Keeping My Eye on Amendment 50

Today is the day. While most of the world is waiting for the results of one of the most important presidential races in our history, I will be watching the ticker at the bottom of the tv for local ammendments results.

Crossing my fingers that ammendment 50 will pass. I will update the results as they come in.

Have a great day and Happy Gaming
J

This and That

Hello all,

Not much new to report. No trips recently but lots of online activities. Here's a couple of things that have passed by my email and the local news.


Ameristar Blackhawk Colorado Casino Temporarily closes

The Ameristar Blackhawk Casino never opened Friday Aug 24th, 2007 due to damage that had occurred during construction blasting for the new Hotel and Casino expansion project. As reported by 9 news in Denver Colorado and covered in The Rocky Mountain Newspaper (Video and Newspaper article)

No update on Saturday morning as I write this but reports were that blasting for the new hotel caused the sprinkler system to flood office areas of the casino. No areas of the casino floor were effected but for safety reasons they decided not to open. Plans were to reopen by Saturday.

No one was injured, which I'm happy for but i guess the one good thing that has come from this (In my gambler mentality) is that the news report stated that the hotel and casino expansion would be completed in 2009. Ive been looking for an opening date and I guess we kind of have one now.......


Email from WMS Gaming

Yesterday I received an email from WMS Gaming about a new sweepstakes they are running in conjunction with the new MONOPOLY™ Super Money Grab® slot machines.

The Grand Prize is a trip for two to Las Vegas. Plus, there are 50 instant-winners a day.

Heres the link to the Sweepstakes Sign up. If anyone wins a prize, please feel free to email me or add a comment to the post.


Well thats all I have for now,

Good Luck and Happy Gaming,
J

Village People Party Revisited

Yet another version of WMS Gaming's "Jackpot Party" has been released, and it is now on the casino floors. To my knowledge, this makes it the 3rd version on the floors today. Colorado has Jackpot Party Classic, Super Jackpot Party, and now Village People Party.

As is the case with the first two versions, Village People Party is the same in line configuration, but symbols have been changed to reflect the members of the singing group. It also has a disco theme, with icons like platform shoes, disco balls, and fruity drinks as some of the new symbols.

Again only one bonus round is available but appears to be at a high frequency and VPP has a new bonus feature option. When you arrive in the party bonus you are instructed to pick a village person along the bottom of the play screen. There are 6 to chose from, each giving you a random credit amount and multiplier. During the game play, as you select a Record (replacing the classic wrapped gift) your given either a random credit amount, a multiplier, that darn party pooper, or the new option "select another Village person."

You are then asked to choose another Village People Character from the bottom row who gives you a random credit amount but also the Village people on each successful credit pick add more credits to each Record pick.

When you select a Pooper, unfortunately like the classic, you are done. (see bottom for more information and retractions)

There are also 3 new Village People songs that are played though out the game. They include:
"Y.M.C.A.," "In The Navy," and "Macho Man."

VPP is a very fun and interesting version of the classic. Currently I have only seen this game at Bullwhackers Black Hawk, in Blackhawk, Colorado. It was located on the first floor near the cashiers cage.

Good Lucky and Happy Gaming,
J


Retraction 8/2/07

After a recent visit, I had the opportunity to play VPP again and found that I had mis-evaluated a major feature.

During the VPP "Record Bonus Round" there are "Party Saver" options. I found one by selecting a random village person, also one as a record choice, and a pick one of three hat options after selecting a pooper.

With the first one I choose the Sailer and received 50 credits and a Party Saver appeared on the screen and was placed over a dimmed out icon on the bottom of the screen. When I selected a pooper disk, it cashed in my saver and allowed me to continue my round.

The second chance was by selecting a lucky disk that said "Party Saver." I received the VPP bonus amount granted by the amount of Village People you have selected at the bottom of the screen and the Party Saver icon at the bottom of the screen, again was illuminated.

The last option seems to be activated at random after selecting a pooper. On one occasion I was given the option to select one of three hats. Two included additional bonus credits and one had a party saver that took you back to the album bonus round.

Sorry for the miss information on my initial review, I guess this time around the machine just felt like revealing more of itself to me.

UPDATE

This game is everywhere now and very very popular. I would expect atleast a second edition or update very soon

Good Lucky and Happy Gaming,
J

Q & A

Well, as you can tell from my countdown clock, I'm heading up to Blackhawk on Saturday. This is a perfect time to ask me questions.............. OK, so I want to be interactive. I want to know what people are looking for from my site. I love this site, I have enjoyed writing my blogs and reliving memories, but I don't know how you, the reader, feels about it.

Are you looking for any particular games? Maybe pictures of a casino? Looking for a good place to eat? I want to make this site usable and enjoyable for all.

For my return visitors, Thank you!!!!!! Hows the changes Ive made? I'm trying to make it easier to navigate through my stuff and adding cool widgets as I find them.

What do you think of my casino chip camera slide show? I love the thing, I still sit and watch it every time I load the page. And I have more chips to come. I still have about 40 chips that I have yet to scan in, mostly from Cripple Creek Colorado and still some more from Blackhawk.

Well that's it ,I guess. I hope I get some responses. The reason I started this page was to give out as much information as I can, about one of my favorite subjects. For years, I have searched the internet for reviews of casinos and games that didn't come directly from the source, a players view or something, someone like me who enjoys a couple hours of gaming and a whole lot of fun.

J
baldovij@gmail.com

Colorado Gaming

Colorado Casinos and Gaming

First let me paraphrase this by saying this will start book report style and then get back to my normal witty charm and very casual writing style. I'm not the book report type...

Legalized gaming began in Colorado on October 1, 1991, as a result of a voter approved amendment to the State Constitution. This amendment allowed gaming in three mining towns, whose economy had been paralyzed after their mines began to close. The towns are Black Hawk, Central City, and Cripple Creek. Both Black Hawk and Central City are 30 minutes west of Denver, and Cripple Creek is 30 minutes southwest of Colorado Springs.

In the beginning there were just eleven casinos between the three towns. Now there are more than 40 casinos, with new projects in development. As the smaller casinos close down, they are being replaced with national chains and mega-resort style casinos.

Colorado gaming is "Limited Gaming", which according to the Colorado Department of Revenue - Division of Gaming, is defined as, "Maximum single bet of $5 on slot machines, and live Blackjack or Poker."

Gaming options include Vegas style slots, Blackjack, miscellaneous table games, and card rooms for Texas Hold 'Em. Keno is only offered at the state's 2 tribal casinos. Both casinos are in Southern Colorado - The Ute Mountain Casino near Towaoc, and the Sky Ute Casino and Lodge near Ignacio.

____________________________________________________________________________

Ok now that that's done... I hate book reports, but how do you present all that information without doing it book report style?

So what does all that mean to people like me, the penny player?

First off, we have three legal gambling towns with 40+ casinos in Colorado. This is awesome. In Oregon and California, I have only been able to casino-hop by driving 30 or 45 minutes away. Only in Nevada have I had the pleasure of walking between casinos when it seems my luck has ran out. Colorado is just amazing. All three towns are easy to walk around in, though some areas are a little harsh because of the altitude (sorry mom, I'll explain it to the rest of you someday). Luckily there are shuttles and local area buses that will take you from one end of town to the other, stopping at or near most casino entrances.

I normally start at the top of the hill, hit most the casinos on the way down, and then take the bus back up to the top. It works out very nice since the shuttle runs quite often. The bus is called the "Black Hawk/Central City Tramway", and schedules are available by going to www.nextbus.com. Navigate to Colorado to see maps and pickup times. I've used this website on my cell phone, and there are also signs at most stops indicating how long until the next shuttle arrives.

According to the Colorado Gaming Report, as of April 2006, the number of penny slots has increased by over one thousand machines in Black Hawk alone. Great news for penny players.

Colorado also has the $5 limit. Not a problem for me since I have a hard enough time playing machines with 30 lines, plus a 10 credit buy-in for super pay. That's 40¢ for a total bet. I think I will be ok.

This does, however, affect the Blackjack or card player. Most of the tables that I have seen only offer a $5 minimum bet, which in turn is also the max bet. There is no way to raise or lower your bet depending on game play. I have found that this almost forces the issue of splitting or doubling down. That is the only way to increase your bet, since the law deems that as a second, separate bet. I've noticed myself splitting 7's against a 6-up just to try and rake in a little extra. I don't play tables much, but a friend was in town who wanted to play.

Keno is not available in Black Hawk and Central City, which is a bummer. Keno, to me, is a way to keep gambling while having dinner or a snack in the food court.

Last, but not least, are the things that we don't have. Roulette, Craps, Money Wheel, or Off-Track betting are not available in the gambling towns. There are some private locations throughout Colorado that have live and off-track betting. Oregon has recently added most of these within the last few years. Because of this, I can see Roulette, Craps, and Money Wheel coming to Colorado someday.

As far as development goes, wow. The latest to join in the game is the national chain, Ameristar Casinos. It opened in mid 2005 as a takeover from Mountain High Casino. It has vastly transformed since it's opening in 2005, and it is about to make even more changes.

Expected by Spring of 2008, the Ameristar Black Hawk will open a 500+ room hotel. This property is rumored to have a full spa, and when completed will be the tallest structure between Denver and Salt Lake City. I can't wait for the spa to open, and I will make an appointment for the first available. This will be for my wife, of course. What a great way to get her to go up there! "Honey I got you an appointment for a massage." Hee hee, she will hit me for that one...

Also, early last year marked the opening of Colorado Central Station's new hotel. I had the pleasure of spending my birthday there, and it was great. I had a king/non-smoking room, and it was wonderful. There was plenty of room to move around, a very large TV, a nice seating area, safe in the closet, and a very large bathroom with nice size shower and tub. I definitely recommend this one.

Well that's it for now. Hope this blog helps anyone who was looking for information on Colorado gaming. Check back for reviews of the casinos and trip reports in the future and sign my guest book if you get a chance.

J

Going to the mailbox and finding a letter from a Casino

I love that feeling. You go to the mail box every day and find either junk mail or the dreaded "B" word. Occasionally, if I'm lucky, I go to the mail and find either one of my casino magazines or a letter from one of the local casino's. Its like a cereal box, I opening it hoping to find a prize.

Some are just the normal monthly flyer promoting events or new games but sometimes, owe sometimes, there's that Willy Wonka golden ticket feeling.
A $5.00 voucher!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! and sometimes two, one for the first half of the month and one for the last.

Man, what feelings and emotions can be conjured by just a little slip of paper. "Come to me and Ill give you five dollars." Why do I picture a witch with an apple when I read this? Hazel and Gretel maybe...... either way.

You give me five, I give you 40. I think im doing something wrong here. I feel like that little kid playing cards with the big kids, anyone remember '52 card Pickup" fell for that once.(or twice)

If you read enough about comps and casino give aways, you know its based on time played and money spent in a casino, they don't give it way to be nice. So its also very sad when you go to the mail box and you don't get letters or vouchers. "Do you not love me anymore, (insert casino name here)? just encase, don't want to show any favoritism just yet....... "Its been a rough month" "Gas Prices suck", ""No money, no fries." (sorry childhood flashback, but it applies)

Then, finally, one day, that "Golden Ticket" reappears in the mail box. Like a beacon in the night, I can pick it out of the other stuff before its even out of the box. "I'm back on the list, baby"

OK, so no coincidence that I went and spent a few bucks in March but anyway, so I get two letters this month. One, that is always a "golden ticket" (I don't get anything from them other wise) and one that is normally one of those event planner things. I should include that this one does always has a half-off buffet coupon or such but that's about it. I give it the normal once over to see whats new. "Do my eyes deceive me" nope it now reads "half-off buffet or $5.00 cash back" Yes, "I've got a golden Ticket" (I really hope Dahl does not sue me for the use of lines from Wonka but it fits)

So that's two $5.00 dollar coupons for this trip, I'm love in it (damn, now McDonald's, what is wrong with me today, I'm never going to get enough coupons to pay my lawyer fee's)

Comps are a funny world. You can read every book, watch every show, research online as much as possible, but it all boils down to money played. Yes, you can find those vouchers in Vegas magazines for new player sign up bonuses and stuff, and they are great for the first time but wheres the love afterwords. A penny player doesn't stand a chance.

Being that my gambling life started in Oregon where your lucky to get a dollar off a buffet on your birthday, I'm happy with my casinos in Colorado. I get stuff for my birthday, (a mug, a pen, a buffet, etc) the monthly mailers, and of course, the occasional "Golden Ticket."

J

A working map

Just as I post the link to Flickr, I find a site to post my map to this page. At the bottom of my page is a new map with direct access to my photos.

I used trippermap.com it was very easy to set up and gives you the HTML coding to post directly. This is the free map but for a small fee there is a more advance map with better markers and mapping.

To access each of my photos just click the black icon on the map and it will bring them up.

Also, you can still go to my Flickr account for a more interactive view,

Enjoy,
J

Colorado Smoking Ban

It has been almost a year since all public areas in Colorado have become non-smoking. The exception of this law has been Cigar Bars, the smoker’s lounge at Denver International Airport, and Casinos.

I won’t say I'm allergic to cigarette smoke, but I am somewhat bothered by it. I choose to avoid it if I can. For years, this has been a tradeoff issue for me. Even though casinos and bingo halls have non-smoking sections, I know that I will still come home smelling of smoke. I enjoy the games too much to let it deter me, but on the other hand a smoke free casino for my wife would be a great benefit for me.

The latest word out of the Colorado House of Representatives is they have turned away a new house bill that would make all casinos non-smoking. The language of the bill 1269 only encompasses casinos, and the members of the house voted 18-17 against it. It seems the main objection is that this bill should cover all areas previously mentioned. So it’s now back to the Senate.

Smokers will find a way to smoke, that's the truth. Some bars in Colorado Springs, CO have chosen to buck the laws and allow smoking in their restaurants and have a collection plate from patrons to help pay for any fines. The one I really like is as you exit a restaurant you now walk through a cloud of smoke as you come out the door. The original ban states that smoking must not occur within 5 feet of the entrance to an establishment. Who's going to sit there with a tape measure and enforce this regulation to the people?

On the other spectrum, places like Ameristar Casino in Black Hawk, CO was one of the first to say that their restaurants would be completely non-smoking, while still allowing patrons to smoke on the casino floors. Not a requirement by law, but management felt that if every other restaurant in CO was going to be non-smoking, they should follow suite.

Non-smoking sections in casinos are nothing new. I remember the first non-smoking room that I went to at Spirit Mountain Casino in Grand Ronde, Oregon. It was small, had some older games, and the service wasn't that great. It also seemed that the new games were just outside the non-smoking doors and were louder, as if they were trying to draw you out. Things have since changed, as the room has gotten progressively larger, there are newer games, and the service is faster. They have also placed a concession stand outside the doors of the section. So now instead of smelling smoke, you smell hot dogs.

Since this session of Congress is almost over, it appears it will be at least another year before we can address the smoking issue again. However, as more and more places explore this concept, one has to wonder how long it can go on. Will casinos ever go fully non-smoking? Will it really matter? Will it actually hurt the casino’s bottom line? As some have fought on this issue, what’s more addictive and more important to an addict, smoking or gambling?

Just a few thoughts...... J

Happy St. Patricks Day

Well its that time of year again, so I thought today would be a perfect time to review "Fitzgeralds Black Hawk Casino, in Black Hawk Colorado.

This is one of my favorite casinos in BH. They offer a wide variety of penny games and have maybe the best complementary item available on the mountain.

Fitzgeralds offers free Valet parking services with a rather large garage. No public park but there are quite a few places to self park near by.

Gaming wise, it is a three floor building with rather large gaming floor. The aisles are small especially by the players club and cage areas but not to annoying.

They offer quite a variety of games with allot of penny options. On the second floor you can find a few table games most with $5 min/max bets.

My favorite games here are Antique Appraisal and Tabasco.

The most enticing part of this casino has to be the complementary hot dogs served daily on the third floor. It is a self service hot dog bar with the traditional condiments and is located right next to a soda station. Makes for a great place to play and have a free bite. The also offer a restaurant for Lunch and Dinner Menu service.

Drink service is available either from the self service stand on the 3rd floor or from attendants. They are relatively fast depending on your location in the building.

Personally I have never hit very well but I do get my moneys worth. I can play for an hour or so on a twenty and have a good time while I'm there.

The Players club is easy to sign up for (like most casinos) and I get the occasional $5.00 free coupon and the annual Birthday gift.

They don't have the new stuff right away but then again they offer a good selection of some of the games that are disappearing from other places. All and all a great casino with a national reputation and the free Hot Dogs are defiantly enough to make you stop in for a spin.

J

Casino Blog ideas

So I spent time thinking about how and what I want to present. So far I have a few ideas and hopefully as time passes, this is the type of information and blogs you will find on casinoreview4fun.blogspot.com


1. Casino Reviews-Past and present reviews from a penny player prospective. Casino's that I have been to in the past and/or Casinos that are still on my play list.

2. New slot machines-either found on the casino floors or from the pages of Casino Player and Strictly Slots magazine, both great resources. I have been getting both of these magazines for about 3 years and love them. I was printed in the letters to editor section from an online question in Oct 2004 edition. Though I love these mag's, I also feel that they don't cover what I consider the common man casinos. I would love to go to the Casino covered from Vegas to AC, but I have my little Indian casinos in Oregon and my small yet satisfying gambling towns in Colorado, which get no coverage. Other than the weekly slot tournament at The Lodge Casino in BH at the back of the magazines.

3. $20 dollar review-This is the most fun for me. My thought is to give a play by play account (abbreviated of course) of my play at a certain casino and what I can accomplish on a $20 bank roll. Might not seem like much but if you playing those penny slots it could or might not last a long time. I figure if anything, you can live vicariously though my play or I can see how much money I waste in the same machines. After 5 different places it seems you always windup playing whatever machine hit for you last time, with the hope it will hit again.

4. Slot Machines: Behind the Bells and Whistles- This is one I really hope will happen. I want to interview anyone at a casino that is in charge of deciding what games end up on the floor and why. Most slot enthusiasts will read about all the new games being released during the Global Gaming Expo, but they don't end up on the floors, or you finally find the game you love and poof!!! Its gone. (Clue, based on the board game, is the one that got away for my wife. If anyone has seen a Clue Slot machine, please fill me in, That's a guaranteed trip for me!!!!!!!)

As time passes I hope more and more of you will read and enjoy my blogs. Please post any and all comments. blog ideas, questions on Colorado casinos. I will post and respond to as much as possible.

J