El Cortez March 2014

I just stayed there. I asked about Jackie Gaughan and found out he passed away on March 12th. Took a look at the Pavilion rooms and they would be my last choice. The walkways outside the rooms are not pleasing. Stayed in a Jacuzzi Suite. Two TVs. One in the living room and one in the bedroom. Wouldn't you know, I didn't bring a hair dryer along because one's always provided. Not In my room! Took me about five minutes to figure out that the lamps turn on by touching their base. Four taps for bright. Their best VP offerings are the 9/6 Jacks machines located across from the Players Club. I prefer the 8/5 Bonus Poker machines at the bar across from Check in (correction from my original post). They're easier to play and I like slant tops. Used the coupon that comes in their monthly Newsletter to get their $1 Keno play for 50 cents. It's a 10 Pick. Have to get at least five hits to win anything. I picked numbers 1 through 10. If that looks impossible to make remember that it's just as likely to hit these 10 as any other combination. I hit 1. Dealers and floor personnel are friendly. If you're going to get a sandwich at the coffee shop the Trukey and Roast Beef are better than the Ham. The Ham is processed deli slices, but the Turkey or Roast Beef are the real deal. The walk from the El Cortez to the Downtown Grand or to the FSE seems very safe. Lots of people walking about to the many clubs and restaurants nearby. I've got to hand it to Downtown in their revitalization of the area. The collection of street performers in the FSE area is fun. Still to many bums looking for a hand out though. Got my free photo at Binion's. In my dotage I can view my collection. Cosmoplitan got rid of their $100 rebate on losses promo.

Quote: Greasyjohn

Their best VP offerings are the 9/6 Jacks machines located across from the Players Club. I prefer the 8/5 Jacks machines at the bar across from Check in.

Yikes. I could never understand this thinking.

I was thinking the same thing about the VP. Thanks for the report on the El. The area around it has made a huge turnaround in the past 5 years with all the clubs, bars and restaurants on Fremont East. I can remember walking to the Western just a few years ago and there being nothing on that block of worth.

I took it to mean that he liked the machines with the worse paytable, in the sense that they were physically more comfortable to use.

Is there any gaming worth mentioning on East Fremont, outside of the El Cortez and (I think) the Downtown Grand now?

The 9/6 machines at ELC are multi-strike. Don't these require a different strategy? Perhaps that's what the OP meant.

El Co has better games than 9/6 JoB in the coin area.

Quote: AxelWolf

Yikes. I could never understand this thinking.

The .37 % that I'm giving up is very little for the one hour I'll be playing. The multi-Strike are obnoxious to look at, the bar is friendlier, the drinks come quicker and the game is easier to play.

Quote: Greasyjohn

The .37 % that I'm giving up is very little for the one hour I'll be playing. The multi-Strike are obnoxious to look at, the bar is friendlier, the drinks come quicker and the game is easier to play.

Perhaps you meant 8/5 Bonus? I don't think the EC bar machines have JoB but they have BP.

Quote: bigfoot66

Perhaps you meant 8/5 Bonus? I don't think the EC bar machines have JoB but they have BP.

Considering he says he is saying he is only giving up 0.37% (99.54%-99.17%=0.37%), you're probably right.

Thanks, that is what I meant. I corrected my original post.

Quote: Greasyjohn

Thanks, that is what I meant. I corrected my original post.

Well that makes more sense.

Beware of the short coin royal if you don't play the multi-strike mode.

Quote: Boz

I was thinking the same thing about the VP. Thanks for the report on the El. The area around it has made a huge turnaround in the past 5 years with all the clubs, bars and restaurants on Fremont East. I can remember walking to the Western just a few years ago and there being nothing on that block of worth.

Too bad the Gold Spike couldn't have ridden it out a little longer. It could have been center in the revitalization. I remember when I played VP there a few years ago (after the remodel). If you wanted to cash out you had to wait for a hand-pay. Seems to me that's the kiss of death for a casino. I'd like to know why they did it that way.

Quote: djatc

Beware of the short coin royal if you don't play the multi-strike mode.

Do you mean that you could be playing a 25 cent game, bet $ 1.25 on a single line, get a royal and NOT get 4,000 units?

Quote: Greasyjohn

If you wanted to cash out you had to wait for a hand-pay. Seems to me that's the kiss of death for a casino. I'd like to know why they did it that way.

I'm guessing it was because of the cost to add ticketing. It costs about $1,250 per machine just to license ticketing. That does not include the printer hardware or the ticketing systems software. They were probably looking at a minimum of $2,000 per machine.