Quote: BleedingChipsSlowlyMr. Bozsum paying Fairy Godfather
Quote: bwPretty much the formula of every Undercover Boss episode. So predictable.
Quote: IbeatyouracesYep. I believe the producers find certain employees in different departments with some sort of sob story then have the boss divulge that info when they talk with that employee.
Then I guessed correctly that for people who like this show, this was expected. A lot of women like reality TV, they say. It was a "Queen for a Day" ending - as much as I saw of it.
Oh, sure, the tattoos and license issue would be a problem in PA, but in CT? Aren't they self-regulated there?
My biggest objection was the opening teaser included a shot of dice being thrown. The dice bounce near a $25 chip on a FireBet spot behind the pass line. Um, FireBet chips are moved to near the box man / hop bets prior to the roll, and are limited to $5 (or maybe $10).
But the show itself? Yeah, it followed the typical Undercover Boss format, including the ridiculous concept of putting him, scary-ass tattoos and skin-head look, in as a cocktail waiter in the HIGH LIMIT slot area. Wanna make him a waiter? Fine. Put him on the main floor!
Quote: 1BBIt's Foxwoods' turn. They are laying off 120 full time dealers and 5 assistant floor supervisors.
Layoffs effective March 1st. Revenue off 6% vs. projections for last year's just released report. Also, dropping US Supreme Court appeal to overturn decision regarding challenge to government's right to collect property tax on slot machines.
Quote: BleedingChipsSlowly... collect property tax on slot machines.
Not straight forward. The town of Ledyard is taxing the non-tribal authority that is leasing the machines to Foxwoods. Suit goes back to 2008. Federal District Court sided with The Tribe, 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals overturned that ruling, The Tribe has decided to talk with Ledyard rather than fight at this point.
They have lost a lot of business to Twin Rivers.Quote: 1BBIt's Foxwoods' turn. They are laying off 120 full time dealers and 5 assistant floor supervisors.
Quote: HunterhillThey have lost a lot of business to Twin Rivers.
Yes they have. Good business at the tables all day every day at Twin River since they started. (Yes, "River" is correct and that usage identifies the locals.) They recently augmented their initial 65 tables with an additional 15. This booming business despite having nothing lower than $15/BJ, $10/craps, $25 baccarat. Plus, no comped drinks while playing but they are discounted steeply. And no hotels in less than a ten minute drive. I would liken the atmosphere to high school in comparison with college for Mohegan Sun and Foxwoods. Their day will come, too, when Massachusetts opens their Taunton casino. I suspect a few Foxwoods dealers are checking out the jobs at Twin River as the the March 1st "ax falls" date approaches.
$15 dollar blackjack minimums, no free beverages, and, again, the typical R.I. attitude that has all their heads buried in the sand as far as acknowledging that there is any competition just 45 minutes away. "We're the only game in town", discounting totally that people can vote with their feet. That's what's literally happening in Rhode Island - we lose population every year just like Detroit, Cleveland and other cesspools. When more competition opens in Massachusetts, Twin River will end up drawing the same crowds that the dog track did, minus the dogs. (Although as part of the deal that allowed the owners to convert the place into a slots parlor, which is how it started, I think they had to agree to keep paying the greyhound association, even though there were no greyhounds. Might still be doing that. Again, welcome to Rhode Island).
Mohegan and Foxwoods are twice as far for me as Lincoln Park, and I've lived in R.I. all my life, so I know the neighborhood vis-à-vis restaurants and other attractions, whereas the only places I have ever visited in S.E. Connecticut are the two casinos. I'd definitely stay in R.I. for a great meal at a reasonable price, but if I want to gamble, it's never going to be Twin River.
Wright's for family style chicken and Twin Oaks for baked stuffed shrimp. Life is good.
Welcome to Maryland and many other states. All Maryland casino will pay a royalty to the Maryland Jockey Club.
Quote: 1BBWhat does it cost to eat at Wright's Farm these days?
$11.75 chicken dinner; my Dad is in a nursing home near there so we stopped at Wright's after visiting him yesterday. Place hasn't changed one iota.
I'd get it if they said, "...from Worcester" or Boston, but Uxbridge? Trying to get the Twin River crowd from nearby Massachusetts to come to CT? It's 50 minutes longer than to TR, though admittedly more action, but unless I am simply missing the gist here it is a very peculiar spin.
1BB or Rhody have a take?
Quote: chickenmanThis week have been seeing glitzy video ads on the Internet for Mohegan Sun. They end with a banner statement, "Only 75 minutes from Uxbridge [MA]" or some such. What's with that?
I'd get it if they said, "...from Worcester" or Boston, but Uxbridge? Trying to get the Twin River crowd from nearby Massachusetts to come to CT? It's 50 minutes longer than to TR, though admittedly more action, but unless I am simply missing the gist here it is a very peculiar spin.
1BB or Rhody have a take?
It reminds me of driving north on I-95 and seeing the Foxwoods signs at the I-395 split directing drivers away from Mohegan Sun.
Uxbridge though? Is Uxbridge 15 minutes from Twin River? The reason I ask is that I timed the trip from Twin River to Mohegan Sun both ways. I did it a few times and the way I went took exactly 60 minutes and was exactly 60 miles. Watch out for troopers in both states. I don't know which are worse but Rhode Island seems to have more traps and fluctuating speed limits.
Uxbridge used to have a great old New England restaurant called the Cock 'n Kettle.
60 minutes sounds right for the trip to/from Mohegan and TR, and that's a check-and-a-rog on the troopers.
Cock 'n Kettle was excellent back in the day, no idea what happened to it or if maybe still there, perhaps re-titled...
Quote: 1BB
Is Uxbridge 15 minutes from Twin River?
Only if you do some serious speeding, more than 20 minutes at legal rates and having some luck with traffic and lights.
Quote: 1BB
... I timed the trip from Twin River to Mohegan Sun both ways. I did it a few times and the way I went took exactly 60 minutes and was exactly 60 miles.
Spot on, taking US route 6.
Quote: 1BB
Uxbridge used to have a great old New England restaurant called the Cock 'n Kettle.
That's going back a few years. I have been there, but I think it closed over six years ago.
My guess is that Foxwoods and Mohegan have felt the impact of Twin River, although the "VLTs" (Video Lottery Terminals, Rhody-speak for slot machines, since lotteries are/were technically all that's legal here) have been there for quite a while now, and my impression has always been that table games are not where the money is - I thought it's slots that make the casinos the most money. Not sure what caliber of folks they draw at Twin River, but from my one visit there when they first had live table games, the $15 minimum, smoke-infested, crowded venue, and no-free-drinks, wouldn't really make anyone drive out of his way to get there. The location is right off of the highway (RI 146), so it's easy enough to find, but like everything else, leave it to the geniuses that we keep electing here (Governor Lincoln MoonBeam Chafee being the latest in a long line of airheads) to create a second-rate facility that is horrible, just in time to butt heads with new casinos in Massachusetts. One visit should be enough, unless you are a regular already, probably because you have a relative or friend who knows somebody who can get you comped (Another Rhode Island tradition - "I know a guy..."). Oh yea - Mohegan has Michael Jordan and Geno Auriemmma, while Twin River has... Steve Deossie and Fred Smerlas.
Quote: rhodyBob... a second-rate facility that is horrible...
Charging out of bankruptcy TR is a great financial success right now, as noted in The Valley Sun article. The article has TR advancing their 15-16% of regional slot share to 28.5% over the past few years. I have heard the table games have cut into that a bit, but they expanded the original number of table games to meet demand. Food service revenue is up 30% (you can't drink for free while gambling). An original estimate of 350 new jobs is now at 700. I even heard Buddy [no last name needed] say on his radio show that table games exceeded beyond anyone's wildest dreams. I believe you are correct, rhodyBob, that they will eventually kill the golden goose. That might already be in progress as the TR parent company has purchased the Biloxi Hard Rock which they can operate taxed at a rate of 12% compared to the 58-59% gouging at TR. Gee, where would you put your time, money and effort?
If you want to see a real RI gambling dump go visit the Newport Grand. Reminds me of a bus terminal, complete with crappy service. I will tell how to get there. Head down the island on West and bang a right where The Bagpiper used to be. Shortly after where Hoffman's was before they moved downtown, swing around the rotary past Brothers and it's right up the hill in the old Jai Alai building. If you came down East bang a right at One Mile Corner.
Quote: etony33Never been to Mohegan...been to Foxwoods plenty of times, though. It is HUGE and excessive. And, from what I understand, it is in a lot of financial trouble. They built the MGM just as the economy was tanking. With the casinos coming to MA sooner than later, Foxwoods (as well as Mohegan) will have to do something to stay afloat. Going back to S17 for their Blackjack tables and giving better comps might be a good start.
With MA casinos coming and NY opening four more next year, the market in the region will be saturated.
Aside from Resorts World (AKA Robot World), is any casino financially sound?
Record revenues are being spread more thinly over an ever widening field.
Americans lost $119 billion gambling last year and Nevada's biggest casinos still lost $1.2 billion in 2012 and $1.3 billion in 2013.
Five consecutive years of losses.
Atlantic City may still be profitable, but revenue there has declined seven years in a row.
Quote: etony33Never been to Mohegan...been to Foxwoods plenty of times, though. It is HUGE and excessive. And, from what I understand, it is in a lot of financial trouble. They built the MGM just as the economy was tanking. With the casinos coming to MA sooner than later, Foxwoods (as well as Mohegan) will have to do something to stay afloat. Going back to S17 for their Blackjack tables and giving better comps might be a good start.
Foxwoods has always been in financial trouble but they never let that small detail get in their way.
They are currently looking for land in Fall River MA to construct a $750 million casino. Meanwhile, back in Ledyard, construction is underway on their $120 million outlet mall.
Both casinos are watching their pennies as evidenced by the several homes that they have liens on after extending credit to elderly social security recipients who couldn't possibly repay it.
Quote: 1BBto construct a $750 casino.
In a phone booth? :-)
Should pay itself back in less than a month...
Quote: chickenmanIn a phone booth? :-)
Should pay itself back in less than a month...
Ha ha, I fixed my post. Would $750 even get you a cheap teepee these days? :-)
As for Twin River...... Its pretty bad, but for an RI'er, its too close to pass up (we don't like traveling farther than 20 minutes for anything) . Out of staters, don't waste your time. No comped booze, VERY BAD player perks, they don't have the proper filtration installed for smoke (heard this from several dealers), dealers are either excellent ex FXWD/MS dealers or horrible newbies who screw up, machines break regularly etc. I was sitting at a BJ table when they brought in a first night dealer, with a supervisor, who proceeded to take 5 minutes per hand to deal. Just an example.
I have several family members who work there and for the Gaming Commission. The River wants to expand badly. Its impossible to get on a table in there on a weekend at any time, which is surprising cause all the tables are 15/min. They have a huge space problem. In order to make room for tables, they had to take away slots, which they have a huge, rabid clientele. Now, they don't have enough tables to feed supply. Either way, there is going to be a problem when Mass opens up. So, long winded, stick with Mohegan.
Welcome to the board, and thanks for the reviews. You may have left them out intentionally, but I'd be interested in your opinion on Foxwood as well. Thanks!
Quote: 4Aces...Its impossible to get on a table in there on a weekend at any time, which is surprising cause all the tables are 15/min. They have a huge space problem.
I noticed last week that they are re-felting a lot of Twin River BJ tables for H17. I counted eight at the time. I asked a floor manager if they were doing so to introduce lower-limit play. He said the H17 rule would be for $15 tables. $25 min mini-baccarat, $10 min craps. Lower-limit BJ tables with better rules are only an hour away at Mohegan Sun.
If you are an RI'er it's like going to a townie bar. You WILL have something in common with virtually any other RI'er in the place: school attended, favorite story about Buddy, favorite beach/restaurant, etc.
How do you spot an out of stater? They almost always say "Twin Rivers." AARRRGGGHHH!!!
Quote: beachbumbabs4Aces,
Welcome to the board, and thanks for the reviews. You may have left them out intentionally, but I'd be interested in your opinion on Foxwood as well. Thanks!
Thank you beachbum,
I'm not a fan of Foxwoods. I find their table odds, payouts and minimums equal to Mohegan Sun, so there is no difference there. I believe Foxwoods has lower player club perks, and their offers are not as good as Mohegan from my experience. Also, it is tough gaming in parts of Foxwoods on the weekend. I was at a table in the MGM and there were many drunk 20 somethings knocking into players, or playing poor strategy at blackjack. I find a higher percentage of less knowledgeable players play at the MGM from my experience.
What I will say about Foxwoods is their hotel rooms at the MGM are awesome. A colleague of mine was a high roller there and had a luxury suite, which was bigger than my house.
Can't get there from here.Quote: Dicenor33Where is Twin Rivers?
Quote: BleedingChipsSlowlyI noticed last week that they are re-felting a lot of Twin River BJ tables for H17. I counted eight at the time. I asked a floor manager if they were doing so to introduce lower-limit play. He said the H17 rule would be for $15 tables. $25 min mini-baccarat, $10 min craps. Lower-limit BJ tables with better rules are only an hour away at Mohegan Sun.
If you are an RI'er it's like going to a townie bar. You WILL have something in common with virtually any other RI'er in the place: school attended, favorite story about Buddy, favorite beach/restaurant, etc.
How do you spot an out of stater? They almost always say "Twin Rivers." AARRRGGGHHH!!!
There is a bank of tables when you walk in called "Boogie Nights BJ" that hit on S17. I have played BJ at the River at least 5 or 6 times (as well as for years at MS and Foxwoods) and have never seen a dealer hit on soft 17. Needless to say when dealer flipped A-6 and hit a 5 then an 8 to push my 20, I looked at the very fine print on the table, then walked away.
The 50/100 tables at Twin River are 6 deck, 3/2 blackjack, surrender rules, stand on S17 and match the dealer at 4/8/11/15/22 to 1 (the standard for all tables at MS and FW)
The regular tables ($10/$15/$25 min) are 8 decks, 3/2 blackjack, surrender allowed, S17 rules vary from table to table and match the dealer at 3/6/14/17/28 to 1.
In sort, worth the extra 35 minute drive. I am a huge Pai Gow Poker fan, and on 2 separate occasions at TR, the autodealer machine busted. This place has been in operation for less than a year, how is that possible?
Not true for BJ. Foxwoods changed to H17 on all but the highest level tables. You can request S17 on a $50 table in the high limit pit, but you must ask. Mohegan Sun only has H17 on their $5 limit tables. Maybe, MAYBE you will find a $10 game at Foxwoods early some weekday morning. $10 tables are common at the start of the day at Mohegan Sun. When the table minimum is increased at Foxwoods you must bet the new minimum on the next hand, not even the next shoe. At Mohegan Sun you are grandfathered at the table minimum you had when you sat down. You can play it as long as you care to at the grandfathered minimum, however a second hand played must be at the current table minimum.Quote: 4Aces... I find their table odds, payouts and minimums equal to Mohegan Sun, so there is no difference there.
Quote: BleedingChipsSlowlyNot true for BJ. Foxwoods changed to H17 on all but the highest level tables. You can request S17 on a $50 table in the high limit pit, but you must ask. Mohegan Sun only has H17 on their $5 limit tables. Maybe, MAYBE you will find a $10 game at Foxwoods early some weekday morning. $10 tables are common at the start of the day at Mohegan Sun. When the table minimum is increased at Foxwoods you must bet the new minimum on the next hand, not even the next shoe. At Mohegan Sun you are grandfathered at the table minimum you had when you sat down. You can play it as long as you care to at the grandfathered minimum, however a second hand played must be at the current table minimum.
It has been a bit since I went to Foxwoods, I did not know they are doing H17. Thanks for that piece of info. I usually stick with $25 a hand, so I've never had an issue with the grandfather clause (i've noticed other players tell incoming dealers they are gf'ed in). That does suck for lower limit players at Foxwoods, as I can imagine it is a nightmare finding a lower limit tables during peak hours, and they are basically forced to bump their bets or leave. I assume the pit boss doesn't adjust their average bet either.
Since you are knowledge about both casinos, are you familiar with any other Foxwoods/Mohegan table games that vary in their statistical payouts and gameplay?
Quote: 4Aces... on 2 separate occasions at [Twin River], the [Pai Gow] autodealer machine busted. This place has been in operation for less than a year, how is that possible?
Easy, it's under the thumb of The State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations which taxes the hold at a more than 50% rate. I'm far from being alone in amazement about table game success. From a business perspective I can understand their drive to expand the number of tables and boost profits by changing the rules. [Read: squeezing the players harder] As a player, I can't help but wonder when the bloom will be off the rose. I expect that will be long before casinos open in Massachusetts.
Quote: Dicenor33Where is Twin Rivers?
It's in Lincoln Rhode Island just north of North Providence off Route 146. It's Twin River without the s.
I am flat bet at blackjack there but stopped in yesterday to check it out anyway. Unfortunately we forgot our gas masks and had to make a hasty exit before being overcome by the smoke. The stench is still on our clothes and we had to air out the car for the rest of the day.
I can probably answer questions about blackjack if anyone has any.
Quote: 4AcesSince you are knowledge about both casinos, are you familiar with any other Foxwoods/Mohegan table games that vary in their statistical payouts and gameplay?
Sorry, I play blackjack exclusively and don't even pay much attention to the side bets on those tables, much less other games. I suppose I should do so just to be more "well rounded." I have two other tidbits which have been posted in other threads: Mohegan Sun will introduce Free Bet Blackjack this month! I believe Foxwoods introduced Blackjack Switch this past summer. Both variants have a far worse house edge that the basic game but better than other table games.
I agree with your observations about Foxwoods, particularly their tolerance for drunken 20-somethings behaving badly. Mohegan Sun won't put up with that. Yet. MS is changing their business model to cater to the younger crowd with disco lounges and the Shine 360 "photo opportunity."
Architectural comparison: Mohegan Sun, beautiful, one of a kind. Foxwoods, strip mall.
Edit: grammar, spelling.
Quote: BleedingChipsSlowlyNot true for BJ. Foxwoods changed to H17 on all but the highest level tables. You can request S17 on a $50 table in the high limit pit, but you must ask. Mohegan Sun only has H17 on their $5 limit tables. Maybe, MAYBE you will find a $10 game at Foxwoods early some weekday morning. $10 tables are common at the start of the day at Mohegan Sun. When the table minimum is increased at Foxwoods you must bet the new minimum on the next hand, not even the next shoe. At Mohegan Sun you are grandfathered at the table minimum you had when you sat down. You can play it as long as you care to at the grandfathered minimum, however a second hand played must be at the current table minimum.
The blackjack on the main floors at Foxwoods, including the former MGM Grand, are 8 deck H17 games. The Newport Room and the high limit room in what was MGM have 6 deck S17 games that are closely watched. It's on the felts, you don't have to ask.
Although all blackjack at Mohegan Sun is 6 deck, penetration continues to be atrocious while at Foxwoods it is very good. There are several ASMs in use at Foxwoods. I have not heard of any problems with them and would not avoid them were I to play the 8 deck games.
Speaking of security, I went to a Tony Orlando show and they confiscated my bottle of water before allowing me into the arena, a bottle with Mohegan Sun on the label that I got at a blackjack table.
Yes, Tony Orlando. Don't judge. It was a free show. :-) It was actually pretty good.
No Dawn?Quote: 1BB
Yes, Tony Orlando.
Quote: chickenmanNo Dawn?
No Dawn but you didn't really miss them.
Quote: BleedingChipsSlowlyQuote: 4Aces... on 2 separate occasions at [Twin River], the [Pai Gow] autodealer machine busted. This place has been in operation for less than a year, how is that possible?
Easy, it's under the thumb of The State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations which taxes the hold at a more than 50% rate. I'm far from being alone in amazement about table game success. From a business perspective I can understand their drive to expand the number of tables and boost profits by changing the rules. [Read: squeezing the players harder] As a player, I can't help but wonder when the bloom will be off the rose. I expect that will be long before casinos open in Massachusetts.
Not quite right. The slot tax is 60% but the table games tax is 17% or 18%.