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teddys
teddys
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August 17th, 2013 at 5:14:57 PM permalink
I stopped at Horseshoe Hammond on the way to Chicago.

This place used to be one of my favorite stores. It has really gone downhill. They have gutted their good video poker offerings (used to be one of the best, now the best game is 9/5 Jacks in Dollars). I found a $1 9/6 Jacks game but it only earned 1 point for every $25 coin-in.

It seemed really beat up and smoky in there. I did not go into the Asian gaming area. Diamond lounge buffet was very poor compared to how I remembered it.
"Dice, verily, are armed with goads and driving-hooks, deceiving and tormenting, causing grievous woe." -Rig Veda 10.34.4
tringlomane
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August 17th, 2013 at 6:06:57 PM permalink
Quote: teddys

I stopped at Horseshoe Hammond on the way to Chicago.

This place used to be one of my favorite stores. It has really gone downhill. They have gutted their good video poker offerings (used to be one of the best, now the best game is 9/5 Jacks in Dollars). I found a $1 9/6 Jacks game but it only earned 1 point for every $25 coin-in.

It seemed really beat up and smoky in there. I did not go into the Asian gaming area. Diamond lounge buffet was very poor compared to how I remembered it.



Ugh I heard about this on videopoker.com first. I guess they got rid of 9/6 JoB w/STP for dollars too?
EvenBob
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August 17th, 2013 at 6:42:00 PM permalink
I was going to put them on my route this fall.
Do they look like they're sweating? I hate casinos
like that.
"It's not called gambling if the math is on your side."
teddys
teddys
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August 17th, 2013 at 6:48:12 PM permalink
Quote: EvenBob

I was going to put them on my route this fall.
Do they look like they're sweating? I hate casinos
like that.

They just looked like they had jumped the shark. Place is a zoo, crowd is local Chicago degenerates and Asians, food seems to have gone downhill. Smoke is terrible. Gambling offerings have gotten worse.

I would not put ANY of the NWI casinos on my list. (Blue Chip is still okay). Why would you want to go to sh*tholes like Gary, East Chicago, and Hammond anyway?

The suburban Chicago IL casinos are still pretty good and smoke-free. My favorites are Harrah's Joliet and Rivers.
"Dice, verily, are armed with goads and driving-hooks, deceiving and tormenting, causing grievous woe." -Rig Veda 10.34.4
tringlomane
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August 17th, 2013 at 6:50:41 PM permalink
Joliet's best machine is actually a "My Poker" unit, 1000/55/9/6 DDB for dollars. I'm shocked!
teddys
teddys
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August 17th, 2013 at 7:00:40 PM permalink
Quote: tringlomane

Joliet's best machine is actually a "My Poker" unit, 1000/55/9/6 DDB for dollars. I'm shocked!

What's the payback on that? There's also nice $1 9/6 DDB progressive with a (slow) meter on all the bonus quads. (I won't get anywhere near that). But Joliet is the place to play craps, baby! $2 minimums on Tuesdays with 20x odds! Oh yeah! Also $2 Chicago hot dogs.
"Dice, verily, are armed with goads and driving-hooks, deceiving and tormenting, causing grievous woe." -Rig Veda 10.34.4
Mosca
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August 17th, 2013 at 7:53:10 PM permalink
We hit Four Winds a couple times this past spring, I can't speak for the video poker but the casino was nice, in our opinion. We didn't play all that much, and we now get free room offers, weekends included.

Playing in Horseshoe Hammond is like playing in an ashtray. I have no problem gambling next to smokers, but that place has bad ventilation.

My BiL is in management at Joliet, I'll tell him the good word (without dropping the dime on the "My Poker" of course, but I'm sure he knows about it).
A falling knife has no handle.
Ibeatyouraces
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August 17th, 2013 at 8:35:51 PM permalink
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DUHHIIIIIIIII HEARD THAT!
EvenBob
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August 17th, 2013 at 8:43:44 PM permalink
Quote: Mosca

We hit Four Winds a couple times this past spring.



Beautiful casino, nicest rooms I ever stayed in,
even better than the nice Vegas hotels. The
shower is spectacular, 6' by 6' glass and tile and
3 showerheads. A big jacuzzi tub and two big
flatscreens. Its worth the visit if you got comped.
"It's not called gambling if the math is on your side."
Ibeatyouraces
Ibeatyouraces
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August 17th, 2013 at 8:58:33 PM permalink
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tringlomane
tringlomane
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August 17th, 2013 at 9:42:56 PM permalink
Quote: teddys

What's the payback on that?



99.57% max

Quote: Ibeatyouraces

I know EB doesn't use players cards but don't forget the up to $400 loss rebate for new sign ups.



If that's valid now, I'll be pissed. I didn't get that offer for signing up. But I won $85 my first time there in March...*shrugs*

Quote: Ibeatyouraces

VP there is worse than Hammond.



Was at least. Hammond sounds like a major downgrade now. But then again, the best I could find was 8/5 Bonus at Four Winds - New Buffalo. I like the place though since it ties for my biggest hit all year. Hopefully I can break that on my Vegas trip next month. *crosses fingers*
Ibeatyouraces
Ibeatyouraces
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August 17th, 2013 at 9:53:28 PM permalink
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tringlomane
tringlomane
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August 17th, 2013 at 10:18:08 PM permalink
Quote: Ibeatyouraces

Last I was there, and its been a while, the sign was still posted as you drive up the entranceway. I burned $20 bill and they gave me $50 plus two $10 bonuses. Still worse than Hammond though.



The advertisement I noticed was a free $5-$5000 for signing up...worthless; I got $5, obv. And yeah, the VP is likely still worse than Hammond even after the downgrades since their best game is either 8/5 Bonus or 9/6 DDB with a progressive.
Ibeatyouraces
Ibeatyouraces
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August 17th, 2013 at 10:22:59 PM permalink
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Mosca
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August 18th, 2013 at 8:11:12 AM permalink
Quote: EvenBob

Beautiful casino, nicest rooms I ever stayed in,
even better than the nice Vegas hotels. The
shower is spectacular, 6' by 6' glass and tile and
3 showerheads. A big jacuzzi tub and two big
flatscreens. Its worth the visit if you got comped.



Next time we're up that way I'll let you know, we can share some good times.
A falling knife has no handle.
Mosca
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August 18th, 2013 at 8:12:50 AM permalink
Quote: tringlomane

The advertisement I noticed was a free $5-$5000 for signing up...worthless; I got $5, obv. And yeah, the VP is likely still worse than Hammond even after the downgrades since their best game is either 8/5 Bonus or 9/6 DDB with a progressive.



That's what ours was. I got $5 obv, but Mrs Mosca got $25.
A falling knife has no handle.
tringlomane
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August 18th, 2013 at 8:52:40 AM permalink
Quote: Ibeatyouraces



Edit: some friends told me Hammond had a promo some months back which offered miltiple points or something along those lines. Possibly they did this before the promo began.



Hammond early in 2012 offered a $1000 loss rebate briefly, iirc. But you had to be a brand new TR member. Out. LOL

From what I read on videopoker.com, the high limit room was "renovated" in the first week of August along with the games obv...blah
Ibeatyouraces
Ibeatyouraces
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August 18th, 2013 at 8:59:45 AM permalink
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FinsRule
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August 18th, 2013 at 10:17:17 AM permalink
I have to disagree about Horseshoe. In the Chicagoland area (not counting the indian casinos in Wisconsin / Michigan), it's the best in almost every category. But if VP payback and smokiness is important to you, then yes, those would be the areas in which it can be knocked.
tringlomane
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August 22nd, 2013 at 8:40:37 PM permalink
Went to Horseshoe today, spent about an hour to try to detail the high limit disaster. ~30 min writing it down while having a Bell's Two Hearted Ale...mmm, and almost as long typing it up. This is what I sent to VPFree. Rumors basically true. Afterward, I moved to one of the best 5c games they have (6/5 Bonus w/DSTP) since I am a poor bastard. I saw a few less people playing VP in the high limit room, so I hope it bites them in the ass.

Major gutting of high limit room, I wrote down all machines left in high limit room that I saw > 98.9% so this may be easiest. Good news > 99.6% VP exists, but it's $25/tier credit and min $25/hand. :( All > 99% STP is gone...*cries*

MIA: All previous listings in high limit room

New/Still there:

(4) Slant 1 play $5, $10, $25 99.96% DDB, 99.96% DW44, 99.94% SA, 99.69% SDB, 99.66% BP, 99.64% Bdlx, 99.58% TDB, 99.54% JoB, 99.11% DB high limit room ($25 coin-in per tier credit)

(6) $1, $2, $5 1 play 99.54% JoB, 99.46% DDBAF, 99.29% JW, 99.26% BPAF, 99.24% DBAF, 99.17% BP, 98.91% DW44 high limit room

$1, $2, $5 5/10 Play 99.11% DB high limit room

$1, $2, $5 3/5/10 Play 99.58% TDB, 99.54% JoB, 99.17% BP high limit room

$1, $2, $5 SP 98.98% DDB high limit room

$1 50 play 98.98% DDB high limit room

Outside of the high limit room, I didn't double check everything previously listed...oops, but what I did check was still there, so I would leave it there for now.

New/Still there:

Add 98.91% DW44 to (8) $1 1 Play Prog along an aisle in vp area across the room from the poker room

New: (8) Up $1 1 Play 99.54% JoB, 99.11% DB, 98.98% DDB, 98.91% DW44 next to dollar progressives

New: (8) Up $1 1 Play 99.54% JoB, 99.11% DB, 98.98% DDB Game Kings next to poker room

New: (8) Up $1 1 Play 99.54% JoB, 99.11% DB, 98.98% DDB, 98.91% DW44 Carousel of Game Kings near slot machines and Double STP/Big Times Draw Poker units
scudder
scudder
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September 9th, 2013 at 6:31:06 PM permalink
Quote: FinsRule

I have to disagree about Horseshoe. In the Chicagoland area (not counting the indian casinos in Wisconsin / Michigan), it's the best in almost every category. But if VP payback and smokiness is important to you, then yes, those would be the areas in which it can be knocked.



I live in WI, and find I have to travel to Chicagoland for a "real" casino. Now, I'm not a VP player, I prefer table games. If I'm playing -EV though, I don't want to do it in a dump. I've played at the Ho Chunk properties near me, and to my eye they're a "lipstick on a pig" affair. Low ceilings, dated decor, and unfriendly dealers. At least with HH I get properly trained dealers.
FleaStiff
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April 17th, 2014 at 2:04:30 AM permalink
Quote: scudder

At least with HH I get properly trained dealers.

What about properly trained security personnel?

Casino patron followed home and shot.

Palos Heights home invasion and shooting.
FleaStiff
FleaStiff
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April 17th, 2014 at 3:27:38 AM permalink
ADD on Casino patron followed home and shot.

Victim of home invasion, beating and close range shot to the stomach is in stable though serious condition and, perhaps due to pain meds, is unable to clearly recall the names of the casinos he patronized or the amounts won.
GWAE
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April 17th, 2014 at 5:19:18 AM permalink
Quote: FleaStiff

What about properly trained security personnel?

Casino patron followed home and shot.

Palos Heights home invasion and shooting.



What does casino security have to do with someone being followed home?
Expect the worst and you will never be disappointed. I AM NOT PART OF GWAE RADIO SHOW
tringlomane
tringlomane
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April 17th, 2014 at 9:07:12 AM permalink
Quote: GWAE

Quote: FleaStiff

What about properly trained security personnel?

Casino patron followed home and shot.

Palos Heights home invasion and shooting.



What does casino security have to do with someone being followed home?



Not much unless he requested a security escort and that's not even fool proof for a thing like this. Small positive, at least those evil robbers had to follow him a long way home.
FinsRule
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April 17th, 2014 at 9:22:42 AM permalink
He must not have been paying any attention if he was followed that long. I was assuming this happened at night, I suppose you wouldn't notice as much if it happened during rush hour. Of course, it'd be real tough to do during rush hour.
FleaStiff
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April 17th, 2014 at 10:29:27 AM permalink
Quote: GWAE

What does casino security have to do with someone being followed home?

Not much directly. A security escort will always be provided to your car or to the edge of the casino's property upon request but that is usually when a patron notices someone and has cause for alarm, often due to a personal rather than financial situation.

I meant the comment more in view of the fact that there has to be a team operating: someone who spot large winners, perhaps at the cashier's cage and someone who follows them to their vehicle to get a description and direction. Then they take off after them or something.

Its one of the reasons security in most casinos(edit) keeps a long distance between cashier's windows and waiting chip holders. They don't want a crowd at a window and they don't want gawkers to gather nearby as if it were some sort of spectator sport to watch people cashing in chips.
ams288
ams288
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April 17th, 2014 at 10:58:46 AM permalink
Quote: FleaStiff

Its one of the reasons security keeps a long distance between cashier's windows and waiting chip holders. They don't want a crowd at a window and they don't want gawkers to gather nearby as if it were some sort of spectator sport to watch people cashing in chips.



There's definitely not a long distance between the line of people and the cashiers at Horseshoe Hammond. That area is one tiny clusterf***.
Ding Dong the Witch is Dead
FinsRule
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April 17th, 2014 at 11:05:11 AM permalink
I gotta say that's my biggest complaint about horseshoe. Always long lines at the cage.
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