 2008 at the Las Vegas Mini Gran' Prix.


Wow, your daughter looks just like you!

Also, is she part Japanese by any chance? (I'm usually pretty good at deducing ethnicities)
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CharonPDX
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March 23rd, 2014 at 5:09:14 PM permalink
Alright, signed up for an account after this thread showed up in a Google search. Just to reply.

I'm their target market: Parent of a child JUST big enough to do the rides, with a spouse who likes to gamble a little. We don't spend a lot at the tables/slots ($200 or less is our daily limit,) but it is a great place for the kid (the Adventure Dome, DEFINITELY not the casino floor!) while still having gambling available.

Yes, the gambling floor is WAY too smoky, I feel very sorry for those dealers. But we don't bring the kid to the gambling floor. One of us will traipse around the games/rides with the kid while the other plays slots or craps.
GWAE
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March 23rd, 2014 at 6:49:32 PM permalink
Quote: CharonPDX

Alright, signed up for an account after this thread showed up in a Google search. Just to reply.

I'm their target market: Parent of a child JUST big enough to do the rides, with a spouse who likes to gamble a little. We don't spend a lot at the tables/slots ($200 or less is our daily limit,) but it is a great place for the kid (the Adventure Dome, DEFINITELY not the casino floor!) while still having gambling available.

Yes, the gambling floor is WAY too smoky, I feel very sorry for those dealers. But we don't bring the kid to the gambling floor. One of us will traipse around the games/rides with the kid while the other plays slots or craps.



welcome to the forum.

I am bringing our 3 year old with us this year and I am sure we will end up at CC. Not sure if we will split up also. We will probably just hang out together in the arcade.
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AcesAndEights
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March 24th, 2014 at 12:26:49 PM permalink
Does Circus Circus still have the red-flashing-light thing where BJs pay 2-to-1 when the light is on? I heard stories about the time frame of the lights getting less and less frequent when the APs started betting table max whenever the light was on...
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geoff
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March 24th, 2014 at 12:30:35 PM permalink
Quote: AcesAndEights

Does Circus Circus still have the red-flashing-light thing where BJs pay 2-to-1 when the light is on? I heard stories about the time frame of the lights getting less and less frequent when the APs started betting table max whenever the light was on...



Yeah they have it. It's some kind of song that comes on with the light. Since pretty much all there tables in the pit are 6 to 5 I can't see it being worth it. You'd either be playing a losing game or be the most suspicious person ever standing around only to bet table max once the promo happens.
GWAE
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March 24th, 2014 at 4:44:45 PM permalink
I used to like the sidebet where you got to spin the wheel. I think it was with a blackjack.
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AxiomOfChoice
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March 24th, 2014 at 4:52:43 PM permalink
Quote: GWAE

I used to like the sidebet where you got to spin the wheel. I think it was with a blackjack.



I think that this is something that a new game developer could take advantage of. You don't get to do stuff when you gamble any more. Blackjack is dealt face-up (don't touch the cards, please) because it makes the game go faster.

I think that this is why craps is so popular. You get to throw the dice. If it was done sic bo style I don't think anywhere near as many people would play. Someone mentioned that in one of the casinos in Detroit the players got to spin the big six wheel, and it was really popular.

So, note to all the game inventors here: If it's going to be a sucker bet, fine, but I want to have fun while I lose my money.
GWAE
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March 24th, 2014 at 5:11:15 PM permalink
Quote: AxiomOfChoice

I think that this is something that a new game developer could take advantage of. You don't get to do stuff when you gamble any more. Blackjack is dealt face-up (don't touch the cards, please) because it makes the game go faster.

I think that this is why craps is so popular. You get to throw the dice. If it was done sic bo style I don't think anywhere near as many people would play. Someone mentioned that in one of the casinos in Detroit the players got to spin the big six wheel, and it was really popular.

So, note to all the game inventors here: If it's going to be a sucker bet, fine, but I want to have fun while I lose my money.



that is so true. It could be worst bet ever but it is worth it if I get to spin a wheel.

actually it doesn't look to bad
https://wizardofodds.com/games/blackjack/appendix/8/#bonusspin
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AxiomOfChoice
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March 24th, 2014 at 5:31:35 PM permalink
8.6% is not so bad?

But, yeah, I'd bet it occasionally if I got to spin the wheel.
flyingnite
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April 30th, 2014 at 1:19:16 PM permalink
My first visit to CC was during the mid 90s, and I was a wee lad of 11 or 12. Between the arcade and the shows in the advturedom, CC to this day remaines one of my favourite childhood memories. We spent three or four h ours there, and my brothers and I won a giant garbage bag full of stuffed animals. After our excitement from the trip had worn off, the toys were promptly thrown away by mother because they reeked of cigarettes.

Fast forward to last year when I made my first visit to CC as an adult, I was surprised by the drastic change, or the difference between the modern-day property to the one ofmy memories. I've never stayed in any of the rooms, the place was definitely worn down. I'm surprised MGM renovated the hotel rooms, but not the actual floor.

CC definitely caters to a crowd that one associates with lower income groups: immigrants, colored, and young families. Nethertheless, the place was packed, and the atmosphere is the same as one would expect from any place filled with young families.

The propert was definitely depressing, but I imagine the children would have a lot of fun.
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