WoV East II

Quote: odiousgambit

Considering the single consensus, I think we should now rule out The Rivers, or speak up if you want there. This leaves Wheeling, which no one has spoken against, and The Meadows, which has had a couple of grumbles including my own. So,

*please vote between Wheeling and the Meadows, and ....

*voice also your opinion between a weekday or Saturday.

I for one would like to firm up plans

My votes:


1. Wheeling
2. Saturday
3. I'm a bigot

I'm feeling kind of road-trippy. I vote for the place with the lowest craps minimums and the best carnival games, specifically PGP and UTH. I don't care about the day of the week, but I'd like to avoid the last 8 days of Sept-first week of Oct.

From reading GWAE's descriptions the Meadows seems the most ideal. However, i could not do a weekday. I just cant get away from work.

I cant do a weekday. I will limit my drive to the Pittsburgh area, or closer to Buffalo. I don't care about the games or limits because I am not going there to gamble, rather to meet some WoV members. I get all the gambling I need on my few trips to Vegas and few drives up to Niagara Falls, a mere half hour away....
I will wait for the group to decide and then hopefully I'll be able to make it.

I'll put in a request for the Meadows. Never been there, but I have gotten good reviews from several trusty local friends. I'd need to stick to weekends as well, as it's a 2.5 hr drive to the Meadows, further for Wheeling. In AC on 9/18-20 (Borgata; if anyone else is gonna be there, lemme know and we can meet up if you like), wedding on 10/11, working 11/1, out of town on 10/18, but other autumn weekends should work for me.

I would also be up for Rocky Gap, but I agree that the food situation is sub-optimal and it is very small. Also - only one craps table, but with low minimums ($5 anytime I have ever been there, including Friday nite and Saturday afternoon)

I would be going mostly to meet other members too and do some low limit craps gambling. Worked for me last time. I would love to do rocky gap...as I've never been there...but am still willing to do whatever the group decides. But I can really only do Saturdays.

If we end up not going to Rocky gap...I'd love to do a mini meetup with whomever is willing to go there sometime later in the fall maybe.

ODG, I hope you don't mind that I kinda made a spreadsheet based on what people have said. Hopefully everyone can figure out who is who on the chart. ODG, if you heard from anyone via message that you would like me to put on this then let me know and I will update it. If anyone else knows that they will not be attending then please let me know and I will remove you from the list. Also, if you would like to put a vote in for a place, time, or a bad time then please let me know as well.

At quick glance the venue choice is pretty split. It seems like most people need to make it happen on the weekend. Of course a lot of people are busy on at least 1 weekend in Sept. It would be easier if we were all busy on the same weekend but that is pretty spread out as well.

I think we should try to get all of the voting completed by Sunday evening but I might be stepping on ODG's toes since he is running the show. If he has other plans then I will modify this message.

helpful! Mosca should be checked for asking for a Sunday. In that 'date' section do you mean weekends or weekdays?

the 'which casino' statements are complicated, stay tuned.

I'll double-check, but looks like Saturday for a consensus from your spreadsh. and my own tracking. Dang it, we can't seem to hook up with Mosca! Maybe we can get a headcount for any who might be sticking around late Sunday [meaning not leaving till at least the evening]. I probably will be, but it wouldnt be Meadows unless others are sticking around late.

PS: Saturday 9-20-14 is looming large, that means also bad for daddydoc, sorry [unless there are late-stayers?] alas 9-21, on reflection, is also bad for Mosca! just not meant to be? edit: 9-13 is not ruled out, but also bad for one person [soopoo].

9-28 was pegged early on as too late in the month for at least me and one other IIRC

Which venue is complicated, two ways to do it

here is what I have kept for statements.

VCUSkyhawk.......the Meadows seems the most ideal. However, i could not do a weekday
me.............Wheeling or Meadows
Daddydoc.....I'll put in a request for the Meadows. not 9/18-20
SOOPOO.......not 9-13,14 ; Pittsburgh [rivers/meadows?]I cant do a weekday
AZDuffman ....1. Wheeling2. Saturday3. I'm a bigot
RaleighCraps............weekday
GWAE................wheeling or meadows; [Rivers ok "but"]
vendman1 ....I could do Meadows or Rivers or Wheeling...I would love to do rocky gap... I can really only do Saturdays.
Mosca............Meadows or Rivers, [but] Wheeling/Saturday [ixnay], but if it's a Tuesday
Teddys..........Rocky Gap/Otherwises,1/1a: Rivers & Meadows/2: Wheeling Island
beachbumbabs.........lowest minimums and the best PGP and UTH. avoid last 8 days of Sept

sorry if any misrepresentation!

method one: count only firm votes for one place, which would be:

VCUSkyhawk.......the Meadows
Daddydoc.....the Meadows
AZDuffman ....Wheeling
vendman1 ....I would love to do rocky gap.
Teddys..........Rocky Gap

tie between Rocky Gap and the Meadows

_

method two, take all statements into account in the spirit of hoping more will then come

VCUSkyhawk.......the Meadows
me.............Wheeling or Meadows [as of now not Rivers]
Daddydoc.....the Meadows
SOOPOO....... Pittsburgh interpreted as rivers/meadows?*
AZDuffman ....1. Wheeling
GWAE................wheeling or meadows
vendman1 ....I would love to do rocky gap...I could do Meadows or Rivers or Wheeling...
Mosca............Meadows or Rivers
Teddys..........Rocky Gap/Otherwises,1/1a: Rivers & Meadows

in this, which I hope everyone thinks is better, Rocky Gap

meadows 8 mentions
wheeling 4 mentions
rivers 4 mentions
rocky gap 2 mentions

The Meadows gets reduced to 7 [or 6?] mentions if we take into account people who are likely to be unable to come due to conficts with the likely date. Still I have to think that The Meadows is the closest to consensus in this method. It was tied in the other.
PS: also BBB comment about minimums is a vote for each except Rivers, by interpretation, aiding Meadows in the big picture

OK, anyone taking exception to The Meadows, this is the time to speak up!

Quote: odiousgambit

helpful! Mosca should be checked for asking for a Sunday. In that 'date' section do you mean weekends or weekdays?

I'll double-check, but looks like Saturday for a consensus from your spreadsh. and my own tracking. Dang it, we can't seem to hook up with Mosca! Maybe we can get a headcount for any who might be sticking around late Sunday [meaning not leaving till at least the evening]. I probably will be, but it wouldnt be Meadows unless others are sticking around late.

PS: Saturday 9-20-14 is looming large, that means also bad for daddydoc, sorry [unless there are late-stayers?] alas 9-21, on reflection, is also bad for Mosca! just not meant to be? edit: 9-13 is not ruled out, but also bad for one person [soopoo].

9-28 was pegged early on as too late in the month for at least me and one other IIRC

We will be at Atlantis from 9-13 through 9-21. We're good for any other Sunday or Tuesday. We'll be in Pittsburgh Oct 17-18-19, but Oct 18th is out because we will be interring my brother's ashes that day.

Quote: beachbumbabs

GWAE,

Could you contrast the three on carnival games available, please? UTH, 3CP, Double Draw, Hi Card Flush, etc. Thanks!

I took a look at the games this morning at both locations.

Rivers @5am:
2 $10 BJ CSM
1 $15 BJ CSM
1 $15 BJ 8 deck shoe
4 $25 BJ 8 deck shoe
1 $50 BJ 8 deck shoe
Side bets available are in between, lucky ladies, and 3cp
There are many other tables but that is what was open

These are what they have, not all where open at 5am
8 craps tables
Big 6 wheel
5 Roulette tables
4x 3 card poker
2x let it ride
3x MS Stud
3x Bac
2x fortune paigow
1x crazy 4 poker
3 card has its own progressive which is at $1600
Most of the other games have a link progressive which is at $133k

Meadows @7am
1 $5 BJ CSM
1 $10 BJ 6 deck shoe
1 $15 BJ 6 deck shoe
other tables that were not open
side bets available are house money, in between, lucky ladies, and 3cp

other games, some not open at 7am.
4 craps tables
1 big six wheel
2 roulette
2 let it ride
2 MS stud
1 bac
3 paigow
2 texas holdem bonus
I think there is a 4 card as well
3cp has a progressive currently at $3300

I hopefully didn't forget any. I forgot to take something in to actually write them down.

Which day:

Here is what I have kept for statements regarding day.

VCUSkyhawk.......i could not do a weekday
Daddydoc..... not 9/18-20
SOOPOO.......not 9-13,14 ; I cant do a weekday
AZDuffman ....Saturday
RaleighCraps............weekday
GWAE................weekends [from his chart]
vendman1 ...... I can really only do Saturdays.
Mosca............[not] 9-13 through 9-21. We're good for any other Sunday or Tuesday
beachbumbabs.........avoid last 8 days of Sept
me.................not approx those last 8 days of Sept [I thought others too, not sure]
early agreement....... not the first week [GWAE and me at least]


Seems pretty clear that it will need to be a weekend, with Saturday the most favored.


This leaves a decision between Saturday 9-13 and Saturday 9-20 [and I guess 9-6,9-27]

I am of the opinion that more will come if 13th or 20th. This eliminates Mosca either date. Soopoo and Daddydoc are eliminated by one date or the other, so there is no perfect date. 6th and 27th eliminate 2 folks as well [at least].

This seems to call for a very traditional vote. Please vote for just one:

9-6

9-13

9-20

9-27

9-6...(I could do 9-27 as a backup)

9/27.

edit: 9/28, the Sunday. Unless I quit or get fired. Which could happen. In which case I'll have a few days where I am free to move about the country.

09/20

9-27 por favor

9-27 is my vote and the only one I can do.

9/27 for me.

Quote: GWAE

Wheeling-
Craps: I have not played much here lately but they do have $5 tables. They are generally not busy unless it is a Saturday night.
Blackjack: They always have a $5 table.
Food: They have a food court, steak house, and cafe. The cafe is decent and I really like the steak house.
Other notes: The last 3 times I have been here the tables were basically empty. They also have dog racing. I have not been here in at least 6 months so things may have changed. Someone like MISSION could give us a little more info on this place.
http://www.wheelingisland.com/

I intend to make a detailed post tomorrow about my goings-on for the last few months, much like my last few months, my post shall be lengthy and somewhat miserable...but it is what it is. Things are starting to improve, now, and I believe that everything will be rectified and I'll be back to where I was three months ago about six months from now.

Unfortunately, regardless of the date, time or location of WoV East-II, I would say that I probably cannot make it. Between work and being fully divorced (seeing the kids and all) as well as the fact that I have a steady girlfriend, demands on my time are such that making an entire day out of anything is simply not feasible. However, if the event were held at The Meadows, I MIGHT be able to pop in for an hour or two during the early part of the event, assuming we start as early as we did last time.

If the event is to be at Wheeling Island, I'm afraid that I will not be able to attend at all, whatsoever, as I am persona non grata there...quite possibly for life. Advantage Play got me backed off and my mouth got me a, "...and don't come back." LOL I wasn't exactly in a good mood that day in the first place. I might give more details as to that in my post tomorrow, if not, and you want them, PM me. I do wish to be somewhat discrete, so we'll see if my post gives enough information tomorrow as to that point.

Wheeling Island always has a $5 minimum Craps table, at least that I've seen, although, I've rarely been in there on a Saturday night during prime time. In terms of other table games, you can get $5 Blackjack, but it's on the ShuffleMaster iDeal machine which, with all respect to Pacman, is not my favorite product at all, whatsoever. They have double-deck there, sometimes, usually with $25 minimums, but the rules suck...I've not played it. Roulette is $5 minimums or $2.00 minimums with $0.25 bet increments ($2.00+ total bet) on the ShuffleMaster VegasStar Roulette product, which seems to be a decent product. I played it once to try it out.

Wheeling Island has the Spielo GTECH Video Poker and Keno machines with Joker Poker, JoB and DW games that all pay in excess of 98%. The, "Four of a Kind," which is just a bonus variant may also pay well, I never even checked that paytable as it is not my favorite game to begin with. There's also a Triple Ace Poker game, exclusive to Spielo, for which Optimum Strategy CAN'T be easy and anytime you get Three Aces, Four Aces or an Aces Full FH you get eight bonus games with either a 4x multiplier (2/5 chance) 3x multipler (2/5 chance) or a 2x multiplier (1/5 chance) which can only be retriggered once, I believe. Obviously I didn't play that game, but I've glanced over at others playing it.

West Virginia generally has a maximum return of 95% and the Spielos either get around it because the machine, taken overall, does not return 95%+ or because the auto-holds are patently wrong (how egregiously wrong they are depends on the game) which causes the game to fall under 95%, assuming one follows the auto-holds. I've not analyzed the returns for the game assuming one follows the auto-holds, though it would be an easy (though time-consuming) task.

They are time dependent, but on Wednesdays and Thursdays 50 points gets a $0.50 buffet if the points are earned in that day and the points, themselves, are $0.50 in value, thus the buffet is actually free. That would require either $250 in total Slots/VP/Keno action or $500 in total tables action.

Wheeling Island also has Hot Hotel Deals (my favorite promotion) in which one gets a free Sunday-Thursday hotel room that month, or the first week of the following month IF there were less than five Sundays-Thursdays left of the week during which the voucher was earned by earning 200 points ($1000 slots/VP/Keno action or $2,000 tables action) in one day.

In my experience, Wheeling Island has always rated the Odds Bets of players at Craps, though I have had some somewhat reputable people tell me they don't believe their odds were rated on certain occasions. You could always ask before you play (or decide how much in odds you want) if that's a factor for you.

3CP and MS are usually offered during prime time and both tend to have $5 minimums, though 3CP is occasionally $10. LiR is dependent on demand, so sometimes you see it and sometimes you don't.

Wheeling Island has a poker room, but 1-2 NL is usually the only thing going at any given time, sometimes you'll have a 2-4 Limit game, but that's increasingly rare, as I understand it.

The buffet can be very hit or miss, but I think the dessert selection is much better than one would expect for the casino and the desserts are very good. The hotel rooms are extremely nice, in my opinion, and rival those of about any place you could name, though the common areas (halls/elevator) are often messy. The food court has a pizza place and a sandwich place, and maybe something else, I've only ever gone to the pizza or sandwich places...they're neither good nor bad. The pizza place is open all night.

I've only eaten at the steakhouse once, and I don't really remember much about it. I don't think it was anything outstanding, but many I have asked claim that the contrary is true.

You can get free drinks in the high limit room (or at the tables, but you have to be betting black) by playing any slot machine in there. I would occasionally pick a dollar machine and pull out some twenties and fives to change the amount of credits showing and get four or five drinks over an hour when the waitress would come in there. You must have a player's club card to sign for them when you do this AND I would probably recommend earning at least 50-100 points on VP first because the comp drinks are going to look really funny if you've not earned any points at all that day...though I don't think they go to any great effort to check it. I'd also have the machine set to one line one credit to make an actual spin if I felt the waitress was getting suspicious, but as long as you tip the customary buck per drink, she probably won't get too suspicious, anyway.

There's a non-smoking section that is negligible in that there is no meaningful divider between that and the smoking section, it has no VP whatsoever AND quite a few people smoke in there, anyway, usually without reprimand.

Smoking is allowed at all tables.

They have dog racing, there is a concession stand in there, one dog wins, one places one shows and the rest lose...that's all I can tell you about the dog racing. Oh, that, and it's basically in a completely separate area.

That's Wheeling Island, in all aspects, it is either fantastic or it absolutely blows depending on what aspect about which you are inquiring. If any other specific information is wanted, just ask and I can answer for up until about three-and-a-half weeks ago...any changes since then (which I doubt) and I couldn't tell you.

10X Odds on Craps, now, forgot to mention that somehow.

delete

Mission, please do share your wheeling story. If you are already 86d then it isn't going to hurt you. It may help someone else from getting the ban hammer.

Quote: GWAE

Mission, please do share your wheeling story. If you are already 86d then it isn't going to hurt you. It may help someone else from getting the ban hammer.

It could possibly hurt him at other casinos depending on the situation.

Quote: wudged

It could possibly hurt him at other casinos depending on the situation.

well in that case he should PM me, but I will wait to read his post first. I am such a nebby person.

Well, I think this is finalized. Saturday the 27th shall be the date, The Meadows the venue.

Anymore voting quite unlikely to change that picture

Attendees:

[to the best of my knowledge]

VCUSkyhawk
Daddydoc
AZDuffman
GWAE
vendman1
Mosca
Teddys
_

"maybe" attendees

OneNickelMiracle
Wudged
Odiousgambit
Mission146
SOOPOO


Have pretty much indicated no, or unlikely

Doc
Face
RaleighCraps
BeachbumbBabs

Darn. Well, have fun, guys.

I am definitely not able to make that weekend as I will be in Boston. Thanks though. Maybe next spring!

This sounds good to me...what time of day for the meet were we thinking about? I think last time we did early afternoon...then played some, then dinner..does that work for everyone?

Quote: Mission146

Welcome back, and glad to see you're okay. "You deserve a break today."

Also, the date sounds good and I am "penning" it in on my calendar. I like Meadows -- why mess with what worked last time? Are we going to go to the restaurant at the hotel again?

I am out. My sister turns 50 and I am being coerced into going to a surprise party for her in New Jersey.

Quote: SOOPOO

I am out. My sister turns 50 and I am being coerced into going to a surprise party for her in New Jersey.

I'll try to keep updating the attendee thing. Since I am now a "maybe" I'll leave further planning to others.

Attendees:

[to the best of my knowledge]

VCUSkyhawk
Daddydoc
AZDuffman
GWAE
vendman1
Mosca
Teddys
_

"maybe" attendees

OneNickelMiracle
Wudged
Odiousgambit
Mission146
_

Have pretty much indicated no, or unlikely

Doc
Face
RaleighCraps
BeachbumbBabs
SOOPOO

That is a shame, I wish you could make it since you started the planning. I guess there is an over whelming amount of people that need it to be the 27th.

I will help keep the plans going.

Quote: GWAE

That is a shame

I'm working on it.

I posted earlier I am a definite no now. Just don't want you to keep me on the list of maybe.

I will update my spreadsheet when I get home

Quote: odiousgambit

Well, I think this is finalized. Saturday the 27th shall be the date, The Meadows the venue.

Anymore voting quite unlikely to change that picture

Any thoughts on dinner? I would prefer to stay on-site and I think they have a new place or even buffet.

I can post details about the eatery when I get home.

I will not be there. I only posted in response to the suggestion of Harrah's Cherokee as a candidate destination. If others are interested in a get together at Cherokee, perhaps we can arrange such a thing later. Depending on attendee flexibility, perhaps we could have it mid-week, when they tend to have lower table minimums that are appealing to many.

So here is my thoughts. I am a little concerned about the lack of participants. Right now we only have 5 confirmed people that would be able to make it on the 27th. I live local so it is not a big deal for me, but if there are people driving a little distance I want to make sure you know that this may be a very small get together. The last one had 12 people I think and we had a snow storm that day. We would have had a few more people if the snow would have missed us. I am just wondering if this timing is bad.

Quote: AZDuffman

Any thoughts on dinner? I would prefer to stay on-site and I think they have a new place or even buffet.

I ate here the first month they opened the place. The original place was a cafe style place and the food was half decent but my standards are a little low. The old restaurant was rather large. They decided to cut the dining room in half and use the other half to build a new poker room. I believe it was just opening when we were there last time.

So with the new restaurant you basically have 2 options. 1. eat their "buffet" or 2. order from the menu. The menu is basically the same as it was before the remodel. They have sandwiches, fish, steak, salads, and other specials. I think the food is edible but not great. The buffet is not a full buffet. There is a salad bar which has a bunch of bread and the basic salad items. There was a cheese bar and I think an anti-pasta bar. There was also soup but I can not remember what type they had. They had a carving station that had beef, pork, and chicken. The meat was actually pretty good. They also had 3 sides, If I recall correctly there was sweet potatoes, veggy mixture, and french fries. There is also a dessert bar but I was not impressed with this at all. They have donut balls that you can put toppings on. I believe there were also cookies and brownies but no ice cream.

We only ate there 1 time so I don't know if the buffet changes daily. I rated it a 7/10 and would go back again, but I haven't yet.

I just realized that they do have their menu online.
http://www.meadowsgaming.com/pdf/Carvery_Menu.pdf

Quote: SOOPOO

I am out. My sister turns 50 and I am being coerced into going to a surprise party for her in New Jersey.

Here's a list of 50 things that turned 50 this year. Damn, time flies. I remember riding in a buddy's Mustang. Thought Ford had balls after the Edsel to come out with it.

Had a hunch about Cassius Clay, but bet on Sonny Liston. Who knew ? LOL

http://mentalfloss.com/article/55228/50-things-turn-50-2014

Any ideas about a time of day? Early afternoon or evening?

I'm in Pittsburgh and can be added to the "maybe" list.

Quote: deedubbs

I'm in Pittsburgh and can be added to the "maybe" list.

latest:

Attendees:

[to the best of my knowledge]

VCUSkyhawk
Daddydoc
AZDuffman
GWAE
vendman1
Mosca
Teddys
_


"maybe" attendees

OneNickelMiracle
Wudged
Odiousgambit
Mission146
RaleighCraps
JohnnyQ
deedubbs
_

Have pretty much indicated no, or unlikely

Doc
Face
BeachbumbBabs
SOOPOO

Quote: Daddydoc

Any ideas about a time of day? Early afternoon or evening?

Last time we met early afternoon, then made sure we all got together in the evening for dinner

as for myself, things are looking better, not quite ready to put myself into the "attending" section yet, but looks good, depending ...

Quote: Daddydoc

Any ideas about a time of day? Early afternoon or evening?

Early afternoon gets my vote.

I'm not attending, it's a Saturday. For some reason I thought it was a Sunday.

I can now say that I will attend! This required getting my wife to change some plans. Any married men out there know that carries a price. How much? Expected to far exceed my gambling EV [at any normal level of gambling], for this trip anyway [g].

So! Looking forward to it and hope some other "maybes" can get out of that section. Alas, we have to send Mosca to it now. And I for one can't dangle Sunday at him as I will have to vamoose.

I think we can just declare we will meet noon-ish Saturday 9-27 and I propose we start a Craps session at 1 PM. To "Vote" on that, just declare it won't work for you and what will; if it screws up too many guys we'll try to change of course.

We will have a Craps challenge, not a wager for you to cover but like last time, I just put up the money. Your welcome, it's no biggie, more details later. Also, there is a rumor there will be a second challenge by someone else.

I have also prepared a trivia contest for dinner; Wizardly influence casts a long shadow!

_

Attending:

[to the best of my knowledge]

VCUSkyhawk
Daddydoc
AZDuffman
GWAE
vendman1
Teddys
Odiousgambit
_


"maybe" attending:

OneNickelMiracle
Wudged
Mission146
RaleighCraps
JohnnyQ
deedubbs


_

Have pretty much indicated no, or unlikely

Doc
Face
BeachbumbBabs
SOOPOO
Mosca

Afternoon bump.

the seal of approval we seek:

As OG mentioned, I will also have a craps challenge. I will post more details when I have a chance but it will have a prize of $25.

Anyone else that would like to come is definitely welcome.

If you need to stay the night, there are a few hotels very close by that give casino rates. Just ask and I can get you whatever info you need.