WV casino updates

I just got back from a visit to the two casinos in the West Virginia panhandle. Since I used to work at one of the two, it was mainly just a visit to say hi to some old friends at both places, but I did note a few changes in the gambling while I was there. It's a mix of good news and bad news.

The good: Wheeling Island has brought back 10x odds on craps, and Mountaineer has decided to match them! Wheeling has also upped their table maximums in general back to what they used to be on all games (e.g. max bet at 3-Card was raised back to $50 from $25). Dunno what happened for a while there, but I'm glad they decided to stop being cheap.

Wheeling Island has also swapped out their high-limit room...it's now 4 high-limit BJ tables, with the high-limit slots that used to be there now on the main casino floor. I think this a good thing...makes a sorta dumpy casino seem a little bit classier.

The bad: As previously reported here, ALL of Wheeling Island's blackjack games are now H17 w/surrender. Even the high-limit tables, which I find pretty stingy. Mountaineer still has the same half-decent BJ rules that they've always had (8 decks, S17, DAS, no surrender or resplitting aces).

I wanted to post a report since I know there are a few members here with an interest in the area.

Quote: OneAngryDwarf

I just got back from a visit to the two casinos in the West Virginia panhandle. Since I used to work at one of the two, it was mainly just a visit to say hi to some old friends at both places, but I did note a few changes in the gambling while I was there. It's a mix of good news and bad news.

The good: Wheeling Island has brought back 10x odds on craps, and Mountaineer has decided to match them! Wheeling has also upped their table maximums in general back to what they used to be on all games (e.g. max bet at 3-Card was raised back to $50 from $25). Dunno what happened for a while there, but I'm glad they decided to stop being cheap.

Wheeling Island has also swapped out their high-limit room...it's now 4 high-limit BJ tables, with the high-limit slots that used to be there now on the main casino floor. I think this a good thing...makes a sorta dumpy casino seem a little bit classier.

The bad: As previously reported here, ALL of Wheeling Island's blackjack games are now H17 w/surrender. Even the high-limit tables, which I find pretty stingy. Mountaineer still has the same half-decent BJ rules that they've always had (8 decks, S17, DAS, no surrender or resplitting aces).

I wanted to post a report since I know there are a few members here with an interest in the area.

How were the minimums, espically at craps, during the day? I just found $5 craps in Pittsburgh before 11:00. With the local casinos the main reason to go to WV would be lower minimums to allow for more betting strategies.

Quote: AZDuffman

How were the minimums, espically at craps, during the day? I just found $5 craps in Pittsburgh before 11:00. With the local casinos the main reason to go to WV would be lower minimums to allow for more betting strategies.

Low minimums at Wheeling Island--still a $5 craps table at midnight on Friday, and lots of $10 blackjack too. Mountaineer, not so much--$10 craps and $15 blackjack mainly.

We have been going to Mountaineer and the Meadows on Sunday mornings and Saturday nights. Usually $5 Craps tables at both for quite awhile on Sundays. Saw a $5 table open for quite awhile on a Saturday not long ago at the Meadows. Have seen very few $5 tables at the Rivers though. We have not been to Wheeling very often but have played at a $5 table everytime we have been there.

Quote: wrongway

We have been going to Mountaineer and the Meadows on Sunday mornings and Saturday nights. Usually $5 Craps tables at both for quite awhile on Sundays. Saw a $5 table open for quite awhile on a Saturday not long ago at the Meadows. Have seen very few $5 tables at the Rivers though. We have not been to Wheeling very often but have played at a $5 table everytime we have been there.

You will need to get to Rivers before 11:30 to get a $5 table. I enjoyed $5 craps but they bumped it to $10 at 11:15. It might go later most days as that was a Friday of the Steeler Pep Rally.

Quote: OneAngryDwarf

I just got back from a visit to the two casinos in the West Virginia panhandle. Since I used to work at one of the two, it was mainly just a visit to say hi to some old friends at both places, but I did note a few changes in the gambling while I was there. It's a mix of good news and bad news.

The good: Wheeling Island has brought back 10x odds on craps, and Mountaineer has decided to match them! Wheeling has also upped their table maximums in general back to what they used to be on all games (e.g. max bet at 3-Card was raised back to $50 from $25). Dunno what happened for a while there, but I'm glad they decided to stop being cheap.

Wheeling Island has also swapped out their high-limit room...it's now 4 high-limit BJ tables, with the high-limit slots that used to be there now on the main casino floor. I think this a good thing...makes a sorta dumpy casino seem a little bit classier.

The bad: As previously reported here, ALL of Wheeling Island's blackjack games are now H17 w/surrender. Even the high-limit tables, which I find pretty stingy. Mountaineer still has the same half-decent BJ rules that they've always had (8 decks, S17, DAS, no surrender or resplitting aces).

I wanted to post a report since I know there are a few members here with an interest in the area.

OneAngryDwarf

How are the Craps tables at Mountaineer? I generally go during the week, arriving around 9am and sticking around till 3 - 5pm-ish. IF the tables are kind we stay till 5, if they are in their "take" mode, its one shot after lunch then pack it in and head home ( around 2 hours to home - Ohio )

My last 4 or 5 trips, the tables seemed 'beat up". There are lots of spongy spots and the dice seemed to react crazy. Its ok if a table is hard or bouncy, but for gosh sakes it can't be both.

Now, I have not yet been there since December. I usually get before noon, but there's only one table open and it was packed with retired old guys ,sitting on chairs, who probably got kicked out of the house by their wives. Funny, there would be 8 - 12 guys waiting to play and the management did not open a 2nd table till close to noon. And then it was jumped to $10 and no one played. The guys are still waiting at the $5 table. I often ask the box to lower the $10, get it going and maybe after 30-40 minutes back it back to $10, but he says, "no go" and they crew sits around and looks bored.

I have been turning my trips to Detroit and have the option of 3 different casinos and several open tables. The downside sometimes in Detroit is patrons can be "finicky". West Va. Mountaineer is a nice drive, great dealers and atmosphere. I don't have to keep one hand on my rack and they other on my wallet. ( can I say that? ).

Appreciate any info - Thanks


Eagledice

Quote: eagledice

Now, I have not yet been there since December. I usually get before noon, but there's only one table open and it was packed with retired old guys ,sitting on chairs, who probably got kicked out of the house by their wives. Funny, there would be 8 - 12 guys waiting to play and the management did not open a 2nd table till close to noon. And then it was jumped to $10 and no one played. The guys are still waiting at the $5 table. I often ask the box to lower the $10, get it going and maybe after 30-40 minutes back it back to $10, but he says, "no go" and they crew sits around and looks bored.

I have been turning my trips to Detroit and have the option of 3 different casinos and several open tables. The downside sometimes in Detroit is patrons can be "finicky". West Va. Mountaineer is a nice drive, great dealers and atmosphere. I don't have to keep one hand on my rack and they other on my wallet. ( can I say that? ).

Appreciate any info - Thanks

Hope you do not mind anyone answering.

I was there in early April I think on a Saturdy Evening. I was killing time before having to work a party. $5 Craps tables were there. I had my pick of a few $5 tables as well as my favorite spot on the table (Stickman's right before the hook.) Polite crew.

If I had a complaint it would be that parking is terrible. Lot is too small and irrationally laid out. I usually prefer Wheeling Island down there, but nothing wrong with Mountaineer.

Its not always whether a five dollar table happens to be available when you were there, but do the players have a general expectation that a five dollar table will be available. Parking, travel time, food choices, ... all these things play a role but the worst thing a casino can do is to make the table minimums whimsical or appear to be whimsical.

I was at Mountaineer last weekend and you could find $5 tables only in the AM. They kept one or two later than that but you needed a shoe horn to get in. The dealers were all freindly. Last time I was at the Rivers they bumped the tables by 11:00AM. Actually I may as well been in Detroit if you know what I mean,could not get near a table and was not sure if I wanted to. Last time we were in Detroit my buddy who rolls larger than I do had a good roll going with a decent amount of chips in the rack and table. He kept getting squeezed and could see what was coming and the dealers would not do anything about it so we colored up and asked for a security escort to the cage and then valet parking and left. He will never go back. I have been back once and did not even buy in, it was a weekday morning and the situation was the same. The crazy part was all these people are leaning over the table and doing very little betting it must be a right of passage or something to spend your day at the craps table and not really bet. They would throw a field bet here or a hardway there but there were very few making consistent bets. I will stick with Mountaineer. Wheeling or Presque. And yes, you can say that people should be made aware of what their getting into.

I used to enjoy going to Wheeling, when the poker room was decent (it was never great in my opinion. I hate the fact that they rake a BB jackpot dollar and rake without a flop.) That being said, when the Meadows opened, the poker room went WAY far south. The BJ is ok, but not like it was, when they had the Double-deck game. I've been to Moutaineer once, but the detatched poker room was too much for me.