Wizard
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Wizard 
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September 22nd, 2012 at 8:07:31 PM permalink
During my four months working for the Dark Side Venetian, like many working people, I felt tied down to where I lived and worked. However, now that I'm free again I am itchy to exercise that freedom and go somewhere or do something, but I don't know specifically what to do. Here are some ideas.

Europe

I'm seriously thinking of going to Europe, probably emphasizing Germany and Spain. Here are some pros and cons to that idea.

Pros: There is a gaming conference coming up in Barcelona, and I have cousins that live in Germany who I haven't seen in 12 years.
Cons: I've been to casinos in Monaco, Germany, and France before and didn't find them that interesting, and the games were pretty much the same ones in Vegas. I don't think I would get much mileage writing about the trip.

Back East

Pros: I haven't been to Atlantic City in 12 or 13 years and am overdue to return. Plus I'd like to visit NYC and maybe Baltimore.
Cons: I don't think I would get much writing mileage out of Atlantic City either. Same old games as in Vegas. When last I was there I found every casino more or less the same there.

Rural Nevada

I enjoyed doing my article on Laughlin and wouldn't mind doing something similar for the rural casinos in northern Nevada. Specifically Elko, Winnemuca, Jackpot, and Wendover.

Deadwood, SD

Never been there. I get the impression every casino is more or less the same. Kind of like Blackhawk, CO.

Costa Rica

I've heard they have a lively gambling scene down there and I could probably get good writing mileage out of it.

Vegas reviews

There are some high-end casinos that need to be reviewed for this site. Like the Palms, Cosmopolitan, and Encore. I don't pay my writers enough to stay at these fancy places.

Video Poker Survey

I'm thinking about surveying random video poker machines around town to come up with a ranking of the most liberal video poker in Vegas. It would probably get good writing mileage. but would be very boring and tedious to do.

So, any suggestions regarding any of the above, or any other ideas. I'm all ears.
"For with much wisdom comes much sorrow." -- Ecclesiastes 1:18 (NIV)
EvenBob
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September 22nd, 2012 at 8:16:24 PM permalink
Fall's here, but not quite. In mid OCT I'd take a tour
of the new casinos in PA, and end up in AC. Great
time of year to be in PA and you could even get
into E NY state and visit Face, who's casino is
very close to Erie PA. You can go to boring old EU
anytime, its not always Fall in PA.

Deadwood is boring, and you can go to the Vegas
casinos anytime.
"It's not called gambling if the math is on your side."
buzzpaff
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September 22nd, 2012 at 8:18:11 PM permalink
" Plus I'd like to visit NYC and maybe Baltimore. "

Whoever said you can't go home again lied !
Mission146
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September 22nd, 2012 at 8:32:06 PM permalink
Wizard,

I think you should come out to the East. Not only do you have AC, but there are now full casinos in WV, OH and PA and that has only happened recently. Hollywood Columbus is also having its Grand Opening on October 8th, 2012, so you could at least be there for the opening of a brand new casino. PA also has excellent Blackjack Rules, so you can go in there and destroy those tables really quick.

My area also has some of the best Italian food in the world, whether or not the restaurants have any aesthetic appeal whatsoever is another matter...

Did you know also that all Ohio Bars/Restaurants/Casinos are 100% non-smoking by law? All WV restaurants are non-smoking as well, except for if they have a gaming parlor in there with VLT's, then you can smoke in that parlor. Most of the actual restaurants have no such thing, though.

I'll even buy you dinner if you stop by my area, and if you want to get the tip, you will not have to worry about me ordering a $1,000 bottle of wine, or any wine at all, for that matter!

Anyway, it sounds like it would be a great chance to meet many WoV Members (not just me) that you haven't yet met.
https://wizardofvegas.com/forum/off-topic/gripes/11182-pet-peeves/120/#post815219
EvenBob
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September 22nd, 2012 at 8:45:12 PM permalink
Fall, back East, there's nothing like it. Too bad
its followed by winter..





"It's not called gambling if the math is on your side."
buzzpaff
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September 22nd, 2012 at 8:48:01 PM permalink
When I first moved to Denver I was told i MUST see the Aspens turn in the fall. Drove up in the mountains and saw lots and lots
of pale yellow leaves. WOW
MrV
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September 22nd, 2012 at 9:16:05 PM permalink
Quote: buzzpaff

When I first moved to Denver I was told i MUST see the Aspens turn in the fall. Drove up in the mountains and saw lots and lots of pale yellow leaves. WOW



Lots of nice fall foliage in Maine, and some casinos, too.
"What, me worry?"
buzzpaff
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September 22nd, 2012 at 9:18:31 PM permalink
I used to drive from Baltimore to Charlestown race track in the fall. Besides the leaves I remember this farm that had a white
3 rail fence then males half a mile long. A horse farm i am sure,
100xOdds
100xOdds
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September 22nd, 2012 at 10:05:52 PM permalink
there's already an active video poker list... vpfree
surprised u didnt know that?

try morraco and THE casino there?
bonus points if u come dressed as the King of Versailles. :)

u dont pay your writers enuf to stay at the Palms?!
never knew u thhought the palsm was on the same lvl as Wynn. and why would you think that??
Craps is paradise (Pair of dice). Lets hear it for the SpeedCount Mathletes :)
sodawater
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September 22nd, 2012 at 10:11:53 PM permalink
deleted
Last edited by: sodawater on Oct 1, 2018
FleaStiff
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September 22nd, 2012 at 11:27:20 PM permalink
Perhaps you might do a comparative analysis of gambling jurisdictions from a socio-political viewpoint. So it would be Atlantic City from the viewpoint of a statistical analysis of State Taxation versus Local Infrastructure whereas in Maryland it would be State Taxation and casino game-mixtures. Or you might do a comparative analysis of all the bad articles about the Spanish Economy versus the investment in casinos in Spain which would seem to be a poor investment for an economy that is so maligned. Or perhaps an analysis of Florida gaming interests which range from Tribal to Monopoly to Competitive?

How about an Index of Reasonable Expenditures in Las Vegas: A historical analysis of Discounts as behavior modifiers. The Index would reflect what real visitors expect to spend overall and how they therefore view a "discount" based on only a fragment of their expected expenses. Sort of an expose of the net effect of room discounts being balanced by knowledge of room sales, or knowledge of raised resort fees. This might help determine what really brings visitors to Vegas: Room pricing, airfare pricing or special events?

Or a statistician looks at real estate ... we hear so much about foreclosures, rebounds, vulture funds, downtown renewal. It might be nice to see an impartial analysis instead of biased headlines touting specialized viewpoints.

Or how about another "Micro Markets" of Nevada: An inquiry into Best Rules versus Number of Players.

Or a comparative review of Vegas "ex-urbs": Hendertucky, The Lakes, Laughlin, Mesquite, Pahrump.

Or Oriental owned and operated casinos versus Corporate Owned casinos: is there a different price of capital?
Tiltpoul
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September 23rd, 2012 at 12:18:08 AM permalink
While I like the American Casino Guide for a reference to various casinos in any given state, the information found in the ACG is usually horribly out of date. While there are publishing timelines that have to be met, some of the information is never updated from edition to edition, and it will show games that a casino might have that haven't been there for 3-4 years.

A comprehensive tour of casinos, state-by-state, would be wonderful to have. You could also create submission pages where people who play there could send updated information. Once you have confirmation from "sources," you can get the most up-to-date information. I would be happy to be a source for Iowa/Illinois casinos.

Just a thought...
"One out of every four people are [morons]"- Kyle, South Park
SOOPOO
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September 23rd, 2012 at 4:19:54 AM permalink
People are showing pictures of trees when we have NIAGARA FALLS! For someone who has been to Iguazzu you should go to Niagara for the comparison!
Yeah, and we have 3 casinos right nearby.... 2 are 100% non-smoking!

If you are interested in an adventure, google 'Salar de Uyuni'.....
JohnnyQ
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September 23rd, 2012 at 4:36:43 AM permalink
I think there may be some value in seeing the
Casinos in the mid-west and east from a
Consulting perspective as well.

IF airfares remain as high as they have been
recently, and Casinos over here continue to
go "upscale" ( Belterra, Rivers in Pittsburgh,
even 4 Winds to some degree ) LV may
eventually need to adopt some new strategies
to keep their #'s up.

We are doing the Great Race to Rewards
with Caesar's, so that will help defray some
of our expenses next trip.
There's emptiness behind their eyes There's dust in all their hearts They just want to steal us all and take us all apart
JohnnyQ
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September 23rd, 2012 at 4:43:16 AM permalink
Quote: Mission146

Hollywood Columbus is also having its Grand Opening on October 8th, 2012, so you could at least be there for the opening of a brand new casino.



If you head to that grand opening, I'd suggest getting on
the "invitee" list.

We avoided Horeshoe Cleveland for the first weekend
because the initial crowds were waiting for hours to get in.

And once we did go there, we were underwhelmed by the
atmosphere of it. Granted, I think it is a temporary
facility while they sort out whatever needs to be done
for a permanent one.
There's emptiness behind their eyes There's dust in all their hearts They just want to steal us all and take us all apart
odiousgambit
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September 23rd, 2012 at 5:05:19 AM permalink
I assume you mean something to do in the next few weeks? yeah, I think going East and checking out the scene would be good.

If you mean something to do in a few months, cover the New Jersey sports gambling venture. That might be December, they are fighting a lawsuit at the moment.
the next time Dame Fortune toys with your heart, your soul and your wallet, raise your glass and praise her thus: “Thanks for nothing, you cold-hearted, evil, damnable, nefarious, low-life, malicious monster from Hell!”   She is, after all, stone deaf. ... Arnold Snyder
ahiromu
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September 23rd, 2012 at 5:51:41 AM permalink
There probably aren't many people who have a more comprehensive knowledge of the casino industry in Vegas than the Wizard. I mean there are thousands of people who go there 5-6 a year, stay at the newest casinos, and get full RFB everywhere they go. I bet only a small handful actually calculate their return in as much detail though.

It would be interesting for the Wizard to do similar calculations for popular casinos that are popping up around the country with the change of state laws. I mean this would require a (maybe) significant monetary investment, but it could lead to a really interesting analysis.

Edit: I know I didn't follow your list exactly, just consider it under the "Back East" tab.
Its - Possessive; It's - "It is" / "It has"; There - Location; Their - Possessive; They're - "They are"
rainman
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September 23rd, 2012 at 6:46:18 AM permalink
Here is my math on this one.

Adventurist outdoor type guy + gambling + khaki cargo shorts = Costa Rica

Alot of illegal gambling down there, that alone provides lots to write about
WongBo
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September 23rd, 2012 at 6:49:58 AM permalink
I actually agree with buzz.
I like the casinos in eastern PA, haven't played the others.
The foliage is great in the 2nd week of October for the central part of PA
and the last 2 weeks for the southern part where more casinos are located.
They haven the best blackjack rules in the country, and they all have pai gow tiles.
Sands Bethlehem. Mohegan Pocono Downs, Mount Airy are in the east central part of the state.
Valley Forge, Parx, Harrah's Philadelphia are in the Philly suburbs.
Sugar House is in Old City Philadelphia.
You could always make a day trip to AC.
Or even to NYC if you wanted to see Gentings Resorts World NYC,
With all of their electronic games and the number one "slots"(VLT) casino in the US...
In a bet, there is a fool and a thief. - Proverb.
Doc
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September 23rd, 2012 at 6:50:13 AM permalink
While quite have few folks have suggested that you visit the casino in their state, or the one close by, I can't really push that point myself. We only have one casino in North Carolina, and that's more than any of the neighboring states. (As discussed recently in another thread, Harrah's Cherokee now has a pretty good craps game offered, but there's nothing else for many miles around.)

Anyway, I thought I would suggest something completely different, though it isn't appropriate for the next few weeks and probably not for quite a while:

Las Vegas experimented with the family-friendly concept, and it bombed. But there are still folks who want to do things as a family (including kids) that involves some time for the adults to hit a casino or two. Now I understand that your family is a whole separate deal from your business and that you have said you don't think they know or care much about your work, but perhaps you could considered something like this: Take a family trip; make sure there is plenty to entertain everyone; make sure there is also plenty of opportunity to experience gaming establishments. Now where can you do that well? Where is the best area for a "family" vacation that includes some gaming time? How/where can you make that kind of visit without risking accusations of child neglect, abuse, or endangerment? Has anyone done a review of that since Las Vegas realized that's not a way to make Sin City work?
Wizard
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Wizard 
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September 23rd, 2012 at 7:22:23 AM permalink
Thanks for all the comments and suggestions.

Regarding the fall colors, don't forget that I lived in Baltimore through the 90s, so know what that is about. Out of curiosity, is this projected to be a good year?

Another state I shouldn't overlook is Oklahoma. They have recently legalized full blown casino gambling and have a lot of large casinos there. A negative to that idea is Oklahoma has got to be one of the more boring states in the country. My apologies in advance to my Okie readers.

Regarding a family/casino trip, we are seriously thinking of going to Europe this summer. My cousin in Frankfurt is getting married in June and I'd like to make the wedding. I think I could sneak out at night and check out the casinos wherever I may be.

I'm glad somebody voted for Costa Rica. That I think would be the most fun, and isn't that far away.

Please keep those ideas coming.
"For with much wisdom comes much sorrow." -- Ecclesiastes 1:18 (NIV)
FleaStiff
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September 23rd, 2012 at 7:30:11 AM permalink
Comparative analysis of child care, teen arcades, etc. at various local casinos. Square footage, capital investment, operating costs ... with perhaps an analysis of what "day care" means when parents work the night shift and always work Saturdays and Sundays.
There has always been two competing views: Circus Circus versus the builder of the Imperial Palace who promised to replace his entire security staff if he ever found even one twelve year old in his place.... unless he was shooting craps!

Oklahoma? Where the best bet is to invest in enough gasoline to drive through the state and get to some decent casino.

Costa Rica? Commerce without courts. One resident was quoted as saying its like the wild west... no way to force anyone to pay their bills.
midwestgb
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September 23rd, 2012 at 7:43:12 AM permalink
As a Midwesterner who has experienced a very minimal amount of East gaming, I would be pleased to get the Wiz's take on East Coast offerings as well.

I also think a targeted guide to that region would have an audience.
vendman1
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September 23rd, 2012 at 7:51:25 AM permalink
Quote: Wizard

Thanks for all the comments and suggestions.

Regarding the fall colors, don't forget that I lived in Baltimore through the 90s, so know what that is about. Out of curiosity, is this projected to be a good year?

Another state I shouldn't overlook is Oklahoma. They have recently legalized full blown casino gambling and have a lot of large casinos there. A negative to that idea is Oklahoma has got to be one of the more boring states in the country. My apologies in advance to my Okie readers.

Regarding a family/casino trip, we are seriously thinking of going to Europe this summer. My cousin in Frankfurt is getting married in June and I'd like to make the wedding. I think I could sneak out at night and check out the casinos wherever I may be.

I'm glad somebody voted for Costa Rica. That I think would be the most fun, and isn't that far away.




Wiz,

If you're thinking of Europe, Italy is a must do. For one thing there is food, food and more food. You wouldn't think pasta could be that much better than in the states....you'd be wrong. I know from this site you enjoy a good bottle of wine, again Italy. Just the house wines in most restaurants are amazing. The history/art/culture...also off the charts good. Enjoyable for kids and adults alike. It's also a relatively short train ride to the south of France where you could frequent the "Grand Casino" in Monte Carlo. Well worth the visit. Happy Traveling.
JohnnyQ
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September 23rd, 2012 at 7:56:21 AM permalink
Would anyone else be interested on Articles / Reviews
from the Wiz on the National Parks within a day's drive ?

I know there are plenty of handbooks out there already,
but...

One trip we enjoyed was a drive up to the North Rim
of the Grand Canyon. We managed to get a cabin
for a couple of nights by calling the company that the
Park Service uses to handle reservations over and
over again until there was a cancellation.
There's emptiness behind their eyes There's dust in all their hearts They just want to steal us all and take us all apart
Mission146
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September 23rd, 2012 at 9:21:19 AM permalink
JohnnyQ,

I'm not going to the grand opening of anything, but I imagine they would practically PAY for The Wiz to be there.
https://wizardofvegas.com/forum/off-topic/gripes/11182-pet-peeves/120/#post815219
JohnnyQ
JohnnyQ
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September 23rd, 2012 at 9:29:11 AM permalink
Quote: Mission146

JohnnyQ,

I'm not going to the grand opening of anything, but I imagine they would practically PAY for The Wiz to be there.



And as well they should !

Well IF they had decent rules for players that would lead to a good
article, then they should. Now, based on Hollywood Holy Toledo,
what are the odd on that ?
There's emptiness behind their eyes There's dust in all their hearts They just want to steal us all and take us all apart
buzzpaff
buzzpaff
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September 23rd, 2012 at 9:43:57 AM permalink
WIZ " I lived in Baltimore through the 90s, so know what that is about. Out of curiosity, is this projected to be a good year? "

For the first time in years, Baltimore is no longer among the nation's five deadliest cities, according to statistics for 2011 compiled by the FBI.
dihaig
dihaig
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September 23rd, 2012 at 9:57:20 AM permalink
I want your life. I'd be to ashamed to post what my choices would be. Good luck with whatever you pick. You deserve some good karma to offset your last experience.
bigfoot66
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September 23rd, 2012 at 10:27:20 AM permalink
If you end up in southern California for any reason I would be very happy to buy you dinner somewhere.
Vote for Nobody 2020!
Woldus
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September 23rd, 2012 at 1:09:25 PM permalink
Wiz,

We just got back from our semi-annual trip to Nassau, Bahamas. Atlantis is fantastic. Not sure if you're taking the kids, but if you are their waterpark stuff and salt water marine life exhibits are second to none. Only two real casinos on the island, and they're probably plain vanilla, but still it's the BAHAMAS! Sugar sand that you sink into up to your ankles and 16 different shades of blue in the water....just saying.
coilman
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September 23rd, 2012 at 2:05:36 PM permalink
I guess DETROIT isnt on the radar...unless you want reasons to talk about CCW permits again
MakingBook
MakingBook
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September 23rd, 2012 at 2:09:22 PM permalink
Launch a pay-per-head site and start booking bets.

Nothing better than passive income.
"I am a man devoured by the passion for gambling." --Dostoevsky, 1871
buzzpaff
buzzpaff
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September 23rd, 2012 at 2:11:08 PM permalink
Quote: MakingBook

Launch a pay-per-head site and start booking bets.

Nothing better than passive income.




Only do this, Wiz, if you want to trade your Hawaiian shirts in for an orange jump suit !
FleaStiff
FleaStiff
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September 23rd, 2012 at 3:40:14 PM permalink
Quote: MakingBook

Launch a pay-per-head site.

cannibalism ??
100xOdds
100xOdds
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September 23rd, 2012 at 3:43:38 PM permalink
Quote: buzzpaff

Only do this, Wiz, if you want to trade your Hawaiian shirts in for an orange jump suit !



why?
the wiz is in vegas? why cant he start his own legal online bookie site?
Craps is paradise (Pair of dice). Lets hear it for the SpeedCount Mathletes :)
Ayecarumba
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September 23rd, 2012 at 9:05:23 PM permalink
I would like to suggest a Macau update, and a tour of south-east Asia (and maybe Australia). Maybe Paigow Dan is up for the trip with you.
Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication - Leonardo da Vinci
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