MikeV
Posted by MikeV
Jun 03, 2012

Barona - My First Visit Summary

I am currently in the San Diego area for a week on vacation. One of the things on my list was to visit the Barona casino, which I did yesterday on June 2. I have heard good things about the place so I wanted to see for myself. I arrived with my parents at around noon and we stayed the entire afternoon until sunset. As a college student, I am on a limited budget so my parents did most of the gambling.

When we arrived, the first thing I did was get myself a player's club card. Since it was Saturday, the place was busy, though it got busier when we left. My parents did not get a card, though when I was not playing, I would insert my card in whichever machine my mom or dad was playing. My parents, especially my mom, are your typical slot players.

After getting my card, I walked around the casino floor and did a rough survey of the video poker games available. I was looking for quarter machines that were specified on vpfree2.com. However, I could not find the 99.93% 2-pair-or-better Joker Poker or the 99.80% Triple Bonus Plus games that were shown on the site. I eventually gave up looking and played a quarter 17/7/5 kings or better Joker Poker game. 30 minutes passed and I lost $30 of the $100 I started with.

After that, while watching my dad play a random slot, an attendant came up to my dad and asked if he had (or wanted) a player's card. My dad said no, stating that we were visiting. We then had a small conversation with the attendant for a few minutes. I then mentioned that I have a card and showed it. The attendant then asked for some information from me and took the card, came back a few minutes later and handed me a piece of paper, which was in fact a buffet comp! Only two hours at the casino and I get my first ever discretionary comp. It was perfect timing too since not much later my parents and I were getting hungry. So we then went to the buffet.

The buffet was $20.99 per person ($62.97 total). Subtracting a free buffet for me and a 20% discount for my parents using my card, the bill was lowered to about $33.

After eating, I decided to continue my search for quarter video poker machines. Most of the ones I found up until that point were dollars or higher, even though they were good (99.5%+) and I know my $70 will not last long in a dollar machine without a lot of luck. After looking, I found a bank of machines with a minimum denomination of 50 cents. Checking the pay tables, I found a Not-so-ugly deuces game with 99.73% return. VPFREE2 listed NSUD at dollars and higher, but not 50 cents so this was a pleasant surprise.

I put $30 of my $70 in and began to play. Slowly sunk down to $2.50 and then BOOM, wild royal - up to $65. Many four of a kinds and a few straight flushes later, up to $120. I then kept going back and forth between $85 and $130. Then I hit 5 of a kind and a straight flush and made it over $200. Overall, I played for at least two hours in what was a really long session. I couldn't get four deuces even though I was close a few times. I ended up cashing out $150 after negative variance kicked in. I ended up walking away with $190 ($90 profit).

In the end, I happened to enjoy playing at the Barona. If I had more money to play with, I would have checked out the table games and poker. I might visit again one more time before I leave the San Diego area next week. Even if I did not win that day, I still would have been happy. A few positives: good video poker pay tables that I have a harder time finding in other places in California as well as a lower minimum gambling age at 18. Regardless what I play, I hope to continue having a good experience if and when I decide to return.

Comments

TIMSPEED
TIMSPEED Jun 04, 2012

The 25c 9/6 JoB - 8/5 BP - 9/6 BPD are in a circle right by the valet entrance, can't miss em'.

I <3 Barona and I'll be going back there the 22nd of this month (for the 3rd time)