Pacman, Paigowdan & Switch in Blackhawk

Quick trip report, details to follow.
The evil empire is alive and well in Blackhawk. At 07:15 am last Thursday I left the breakfast buffet and saw a SHFL
black shirt storm trooper working on a shuffling machine for Ultimate Texas Holdem. On an adjacent table a blue shirt was working on a shuffle machine on a Buffalo Bust BJ table. All 12 tables in main floor of the ISLE have SHFL shuffling machine. In secondary pit the same was true of all 8 table games. And a blue shirt was doing preventive maintenance at a Buffalo table there too.. Not sure how many
hits a blue shirt needs to attain blackshirt level, but there did seem to be an hierarchy in place.

Of the 65 table games I counted in 9 casinos, the breakdown was as follows

Buffalo Bust Bonus 29
straight blackjack 10
Streak Blackjack 6
Texas Hold'em 3
Bonus 6 3
Royal Match 3 3
3 card poker 4
Bet the Set 2
21 + 3 1
Mississippi Stud 2
Double Up 1
Let It Die 1

So Paigowdan and Galaxy Gaming must be riding high.

I did not expect to see SWITCH still at Mardi Gras and was not surprised. But Mardi Gras had another surprise. There is new
ownerships, so 6 table games are gone. The cluster of 4 straight Bj , $5 , always packed on weekends are history. So is Switch that was at one end of the pit, and a straight BJ that was at the other end.

I left there to go to Lodge and then discover about a 30 ft 3 story expansion going on at Mardi Gras. Right out front, where the main intersection is. Mardi had lots of barbecues and promos that drew lots of foot traffic from Lodge and Ameristar, who have 50+% of the market. Guess new ownership needs room for more slots. IGT draw poker cluster replaced the busy $5 BJ tables. SIGH.

Found quite a few rack cards, mostly on 3 card poker of all games. got rack card for crazy 4 poker, royal match 21, bet the set,
and Fire bet. All are games of the evil empire and have an 800 number for problem gamblers. But when I made a test call I got a recording. It said my luck was due to change and gave me the telephone numbers of 3 pawn shops! WTF

Also stopped at Sasquach Casino. A certain law student passed on the 99 cent meals. I had BLT on a croissant that was huge and included chips. My daughter Mary Jo is VEGAN, which is goofier than vegetarian. She had a wrap that had Avocado, cream cheese, mushrooms, green pepper, tomato, and onions. Said it was delicious. Hope the law student does not read this, because I have a couch now.

Fitzgeralds had 50% of floor space under construction. New name is to be Saratoga ? BJ pit was blocked as well. Last time I was there 8 BJ tables, 6 were Buffalo's, not counted in this threads total. Did see 2 SD 6/5 games with screwed up rules. More on that later.
Lady Luck is still the red-headed step-child of ISLE. Been that way ever since Isle bought them. Poker room that always had 2 tables, even on Wednesday, not a customer in sight. Comps $1 an hours. New players to Isle poker room, not new card members just new players, $10 an hour comps for first 5 hours , plus free food all the time.

Red headed step-child had to cut wood for the fireplace, then sleep on the cold back porch. Any decent employees are long gone. Avoid Lady Luck is my advice.

Wish I had better news Switch, but they not only 86'd your game but 5 BJ tables they were paying no royalties. Mardi Gras has history of stupid owners and management. Mary Jo worked there in 2001 or 02 as a greeter, her husband Kevin as a cook. New
manager decided to get rid of greeters. Let Mary Jo quit, so she would not be blackballed in Blackhawk. ASSHOLE. She signed off, so no unemployment. Well, what goes around comes around. He had a hell of a time with his new Corvette. Always stalling, then start right up. Sometimes at high speeds or on mountain roads. Lots of time in shop. Finally found remnants of ping pong balls in gas tank. DAMN They would block outlet valve, car sputters, stalls. Ping Pong balls float up to top, car starts right up. GEE, I wonder who did that ???

More about the weird 6/5 rules for SD. One was $3, and only full table besides Ameristar. Actually had 2 players waiting for a seat !

My hats off to Stacey Perry. 12 tables open at Ameristar and 5 were STREAK BLACKJACK. That what the different colors, low level distinctive signage said. A beginner might think that was a brand of BJ, and not simply a sidebet. 20 tables in total, 6 Streak, quite an accomplishment in the casino that has 40% of the market. GO GIRL GO !


Am not an expert on Blackhawk market, but think Buffalo goes because it's low level protection against $10 BJ hand. Having said that, I think Free Bet might really fly if given a chance. Oh, Double Up still alive at Canyon. it features a push on a dealer 16, Gee, did someone miss a trick there ? LOL

Thanks for the report Buzz. They have quite a varied collection there - I'm glad the games don't represent the majority of US states otherwise I would be in trouble.

No 'House Money' and only one '21+3' ? - Is 3CP popular there?

Free Bet could be a better choice for that market although it would have to be marketed proficiently.

I like the Corvette story - I wonder who would think of a thing like that? :-)

Basically the Buffalo Bust BJ and 21+3 is ours [GG]. Shufflemaster is big, and a surprise, just a lot of "pure" BJ!

Buffalo Bust BJ is a big surprise hit for us, a resurrection 'call-in' game that in some places rise above 21+3 and Lucky ladies levels, like at Blackhawk. A fun "late-bet' BJ option, we're really pleased and surprised. A Wild West joint.

Surprised that 3CP isn't big.....

If the "law student" etc is who I think it is, he should report too

...cream cheese?

Buzz, where did you find the Fire Bet and the Mississippi Stud tables?

Quote: 24Bingo

...cream cheese?

My question, too. Someone should tell her that's a dairy product...

Quote: rdw4potus

My question, too. Someone should tell her that's a dairy product...

It's probably not real cream cheese. There are many amazing vegan substitutes for almost everything. I make a lot of vegan food because one of my sons has multiple food allergies.

I am pretty sure it was real cream cheese. Think Mary Jo just did not want to bother me with 2 different orders as Josie wanted the same thing.
Funny the law student did not mention that on the second floor of Sasquash you can grill your own steak ? Talk about a lawsuit waiting to happen.

Quote: Headlock

Buzz, where did you find the Fire Bet and the Mississippi Stud tables?

Mississippi Stud was at the Isle and Ameristar. I think Fire Bet was at both also. For Roulette players, I seem to remember all tables have that lighted number display. And when I walked into the Gilpin, at top of 3 steps on a bannister top, was a stack of cards that had Gilpin and Lodge casino logos. On back was the game rules, Outside, Inside Wagers and a chart of the table layout. On the front were tiny squares on the rack card 9 rows across, 15 down, so you can track up to 135 numbers on it. WTF !

I like the Corvette story - I wonder who would think of a thing like that? :-)

Rumor has it that the Corvette owner had an argument with an English bloke who was once an ETTA level 3 coach at the Hilton Table
Tennis Centre. Seems to be not a coincidence with ping pong balls, EH !

As for 3 card poker, I think that only 3 tables in the casinos I visited, speaks to it's popularity, or lack there of. And 1 Let it Ride !
When will the Blackshirts LET IT DIE ? ? ?

Another urban legend.

Quote: Buzzard

I am pretty sure it was real cream cheese. Think Mary Jo just did not want to bother me with 2 different orders as Josie wanted the same thing.
Funny the law student did not mention that on the second floor of Sasquash you can grill your own steak ? Talk about a lawsuit waiting to happen.

BUZZ I went back to the Sasquatch, got the $0.99 meal (one per day!) and it was delicious! Breakfast burrito. Then went over to Black Hawk Station and went upstairs for the $1.99 prime rib dinner. That was good, too! The grill your own steak wasn't open. The people who own those casinos are nuts, I love 'em! Oh yeah, I thought of coming by your house to crash but I figured I can afford a hotel now.

Damn, and I blew my school loan on a big white leather couch. Sasquash was Bronco Billy's in the 90's, then around 2002 it was bought by Ladbrookes, who owns Bullwhackers next door. About 3 yaers ago Bullwhackers gave up the ghost on the BULLPEN. 2 years ago the guys who operate Sasquash leased it. They are indeed nuts, but making money.

Ladies who make the sandwiches should be paying the owners to work there, They knock out 30-40 meals an hour and always at least $1 tip per.

Do not get fresh with the well-endowed lady in the cage at Blackhawk Station. Her husband is the SHERIFF !

Quote: 1BB

Another urban legend.

Just used it to see if I could hook an Englishman. Actually Vette has security flap, then need a key or chisel to get the gas cap off.

But if you icepick radials tires in the sidewalls, they can not be plugged. And that is not an urban legend. LOL

3 different SD BJ games in Blackhawk. Quite a difference, I think.

MARDI GRAS 6/5 Bj H17 No Double After Split No Surrender Bet 2 spots Must double minimum on each. Bet 3 spots must
Triple Minimum on each. Can only bet increments of $5

Wednesday afternoon, table Minimum was $5, no action.


LODGE 6/5 BJ H17 Surrender OK Hit Split Aces Double after split $5 Increments
Three 7's pays 2-1, only of you win hand ( why not ? )

Wednesday afternoon, table Minimum was $5, no action.


GILPIN HOTEL 6/5 BJ H17 Surrender OK Double after split Hit split Aces Three 7's play 2 to 1, must win hand ( Of course )

Wednesday Afternoon. table minimum was $3 , 7 players and 2 standees waiting.


Mardi Gras had twice as many slot players as Gilpin, and square that twice for the Lodge.

2 players were at $3 level, 4 at $5, and one at $10.

Mardi Gras just removed 6 BJ tables and Lodge has a history of doing stupid things. Like when new poker room manager fired 2 asian dealers and voided existing comps. Many players used comps for anniversaries and parties. Within a month, Ameristar was the new leader in poker rooms.