Foxwoods update
- Bingo prices have gone up a little. Previously you could get an "all-nighter" inside for $5 for most sessions which got you 6 extra cards for the regular games. Now the "all-nighters" are $5 for only 3 cards, and $8 for the 6-card version. Presumably the larger sessions have been affected similarly.
- They also have strange schedules for Sunday morning bingo sessions, which always used to be $15 admission, $1199 prizes. Now they're $15 admission for $700 prizes, but you can have $1199 prizes if you upgrade to a $25 admission. From an operational standpoint, this seems like a lot more trouble than it's worth. For example, if there are 7 winners on a regular game (not an uncommon occurrence at Foxwoods) and 3 of them have the upgrade, presumably those 3 will each get 1/7th of $1199 and the other 4 will get 1/7 of $700, but that seems like it would be a real hassle for the floor workers and cashier.
- Inside the "Festival Slots Casino" near the bingo rooms, which I think they now simply call the "Festival Casino" (but I could be wrong about that), they have removed a LOT of machines - both video poker and slots. I can't help but wonder if they're going to add table games inside it. There isn't room for many tables if they do, but there is room. If not, they certainly opened up the space and made it easier to walk through. Besides the vertical row of novelty video poker games near the entrance on the buffet side, which is still there, there are only 2 rows of upright video poker machines where previously there were maybe 5 or 6 rows of them. Among the casualties was a little gem that I had kept secret until now: there was a bank of 25¢ machines with a progressive jackpot for a Natural Royal Flush, and one of the games available on them was Atlantic City-style Two Pair Joker Poker which pays 800x for a Five of a Kind, yet the jackpot was still on the Royal Flush. So when the jackpot reset to $1000, both the Royal Flush and Five of a Kind paid 800x the bet, which put the return at 98.6% at reset. The break-even point for the jackpot was only $1741 compared to $2300 or more for the other games on the same machines. This was the best single-hand 25¢ video poker game they had, but it's gone now. Also, all of the standard video poker machines they have left in this casino are 25-coins max bet, although you can still get the 800x Royal at 5 coins; I guess they're trying to trick or aggravate people who are expecting the max bet to be 5 coins.
- The other good 25¢ video poker machines are in the Great Cedar casino, with the 9/5 DDB and separate jackpots for a royal flush for each of the 10 hands; I am guessing someone got a dealt royal within the last month or so, because the combined total was only around $14,500 whereas every other time I've been there it's always been right around the break-even point of $19,437. But even at $14,500 the game returns about 98.8%, which isn't bad considering the venue.
- They still have 9/6 Jacks and 9/6 DDB for $5/hand in the Great Cedar casino.
- There is a lot of construction going on in different areas, particularly near the Great Cedar parking garage entrance/exit. They have removed the mini Pequot Museum completely, and Douwe Egberts is also closed. They had a couple pictures hanging showing what the finished version of that area was supposed to resemble, but it was hard to figure out what exactly they were trying to accomplish based on the photos.
- I did not go into the MGM Grand, Rainmaker Casino, or Grand Pequot Casino this visit, so I don't know what changes (if any) have taken place there.
I will be going back in 6 weeks for the Firecracker Bingo where I will be winning the $1,000,000 coverall. If you were planning on attending the Firecracker Bingo, I figured I would do you the favor of letting you know in advance that the $1,000,000 is already spoken for, so you need not waste your time and money going there to try and win it. There is no need to thank me for extending this courtesy. :)
Anyway, I'll have another update after I get back from the biggest bingo session on the planet.
Why do places try to disguise price hikes... simply raise the price and take the heat for awhile.
Instead there is the confusing Option A and Option B and even sober its hard to figure it all out.
Good luck with the FireCracker Bingo. I used to go yearly. The last time was 2007. It was on Saturday 7/7, and the T-shirt art failed to include a 777 reference. Got me pissed off enough that I never returned.
Quote: DJTeddyBearDo they have any 1/4¢ machines? That's right. Quarter of a cent. I saw them at Mohegan Sun last December. When you cash out, fractional cents are left behind and, yeah, there were credit lurkers!
I saw a picture of one at Mohegan some time ago (in fact I think you posted it), but I've never seen them at Foxwoods. I think the tendency at Foxwoods is to increase denominations rather than lower them.
Quote: DJTeddyBearGood luck with the FireCracker Bingo.
Thanks.
Good deal right? WRONG! Reading the fine print reveals that for those using their Wampum cards every dollars worth of gas purchased will have 1.5 points deducted. I wonder how many people just drive in and buy the gas as they're in a hurry to return home.
Foxwoods' competitor across the river practices no such nonsense.
Quote: 1BBI've not seen the gas station at Foxwoods mentioned so allow me. It opened in early December and has a Burger King and a convenience store called Pequot Outpost. There are 24 gas pumps and 2 diesel. Gas can be purchased with Wampum points. As always one point equals one dollar and can be used anywhere and for anything on the property. Regular gas was $3.77 this morning which is about average for the State of Connecticut.
Good deal right? WRONG! Reading the fine print reveals that for those using their Wampum cards every dollars worth of gas purchased will have 1.5 points deducted. I wonder how many people just drive in and buy the gas as they're in a hurry to return home.
Foxwoods' competitor across the river practices no such nonsense.
Oh yeah, I forgot all about the outpost. I've never stopped at it yet, I only remember it being open upon leaving because there it is on the way out. Gas was $3.77 when I was there the other day too. On the Mass Pike it was $3.61 at the Charlton plaza and $3.57 at the Ludlow plaza.
Quote: JBOh yeah, I forgot all about the outpost. I've never stopped at it yet, I only remember it being open upon leaving because there it is on the way out. Gas was $3.77 when I was there the other day too. On the Mass Pike it was $3.61 at the Charlton plaza and $3.57 at the Ludlow plaza.
You were in Mohegan Sun Massachusetts territory. You don't take I -395 to Foxwoods?
Quote: sodawaterdid you play any tiles at foxwoods?
Not this visit. I will next time.
Quote: 1BBYou were in Mohegan Sun Massachusetts territory. You don't take I -395 to Foxwoods?
I do. I'm about 5 hours away from Foxwoods. The first half of the drive gets me to Springfield. For the second half I take the Mass Pike east and pick up I-395 south. My other option is taking I-91 into CT and route 2, which I've done a few times, but I find the I-90 & I-395 route much simpler.
Quote: 1BBTry the Sturbridge exit off the Mass Pike. Take route 131 east to 12 south to I-395.
That route looks shorter distance-wise compared to 90 & 395, which has some backtracking, but I can go 80 to 90 on the highway whereas going through Sturbridge and Southbridge and dealing with all of the local traffic and red lights looks like it would take a lot longer, no? I do have friends in Southbridge though, so maybe I will try that route some time.
Quote: JBThat route looks shorter distance-wise compared to 90 & 395, which has some backtracking, but I can go 80 to 90 on the highway whereas going through Sturbridge and Southbridge and dealing with all of the local traffic and red lights looks like it would take a lot longer, no? I do have friends in Southbridge though, so maybe I will try that route some time.
Depending on the time of day that ride should be an easy 25 minutes.
I played in one of the very first Firecracker Bingo games having gotten the admission as a gift. There was no buffet included then and the price was $500 so it hasn't gone up. My table was hot except for me of course. A woman sitting to my immediate left won a new Lincoln and a short time later the woman to my right also won a Lincoln. There were some cash prizes won at the table as well.
The computers went down, the air conditioning conked out and everyone was in a bad mood. The thing ran two hours over and they added a couple of conciliation games. Wouldn't you know I won $1000 on the very last one. That was my one and only casino bingo experience. It's definitely not my cup of tea.
The Corvette being given away is on display and it will get you down the pike in short order! Good luck, JB!
That is extraordinarily audacious in those precincts.Quote: JBI can go 80 to 90 on the highway.
Quote: JBI made a recent visit to Foxwoods, though I did not play much. Here are some changes I noted during this visit:
- Bingo prices have gone up a little. Previously you could get an "all-nighter" inside for $5 for most sessions which got you 6 extra cards for the regular games. Now the "all-nighters" are $5 for only 3 cards, and $8 for the 6-card version. Presumably the larger sessions have been affected similarly.
- They also have strange schedules for Sunday morning bingo sessions, which always used to be $15 admission, $1199 prizes. Now they're $15 admission for $700 prizes, but you can have $1199 prizes if you upgrade to a $25 admission. From an operational standpoint, this seems like a lot more trouble than it's worth. For example, if there are 7 winners on a regular game (not an uncommon occurrence at Foxwoods) and 3 of them have the upgrade, presumably those 3 will each get 1/7th of $1199 and the other 4 will get 1/7 of $700, but that seems like it would be a real hassle for the floor workers and cashier.
- Inside the "Festival Slots Casino" near the bingo rooms, which I think they now simply call the "Festival Casino" (but I could be wrong about that), they have removed a LOT of machines - both video poker and slots. I can't help but wonder if they're going to add table games inside it. There isn't room for many tables if they do, but there is room. If not, they certainly opened up the space and made it easier to walk through. Besides the vertical row of novelty video poker games near the entrance on the buffet side, which is still there, there are only 2 rows of upright video poker machines where previously there were maybe 5 or 6 rows of them. Among the casualties was a little gem that I had kept secret until now: there was a bank of 25¢ machines with a progressive jackpot for a Natural Royal Flush, and one of the games available on them was Atlantic City-style Two Pair Joker Poker which pays 800x for a Five of a Kind, yet the jackpot was still on the Royal Flush. So when the jackpot reset to $1000, both the Royal Flush and Five of a Kind paid 800x the bet, which put the return at 98.6% at reset. The break-even point for the jackpot was only $1741 compared to $2300 or more for the other games on the same machines. This was the best single-hand 25¢ video poker game they had, but it's gone now. Also, all of the standard video poker machines they have left in this casino are 25-coins max bet, although you can still get the 800x Royal at 5 coins; I guess they're trying to trick or aggravate people who are expecting the max bet to be 5 coins.
- The other good 25¢ video poker machines are in the Great Cedar casino, with the 9/5 DDB and separate jackpots for a royal flush for each of the 10 hands; I am guessing someone got a dealt royal within the last month or so, because the combined total was only around $14,500 whereas every other time I've been there it's always been right around the break-even point of $19,437. But even at $14,500 the game returns about 98.8%, which isn't bad considering the venue.
- They still have 9/6 Jacks and 9/6 DDB for $5/hand in the Great Cedar casino.
- There is a lot of construction going on in different areas, particularly near the Great Cedar parking garage entrance/exit. They have removed the mini Pequot Museum completely, and Douwe Egberts is also closed. They had a couple pictures hanging showing what the finished version of that area was supposed to resemble, but it was hard to figure out what exactly they were trying to accomplish based on the photos.
- I did not go into the MGM Grand, Rainmaker Casino, or Grand Pequot Casino this visit, so I don't know what changes (if any) have taken place there.
I will be going back in 6 weeks for the Firecracker Bingo where I will be winning the $1,000,000 coverall. If you were planning on attending the Firecracker Bingo, I figured I would do you the favor of letting you know in advance that the $1,000,000 is already spoken for, so you need not waste your time and money going there to try and win it. There is no need to thank me for extending this courtesy. :)
Anyway, I'll have another update after I get back from the biggest bingo session on the planet.
They dropped the meter rise from 2.5% on the ddb to around 1%. It took one of the best vp opportunities anywhere and made it almost unplayable. There was a time back in February I think where the jackpot was above 30k for around a week and the ev was over 300 dollars an hour for a big chunk of time. They dropped the meter rise after a sick run of dealt royals, at least four in a two month period.
Quote: SanchoPanzaThat is extraordinarily audacious in those precincts.
Seriously? I've done 80-85 on the MA Pike while being passed by police who were going even faster (and did not have their lights going). The majority of traffic goes at least 80, so doing 80 is just keeping up with the flow of traffic.
On 395 in CT there are several areas where you can see for quite a distance where there are either zero places for a cop to hide, or you would be able to see them well in advance. It's always the same cop car that patrols that stretch of 395 anyway, an "undercover" car (which is about as undercover as a pair of Groucho Marx glasses) with license plate 159 UTZ or something like that.
Quote: randompersonThey dropped the meter rise from 2.5% on the ddb to around 1%. It took one of the best vp opportunities anywhere and made it almost unplayable. There was a time back in February I think where the jackpot was above 30k for around a week and the ev was over 300 dollars an hour for a big chunk of time. They dropped the meter rise after a sick run of dealt royals, at least four in a two month period.
Thanks for the info. I hate it when casinos overreact based on short-term results.
