CrapsForever
CrapsForever
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April 6th, 2012 at 2:14:10 PM permalink
Salutations,

I have an offer for a fully comped (Flight + Hotel) 4 day trip to Biloxi, MS and was thinking about using it. The comp offer is for a stay at the Beau Rivage. I am strictly a Craps player and wanted to get some info regarding playing conditions at the Beau Rivage and any other casinos close by. I have never used a Casino junket before so any information that can be provided will be greatly appreciated.

This will be my first time traveling to Mississippi, hopefully I make it back alive....
Craps is the most "Jekyll and Hyde" casino game ever invented!
Tiltpoul
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April 6th, 2012 at 3:02:19 PM permalink
Quote: CrapsForever

I have never used a Casino junket before so any information that can be provided will be greatly appreciated.



I've done a junket one time, though I have friends who use them all the time.

If you are getting comped on this, and want future offers, you better give them both GOOD play (meaning higher house edge bets) and A LOT of play (at least 5 hours a day). Since you are strictly a craps player, that probably means at $15 min pass line, with hardaways and hop bets every once in a while. Most junkets are honest about what you need to get future offers, so just be sure to meet those minimum requirements.

If you don't care about future offers, then play whatever level you like. However, some junkets will deduct comp dollars earned on those trips against what your costs were. It just depends on the junket.

Have fun though! Those trips are always a blast.
"One out of every four people are [morons]"- Kyle, South Park
FleaStiff
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April 6th, 2012 at 3:44:14 PM permalink
Accept it FAST.

Expect your luggage to travel to your room slowly, so don't have your bankroll or meds there. Check with junket firm on luggage though.

Time at table and avg bet are important. Thats about all. The person who accompanies the junket is often low on the totem pole with the junketeer-firm and can kill your reputation but can't enhance it in any way.

Do NOT explore other casinos while on a junket. Do ALL your gambling at the Beau Rivage, no matter what your desires may be. Note: its a nice place so you should enjoy it and its a far piece to other casinos anyway. No sightseeing to other casinos, no souvenir chip runs to other casinos. The Junketer gets ALL your action.
CrapsForever
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April 6th, 2012 at 4:00:54 PM permalink
Thanks for the feedback!

When I used to go on my yearly Vegas gambling trips; I played craps for at least 12 hours a day. I don't want to be stuck playing at the same casino the whole trip so I'll try to knock out most of the comp requirements the first day there. Is it fair to assume that playing 12 hours in one day is viewed the same as 4 hours/day for 3 days for comp/rating purposes?
Craps is the most "Jekyll and Hyde" casino game ever invented!
timberjim
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April 6th, 2012 at 4:06:24 PM permalink
Beau Rivage is a very nice place to stay, and I found the dealers there much friendlier there on my last trip than in the past. The craps tables always looked busy to me but I don't play. You can walk next door to Hard Rock, but the other casinos are just a short drive away. If it is important to you, The Palace is close by and completely smoke free.

If you like excellent southern food in a very relaxed, friendly setting, then try out Aunt Jenny's Catfish Restaurant. Some of the best fried chicken I've ever had and I also love their gumbo.

Good luck and let us know how it goes if you decide to visit.
joeinkc
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April 6th, 2012 at 4:11:11 PM permalink
I just recently went on a trip to Biloxi. The Beau is really nice. I will tell you that unless you are going to stay there the four days I would recommend you get a car. After Hurricane Katrina, very little has been rebuilt right on the water where the casinos are located. Much of the restaurants and such are about 3 miles north on the I10 corridor. There is a casino hopper tram you can take but it doesn't really help if you are in need of a CVS or WalMart for any reason. Everything is very spread out so walking to anything farther than next door is hard.

I did not play craps at the Beau while I was there because their mins were too high for me. One table was 10 and the other was 25. I went in the morning to see if they had lowered them but they were still the same. It was the busiest place of all the casinos I visited. I stayed at the Grand and it was dead all three nights I was there. I had an incredible run at Treasure Bay but it is definitely a lower end property ( at least the patrons were anyways). Boomtown was also dead on a Thursday night, however they have anawesome steak restaurant that is very affordable and good. I was attracted to the Palace because it was smoke free but it had some oddballs in it that were very distracting at the table.

Hope that helps.
DeMango
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April 6th, 2012 at 4:31:37 PM permalink
Enjoy a 5 minute walk next door to Hard Rock. It's like night and day the difference.
When a rock is thrown into a pack of dogs, the one that yells the loudest is the one who got hit.
FleaStiff
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April 6th, 2012 at 4:37:55 PM permalink
Perhaps my initial posting was a bit harsh. Do NOT think of yourself as a prisoner, just realize that the junketeer will look with great disfavor on your action going to casinos that are not paying him. Be guided accordingly, but don't feel its obligatory.
After all, it does help if you explore the town and like to return to the Beau in the future that the junketeer not try to keep you on a chain. Since the beau is one of the better casinos anyway its good to visit some of the others. I'd give the beau some action every day even if its only a few hours.

Palace for non smoking and nice dealers and weekday three dollar play, Imperial Palace (IP) for low level play and buffet. Boomtown is always deserted but has nice shuttles and meals. Be advised: unless you are really used to the climate don't expect to walk anywhere. Its air conditioned shuttle or air conditioned rental car but thats it.

Casino zoning is now away from the shoreline and many newer casinos are north of Biloxi.

The Isle of Capri should be avoided at all costs. I will not enter the place nor enter any casino owned or managed by Isle of Capri.
Keyser
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April 6th, 2012 at 6:34:28 PM permalink
I have been to every casino in Miss. Gulfport/Biloxi is by far the nicest area.
bigfoot66
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April 6th, 2012 at 11:01:41 PM permalink
Quote: FleaStiff

The Isle of Capri should be avoided at all costs. I will not enter the place nor enter any casino owned or managed by Isle of Capri.


Not to derail, but what is so bad about Isle of Capri? Worse than the EE?
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timberjim
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April 7th, 2012 at 9:09:22 AM permalink
Quote: bigfoot66

Not to derail, but what is so bad about Isle of Capri? ?



On my trips to Biloxi, I only went in there one time. Pretty much of a dump compared to others available. Played a little BJ and the two dealers I had were full of themselves. No reason to go back there. But I did enjoy the Boyd Cottington Hot Rod they had on display.

Things should improve there. I understand they were recently sold to Golden Nugget.
CrapsForever
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April 9th, 2012 at 6:25:49 PM permalink
Thank you all for the tremendous feedback from the forum regarding the gambling scene in Biloxi. I'm having second thoughts regarding spending 4 days in a Casino without my wife nearby to make sure I don't empty out my bank account.
Craps is the most "Jekyll and Hyde" casino game ever invented!
DeMango
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April 9th, 2012 at 6:58:29 PM permalink
I am in a position to comment on the offer. There are many individuals in the state of Florida who get these offers myself included. That is to say free flight and 2-4 nights comped. This is not a junkateer (sp?) but a direct mail offer from the Beau. You will get a similar offer next month! Oh and a quick walk next door insures you all the games at half the minimum bet and none of the stuffy dealer attitude the Beau is well known for.
When a rock is thrown into a pack of dogs, the one that yells the loudest is the one who got hit.
CrapsForever
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April 9th, 2012 at 7:05:47 PM permalink
Winning?
Craps is the most "Jekyll and Hyde" casino game ever invented!
DeMango
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April 9th, 2012 at 7:18:28 PM permalink
It's always possible. But nothing takes the place of a casino town with multiple competition. Vegas, Reno, Tunica, AC, Shreveport and Biloxi. Crowded table, stuffy dealer, high limits? Let your feet do the walking!
When a rock is thrown into a pack of dogs, the one that yells the loudest is the one who got hit.
odiousgambit
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February 6th, 2018 at 7:44:09 AM permalink
has anyone actually stayed at the IP casino in Biloxi?
the next time Dame Fortune toys with your heart, your soul and your wallet, raise your glass and praise her thus: “Thanks for nothing, you cold-hearted, evil, damnable, nefarious, low-life, malicious monster from Hell!”   She is, after all, stone deaf. ... Arnold Snyder
beachbumbabs
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February 6th, 2018 at 8:01:39 AM permalink
Quote: odiousgambit

has anyone actually stayed at the IP casino in Biloxi?



I have, several times. They do a nice job with basic rooms, cleanliness, and amenities. A solid 3 stars. They have a huge inventory of rooms.

Their facility is not particularly convenient to anything else. Their parking garage is enormous but cramped. They have free valet, but they're maddeningly slow compared to anyone else in Biloxi

They have about 8 restaurants on site and a full spa. The mixed Asian cuisine is the best option, followed by the wings at the sports bar.
If the House lost every hand, they wouldn't deal the game.
Joeman
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February 6th, 2018 at 8:06:45 AM permalink
I've stayed there a few times. The hotel is fine. I'd stay there again if I could get comped. For the past few trips, Harrah's has been the one offering me the free rooms.

ETA: Babs is absolutely right about parking being a pain, especially on Friday & Saturday evenings. It's not that they do not have enough spaces -- they actually have the opposite problem. The garage is HUGE, but only has 1 entrance. Last time I was there on a weekend night, it was a slow parade of cars up through the garage until we reached the higher floors with open spaces.

We also saw a long line of people trying to get their car from the valet that evening. However, if you're staying there, I would imagine you would be dropping your car at the valet in the evening, and picking it up the next morning/afternoon. I don't think there would be as long of a wait then.
"Dealer has 'rock'... Pay 'paper!'"
odiousgambit
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February 6th, 2018 at 9:52:05 AM permalink
thanks for the feedback

seems I can get a pretty good price at harrah's gulf coast, should i do that instead?
the next time Dame Fortune toys with your heart, your soul and your wallet, raise your glass and praise her thus: “Thanks for nothing, you cold-hearted, evil, damnable, nefarious, low-life, malicious monster from Hell!”   She is, after all, stone deaf. ... Arnold Snyder
Joeman
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February 6th, 2018 at 10:21:15 AM permalink
Quote: odiousgambit

thanks for the feedback

seems I can get a pretty good price at harrah's gulf coast, should i do that instead?

I think it depends on what you are looking for. Harrah's is nice, but their casino is on the smaller side. The casino at the IP has a bigger selection of games and limits. For example, Harrah's has 2 craps tables, and last time looked, one was crapless. The IP has 6 tables. And the IP has more and better VP games than Harrah's (but that gap has been closing lately -- and not in a good way).

But by the same token, you'll see bigger crowds and longer lines (especially at the cashier, the buffet, and the valet) at the IP on the weekends.

Harrah's is within walking distance of the Golden Nugget, the Palace and Margaritaville (now a family-friendly resort with no casino). It's also right on the gulf (well, just across the street to be exact) if you are thinking about going to the beach. Like Babs said, you're pretty much isolated at the IP on what they call the "Back Bay" (not the gulf). You will need to drive/uber to get to anywhere else. You would be right across the bridge from the new-ish Scarlet Pearl, if that's of any interest.

I don't think you can go wrong at either place. Like I said, lately, Harrah's has been giving me better deals, so that's where I've gone. If the IP started sending me better deals, I'd go there. All things being the same, I think I would give a very slight edge to the IP.
"Dealer has 'rock'... Pay 'paper!'"
FleaStiff
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February 6th, 2018 at 12:27:22 PM permalink
Quote: bigfoot66

Not to derail, but what is so bad about Isle of Capri? Worse than the EE?

My experience with the Isle of Capri was long ago so I guess you can all make up your own minds as to current attitudes. I am NOT a violent man but it is the ONLY casino where I came close to using the stick to teach the stickman a lesson in proctology.

Rude dealers even more of a rude Floorman. when I inquired of shuttles or other transportation to nearby Palace casino they came right out and told me we do not help people to take their money elsewhere and would provide no assistance whatsoever.

Their poker room personnel were very nice. At the time lessons were early on M-Th and I was invited to attend a poker audition session on Friday morning but the situation was that I am an early riser and my companion rarely got up before noon. (Ain't that always the way), At the time their advertised spa specials were unknown to the spa's booking desk but now everything has changed about spas in the Biloxi area.

As for the IP ( no longer known as Imperial Palace), I found it to be a good plain vanilla hotel, very generous with coffee packets, the TV was adequate but focused between the two beds, the remote smelled ever so slightly of bleach which was a good thing. Physically the IP had a few motor vehicle and pedestrian choke points. Check in at the time was a zoo but free luggage hold was available so I just left my luggage there until the line went down. My series of free rooms at the IP ended when I put an express checkout form and room key into the identically sized and shaped brass box that was for US Mail.
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