Casino Chip of the Day
January 10th, 2013 at 9:41:52 AM
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Quote: DocAnother great-looking chip. I am not familiar with Icon chips, and right now I'm not in a position to search for info. Does anyone know about that manufacturer?
This seems like a good situation for Casino Arizona and Talking Stick to use the same chips but with opposite sides of the chip having info/name of different casinos. But they would have to buy new chips. Do these chips look 15 years old, or have they been buying more Casino Arizona chips to use at Talking Stick?
Icon Poker is a division of Rutland Corporation based in Kansas. According to their website, they were the first to patent RFID technology in casino cheques. The Casino Arizona, as well as Royal Caribbean chips are featured on their website. Interestingly, they list Southwest Airlines as a customer.
Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication - Leonardo da Vinci
January 10th, 2013 at 8:33:08 PM
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State: Arizona
City: Camp Verde
Casino: Cliff Castle
Today's chip of the day comes from the Cliff Castle casino in Camp Verde, AZ. I visited Cliff Castle immediately after I collected my chip from Bucky's. Cliff Castle is another oddly spacious casino - about 700 slots on 150,000 sqft of floor space, with a small poker room and about a dozen BJ and 3CP tables thrown in as well. After hearing the name and seeing the sites in Prescott, I somewhat hoped that this casino would either be on a cliff or look like a castle or maybe even both. Instead, it was a very normal casino on a little hill just off of I-17. Oh, well. At least the inside was cavernous and chilly (it was about 105F outside when i arrived at 12pm), and I was able to find a good friendly BJ table to sit with for a couple shoes. I posted a $60 loss in my playing time here, which would be a total loss of my initial buyin.
My chip from Cliff Castle is a Paulson RHC. I haven't had a chance to de-gunk the chip and/or retake the picture, but I'm hoping that this chip will clean up quite nicely.
City: Camp Verde
Casino: Cliff Castle
Today's chip of the day comes from the Cliff Castle casino in Camp Verde, AZ. I visited Cliff Castle immediately after I collected my chip from Bucky's. Cliff Castle is another oddly spacious casino - about 700 slots on 150,000 sqft of floor space, with a small poker room and about a dozen BJ and 3CP tables thrown in as well. After hearing the name and seeing the sites in Prescott, I somewhat hoped that this casino would either be on a cliff or look like a castle or maybe even both. Instead, it was a very normal casino on a little hill just off of I-17. Oh, well. At least the inside was cavernous and chilly (it was about 105F outside when i arrived at 12pm), and I was able to find a good friendly BJ table to sit with for a couple shoes. I posted a $60 loss in my playing time here, which would be a total loss of my initial buyin.
My chip from Cliff Castle is a Paulson RHC. I haven't had a chance to de-gunk the chip and/or retake the picture, but I'm hoping that this chip will clean up quite nicely.
"So as the clock ticked and the day passed, opportunity met preparation, and luck happened." - Maurice Clarett
January 10th, 2013 at 10:47:24 PM
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Ross -- The reason AZ casinos are so roomy is that they are restricted in the number of slots and tables they can have. I think that's one of the reasons GRPMIC and SRPMIC have three and two casinos, respectively, rather than just one huge one like most other tribes. It makes for a much more pleasant experience. The Phoenix casinos are some of the chillest casinos I've ever been to.
"Dice, verily, are armed with goads and driving-hooks, deceiving and tormenting, causing grievous woe." -Rig Veda 10.34.4
January 11th, 2013 at 7:19:56 AM
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Quote: AyecarumbaIcon Poker is a division of Rutland Corporation based in Kansas. According to their website, they were the first to patent RFID technology in casino cheques. The Casino Arizona, as well as Royal Caribbean chips are featured on their website. Interestingly, they list Southwest Airlines as a customer.
I tried to make this post last night, but I flubbed it, losing everything and proving that I'm still not proficient using my Nexus 7 tablet.
Thanks for the info, Ayecarumba. I haven't checked out the link yet, but I will, and it might be one to add to the "useful links" section of post #1.
On Wednesday, my wife and I took the day trip over to Baton Rouge, and I picked up a L'aubarge chip. I played craps and ended up a little ahead after being down far enough that I supplemented my buy-in. Amazing what one good hand can do to turn things around.
That night, I played another craps session at Grand Biloxi. I had my favorite position to the right of the stick. Right after one rotation, the new stick man commented to me , "You're from North Carolina, right?"
I had mentioned that fact earlier, but he had not been at the table. I looked at him and confirmed he was correct, so he said, "I dealt to you yesterday over at Margaritaville." The dealer uniforms at the Grand are more traditional than the garb at the Jimmy Buffett-themed place, and I hadn't even recognized him. Guess dealing at multiple houses is common.
Yesterday, we made the long drive to Madeira Beach, and we plan to just relax for the day today. Tonight we will go out on the casino boat from John's Pass for another souvenir chip.
Edit 3/14/13: I finally visited the Casino del Sol on 3/4/13. Here is their $1 chip.
January 11th, 2013 at 8:44:26 AM
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I'm surprised that dealer's float between different casinos. Do they share corporate ownership? If not, I think this would create problems for management at both (or more) places come the holidays or when someone calls out sick. I would also be concerned with my dealers recruiting high stakes players to the competition.
On the other hand, the only reason I would be concerned is that I would provide incentives for the, "moles" to recruit high stakes players for my joint, and would expect the other managers to be doing it as well. If they weren't, more power to me.
On the other hand, the only reason I would be concerned is that I would provide incentives for the, "moles" to recruit high stakes players for my joint, and would expect the other managers to be doing it as well. If they weren't, more power to me.
Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication - Leonardo da Vinci
January 11th, 2013 at 8:46:38 AM
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Quote: teddysRoss -- The reason AZ casinos are so roomy is that they are restricted in the number of slots and tables they can have. I think that's one of the reasons GRPMIC and SRPMIC have three and two casinos, respectively, rather than just one huge one like most other tribes. It makes for a much more pleasant experience. The Phoenix casinos are some of the chillest casinos I've ever been to.
I think the reason for the excess floorspace is that they have to foresight (and capital) to build for the future. One day, the limit on the number of machines, and the types of games will be lifted, and when that happens, they won't have to build a new joint, or punch a hole in a wall to stitch two buildings together.
Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication - Leonardo da Vinci
January 11th, 2013 at 8:15:54 PM
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State: Arizona
City: Tucson and Sahuarita (and Why)
Casino: Desert Diamond
Today's chip of the day comes from the Desert Diamond casinos in Arizona. The Desert Diamonds are an enterprise of the Tohono O'odham Nation. There are 3 casinos in this group. Desert Diamond Tucson is on Nogales Highway and has 24 table games and about 1100 slots spread out over 150,000 sqft of space. There is also a small poker room. Desert Diamond Sahuarita is on I-19. It has slightly more floor space, but only 750 slots, 8 bj tables, and 2 poker tables. There is also a Desert Diamond casino in Why. That casino is slots only, and it's very small. I can't find info about when the Sahuarita facility opened, but the Tucson location was one of the original AZ casinos and opened in 1993 as soon as the tribe was able to offer more than bingo.
I visited these casinos on the same day that I visited the Casino del Sol/Casino of the Sun. My notes don't make the order of my stops on that date apparent, which is odd because the day after was laid out perfectly (that was the Prescott and points north/east day). I know I played at Sahuarita for quite a while, partly because I was down big and then there was a card change; and I ate dinner there. The Diamond Grill makes a good burger, and some of the best fries I've ever had. i guess if I had dinner at Sahuarita, I must've stopped at Tucson first. This was not a very good playing day at all - I didn't make it back to even at Sahuarita and I only broke even at Tucson.
My chip from these properties is a Chipco design, and was issued in 2008. it hasn't held up well in the relatively short time since it was issued, but it was the best chip I could find at either property. I still don't know whether it makes more sense to grab one chip or two in cases like this. The more I think about it, the more I think that two chips makes more sense even if they are identical. I guess I can get the additional chips when/if I return to AZ to collect a chip from the soon-to-be-opened facility in Flagstaff.
City: Tucson and Sahuarita (and Why)
Casino: Desert Diamond
Today's chip of the day comes from the Desert Diamond casinos in Arizona. The Desert Diamonds are an enterprise of the Tohono O'odham Nation. There are 3 casinos in this group. Desert Diamond Tucson is on Nogales Highway and has 24 table games and about 1100 slots spread out over 150,000 sqft of space. There is also a small poker room. Desert Diamond Sahuarita is on I-19. It has slightly more floor space, but only 750 slots, 8 bj tables, and 2 poker tables. There is also a Desert Diamond casino in Why. That casino is slots only, and it's very small. I can't find info about when the Sahuarita facility opened, but the Tucson location was one of the original AZ casinos and opened in 1993 as soon as the tribe was able to offer more than bingo.
I visited these casinos on the same day that I visited the Casino del Sol/Casino of the Sun. My notes don't make the order of my stops on that date apparent, which is odd because the day after was laid out perfectly (that was the Prescott and points north/east day). I know I played at Sahuarita for quite a while, partly because I was down big and then there was a card change; and I ate dinner there. The Diamond Grill makes a good burger, and some of the best fries I've ever had. i guess if I had dinner at Sahuarita, I must've stopped at Tucson first. This was not a very good playing day at all - I didn't make it back to even at Sahuarita and I only broke even at Tucson.
My chip from these properties is a Chipco design, and was issued in 2008. it hasn't held up well in the relatively short time since it was issued, but it was the best chip I could find at either property. I still don't know whether it makes more sense to grab one chip or two in cases like this. The more I think about it, the more I think that two chips makes more sense even if they are identical. I guess I can get the additional chips when/if I return to AZ to collect a chip from the soon-to-be-opened facility in Flagstaff.
"So as the clock ticked and the day passed, opportunity met preparation, and luck happened." - Maurice Clarett
January 12th, 2013 at 4:49:05 AM
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Since the chip back includes the city, are you sure that both casinos really use the same chip rather than similar design?
I invented a few casino games. Info:
http://www.DaveMillerGaming.com/ —————————————————————————————————————
Superstitions are silly, childish, irrational rituals, born out of fear of the unknown. But how much does it cost to knock on wood? 😁
January 12th, 2013 at 10:33:57 AM
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Quote: DJTeddyBearSince the chip back includes the city, are you sure that both casinos really use the same chip rather than similar design?
I guess I can't be sure. I can't imagine that I didn't check that when I was collecting the chips, but I'd be happier if MOGH offered corroboration and they don't (they don't show any chips at all under the Sahuarita entry).
"So as the clock ticked and the day passed, opportunity met preparation, and luck happened." - Maurice Clarett
January 12th, 2013 at 8:39:15 PM
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State: Arizona
City: Scottsdale
Casino: Fort McDowell
Today's chip of the day comes from the Fort McDowell casino in Scottsdale, AZ. The Fort McDowell is owned and operated by the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation. It is another one of the original AZ casinos, beginning operations in 1993 when the state was opened to casino gambling. The casino has a 150,000 sqft floor, with 700 slots, about 20 table games, and a poker room.
I visited Fort McDowell in between my visits to the Casinos Arizona. I played BJ for a few minutes, lost a few dollars, and I was on my way. I was very impressed by the exterior of the property. The brickwork is beautiful. The inside is also quite roomy and cold, like most AZ casinos.
There are many versions of the $5 chip at Fort McDowell. The MOGH shows a nice plain Paulson-made $5 chip, with pink and green edge inserts. I did not see that version in play, though I looked and looked for it. There are also several commemorative/limited edition Paulson RHC chips relating to the Hold'em for Heroes poker event. I thought I had pictures of both sides of my chip, but I guess I don't. Below is a picture of the front side of the Gary Hudson version of the commemorative chip. I believe that this Gary Hudson is the actor perhaps best known for his roles in Wild Roses and Paradise Falls. There are other commemorative chips with minor celebs and poker players depicted.
City: Scottsdale
Casino: Fort McDowell
Today's chip of the day comes from the Fort McDowell casino in Scottsdale, AZ. The Fort McDowell is owned and operated by the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation. It is another one of the original AZ casinos, beginning operations in 1993 when the state was opened to casino gambling. The casino has a 150,000 sqft floor, with 700 slots, about 20 table games, and a poker room.
I visited Fort McDowell in between my visits to the Casinos Arizona. I played BJ for a few minutes, lost a few dollars, and I was on my way. I was very impressed by the exterior of the property. The brickwork is beautiful. The inside is also quite roomy and cold, like most AZ casinos.
There are many versions of the $5 chip at Fort McDowell. The MOGH shows a nice plain Paulson-made $5 chip, with pink and green edge inserts. I did not see that version in play, though I looked and looked for it. There are also several commemorative/limited edition Paulson RHC chips relating to the Hold'em for Heroes poker event. I thought I had pictures of both sides of my chip, but I guess I don't. Below is a picture of the front side of the Gary Hudson version of the commemorative chip. I believe that this Gary Hudson is the actor perhaps best known for his roles in Wild Roses and Paradise Falls. There are other commemorative chips with minor celebs and poker players depicted.
"So as the clock ticked and the day passed, opportunity met preparation, and luck happened." - Maurice Clarett
January 13th, 2013 at 8:50:35 PM
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State: Arizona
City: Chandler & Laveen
Casino: Gila River Casinos: Lone Butte, Vee Quiva, and Wild Horse Pass
Today's chip of the day comes from the Gila River Casinos. As a part of my trip to Arizona, I visited each of these three casinos. They all have the same chips in play, and the single chip in my collection from these three casinos came from the Lone Butte casino (which I visited first). Lone Butte has 850 slots and 15 table games, Vee Quiva has 850 slots and 12 table games, and Wild Horse Pass has 990 slots and 30 table games. Each one has a casino floor of about 120,000 sqft, which is smaller than most other Phoenix-area casinos but still plenty large for the current machine counts.
Lone Butte and Wild Horse Pass are quite close together (2 miles apart) in Chandler, while Vee Quiva is about 20 miles west in Laveen. I started at Lone Butte, then went to Wild Horse, then continued out to Vee Quiva. I'd be about $300 richer if I just stopped at Lone Butte once I had an inkling that the chips would all be the same. I probably would have done that, but I'd just come across a situation where the Spa casino in CA used a chip with the Agua Caliente name on the reverse, while Agua Caliente had it's own chips. So on I marched, and down my bankroll dropped.
My chip is a Paulson RHC that lists the names of all three casinos. The reverse (actually, I think that's the front) bears the Gila River Casinos name and brand, which is the reason that I've put this set of casinos before the "h"s in the list. This is another case where I thought I had pictures of both sides of the chip, but I can only find this one photo on Photobucket.
City: Chandler & Laveen
Casino: Gila River Casinos: Lone Butte, Vee Quiva, and Wild Horse Pass
Today's chip of the day comes from the Gila River Casinos. As a part of my trip to Arizona, I visited each of these three casinos. They all have the same chips in play, and the single chip in my collection from these three casinos came from the Lone Butte casino (which I visited first). Lone Butte has 850 slots and 15 table games, Vee Quiva has 850 slots and 12 table games, and Wild Horse Pass has 990 slots and 30 table games. Each one has a casino floor of about 120,000 sqft, which is smaller than most other Phoenix-area casinos but still plenty large for the current machine counts.
Lone Butte and Wild Horse Pass are quite close together (2 miles apart) in Chandler, while Vee Quiva is about 20 miles west in Laveen. I started at Lone Butte, then went to Wild Horse, then continued out to Vee Quiva. I'd be about $300 richer if I just stopped at Lone Butte once I had an inkling that the chips would all be the same. I probably would have done that, but I'd just come across a situation where the Spa casino in CA used a chip with the Agua Caliente name on the reverse, while Agua Caliente had it's own chips. So on I marched, and down my bankroll dropped.
My chip is a Paulson RHC that lists the names of all three casinos. The reverse (actually, I think that's the front) bears the Gila River Casinos name and brand, which is the reason that I've put this set of casinos before the "h"s in the list. This is another case where I thought I had pictures of both sides of the chip, but I can only find this one photo on Photobucket.
"So as the clock ticked and the day passed, opportunity met preparation, and luck happened." - Maurice Clarett
January 14th, 2013 at 8:34:12 AM
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Quote: rdw4potusState: Arizona
City: Scottsdale
Casino: Fort McDowell
Today's chip of the day comes from the Fort McDowell casino in Scottsdale, AZ. The Fort McDowell is owned and operated by the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation. It is another one of the original AZ casinos, beginning operations in 1993 when the state was opened to casino gambling. The casino has a 150,000 sqft floor, with 700 slots, about 20 table games, and a poker room.
I visited Fort McDowell in between my visits to the Casinos Arizona. I played BJ for a few minutes, lost a few dollars, and I was on my way. I was very impressed by the exterior of the property. The brickwork is beautiful. The inside is also quite roomy and cold, like most AZ casinos.
There are many versions of the $5 chip at Fort McDowell. The MOGH shows a nice plain Paulson-made $5 chip, with pink and green edge inserts. I did not see that version in play, though I looked and looked for it. There are also several commemorative/limited edition Paulson RHC chips relating to the Hold'em for Heroes poker event. I thought I had pictures of both sides of my chip, but I guess I don't. Below is a picture of the front side of the Gary Hudson version of the commemorative chip. I believe that this Gary Hudson is the actor perhaps best known for his roles in Wild Roses and Paradise Falls. There are other commemorative chips with minor celebs and poker players depicted.
I'm amused that they would produce a "commemorative" chip with just a name typed across the face. Why not put an image of the individual on there? Were, "commemoratives" also produced for other denominations?
Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication - Leonardo da Vinci
January 14th, 2013 at 9:52:03 AM
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Quote: AyecarumbaQuote: rdw4potusState: Arizona
City: Scottsdale
Casino: Fort McDowell
I'm amused that they would produce a "commemorative" chip with just a name typed across the face. Why not put an image of the individual on there? Were, "commemoratives" also produced for other denominations?
Yeah, that's sure not a decision that I would have made. It looks to me like only the $5 chips got commemorative versions. You can go to http://themogh.org/cg_chip2.php?id=AZFMFM to see samples of the front (back? other side, anyway) of these chips. It's just a picture without a name...
Edit: Here's the other side of the Mark Willis chip...
"So as the clock ticked and the day passed, opportunity met preparation, and luck happened." - Maurice Clarett
January 14th, 2013 at 8:03:57 PM
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State: Arizona
City: Maricopa
Casino: Harrah's Ak-Chin
Today's chip of the day comes from Harrah's Ak-Chin in Maricopa, AZ. I stayed and played at Harrah's after I finished visiting the Tucson casinos and before I visited the rest of the Phoenix-area casinos. The hotel at Ak-Chin was great. Easily worth the $0 that I paid for my stay:-) But really, walk-in shower, big flat panel TV, smart thermostat, nice soft mattress (sorry Wiz). The casino at Ak-Chin is different from the other AZ casinos that we've covered so far. It's only about 40000 square feet, but has almost 1,100 machines and has about 20 table games.
I think my visit to Ak-Chin was the first time that I ever tried wonging into a slot machine, and my method worked very well. As I was waiting for a spot to open on a BJ table, I noticed a Rock Around the Clock slot with the Bonus Time indicator at roughly the 10:30 position. The bonus must trigger by 12:00. So I played the game until the bonus triggered. And then won the Mega jackpot (about $350) in the bonus. After that, I played BJ for a couple hours to unwind for the evening. I lost back a bit of the slot win, but I collected my chip and still escaped with a bit of a net win.
My chip is a Paulson RHC. MOGH shows that there's a UV indicator on one side of the chip. There have been very few series of chips since the casino opened in 1994. Based on the edge sharpness of my chip (admittedly the sharpest edges I could find), I assume that new chips are printed periodically and that they just haven't updated the styling of the chip the way that some casinos do.
After this chip, there are two more chips in my collection from AZ. So, if he's made it back from Florida and survived his cold/flu then I'll be turning this thread back over to Doc on Thursday.
City: Maricopa
Casino: Harrah's Ak-Chin
Today's chip of the day comes from Harrah's Ak-Chin in Maricopa, AZ. I stayed and played at Harrah's after I finished visiting the Tucson casinos and before I visited the rest of the Phoenix-area casinos. The hotel at Ak-Chin was great. Easily worth the $0 that I paid for my stay:-) But really, walk-in shower, big flat panel TV, smart thermostat, nice soft mattress (sorry Wiz). The casino at Ak-Chin is different from the other AZ casinos that we've covered so far. It's only about 40000 square feet, but has almost 1,100 machines and has about 20 table games.
I think my visit to Ak-Chin was the first time that I ever tried wonging into a slot machine, and my method worked very well. As I was waiting for a spot to open on a BJ table, I noticed a Rock Around the Clock slot with the Bonus Time indicator at roughly the 10:30 position. The bonus must trigger by 12:00. So I played the game until the bonus triggered. And then won the Mega jackpot (about $350) in the bonus. After that, I played BJ for a couple hours to unwind for the evening. I lost back a bit of the slot win, but I collected my chip and still escaped with a bit of a net win.
My chip is a Paulson RHC. MOGH shows that there's a UV indicator on one side of the chip. There have been very few series of chips since the casino opened in 1994. Based on the edge sharpness of my chip (admittedly the sharpest edges I could find), I assume that new chips are printed periodically and that they just haven't updated the styling of the chip the way that some casinos do.
After this chip, there are two more chips in my collection from AZ. So, if he's made it back from Florida and survived his cold/flu then I'll be turning this thread back over to Doc on Thursday.
"So as the clock ticked and the day passed, opportunity met preparation, and luck happened." - Maurice Clarett
January 14th, 2013 at 9:17:06 PM
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Quote: rdw4potusAfter this chip, there are two more chips in my collection from AZ. So, if he's made it back from Florida and survived his cold/flu then I'll be turning this thread back over to Doc on Thursday.
Made it home tonight, so this sounds like a fine plan. I also picked my lens up from the repair shop on my way in, so tomorrow I will try to get some shots of my new chips.
I got nine new ones on this trip: 6 from Mississippi, 1 from Louisiana, and 2 that I'm going to consider from Florida, since they are both from casino boats running out of Florida ports. In the course of that collecting, I managed to lose a net of $180 in 11 gaming sessions, including two that did not involve new chips. Some time perhaps later this week, if I can convince my wife to help lift the glass cover off my desk, I will set about rearranging the chips on display under the glass. I have a geometric pattern in mind, but it always seems to take a while to get "ducks" all in the proper rows. I now have a total of 318 casinos represented in my chip collection.
After rdw4potus completes this wonderful series of Arizona chips -- and I really am impressed -- I'll resume posting my Mississippi chips. Depending on when I get the images prepared, I will take a step or three backward to present new chips from the Mississippi casinos that I have already passed in the alphabet. After I complete my set from the state, I'll go back to post the new Florida and Louisiana chips before starting a brand new state.
After seeing the beautiful chips that have been posted this past week or so, I really need to get Arizona moved up on the priority list for my travels, but at this point I don't even have it penciled in.
Edit 3/14/13: I finally visited the Desert Diamond Casino, the Fort McDowell Casino, the Gila River/Wild Horse Pass Casino, and Harrah's Ak-Chin Casino on 3/4/13. Here are the $1 chips from those casinos:
January 15th, 2013 at 7:37:51 PM
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State: Arizona
City: Pinetop
Casino: Hon-Dah
Today's chip of the day comes from the Hon-Dah casino in Pinetop, AZ. Pinetop is about halfway between Phoenix and Albuquerque just off of US 60. It's a very beautiful and rugged high desert area. The interweb tells me that it's popular with people looking for "multi-season second homes." I visited in the summer, and the altitude (about 6,500 feet) certainly made the temperatures pleasant.
Hon-Dah opened in 1993 when the State began allowing casinos. It's a small place - about 20,000 sqft - but manages to have 800 machines and a half-dozen table games. Hon-Dah was easily the most crowded casino that I visited in AZ. The property also has about 350 hotel rooms associated with it, and it's in the middle of a touristy area.
I mentioned a few days ago that I spent too much time at one casino and got to Apache Gold much later than I wanted to. Hon-Dah was where the wheels came off. The drive to Pinetop and back (different routes) took much longer than advertised. That alone would have been "bad" enough, but when I got to Hon-Dah I also needed to wait until the table games opened at 6pm. The I settled into a BJ game and played for about 90 minutes longer than I'd planned to. I was winning, and I just couldn't pull myself away. I wound up being up about $150 at the end of my session. But then I had to work my way back down to Globe starting at dusk. Thats not the right time to start a westward drive across uneven terrain.
My chip is a Paulson RHC. Like with Harrah's, this chip is in good shape but MOGH lists only one variation. I don't believe that this chip is 20 years old, so I assume that it's a newer issuance that just didn't have an updated design.
City: Pinetop
Casino: Hon-Dah
Today's chip of the day comes from the Hon-Dah casino in Pinetop, AZ. Pinetop is about halfway between Phoenix and Albuquerque just off of US 60. It's a very beautiful and rugged high desert area. The interweb tells me that it's popular with people looking for "multi-season second homes." I visited in the summer, and the altitude (about 6,500 feet) certainly made the temperatures pleasant.
Hon-Dah opened in 1993 when the State began allowing casinos. It's a small place - about 20,000 sqft - but manages to have 800 machines and a half-dozen table games. Hon-Dah was easily the most crowded casino that I visited in AZ. The property also has about 350 hotel rooms associated with it, and it's in the middle of a touristy area.
I mentioned a few days ago that I spent too much time at one casino and got to Apache Gold much later than I wanted to. Hon-Dah was where the wheels came off. The drive to Pinetop and back (different routes) took much longer than advertised. That alone would have been "bad" enough, but when I got to Hon-Dah I also needed to wait until the table games opened at 6pm. The I settled into a BJ game and played for about 90 minutes longer than I'd planned to. I was winning, and I just couldn't pull myself away. I wound up being up about $150 at the end of my session. But then I had to work my way back down to Globe starting at dusk. Thats not the right time to start a westward drive across uneven terrain.
My chip is a Paulson RHC. Like with Harrah's, this chip is in good shape but MOGH lists only one variation. I don't believe that this chip is 20 years old, so I assume that it's a newer issuance that just didn't have an updated design.
"So as the clock ticked and the day passed, opportunity met preparation, and luck happened." - Maurice Clarett
January 15th, 2013 at 7:49:18 PM
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It's too bad you didn't get to do the drive in the daytime. That is some of THE most amazing driving in the U.S.A. The terrain/scenery/driving experience are just out-of-this-world.Quote: rdw4potusState: Arizona
City: Pinetop
Casino: Hon-Dah
I mentioned a few days ago that I spent too much time at one casino and got to Apache Gold much later than I wanted to. Hon-Dah was where the wheels came off. The drive to Pinetop and back (different routes) took much longer than advertised. That alone would have been "bad" enough, but when I got to Hon-Dah I also needed to wait until the table games opened at 6pm. The I settled into a BJ game and played for about 90 minutes longer than I'd planned to. I was winning, and I just couldn't pull myself away. I wound up being up about $150 at the end of my session. But then I had to work my way back down to Globe starting at dusk. Thats not the right time to start a westward drive across uneven terrain.
Actually, if you drive any direction out of Phoenix, you'll hit some absolutely breathtaking scenery that is just made for driving and experiencing.
Apache Trail, most scenic road in the U.S.A. (?):
"Dice, verily, are armed with goads and driving-hooks, deceiving and tormenting, causing grievous woe." -Rig Veda 10.34.4
January 15th, 2013 at 8:02:05 PM
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Quote: teddysIt's too bad you didn't get to do the drive in the daytime. That is some of THE most amazing driving in the U.S.A. The terrain/scenery/driving experience are just out-of-this-world.Quote: rdw4potusState: Arizona
City: Pinetop
Casino: Hon-Dah
I mentioned a few days ago that I spent too much time at one casino and got to Apache Gold much later than I wanted to. Hon-Dah was where the wheels came off. The drive to Pinetop and back (different routes) took much longer than advertised. That alone would have been "bad" enough, but when I got to Hon-Dah I also needed to wait until the table games opened at 6pm. The I settled into a BJ game and played for about 90 minutes longer than I'd planned to. I was winning, and I just couldn't pull myself away. I wound up being up about $150 at the end of my session. But then I had to work my way back down to Globe starting at dusk. Thats not the right time to start a westward drive across uneven terrain.
Actually, if you drive any direction out of Phoenix, you'll hit some absolutely breathtaking scenery that is just made for driving and experiencing.
Apache Trail, most scenic road in the U.S.A. (?):
Oh, its worse than that - I stayed in Globe that night and then took the least scenic possible route from Globe to Tucson even when there was no time constraint. d'oh!!
But, the drive from Prescott to Camp Verde to Payson to Pinetop was amazing. Almost dangerous to drive and watch at the same time. I'm sure this would be a fun week of sightseeing even in the absence of casinos. Prescott could easily be a day, probably Payson and Pinetop as well. And Globe has some rail museums and historical sights as well.
"So as the clock ticked and the day passed, opportunity met preparation, and luck happened." - Maurice Clarett
January 15th, 2013 at 8:56:26 PM
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Would you guys please quit making Arizona sound so good? I've got a lot of other stops on my list before I can go there, and you're just making me fidgety.
;-)
I did get the new chips photographed today, and I also replaced the four images I posted last month using the other lens and the step-up ring. I was just never satisfied with them, but I had owed a few missing images to the thread for too long. I think the new ones look OK, though maybe not the best.
Edit 3/14/13: I finally visited the Hon-Dah casino on 3/5/13. Here is their $1 chip:
;-)
I did get the new chips photographed today, and I also replaced the four images I posted last month using the other lens and the step-up ring. I was just never satisfied with them, but I had owed a few missing images to the thread for too long. I think the new ones look OK, though maybe not the best.
Edit 3/14/13: I finally visited the Hon-Dah casino on 3/5/13. Here is their $1 chip:
January 16th, 2013 at 5:45:56 AM
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Quote: DocWould you guys please quit making Arizona sound so good? I've got a lot of other stops on my list before I can go there, and you're just making me fidgety.
;-)
Well, there is weather to consider. You're booked for the spring (except for WovCon, you've got to squeeze that one in...) and AZ isn't the place to be in the Summer. So you have until at least Fall before it makes sense to go. Plus, you really shouldn't go until the new casino in Flagstaff opens. There. See? Plenty of time...:-)
"So as the clock ticked and the day passed, opportunity met preparation, and luck happened." - Maurice Clarett
January 16th, 2013 at 11:02:08 AM
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Quote: teddysIt's too bad you didn't get to do the drive in the daytime. That is some of THE most amazing driving in the U.S.A. The terrain/scenery/driving experience are just out-of-this-world.Quote: rdw4potusState: Arizona
City: Pinetop
Casino: Hon-Dah
I mentioned a few days ago that I spent too much time at one casino and got to Apache Gold much later than I wanted to. Hon-Dah was where the wheels came off. The drive to Pinetop and back (different routes) took much longer than advertised. That alone would have been "bad" enough, but when I got to Hon-Dah I also needed to wait until the table games opened at 6pm. The I settled into a BJ game and played for about 90 minutes longer than I'd planned to. I was winning, and I just couldn't pull myself away. I wound up being up about $150 at the end of my session. But then I had to work my way back down to Globe starting at dusk. Thats not the right time to start a westward drive across uneven terrain.
Actually, if you drive any direction out of Phoenix, you'll hit some absolutely breathtaking scenery that is just made for driving and experiencing.
Apache Trail, most scenic road in the U.S.A. (?):
What does the dotted line indicate? Is it an unpaved road? It just seems like one of those GPS nightmare stories I keep reading about where the box directs folks onto some old lumbering road.
Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication - Leonardo da Vinci
January 16th, 2013 at 6:45:11 PM
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State: Arizona
City: Payson
Casino: Mazatzal
Today's chip of the day comes from the Mazatzal casino in Payson, AZ. Mazatzal opened in 1993, when AZ opened up for casino gaming. It has a 40,000 sqft floor with 425 slots and 8 table games. Mazatzal has a texas shootout table, and that is what I played on my visit. I played for about 30 minutes, and left up $20. I'm quite addicted to that game. It's probably very good for me that there aren't any tables around here.
I visited Payson on my way from Prescott to Pinetop. As I mentioned yesterday, that is an incredibly beautiful drive. Almost to the point where concentration is difficult to maintain on the winding and hilly roads through the national forest.
My chip is a Paulson RCH. MOGH doesn't list an issue date, but the chip is in fantastic shape. And MOGH also shows that the casino has already replaced this series with even newer chips. Maybe I'll return when I pick up my chip from Twin Arrows in Flagstaff when it opens in August.
This is the last chip from my Arizona collection. And so now I'll turn things back over to Doc to continue posting his chips from Mississippi.
City: Payson
Casino: Mazatzal
Today's chip of the day comes from the Mazatzal casino in Payson, AZ. Mazatzal opened in 1993, when AZ opened up for casino gaming. It has a 40,000 sqft floor with 425 slots and 8 table games. Mazatzal has a texas shootout table, and that is what I played on my visit. I played for about 30 minutes, and left up $20. I'm quite addicted to that game. It's probably very good for me that there aren't any tables around here.
I visited Payson on my way from Prescott to Pinetop. As I mentioned yesterday, that is an incredibly beautiful drive. Almost to the point where concentration is difficult to maintain on the winding and hilly roads through the national forest.
My chip is a Paulson RCH. MOGH doesn't list an issue date, but the chip is in fantastic shape. And MOGH also shows that the casino has already replaced this series with even newer chips. Maybe I'll return when I pick up my chip from Twin Arrows in Flagstaff when it opens in August.
This is the last chip from my Arizona collection. And so now I'll turn things back over to Doc to continue posting his chips from Mississippi.
"So as the clock ticked and the day passed, opportunity met preparation, and luck happened." - Maurice Clarett
January 16th, 2013 at 7:02:07 PM
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So tell us the story about what that graphic on the center inlay means. I take it that the item on the left is a feather, but is that a set of stairs or a drawing of a "snake"? And maybe an aerodynamic teepee in the middle? Surely there are better answers than these! And is it the Mazatzal tribe, or did I miss something?
In addition to getting to take breaks from composing/posting while I'm traveling and getting to see rdw's beautiful chips and read his write-ups, I basically like this tag-team version of leading this thread. Maybe we should discuss swapping roles more often. Of course, I currently only have 86 more un-posted chips in my collection, so I won't have anything to contribute to a lead role very much longer anyway.
Edit 3/14/13: I finally visited the Mazatzal casino on 3/11/13. Here is their $1 chip.
In addition to getting to take breaks from composing/posting while I'm traveling and getting to see rdw's beautiful chips and read his write-ups, I basically like this tag-team version of leading this thread. Maybe we should discuss swapping roles more often. Of course, I currently only have 86 more un-posted chips in my collection, so I won't have anything to contribute to a lead role very much longer anyway.
Edit 3/14/13: I finally visited the Mazatzal casino on 3/11/13. Here is their $1 chip.
January 16th, 2013 at 7:26:16 PM
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On a separate topic, and I may be one of the late ones in learning of this, I just checked the MOGH catalog and saw that they have on display the chips from the Aliante Casino+Hotel, without the "Station" name. I knew about the name change last fall and had the "new" casino on my list of chips to get if/when they became available, but I had not noticed before that they are in circulation. I'll probably get to Las Vegas before I make it to the Arizona casinos. ;-)
Edit: And gee, there are Quad chips in circulation, too. Why didn't someone tell me?
Edit: And gee, there are Quad chips in circulation, too. Why didn't someone tell me?
January 16th, 2013 at 9:03:22 PM
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Oh, yay, we finally got to Mazatzal! (Or as they pronounce it, Mat-a-zell. Whatever). When I lived in Phoenix for a summer, I drove up to Mazatzal when I was visiting the casinos in the area. It is actually a really nice, homey casino. I liked it a lot. They had an interesting blackjack promotion that paid for a certain number of cards; looked to be plus E.V., but couldn't be sure.Quote: rdw4potusState: Arizona
City: Payson
Casino: Mazatzal
Instead, I found a really good video poker promotion on multiple points days and they had some good paytables. So I hit them pretty hard on that. The only thing was it was only on Tuesdays, and you had to wear their shirt to get the points! So every Tuesday after work, I would drive up that amazing road to Payson (truly beautiful, and four lanes), pull on my extra-large t-shirt with a picture of a pig riding a Harley or somesuch (looking like a dumbass) and play VP for a few hours. I did very well, hitting a royal and a four deuces on a $0.50 machine. I later found an even better paying machine and played higher amounts. Apparently, they noticed my action since they were able to track me down in the casino and I got the "Mr. Pappagiorgio" routine: "Sir, we've noticed your play, and it's very good. If there's anything we can get you, anything at all..." Usually I just asked for a food comp, and they always gave me $46 (not sure why). I just loaded up on packaged food and drinks from the snack bar usually, and bought food for the people in front and back of me and the guy working at the counter :) Sometimes I would ask for a room if I didn't feel like driving back to Phoenix (about a 50 minute drive). I don't why, but I really liked the rooms there. It was like some kind of Native American lodge style. Really relaxing.
So yeah, Mazatzal is one of my favorite casinos ever. I noticed they got rid of the good video poker recently. A shame; one of my best plays ever.
"Dice, verily, are armed with goads and driving-hooks, deceiving and tormenting, causing grievous woe." -Rig Veda 10.34.4
January 17th, 2013 at 6:40:20 AM
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State: Mississippi
City: Tunica
Casino: Fitz
Thanks, once again, to rdw4potus for covering the thread in my absence and providing that wonderful series of Arizona casinos and their chips. I haven't left a very long time span for comments on the Mazatzal chip, so please keep them coming. It seems that rdw4potus prefers to post his chips in the evenings, while I post mine in mid-mornings local time – probably something to do with one of us being gainfully-employed by an energy company and the other being a deadbeat retiree. Anyway ….
Today, I resume posting my Mississippi casino chips, but for a few days I need to slip backwards in the alphabet to cover a few recently-acquired chips. Some of the new ones, such as today's, are from casinos that have been discussed before under a different name.
The Fitz in Tunica was previously known as Fitzgeralds. It still is, if you believe the signs on the building and on the entrance gate. When I posted my Fitzgeralds chip, I wasn't sure about that part, but I confirmed the old-name signs when I was there last week. However, according to their advertising, their web site, and their chips, the name is now just "Fitz."
Since I don't know when the name change took place, I have no idea when I first visited the place under the new name. I got my souvenir Fitz chip during a one-night visit to Tunica last week, playing a session of craps in which I wound up down $25. They were operating the table as a $3 game on a Sunday night. I have always felt a little odd with either having my place bets in $3 increments or my place bets dominating my line bets, so I just played it as a $5 table. I know, I know; lower low limits are better for a cheapskate like me, and it's not really that complicated to make the adjustments.
I couldn't hang around long enough to try to recover that $25, because my wife and I were there with our anti-casino friends, and just being in a casino was a strain on their sensitivities. We had just had dinner at the Noodles restaurant at the Horseshoe (the second time I had lured them into a casino for a meal), and while we were there the husband was watching the gaming in the high-limit room adjacent to the restaurant. He noted that several players left the table after losing all their chips. From my side of the table, I couldn't watch the game, but he said that two were betting stacks of green chips and one was betting stacks of black chips. He was not even aware of the denomination of those chips until I told him.
In the other direction from our dining table was an area of slots, and after watching that area for a while, he commented that it was his impression that at least 60% of the people he could observe should not even be spending money in a casino. The wife of the couple was my high school classmate and spent her career as an elementary school teacher in a couple of cities in Mississippi. My friends' anti-casino position is based on their having known of quite a few local, low-income families that had squandered their limited resources in such places.
My friends are aware of my collecting hobby, so they were willing to move our conversation to the Fitz so I could gather another souvenir. They just hung out at a snack bar upstairs with my wife for that short visit and wouldn't even watch me play. There is no reason we can't have very different perspectives and opinions from those of our good friends.
The chip shown below is a white RHC Paulson with two triangular edge inserts in black and turquoise. The center inlay is mostly white with black text, including the trademark logo in a script font, with a multi-tone blue ribbon (?) with starbursts. I have no idea what that is to represent. Nothing on this chip fluoresces under UV light.
BTW, rdw4-potus, you posted a Fitz chip in response to my Fitzgeralds chip last month. I don't know whether you want to re-post it here or move it or just ignore this. Same comment applies to my upcoming IP casino chip and my previous post of an Imperial Palace chip.
City: Tunica
Casino: Fitz
Thanks, once again, to rdw4potus for covering the thread in my absence and providing that wonderful series of Arizona casinos and their chips. I haven't left a very long time span for comments on the Mazatzal chip, so please keep them coming. It seems that rdw4potus prefers to post his chips in the evenings, while I post mine in mid-mornings local time – probably something to do with one of us being gainfully-employed by an energy company and the other being a deadbeat retiree. Anyway ….
Today, I resume posting my Mississippi casino chips, but for a few days I need to slip backwards in the alphabet to cover a few recently-acquired chips. Some of the new ones, such as today's, are from casinos that have been discussed before under a different name.
The Fitz in Tunica was previously known as Fitzgeralds. It still is, if you believe the signs on the building and on the entrance gate. When I posted my Fitzgeralds chip, I wasn't sure about that part, but I confirmed the old-name signs when I was there last week. However, according to their advertising, their web site, and their chips, the name is now just "Fitz."
Since I don't know when the name change took place, I have no idea when I first visited the place under the new name. I got my souvenir Fitz chip during a one-night visit to Tunica last week, playing a session of craps in which I wound up down $25. They were operating the table as a $3 game on a Sunday night. I have always felt a little odd with either having my place bets in $3 increments or my place bets dominating my line bets, so I just played it as a $5 table. I know, I know; lower low limits are better for a cheapskate like me, and it's not really that complicated to make the adjustments.
I couldn't hang around long enough to try to recover that $25, because my wife and I were there with our anti-casino friends, and just being in a casino was a strain on their sensitivities. We had just had dinner at the Noodles restaurant at the Horseshoe (the second time I had lured them into a casino for a meal), and while we were there the husband was watching the gaming in the high-limit room adjacent to the restaurant. He noted that several players left the table after losing all their chips. From my side of the table, I couldn't watch the game, but he said that two were betting stacks of green chips and one was betting stacks of black chips. He was not even aware of the denomination of those chips until I told him.
In the other direction from our dining table was an area of slots, and after watching that area for a while, he commented that it was his impression that at least 60% of the people he could observe should not even be spending money in a casino. The wife of the couple was my high school classmate and spent her career as an elementary school teacher in a couple of cities in Mississippi. My friends' anti-casino position is based on their having known of quite a few local, low-income families that had squandered their limited resources in such places.
My friends are aware of my collecting hobby, so they were willing to move our conversation to the Fitz so I could gather another souvenir. They just hung out at a snack bar upstairs with my wife for that short visit and wouldn't even watch me play. There is no reason we can't have very different perspectives and opinions from those of our good friends.
The chip shown below is a white RHC Paulson with two triangular edge inserts in black and turquoise. The center inlay is mostly white with black text, including the trademark logo in a script font, with a multi-tone blue ribbon (?) with starbursts. I have no idea what that is to represent. Nothing on this chip fluoresces under UV light.
BTW, rdw4-potus, you posted a Fitz chip in response to my Fitzgeralds chip last month. I don't know whether you want to re-post it here or move it or just ignore this. Same comment applies to my upcoming IP casino chip and my previous post of an Imperial Palace chip.
January 17th, 2013 at 7:04:08 AM
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Quote: rdw4potus... You're booked for the spring (except for WovCon, you've got to squeeze that one in...) and ....
Was a definite date ever set for that? I probably should keep WoVCon ]I[ in mind when planning my travels, but the last I recall seeing there was still some vagueness about the date(s) -- something like a two-week window, which makes it difficult to search for airline fares.
January 17th, 2013 at 8:44:27 AM
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Talk about WovCon has been split off, here:
https://wizardofvegas.com/forum/info/announcements/12664-possible-wovcon-shfl-focus-group-combination/
https://wizardofvegas.com/forum/info/announcements/12664-possible-wovcon-shfl-focus-group-combination/
I invented a few casino games. Info:
http://www.DaveMillerGaming.com/ —————————————————————————————————————
Superstitions are silly, childish, irrational rituals, born out of fear of the unknown. But how much does it cost to knock on wood? 😁
January 17th, 2013 at 8:53:13 AM
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Quote: DocSo tell us the story about what that graphic on the center inlay means. I take it that the item on the left is a feather, but is that a set of stairs or a drawing of a "snake"? And maybe an aerodynamic teepee in the middle? Surely there are better answers than these! And is it the Mazatzal tribe, or did I miss something?
In addition to getting to take breaks from composing/posting while I'm traveling and getting to see rdw's beautiful chips and read his write-ups, I basically like this tag-team version of leading this thread. Maybe we should discuss swapping roles more often. Of course, I currently only have 86 more un-posted chips in my collection, so I won't have anything to contribute to a lead role very much longer anyway.
I honestly don't know what the inlay means. There is a Mazatzal Peak near Payson - maybe the triangle is a reference to the mountain? The casino is an enterprise of the Tonto Apache Tribe, so the casino name is almost certainly related to the name of the nearby mountains.
"So as the clock ticked and the day passed, opportunity met preparation, and luck happened." - Maurice Clarett
January 17th, 2013 at 2:22:12 PM
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Quote: DocWas a definite date ever set for that? I probably should keep WoVCon ]I[ in mind when planning my travels, but the last I recall seeing there was still some vagueness about the date(s) -- something like a two-week window, which makes it difficult to search for airline fares.
There's only vagueness about the date :)
Odds are high I can get away in May or June, but not certain. I should know for sure in March... Sorry. If it helps any, I've missed some rather good flight offers because of the uncertainty already (no, I dind't think it would help)
Donald Trump is a fucking criminal
January 18th, 2013 at 6:48:03 AM
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State: Mississippi
City: Biloxi
Casino: IP
As I noted when I posted my chip from the Biloxi Imperial Palace, the name of the place had been changed to "IP" in late 2005, more than four years before I visited in 2010 and collected a souvenir chip that said "Imperial Palace." The MOGH catalog shows an "IP" chip that they say had been issued in 2009, so perhaps there were two versions of $1 chips in use while I was there. I didn't notice.
Even though there might be some question as to whether I should claim to have collected an Imperial Palace chip while playing in that casino, I did collect it while playing, disregarding the then-current name of the place. The casino was sold to Boyd Gaming in 2011, and there is a completely different style of IP chip now in use, so I feel reasonably comfortable in presenting today's chip as having come from a different place than where I collected my earlier chip.
The casino resort has been remodeled, too, but I don't remember enough about the "before" condition to discuss this. When we were discussing the Imperial Palace, rdw4potus commented that he had not seen much in the way of a spa to justify having that as part of the name of the place. I suggested that Boyd might have added the spa after his 2011 visit, but I now see that the 2009 chip also lists the pre-Boyd name as "IP Casino•Resort•Spa".
I can say that my wife and I found a nice little Italian restaurant there for our dinner the evening of our visit, Costa Cucina, which I think means something like "Coastal Cuisine." I have no idea when that place became part of the complex.
The chip shown below is a white Paulson with two triangular, brown, edge inserts and the Boyd logo molded seven places in the outer ring of each side of the chip. The center inlays are mostly blue, with one side having the casino name and a small Paulson hat and cane logo, while the other side has the Boyd logo and service mark. In this case, UV light does not reveal a repeated casino name but instead the repeated casino ownership. We have come to expect an "error" in such repeated phrases, but this time there are two such errors, or rather one that appears twice. Happy hunting!
City: Biloxi
Casino: IP
As I noted when I posted my chip from the Biloxi Imperial Palace, the name of the place had been changed to "IP" in late 2005, more than four years before I visited in 2010 and collected a souvenir chip that said "Imperial Palace." The MOGH catalog shows an "IP" chip that they say had been issued in 2009, so perhaps there were two versions of $1 chips in use while I was there. I didn't notice.
Even though there might be some question as to whether I should claim to have collected an Imperial Palace chip while playing in that casino, I did collect it while playing, disregarding the then-current name of the place. The casino was sold to Boyd Gaming in 2011, and there is a completely different style of IP chip now in use, so I feel reasonably comfortable in presenting today's chip as having come from a different place than where I collected my earlier chip.
The casino resort has been remodeled, too, but I don't remember enough about the "before" condition to discuss this. When we were discussing the Imperial Palace, rdw4potus commented that he had not seen much in the way of a spa to justify having that as part of the name of the place. I suggested that Boyd might have added the spa after his 2011 visit, but I now see that the 2009 chip also lists the pre-Boyd name as "IP Casino•Resort•Spa".
I can say that my wife and I found a nice little Italian restaurant there for our dinner the evening of our visit, Costa Cucina, which I think means something like "Coastal Cuisine." I have no idea when that place became part of the complex.
The chip shown below is a white Paulson with two triangular, brown, edge inserts and the Boyd logo molded seven places in the outer ring of each side of the chip. The center inlays are mostly blue, with one side having the casino name and a small Paulson hat and cane logo, while the other side has the Boyd logo and service mark. In this case, UV light does not reveal a repeated casino name but instead the repeated casino ownership. We have come to expect an "error" in such repeated phrases, but this time there are two such errors, or rather one that appears twice. Happy hunting!
January 18th, 2013 at 7:05:46 AM
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Quote: DocI can say that my wife and I found a nice little Italian restaurant there for our dinner the evening of our visit, Costa Cucina, which I think means something like "Coastal Cuisine." I have no idea when that place became part of the complex.
From my limited understanding of Italian, the literal translation is "Coast Kitchen."
Donald Trump is a fucking criminal
January 18th, 2013 at 7:18:18 AM
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Ah, damnit. I wish I'd thought harder before he left about what Doc was about to go do. I posted my Fitz chip when he did Fitzgeralds and I posted my IP chip when he did Imperial Palace.
"So as the clock ticked and the day passed, opportunity met preparation, and luck happened." - Maurice Clarett
January 18th, 2013 at 7:26:43 AM
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As I said yesterday, you could re-post them now, and maybe add a note about this in an edit of your earlier posts.
I have no understanding of Italian beyond what Google Translate provides. I thought "Costa" was just a reference to the Carnival Corporation division that likes to provide passengers with really up-close-and-personal views of coastal rocks.
Quote: NareedFrom my limited understanding of Italian, the literal translation is "Coast Kitchen."
I have no understanding of Italian beyond what Google Translate provides. I thought "Costa" was just a reference to the Carnival Corporation division that likes to provide passengers with really up-close-and-personal views of coastal rocks.
January 18th, 2013 at 7:37:23 AM
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Quote: DocAs I said yesterday, you could re-post them now, and maybe add a note about this in an edit of your earlier posts.
Hmm... yes, well then... :-) I guess I was just so swept up in discussing the Con that I didn't see that. I guess I'll just leave things how they are.
"So as the clock ticked and the day passed, opportunity met preparation, and luck happened." - Maurice Clarett
January 18th, 2013 at 8:08:09 AM
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Quote: DocI have no understanding of Italian beyond what Google Translate provides.
I can understand some written Italian, but not much. Spoken is a lot harder.
Quote:I thought "Costa" was just a reference to the Carnival Corporation division that likes to provide passengers with really up-close-and-personal views of coastal rocks.
Oh, no. That's a Costa Concordia :P
Extrapolating from Spanish and Latin, in which "costa" means "coast," as in the interface between land and sea, I suppose the Italian "Costa" also means "coast."
"Cuccina" is more iffy. it does mean kitchen, but it may also mean "cooking" as in "cuisine." The latter is a French-derived word. These Romance languages are too intertwined by half. In Spanish "cocina" primarily means kitchen, but it can be sued to mean "cooking." Only the latter is not done very often.
Donald Trump is a fucking criminal
January 18th, 2013 at 9:17:34 AM
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BTW about my travel plans and dates for WoVCon ]I[, I've been too busy at work and too tired on weekends to even think about it. I expect I'll re-start planning this weekend. I should have a tentative date soon.
Moderator's Note:
Talk about WovCon has been split off, here:
https://wizardofvegas.com/forum/info/announcements/12664-possible-wovcon-shfl-focus-group-combination/
Moderator's Note:
Talk about WovCon has been split off, here:
https://wizardofvegas.com/forum/info/announcements/12664-possible-wovcon-shfl-focus-group-combination/
Donald Trump is a fucking criminal
January 19th, 2013 at 6:48:22 AM
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State: Mississippi
City: Vicksburg
Casino: Lady Luck
When I posted my chip from the Rainbow casino just prior to my recent trip, I noted that Bally Technologies had sold the casino in 2010 to Isle of Capri and that the name had finally been changed to their Lady Luck brand as of last November. More of the casino's history can be found in that post.
My wife and I visited the Lady Luck last week (almost two weeks ago now) on a day during which I played in casinos in four different cities in Mississippi. At this stop, I managed to win $30 at craps, more than recovering my losses from the night before at the Fitz in Tunica. Things would have been fine in this regard that day if I had just skipped the late-night session in Biloxi at a casino from which I didn't even need a chip. ☹
While I do not see a manufacturer's name or logo, the chip shown below looks like a Gemaco chip, probably their design series P style 139.30.22.00. The edge "inserts" are really closer to black or very dark gray than they appear in the photo. I have no idea why I keep getting color shifts in these photos.
City: Vicksburg
Casino: Lady Luck
When I posted my chip from the Rainbow casino just prior to my recent trip, I noted that Bally Technologies had sold the casino in 2010 to Isle of Capri and that the name had finally been changed to their Lady Luck brand as of last November. More of the casino's history can be found in that post.
My wife and I visited the Lady Luck last week (almost two weeks ago now) on a day during which I played in casinos in four different cities in Mississippi. At this stop, I managed to win $30 at craps, more than recovering my losses from the night before at the Fitz in Tunica. Things would have been fine in this regard that day if I had just skipped the late-night session in Biloxi at a casino from which I didn't even need a chip. ☹
While I do not see a manufacturer's name or logo, the chip shown below looks like a Gemaco chip, probably their design series P style 139.30.22.00. The edge "inserts" are really closer to black or very dark gray than they appear in the photo. I have no idea why I keep getting color shifts in these photos.
January 19th, 2013 at 11:10:08 AM
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Quote: Vandal modModerator's Note:
Talk about WovCon has been split off, here:
https://wizardofvegas.com/forum/info/announcements/12664-possible-wovcon-shfl-focus-group-combination/
I don't see anything there.
Donald Trump is a fucking criminal
January 20th, 2013 at 7:40:09 AM
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State: Mississippi
City: Natchez
Casino: Magnolia Bluffs
Magnolia Bluffs is a brand new casino, which opened in Natchez on December 18, 2012. It is classified as a land-based casino, but it is below the Natchez bluffs, is substantially supported by pilings, and mostly overhangs the river. The structure is a rustic wood form that I think is intended to look much older than it actually is. There is an adjacent concrete parking deck. I almost missed visiting this casino because I had never even heard of it until just the day before I left home.
When I arrived at the casino late afternoon on a Monday, there were few players. The place struck me as a nice establishment with friendly dealers, but I didn't scout things out well enough to write a real report. I didn't even count the tables or survey the games offered. As I entered the pit area, I could see that the craps table toward the back was not staffed. I started playing $5 blackjack at a table up front and was probably down 3 or 4 hands straight when I mentioned to the dealer that I had really wanted to play craps. He said, "There's a dealer back there; check it out."
I walked back and confirmed my initial impression that there were no players or dealers at the table, and I was thoroughly confused. Then I noticed an idle dealer standing at the adjacent small table that I had completely ignored as I walked by. It was a half-layout craps table, and when I referred to it as a tub, the supervisor said, "It's not a tub; it's a half table." I'm not really sure about the distinction, but it was staffed by a single dealer (who was still trying to learn the game), and they had stools that permitted players to sit around the table. The supervisor confirmed that it was a converted roulette table, but I have no idea where they got it. I found that I could not throw the dice while seated, so I played it as a stand-up game. Most of the time, I was the only player at the table. I assume that they open the full table if there are enough players to justify staffing it.
If dice control is really possible, this is probably the ideal table for a skilled dice influencer to play on. I think I was only throwing the dice about three feet, and no one made any comment about my setting the dice, which I do just for fun. I left the casino after a half hour and was up $90, even after starting down at blackjack.
The chip shown below is a white RHC Paulson with four edge inserts, two each in dark blue and olive. The center inlay has a graduated peach tone with two magnolia blossoms, one right above the casino name and a larger, faint one in the background. Nothing on this chip fluoresces under UV light.
City: Natchez
Casino: Magnolia Bluffs
Magnolia Bluffs is a brand new casino, which opened in Natchez on December 18, 2012. It is classified as a land-based casino, but it is below the Natchez bluffs, is substantially supported by pilings, and mostly overhangs the river. The structure is a rustic wood form that I think is intended to look much older than it actually is. There is an adjacent concrete parking deck. I almost missed visiting this casino because I had never even heard of it until just the day before I left home.
When I arrived at the casino late afternoon on a Monday, there were few players. The place struck me as a nice establishment with friendly dealers, but I didn't scout things out well enough to write a real report. I didn't even count the tables or survey the games offered. As I entered the pit area, I could see that the craps table toward the back was not staffed. I started playing $5 blackjack at a table up front and was probably down 3 or 4 hands straight when I mentioned to the dealer that I had really wanted to play craps. He said, "There's a dealer back there; check it out."
I walked back and confirmed my initial impression that there were no players or dealers at the table, and I was thoroughly confused. Then I noticed an idle dealer standing at the adjacent small table that I had completely ignored as I walked by. It was a half-layout craps table, and when I referred to it as a tub, the supervisor said, "It's not a tub; it's a half table." I'm not really sure about the distinction, but it was staffed by a single dealer (who was still trying to learn the game), and they had stools that permitted players to sit around the table. The supervisor confirmed that it was a converted roulette table, but I have no idea where they got it. I found that I could not throw the dice while seated, so I played it as a stand-up game. Most of the time, I was the only player at the table. I assume that they open the full table if there are enough players to justify staffing it.
If dice control is really possible, this is probably the ideal table for a skilled dice influencer to play on. I think I was only throwing the dice about three feet, and no one made any comment about my setting the dice, which I do just for fun. I left the casino after a half hour and was up $90, even after starting down at blackjack.
The chip shown below is a white RHC Paulson with four edge inserts, two each in dark blue and olive. The center inlay has a graduated peach tone with two magnolia blossoms, one right above the casino name and a larger, faint one in the background. Nothing on this chip fluoresces under UV light.
January 20th, 2013 at 7:41:22 AM
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There are six posts there.Quote: NareedQuote: Vandal modModerator's Note:
Talk about WovCon has been split off, here:
https://wizardofvegas.com/forum/info/announcements/12664-possible-wovcon-shfl-focus-group-combination/
I don't see anything there.
I suspect you have me blocked, causing you to not see any posts in a thread that I started...as well as this response.
Can someone else confirm that the thread exists? Thanks.
I invented a few casino games. Info:
http://www.DaveMillerGaming.com/ —————————————————————————————————————
Superstitions are silly, childish, irrational rituals, born out of fear of the unknown. But how much does it cost to knock on wood? 😁
January 20th, 2013 at 7:43:37 AM
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Quote: DJTeddyBearThere are six posts there.Quote: NareedQuote: Vandal modModerator's Note:
Talk about WovCon has been split off, here:
https://wizardofvegas.com/forum/info/announcements/12664-possible-wovcon-shfl-focus-group-combination/
I don't see anything there.
I suspect you have me blocked, causing you to not see any posts in a thread that I started...as well as this response.
Can someone else confirm that the thread exists? Thanks.
It exists.
January 20th, 2013 at 8:04:21 AM
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Gee, yesterday I thought that DJ and Kathy were teasing with each other, but this morning I guess there is more going on. Here's my summary and an attempt to clear things up here in a thread that I don't think anyone involved in the discussion has blocked.
A few days back, rdw4potus and I had a brief exchange in this thread about my travels and whether I would make it any time soon to Arizona, where his lovely chips had originated. He mentioned that I have other trips planned and need to fit in a trip to WoVCon ]I[ also. I posted (yes, perhaps this got us a little off-topic for a Chip of the Day thread) that I wasn't sure just when WoVCon ]I[ was scheduled, and I hadn't bothered to look up Nareed/Kathy's thread.
There were a few follow-up comments about WoVCon, including DJTB's comment that trying to schedule it concurrent or close to an anticipated focus group meeting might be attractive to some members, even though there is no specific date yet set for that meeting either. After several such posts, DJTB (I think) broke those off into a separate thread. If those were to be the only posts on the topic, it would have been fine with me for them to stay here, but if we need a thread discussing possible joint-scheduling efforts for two get-togethers, then maybe this is a fine time to start one.
Unfortunately, it seems possible that Nareed has DJTB's posts and PMs blocked, though I'm not sure about that, so she could not see what happened to her earlier posts in this thread, could not see the new thread created by DJTB, and could only see an edit by an un-named moderator in her own post. I'm not sure what that says about the potential for an effective thread discussing a WoVCon that Nareed has been trying to coordinate and a focus group that DJTB would like to schedule concurrently.
Anyway, Nareed started another thread discussing "Management" and "vandalizing" of posts. I suspect that she cannot see DJTB's post in that thread. I have been quite pleased that in the past this thread has not been a place for the kind of battles that have arisen in other long threads, so I hope that a little misunderstanding about the date for WoVCon ]I[ doesn't change the environment here.
A few days back, rdw4potus and I had a brief exchange in this thread about my travels and whether I would make it any time soon to Arizona, where his lovely chips had originated. He mentioned that I have other trips planned and need to fit in a trip to WoVCon ]I[ also. I posted (yes, perhaps this got us a little off-topic for a Chip of the Day thread) that I wasn't sure just when WoVCon ]I[ was scheduled, and I hadn't bothered to look up Nareed/Kathy's thread.
There were a few follow-up comments about WoVCon, including DJTB's comment that trying to schedule it concurrent or close to an anticipated focus group meeting might be attractive to some members, even though there is no specific date yet set for that meeting either. After several such posts, DJTB (I think) broke those off into a separate thread. If those were to be the only posts on the topic, it would have been fine with me for them to stay here, but if we need a thread discussing possible joint-scheduling efforts for two get-togethers, then maybe this is a fine time to start one.
Unfortunately, it seems possible that Nareed has DJTB's posts and PMs blocked, though I'm not sure about that, so she could not see what happened to her earlier posts in this thread, could not see the new thread created by DJTB, and could only see an edit by an un-named moderator in her own post. I'm not sure what that says about the potential for an effective thread discussing a WoVCon that Nareed has been trying to coordinate and a focus group that DJTB would like to schedule concurrently.
Anyway, Nareed started another thread discussing "Management" and "vandalizing" of posts. I suspect that she cannot see DJTB's post in that thread. I have been quite pleased that in the past this thread has not been a place for the kind of battles that have arisen in other long threads, so I hope that a little misunderstanding about the date for WoVCon ]I[ doesn't change the environment here.
January 20th, 2013 at 2:23:00 PM
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Quote: DocState: Mississippi
City: Natchez
Casino: Magnolia Bluffs
Magnolia Bluffs is a brand new casino, which opened in Natchez on December 18, 2012. It is classified as a land-based casino, but it is below the Natchez bluffs, is substantially supported by pilings, and mostly overhangs the river. The structure is a rustic wood form that I think is intended to look much older than it actually is. There is an adjacent concrete parking deck. I almost missed visiting this casino because I had never even heard of it until just the day before I left home.
When I arrived at the casino late afternoon on a Monday, there were few players. The place struck me as a nice establishment with friendly dealers, but I didn't scout things out well enough to write a real report. I didn't even count the tables or survey the games offered. As I entered the pit area, I could see that the craps table toward the back was not staffed. I started playing $5 blackjack at a table up front and was probably down 3 or 4 hands straight when I mentioned to the dealer that I had really wanted to play craps. He said, "There's a dealer back there; check it out."
I walked back and confirmed my initial impression that there were no players or dealers at the table, and I was thoroughly confused. Then I noticed an idle dealer standing at the adjacent small table that I had completely ignored as I walked by. It was a half-layout craps table, and when I referred to it as a tub, the supervisor said, "It's not a tub; it's a half table." I'm not really sure about the distinction, but it was staffed by a single dealer (who was still trying to learn the game), and they had stools that permitted players to sit around the table. The supervisor confirmed that it was a converted roulette table, but I have no idea where they got it. I found that I could not throw the dice while seated, so I played it as a stand-up game. Most of the time, I was the only player at the table. I assume that they open the full table if there are enough players to justify staffing it.
If dice control is really possible, this is probably the ideal table for a skilled dice influencer to play on. I think I was only throwing the dice about three feet, and no one made any comment about my setting the dice, which I do just for fun. I left the casino after a half hour and was up $90, even after starting down at blackjack.
The chip shown below is a white RHC Paulson with four edge inserts, two each in dark blue and olive. The center inlay has a graduated peach tone with two magnolia blossoms, one right above the casino name and a larger, faint one in the background. Nothing on this chip fluoresces under UV light.
That's a nice looking chip. Simple and refined. It's sad that a new casino is as dead as you saw it, but I guess that was a monday. Hopefully it will last until I can visit...
"So as the clock ticked and the day passed, opportunity met preparation, and luck happened." - Maurice Clarett
January 21st, 2013 at 7:04:53 AM
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State: Mississippi
City: Biloxi
Casino: Margaritaville
Caesars/Harrah's casino in Biloxi, known as the Grand Biloxi, announced an expansion to include a Margaritaville casino, and construction was begun right on the beachfront. It was never completed, and the partial construction is an eyesore.
Instead, there was a completely separate venture undertaken for a Biloxi Margaritaville casino, which opened in late May of last year. It is on the Back Bay, at the far eastern end of the Biloxi peninsula, about a quarter mile due north of the Palace. The facility does not have a hotel, which it seems to need in order to be competitive, but the dealers there tell me that a hotel is in the plans and should come about "soon."
When I visited the new casino two weeks ago tomorrow, I saw a tour bus pulling away from the front door, so I suspect that for the present they are busing in day players rather than providing room comps. I might not have this next part exactly right, but this is close: At the passageway from the parking lot into the casino, there are two large signs painted on the walls. One has an arrow pointing inward with the label "This way to Paradise." The other has an arrow pointing outward with the label "This way to Reality." Cute.
The gaming area is on the second floor of the structure, which seems like a good plan for this location. I didn't check out the whole place, but they have a couple of restaurants, plus a few bars and a club, a marina for those who prefer to arrive by boat, and plenty of Jimmy Buffett-styled decorations.
I played craps, as usual. Their web site notes that they offer a $3 game at times, and I don't remember whether that was available when I was there. I am sure I played at the $5 bet level, and the end result was that I broke even (plus a souvenir chip).
I posted previously in this thread that the following night a dealer at the Grand Biloxi craps table recognized me and mentioned having dealt to me at Margaritaville. No, I did not recognize him in his very different garb. I don't know whether to describe the Margaritaville dealers' uniforms as including Hawaiian shirts or Key West shirts, but they certainly weren't the kind of thing one might wear with a tux.
The chip shown below is a white RHC Paulson with three edge inserts in blue, green, and yellow. The two center inlays are different, though both include the casino name, the city, the denomination, and graphics appropriate for a Margaritaville theme. UV light reveals the repeated Margaritaville name, mostly. Happy hunting once again.
City: Biloxi
Casino: Margaritaville
Caesars/Harrah's casino in Biloxi, known as the Grand Biloxi, announced an expansion to include a Margaritaville casino, and construction was begun right on the beachfront. It was never completed, and the partial construction is an eyesore.
Instead, there was a completely separate venture undertaken for a Biloxi Margaritaville casino, which opened in late May of last year. It is on the Back Bay, at the far eastern end of the Biloxi peninsula, about a quarter mile due north of the Palace. The facility does not have a hotel, which it seems to need in order to be competitive, but the dealers there tell me that a hotel is in the plans and should come about "soon."
When I visited the new casino two weeks ago tomorrow, I saw a tour bus pulling away from the front door, so I suspect that for the present they are busing in day players rather than providing room comps. I might not have this next part exactly right, but this is close: At the passageway from the parking lot into the casino, there are two large signs painted on the walls. One has an arrow pointing inward with the label "This way to Paradise." The other has an arrow pointing outward with the label "This way to Reality." Cute.
The gaming area is on the second floor of the structure, which seems like a good plan for this location. I didn't check out the whole place, but they have a couple of restaurants, plus a few bars and a club, a marina for those who prefer to arrive by boat, and plenty of Jimmy Buffett-styled decorations.
I played craps, as usual. Their web site notes that they offer a $3 game at times, and I don't remember whether that was available when I was there. I am sure I played at the $5 bet level, and the end result was that I broke even (plus a souvenir chip).
I posted previously in this thread that the following night a dealer at the Grand Biloxi craps table recognized me and mentioned having dealt to me at Margaritaville. No, I did not recognize him in his very different garb. I don't know whether to describe the Margaritaville dealers' uniforms as including Hawaiian shirts or Key West shirts, but they certainly weren't the kind of thing one might wear with a tux.
The chip shown below is a white RHC Paulson with three edge inserts in blue, green, and yellow. The two center inlays are different, though both include the casino name, the city, the denomination, and graphics appropriate for a Margaritaville theme. UV light reveals the repeated Margaritaville name, mostly. Happy hunting once again.
January 21st, 2013 at 7:56:20 AM
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BTW, just last night I booked the first items for my next chip-collecting trip. Anyone care to guess where my wife and I will be heading this time and how many casinos are on the agenda? No, it's nothing exotic like Macau -- totally a domestic trip.
And yes, once again I will be approaching rdw4potus to see whether he will assume the lead role in this thread during my absence. Here's the hint: we expect to be away from home for ten nights in early March. Three hopes for this trip: (1) rdw is available and willing, (2) we get to do some sightseeing along the way, and (3) my bankroll can hold out.
And yes, once again I will be approaching rdw4potus to see whether he will assume the lead role in this thread during my absence. Here's the hint: we expect to be away from home for ten nights in early March. Three hopes for this trip: (1) rdw is available and willing, (2) we get to do some sightseeing along the way, and (3) my bankroll can hold out.
January 21st, 2013 at 8:13:09 AM
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Binion's has a bar on Fremont Street. On the entranceway next to the bar is the following poster:Quote: DocAt the passageway from the parking lot into the casino, there are two large signs painted on the walls. One has an arrow pointing inward with the label "This way to Paradise." The other has an arrow pointing outward with the label "This way to Reality." Cute.
Admin note: removed image www.djteddybear.com/images/binions.JPG
On an unrelated note, have either of you been to Harrah's Horseshoe in Hammond Indiana? I was recently in Chicago and stopped there for a quick visit. Not much of a story, but I have a few chips to post. I can either post them or wait until one of you make an "offcial" entry.
I invented a few casino games. Info:
http://www.DaveMillerGaming.com/ —————————————————————————————————————
Superstitions are silly, childish, irrational rituals, born out of fear of the unknown. But how much does it cost to knock on wood? 😁
January 21st, 2013 at 8:18:34 AM
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Quote: DJTeddyBearBinion's has a bar on Fremont Street. On the entranceway next to the bar is the following poster:
Admin note: removed image www.djteddybear.com/images/binions.JPG
On an unrelated note, have either of you been to Harrah's Horseshoe in Hammond Indiana? I was recently in Chicago and stopped there for a quick visit. Not much of a story, but I have a few chips to post. I can either post them or wait until one of you make an "offcial" entry.
That's a hilarious (an hilarious?)...funny sign!!
I've been to Hammond. I think that one and the 3 casinos between it and MI are the only ones that Doc hasn't been to in IN. Since he's started IN already, that's a state I'll likely close out during one of Doc's trips.
"So as the clock ticked and the day passed, opportunity met preparation, and luck happened." - Maurice Clarett
January 21st, 2013 at 8:24:44 AM
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Quote: DocThree hopes for this trip: (1) rdw is available and willing, (2) we get to do some sightseeing along the way, and (3) my bankroll can hold out.
1. check. I may be on a trip of my own for part of that time, but I'll have my work laptop with me.
2. You'd better, or your wife will be angry and bored.
3. I suppose that's partly dependent on the number of casinos that you visit. But at least your wife doesn't bleed money into the slots.
I can't think of a destination that you haven't been to that doesn't involve at least some risk of snow/ice in March. AZ? Central/Northern CA? OK? 10 days is a long time. I suppose you could drive to MD and WV. Maryland's tables should go live soon.
"So as the clock ticked and the day passed, opportunity met preparation, and luck happened." - Maurice Clarett
January 21st, 2013 at 9:56:31 AM
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Quote: rdw4potusI've been to Hammond. I think that one and the 3 casinos between it and MI are the only ones that Doc hasn't been to in IN. Since he's started IN already, that's a state I'll likely close out during one of Doc's trips.
I'll leave it to you to choose which chips to post during my absence in March, but it seems as if filling in the blanks on Illinois and Indiana would involve very nearly the right number of posts, maybe a few extras while I get re-adjusted to being back home. That would give DJTeddyBear an opportunity to post his Hammond chip without waiting outrageously long.
While I hope to hit the Ohio casinos in the not-too-distant future, possibly this summer, and perhaps even some more of the Missouri casinos, I don't expect to get to those before I run out of my current supply of chips to post. And I certainly have no plans to travel to northern Indiana, northern Illinois, and most definitely not to Michigan any time this winter. It turns out, though, that my flight reservations for March have me changing planes in Minneapolis/St. Paul, which I generally try to avoid in snow season. The hub system of airline routing takes me to some out-of-the-way places sometimes.
