Biloxi Grand

Heading there next week for a few days (Harrah's property) and will have a car to get around. Haven't been since 2008, so not current on anything going on. Any good plays, tips, favorite casinos in the area? Thanks!

No money has been put into the Grand since Katrina. People are nice. No hassles with free booze etc. the place is clean but a bit old.

The Beau Rivage is the nicest property in Biloxi (MGM). They know it and they're a bit too proud of the place. The gaming is as bad as the strip. Best buffet in town.

The IP is my favorite spot due to a combination of food, rooms and gaming. It's a Boyd property. Best VP in town. When I say best I mean 8/5 bonus and 9/6 JOB for a dollar.

Check out Margaritaville, it's new.

A car is essential, everything is within a mile or two but there is no public transportation.

The Grand has quarter full-pay Jacks or Better Quick Quads, 3/5/10 play. The optional Quick Quads feature requires a much different strategy, so don't play the extra coin unless you've done your homework. They had three of the machines several weeks ago, but Caesars is overhauling, so the games could either disappear or be adjusted to require $25 per point. The Grand may still be offering a daily 3x multiplier. (Swipe at a kiosk to activate.)

For general promotional information, I like jackpotmagazine.com.

If you're a non-smoker, the nearby Palace Casino Resort is a gem, although it's not good for video poker.

If you like "must hit by" slots, keep alert for ripe progressives.

If you like Jimmy Buffett, the new Margaritaville Casino is open just north of the Palace.

The IP is nice as mentioned, although the parking garage is annoying. I prefer to surface-park if the mud lot across Bayview is dry.

Beau Rivage and Hard Rock are places to visit but not play.

Quote: Sabretom2

No money has been put into the Grand since Katrina. People are nice. No hassles with free booze etc. the place is clean but a bit old.

The Beau Rivage is the nicest property in Biloxi (MGM). They know it and they're a bit too proud of the place. The gaming is as bad as the strip. Best buffet in town.

The IP is my favorite spot due to a combination of food, rooms and gaming. It's a Boyd property. Best VP in town. When I say best I mean 8/5 bonus and 9/6 JOB for a dollar.

Check out Margaritaville, it's new.

A car is essential, everything is within a mile or two but there is no public transportation.

I think the Casino Hopper would take exception to your transportation statement.

It runs every day from 9AM to 12AM , I THINK. $1.25 each trip. Runs every 15 min or so. I don't believe Margaritaville is a stop though. You may have to walk a bit.
From the Grand, Isle of Capri and The Palace are both very easy to walk to, less than 3 blocks.

Down the road a bit, about 10 miles east of Biloxi is the Island View Casino.
They had 9/6 JOB 25 cent machines at 2 bars. I hit my only lifetime royal there.
Also down the road is Treasure Island. They had a great promotion for new players.
Lose up to 100 dollars, come back next day, and they will give you up to 100 dollars free play. Great deal.

Minor nitpicks/updates:

The Isle of Capri has been acquired by and converted to Golden Nugget.

Island View is WEST of Biloxi, in Gulfport.

Treasure BAY is the casino with the loss rebate. It's a very good deal, I agree. Good suggestion.

Quote: gpac1377

The Grand has quarter full-pay Jacks or Better Quick Quads, 3/5/10 play. The optional Quick Quads feature requires a much different strategy, so don't play the extra coin unless you've done your homework. They had three of the machines several weeks ago, but Caesars is overhauling, so the games could either disappear or be adjusted to require $25 per point. The Grand may still be offering a daily 3x multiplier.

Beau Rivage and Hard Rock are places to visit but not play.

Thanks, forgot to mention QQ machines, they are often taken or placed "out of service" while a regular has lunch.

Quote: gpac1377

The Grand has quarter full-pay Jacks or Better Quick Quads, 3/5/10 play. The optional Quick Quads feature requires a much different strategy, so don't play the extra coin unless you've done your homework. They had three of the machines several weeks ago, but Caesars is overhauling, so the games could either disappear or be adjusted to require $25 per point. The Grand may still be offering a daily 3x multiplier. (Swipe at a kiosk to activate.)

For general promotional information, I like jackpotmagazine.com.

If you're a non-smoker, the nearby Palace Casino Resort is a gem, although it's not good for video poker.

If you like "must hit by" slots, keep alert for ripe progressives.

If you like Jimmy Buffett, the new Margaritaville Casino is open just north of the Palace.

The IP is nice as mentioned, although the parking garage is annoying. I prefer to surface-park if the mud lot across Bayview is dry.

Beau Rivage and Hard Rock are places to visit but not play.

Great tips, everybody; keep 'em coming, please!

I have, in fact, been studying and practicing DDB QQ and DWB QQ for the last 2 weeks. I'll have to look into JOB QQ, but I'm loving the game. One of the best variations ever, IMHO.

I used to love a place on the back bay near the IP, think it was Sam's Town; locals place with great PGP. Is that still an option?

There was also a place called the President's or something that had good PGP but was kind of a strange place to play.

Thanks for the tip on the GN. I used to hate the IP, it was really really threadbare, but if they upgraded/remodeled, I'd enjoy playing there, assuming they're serving good Chinese.

Next to the IP you're thinking of Boomtown. No hotel, bad vp, trailer-park clientele, not sure about table games.

The President (located next to Treasure Bay) was in financial trouble when it was destroyed by Katrina. There's only been talk of a replacement casino.

Quote: gpac1377

Next to the IP you're thinking of Boomtown. No hotel, bad vp, trailer-park clientele, not sure about table games.

The President (located next to Treasure Bay) was in financial trouble when it was destroyed by Katrina. There's only been talk of a replacement casino.

Boomtown, right. And roger that on the Presidential. I'll check out Treasure Bay instead.

Alot of great tips here that I agree with.
The Palace has become my favorite place because of the no smoking and low table limits.
If you are a PGP player, definitely go to Island View and play Dan's EZ Pai Gow. It was the only table in town as of last year, but call to see when it will be open, as it tends to only be open during busy times.
Aunt Jenny's Catfish House is very close by with great local favorite dishes at a very reasonable price.
Have fun!

Quote: beachbumbabs

I'll check out Treasure Bay instead.

I used to spend a fair amount of time on the MS gulf coast, and Treasure Bay was one of my favorites.

Below is a pic of Treasure Bay from more than a decade ago (March 2003) before Katrina hit. And yes, that is the very same green Old Navy fleece that I'm wearing in the pics in my report from my Vegas trip less than a month ago.

Some things get better with age. ;)

Quote: beachbumbabs

I have, in fact, been studying and practicing DDB QQ and DWB QQ for the last 2 weeks.

DWB QQ? Did u mean DB QQ? I tend to play DDB since it's the highest payback, but the variance is a bit rough. Hope it's still there after the massive cet vp conversion.

Quote: tringlomane

DWB QQ? Did u mean DB QQ? I tend to play DDB since it's the highest payback, but the variance is a bit rough. Hope it's still there after the massive cet vp conversion.

No, I've been practicing on videopoker.com using the Wiz's strategies for the various games, though he doesn't have one published for that game; it's either BDW or DWB depending on which source you use, and adding the QQ. I found a strategy I don't wholly trust for BDW QQ and I'm looking at how it plays while I check for a better one; kind of silly to spend money on strategy cards if you can't find the game in a casino, but I'm just starting looking at VP. It's helping to spike the creative juices, doncha know...

I just don't know what those abbreviations stand for, other than deuces wild bonus is bdw.

Quote: tringlomane

I just don't know what those abbreviations stand for, other than deuces wild bonus is bdw.

This is bonus deuces wild or deuces wild bonus, depending on which website is talking about it, plus the quick quads (videopoker calls it BDW, most others I found call it DWB. That is a really interesting game to me; just learning it. I only know enough to know I'm truly ignorant about variations and paytables, but I really like the volatility of the game. I think the QQ feature is one of the cleverest I've seen, and combining it with various bonus poker games is really fun to figure out best strategies.

Quote: beachbumbabs

This is bonus deuces wild or deuces wild bonus, depending on which website is talking about it, plus the quick quads (videopoker calls it BDW, most others I found call it DWB.

Maybe check again to verify what you were playing. The Quick Quads format doesn't support wild card games.

Quote: gpac1377

Maybe check again to verify what you were playing. The Quick Quads format doesn't support wild card games.

Ah, you're right; I was playing QQ the day after, the one I'm talking about was HyperBonus Poker.

Quote: beachbumbabs

Ah, you're right; I was playing QQ the day after, the one I'm talking about was HyperBonus Poker.

Oh yes. HyperBonus is discussed here:

https://wizardofvegas.com/forum/gambling/video-poker/15499-hyper-bonus-poker/

I have to admit, I don't like it. It requires a double bet, so the variance is through the penthouse. None of the available pay schedules could be considered "full-pay," and as tringlomane noted, the machines fail to disclose information necessary to determine the payback.

Otherwise it looks good :)

I will be there at the same time. Will we see you at the craps table? Crapless opens at noon, regular 24/7.

I don't know what crapless means, actually; I thought it was some kind of in-joke. I would be up for a session of learning with people who enjoy craps; I suck at it, so if they don't let me pass the dice, I recommend the Don't if I'm throwing.

Quote: beachbumbabs

I recommend the Don't if I'm throwing.

I generally make the same suggestion to others at the tables when I play. Does your trip mean that you won't be in FL and on the Victory when I am sailing Mon. evening 1/13? (Maybe I misread/misremembered, but I thought that was now your home territory.)

Quote: Doc

I generally make the same suggestion to others at the tables when I play. Does your trip mean that you won't be in FL and on the Victory when I am sailing Mon. evening 1/13? (Maybe I misread/misremembered, but I thought that was now your home territory.)

It is my "territory", and I will be back by then. Would you like to meet up?

Quote: beachbumbabs

I don't know what crapless means, actually; I thought it was some kind of in-joke. I would be up for a session of learning with people who enjoy craps; I suck at it, so if they don't let me pass the dice, I recommend the Don't if I'm throwing.

Crapless Craps is a variant believed to have been invented by Bob Stupak of Stratosphere fame. I was drunk when I first encountered it. Normally on a Come Out Roll, 2, 3 and 12 are craps and are therefore losing results. In Crapless Craps, they are point numbers and the shooter keeps rolling until he makes his point again or he Sevens Out. Its a weird sensation to be at a Crapless Craps table and not realize it. Obviously the odds are all skewed by the 11 also being a point number.

I usually shoot "From the Don't, Hoping They Won't" despite some statements about You Are Betting Against Yourself, but this would be a Craps since I really don't enjoy Crapless Craps at all. Some feel the fire bet at Crapless Craps is different.

Note: You can ALWAYS pass the dice if you want to. For any reason or for no reason at all. They can't force you to toss them.

Quote: beachbumbabs

It is my "territory", and I will be back by then. Would you like to meet up?

Of course! I'm almost always up for meeting a forum member.

My wife and I are making just a brief visit to Cocoa Beach, and we will be joining a friend for that Monday evening cruise. I'm the only one of the three willing to approach a craps table and actually put any chips down. My wife plays penny slots a little bit; don't know whether our friend (from Titusville) gambles at all.

I'm headed up to Harrah's Cherokee for the day today, but if you are interested in meeting, we should have plenty of time to work out any details, before or after your Biloxi trip.

Quote: FleaStiff

Some feel the fire bet at Crapless Craps is different.

That's the 2nd best part about playing crapless at the not so Grand: No fire bet! The best part is I naturally roll a lot of 3's and 11's. A waste at craps. Love the $75 payout on a $25 buy. ($1 vig up front)

Quote: beachbumbabs

Ah, you're right; I was playing QQ the day after, the one I'm talking about was HyperBonus Poker.

Now the confusion is cleared up. :)

I've played a decent amount of bonus deuces wild since that is the best deuces game available in St. Louis (99.45% quarters). Unfortunately, the best I have hit on any form of quarter deuces is 5 Aces.

This includes last night when I chased a 101.25% progressive in Tunica playing double deuces wild ($2210 royal). The guy next to me was playing bonus deuces, one of the worst choices at the bar...My game was 98.86% w/o the prog; his was 96.21%. But he did hit Quint 3s, so he probably did better than me, meh.

And hyper bonus poker is for amusement only! The machine literally is programmed to NOT offer 99%+ payback!

Quote: DeMango

That's the 2nd best part about playing crapless at the not so Grand: No fire bet! The best part is I naturally roll a lot of 3's and 11's. A waste at craps. Love the $75 payout on a $25 buy. ($1 vig up front)

Wow. I have played craps at the Grand at least 6 or 7 times, and did not even realize they had a crapless table. And that is pretty hard to do, since I think they only have 3 tables in total. No wonder I can't win in there. I must be brain dead when I walk in.

Quote: beachbumbabs

Heading there next week for a few days

Good chance I'll show up a couple of weeks after you're gone. Please post about "how it goes" and which place you liked.

Quote: odiousgambit

Good chance I'll show up a couple of weeks after you're gone. Please post about "how it goes" and which place you liked.

Ok, Biloxi trip report.

Biloxi is almost 600 miles from home for me, so 1 long drive or 2 shorter days. Took my mother along (she's exclusively low-roller VP), and does not like to drive my SUV, so I'm chauffeur. After planning to get away around 8 am, and the normal snafu's, we depart about 9:45. She's a good sport about road tripping, so we only made 2 fuel stops and 6 rest stops on the way. Mobile was a bit of a disaster; I-10 runs east-west, and in winter, the sun is directly on the road for sunset-sunrise. So our lateness put us through Mobile during rush hour and sunset simultaneously. I had warned Mom, but she still was unprepared for how really, really bad it is. 45 minutes of bumper-to-bumper with everyone blind; probably would have been worth getting off the road.

Biloxi is very unchanged since 2008, the last time I was there, except a couple of debris fields have finally been removed near US-90. The recovery, plus the economy tanked since late 2008, plus the BP oil spill ruined, I mean ruined, them until recently. The only new construction in the interim has been the Hard Rock, and reportedly once they decided to come in, it was only 2 months from groundbreaking to opening a 250 room hotel. The state used this fact to light a fire under CET (again reportedly) and they are now starting renovations of the Grand, which will be renamed Harrah's Gulf Coast in the near future.

The renovations will include the old casino site, which will is currently iron-rusted girders and slab concrete. They will be rebuilding a 2-story casino there, and probably hotel rooms over on the beach side of US-90. They will also be doing a complete renovation of their present building, including wrapping reception/checkin around the pool, redoing the restaurants, and all the rooms.

We gained an hour crossing time zones, so pulled in about 5:30 pm. Valet parking is free, right next to checkin, so we used that. We also used the bell service, which turned out to be a good thing, because our room was not ready for another hour. At checkin (where I used the $20 upgrade to get us a top-floor minisuite for 4 nights), they told us 20 minutes, and invited us to enjoy the lobby bar and grill while we waited. The lobby was quite drafty, due to unseasonable cold in the 20's, but the service was exceptional and the food was ridiculously good. (We found out a couple days later that it was the same kitchen as LB's Steakhouse but bar pricing, which explains a lot.) TR card gets you 10% off all food items. Entrees were sandwiches, burgers, salads, several appetizers, full bar. Huge portions, and as I said, incredibly good quality food. The grill was so not-busy that we were the only ones in there until just before we left.

Mom got chilled to the point of illness and could not stop shaking. The wait for the room after dinner was excruciating, because I needed her to get into a hot bath and get her core temperature back up. She claimed she'd never gotten that cold before and it gave us both a lot of concern. We finally got her upstairs and into the tub, then the bell came and we sorted that. I put our things away, and got sent downstairs to play; mom came down a bit later. The room was exceedingly clean, fresh thick linens, coffeemaker with single-serve packets, china and glass, slightly less fancy toiletries than before (no shoeshine kit, shower cap, or mouthwash, but still gilcrest and soames products). Room had a round marble table with 2 chairs, 2 queen beds, strange 4 drawer dresser, LCD TV about 32", room safe, double closet with ironing board/iron, 3 sets of good quality towels. Beautiful view of the Gulf, but broken construction in the forefront alongside an abandoned building.

Went down to the casino, which is along a semi-long corridor and up a ramp at security. Breezeway immediately adjacent to the normal pit; pit was closed for too cold next to door, but usually open because of close location for hotel guests. 16' craps table had fire bet, 3CP, 2 BJ, Mississippi Stud, and THE Bonus. Never played in that pit, but the last 2 nights we were there, the craps table was very busy, the rest of the pit had light to no action whenever I passed it. I think the craps was 3-4-5x odds.

More later.

Quote:

I think the craps was 3-4-5x odds.

this is the only report I've seen on what odds might be offered around there. I kind of figured 3x4x5x since no one was complaining about 2x. Of course, I could have missed someone posting something.

We're reading, Babs.[g]

Magnificent report so far, thanks!

I hope the Grand moves forward with expansion, and I kind of wish they would do it on the inland side, where vacant land exists nearby. That would allow the beach to be converted into an actual beach. But I believe Caesars acquired the still-standing Casino Magic hotel tower and garage on the beach side, so that's probably under consideration for development assuming the structure remains viable for renovation.

>Mobile sunset 45 minutes of bumper-to-bumper with everyone blind; probably would have been worth getting off the road.
Yes. I loathe driving into a rising or setting sun also. Best to stop for a good "olive salad" somewhere, but then I need to doze for awhile before getting back on the road and risking a DUI.

> plus the BP oil spill ruined, I mean ruined, them until recently.
One thing that happened, I believe, is that Biloxi zoned out casinos so close to major waterways. Therefore some casinos were in effect granted exclusivity zones of non-competition.

> Beautiful view of the Gulf, but broken construction in the forefront alongside an abandoned building.
That is the trouble with zoning for casinos: of what value are small plots of land nearby? Can't build another casino and can't compete with them.

Quote: odiousgambit

this is the only report I've seen on what odds might be offered around there. I kind of figured 3x4x5x since no one was complaining about 2x. Of course, I could have missed someone posting something.

We're reading, Babs.[g]

It has been a year since I have been in Biloxi, but I am quite sure Grand craps game is 10x odds, same as Beau Rivage.

You also get the Vig on win for the Buy 4,5,9,10. Since it is the same rules in Tunica, I am wondering if it is a MS gaming requirement about the vig?

More Biloxi.

The VP is up a ramp, to the left. Approx. 100 older machines, 5 cent - $1 in that area, most of them multi-game, some multi-denom. I saw QQ, TDB, DDB, FPDW, 8/5 JOB, STP, Ult-X, Multi-Strike, 100x hands, and SpinPoker played. There may have been others; I'm sorry, I did not play and can't be more informative as to paytables/denoms. I did not see many progressives, but they could have been there.

Further ahead and to the left is the Asian gaming room, with separate wall but several openings. They had 3 mini-baccs, all 8 deck, dragon side-bet, mins 15-25. One hi-limit BJ, DD, not sure of rules, $50 min when slow, $100 min at night. A second table was $500 min. The one time it was operating, it was reserved by orange-chip players, and I was politely moved on. 1 Fortune PGP, $10 min, open 24/7, which was where I spent the majority of my time. House rules were similar to what JB published, except A face in top hand with high-low or middle-middle required to keep pairs together; except Aces always split. They also played 6 as a middle pair, not a low pair. I had 4 - 4OAK the first night, 2 4OAK and a SF the second night, a SF the third night. Otherwise, hands were generally favorable to player 1st night, favorable to house 2nd and 3rd night. Total play was about 18 hours, with 10 of that the first night. I always played 2 hands, built each hand up if it won, took winnings after 3 in a row. Played the bonus every time. Caveat: the table felt at the grand has the fortune bonus colored in, edged from red to center of gold, like a sunburst. REALLY bad design flaw, IMO, as the bet is 5 to maximize your opportunities, and when things are moving fast it does NOT catch your eye like it should if you haven't replaced the bet (which you have to do roughly 5 of 6 hands). I got burnt once, though I was being careful, but luckily it was not a bonus hand dealt. Over all 3 nights and 3 days, down approx. $150. Had a couple of super-slow dealers, others were brisk, all nice along with nice pit supes. Very bad tier points, too, PGP. Which is why I....

Played some slots each day, mostly QHP's, which I could never really get to fire up like they did for me in Vegas in Sept. I tried to catch Rock around the Clock favorably but I was the only one playing it the whole time I was there, and no clock got beyond 7:30, though I had a couple of minor bonuses. Kudos to whoever designed/built Twilight Zone; what a trip that machine was! I did almost nothing with it, but was completely fascinated by several concepts I'd never seen on a slot before, so blew some money in it. Total slot time probably 2 hours, mostly losing. Did not get ahead on any machine.

Had very good cocktail service from all but one waitress at the Grand; and she was truly horrible in every way short of spitting in my drink in front of me. Overall outstanding. Ate at the Grill 2 more times; everything we ate was outstanding. Noodle bar was closed the entire time; only open on weekends. In 3 months, it will be torn out and made into a Steak n Shake. Ugh. What a bad change. LB's steakhouse had very limited hours, but we got my mom their amazing 7 layer chocolate torte thru the grill supervisor (pit supe told us to ask) after they were closed one night. Finest cake I never ate. Highly recommend.

more later.

Quote: beachbumbabs

... The only new construction in the interim has been the Hard Rock, and reportedly once they decided to come in, it was only 2 months from groundbreaking to opening a 250 room hotel. The state used this fact to light a fire under CET (again reportedly) and they are now starting renovations of the Grand, which will be renamed Harrah's Gulf Coast in the near future...

Hi babs,
I look forward to your gaming reports from your trip.

Just for clarity, the Hard Rock has been next to the Beau Rivage since I have been going there, which started in 2009. The last time I was there was March 2013, and the Hard Rock was putting in the foundation for their expansion (They took out their pool area). Not sure where they moved the pool area.
It sounds like they have finished that expansion. Is the whole Hard Rock now 250 rooms, or is it just the expansion that contains 250 rooms?

I had a strange experience at The Grand PGP game when we played there last time.

There were 3 of us playing, I was playing 2 spots, and I was not playing the fortune bet (I will sometimes play for $5 Envy on a full table). Anyway, my friend next to me keeps telling me I am going to hit it, and I should play it. Finally he asks if he can play my Fortune on my second hand. I said sure, so he puts a chip on the spot.
It was slow and the floor was standing at the table. She says, "You can't do that". I say, "do what?" She says, "He cannot bet on your spot." I said, with a grin, "He's not. He owed me $5 from earlier, and he just paid me back." She shook her head, smiled, and walked away. So after that, he would give me a green after every 5 hands played, and I would make the $5 bet.
Well, sure enough, the hand hits a $250 pay (I think it was a straight flush). So the floor has to come back over to witness the payout. I get handed $250, which I promptly hand to my friend. The floor says, "I suppose you owed him $250 from an earlier loan?" Without missing a beat, my friend says, "No, it was only $150" as he hands me back a black chip. Everyone cracks up, and once again the floor shook her head and walked away.

When we left I made it a point to stop and thank the floor for the good time we had in her game. I don't really care for the Grand, but her not being an a$$ about the betting created a lot of good will with us, and we will go back for more PGP because she was nice about it.

The Hard Rock has been purchased by Twin River Casino's parent company, Twin River Worldwide Holding, for $250 million. The deal is expected to be completed in June. If those Rhode Island accents ever mix with the Southern accents - look out! :-)

Knew about the purchase. Was going on what the checkin clerk told me about the Hard Rok while I was at the counter waiting for the room. Her point was that they put up 250 rooms in 2 months, which put pressure on the Grand to do something about the post-Katrina wreck of their original casino. I think I could easily have misunderstood it and it was the expansion, which I would expect to be 250 rooms given the conversation, and not the original opening.

Quote: RaleighCraps

Quote: odiousgambit

this is the only report I've seen on what odds might be offered around there. I kind of figured 3x4x5x since no one was complaining about 2x. Of course, I could have missed someone posting something.

We're reading, Babs.[g]

It has been a year since I have been in Biloxi, but I am quite sure Grand craps game is 10x odds, same as Beau Rivage.

You also get the Vig on win for the Buy 4,5,9,10. Since it is the same rules in Tunica, I am wondering if it is a MS gaming requirement about the vig?

Could easily have been 10x odds, Raleigh; the table was closed when I took a close look at it, and I'm not a knowledgable craps player. I did not see any unusual bets other than the FB. There was no placard or sign as to odds, and I didn't see it on the felt. I overheard a discussion the next night on a different table down the way, and took from that it was 3-4-5, but wasn't in the conversation, so I could be mistaken. I don't know if the horn bets are on all tables but I saw that section on this one, as well. I did not see an all/tall/small area or anything like that; not sure any craps tables have that bet, anyway.

Quote: RaleighCraps

It has been a year since I have been in Biloxi, but I am quite sure Grand craps game is 10x odds, same as Beau Rivage.

You also get the Vig on win for the Buy 4,5,9,10. Since it is the same rules in Tunica, I am wondering if it is a MS gaming requirement about the vig?

Doubtful, it's not in the regulations. Casinos in MS are just generous I guess.

Quote: beachbumbabs

More Biloxi.

The VP is up a ramp, to the left. I saw ... FPDW... played.

I am assuming you are misusing the abbreviation here; otherwise, I really need to visit!! Games with >100% payout are illegal in MS. The best deuces game in Tunica until April 2013, RIP :'(, used to be APDW ("Almost Perfect Deuces Wild" = 99.96% max). The best deuces game the Grand supposedly has is "Airport Deuces" = 98.91% max. Great detail though; thanks for the report!!

http://www.msgamingcommission.com/images/uploads/mgc_regs.pdf

The Grand craps game is usually $5, and as noted, it only has the FireBet. Beau Rivage NEVER has a $5 game. They are either $10 or $25, never $15. When I asked, they said it was a hassle they didn't want to bother with.
I am sure I have posted here at some point about the Grand crap rules. Trying to search now.

Quote: beachbumbabs

the table was closed when I took a close look at it, and I'm not a knowledegable craps player.

MOST casinos indicate The Minimum Bet (for Line, Field), The Maximum Bet (Line, Field) and that table's odds factor by Text on the placards inside the slots on either side of the BoxMan. The COLOR of the sign is usually a quick way to check, if you don't care to focus on the text.

Its quite common for Table Minimums to change by time of day and whim of some suit somewhere. If the lowest denomination table is crowded, they may raise the denomination of a different table a bit earlier than usual.

Despite saying "Minimum Bet" of X dollars, it is still quite possible to make dozens of Center Bets at far less.

Even at a 15 table, I'll often put 15 as my line bet and put a 10 dollar chip in the Field. This below minimum bet gets their attention and I'll say "Dealers in the Field" or I'll point to the Dealer as I make the bet. Dealers will always let you make a below minimum bet for them.

Quote: tringlomane

I am assuming you are misusing the abbreviation here; otherwise, I really need to visit!!

Here's the last time the Gulf Coast offered 100% video poker AFAIK. It's a survey from June 2005:

https://web.archive.org/web/20051024224248/http://videopokerreview.com/wheretoplay/land/ms/gulfcoast.htm

The only 100% games were at the Copa in Gulfport, which was involuntarily dismantled shortly thereafter.

I can't find any earlier links, but an inventory from around 2002 or 2003 would have shown 100% games available at multiple properties, mostly All American on Bally Game Maker machines.

Not sure about the river-region casinos, but I know Sheraton (now Roadhouse) in Tunica had All American many years ago.

Seems like a lot of the historically good games involved manufacturers other than IGT.

Quote: gpac1377

Here's the last time the Gulf Coast offered 100% video poker AFAIK. It's a survey from June 2005:

https://web.archive.org/web/20051024224248/http://videopokerreview.com/wheretoplay/land/ms/gulfcoast.htm

The only 100% games were at the Copa in Gulfport, which was involuntarily dismantled shortly thereafter.

I can't find any earlier links, but an inventory from around 2002 or 2003 would have shown 100% games available at multiple properties, mostly All American on Bally Game Maker machines.

Not sure about the river-region casinos, but I know Sheraton (now Roadhouse) in Tunica had All American many years ago.

Seems like a lot of the historically good games involved manufacturers other than IGT.

Sad. Obviously the 100% max payout rule in Mississippi hasn't always been on the books there. Not like they would go over 100% now anyway... :( And that place had FPDW at the bar?? I'd be in heaven...lol Damn Katrina... :(

I have played "full-pay" All American before, but it was in Boonville, MO. Tough game for sure. They had that game until about 2007 or so. Full-pay pick 'em quarters was at Harrah's STL until 2003; I thought that was fun to play. But stuff outside of Vegas is somewhat slim now. :(

Quote: gpac1377

Minor nitpicks/updates:

The Isle of Capri has been acquired by and converted to Golden Nugget.

Island View is WEST of Biloxi, in Gulfport.

Treasure BAY is the casino with the loss rebate. It's a very good deal, I agree. Good suggestion.

Treasure Bay is where I had my only 9-high Pai Gow Poker hand. It was mid-morning on a weekday; the place was slow. I was the only player at the table, and I made the dealer set it house way.

Quote: tringlomane

Sad. Obviously the 100% max payout rule in Mississippi hasn't always been on the books there.

Apparently it was on the books, but the loophole was that the percentages on a multi-game machine could be averaged. So what happened? Did the gaming commission change their interpretation, or did the casinos lose their willingness to offer good games? I don't know.

The driving force behind the good games at the Copa was slot director John Mott. He now works for CDC Consulting. As I recall, the quarter FPDW was progressive at the bar with good meter movement, only on alternate machines. By the time of the survey I linked, the casino had moved from a tiny cruise ship to a spacious barge, resulting in diminished game quality, such as eliminating the progressive from the FPDW.

You probably would have liked the Gulfport Grand next door. For years they had nickel All American with a 0.67% card. My memory may be playing tricks on me, but back then if a machine contained both video poker and slot games, it was commonly classified for slot club purposes as a slot. Today of course it's completely the opposite.

Quote: ddloml

Treasure Bay is where I had my only 9-high Pai Gow Poker hand. It was mid-morning on a weekday; the place was slow.

Treasure Bay is somewhat isolated, and the casino is stuffed awkwardly into the first two floors of the hotel, so I might expect that they would struggle to attract customers.

Not sure how they get measured, but the not so grands tables are not 16 footers.

Quote: tringlomane

I am assuming you are misusing the abbreviation here; otherwise, I really need to visit!! Games with >100% payout are illegal in MS. The best deuces game in Tunica until April 2013, RIP :'(, used to be APDW ("Almost Perfect Deuces Wild" = 99.96% max). The best deuces game the Grand supposedly has is "Airport Deuces" = 98.91% max. Great detail though; thanks for the report!!

http://www.msgamingcommission.com/images/uploads/mgc_regs.pdf

I think you're wise to assume I'm misusing the abbreviation there. lol....I'm doing my best, but I'm just learning the VP stuff. It was deuces wild with a 10/4/4/2/2/1 paytable. Top prize was 4K/RF natural. 4 deuces was 2K. Wild royal & 5OAK not sure. 5 cent denom, Game King. Mom had that seat locked in.