The Mill Casino, Coos Bay Oregon

The Mill Casino, Coos Bay Oregon

While on vacation in Oregon I had the pleasure of visiting The Mill Casino. This was my first trip since 06 and boy has it changed.

1. The Mill Casino has added a new wing to there hotel.
2. The Casino Floor has been redesigned (more later)
3. Non Smoking Section (??????????)

The casino has added a 92 room tower to the property. With the existing 112 rooms in the original hotel this has now became a major draw for out-of- town gamblers. Both internal and external the hotel and reception area look amazing.

The casino floor has been completely redone since my last visit. The slot machines rows are now at a 45 degree angle and more room has been place between the isles for easier access throughout the casino.

What once was the bingo hall has now been completely transformed with the removal of the old walls that once held the doors going into the bingo hall.

With this comes my question on the non-smoking section. The old bingo hall area used to be the non-smoking. It had, in my estimate, close to 150-200 machines available and was very well ventilated being it did not have door separating it from the smoking section.

Now the new smoking section is completely enclosed but only houses around 40-50 machines. This area was very small and made me feel like I was playing in a glass box. I hate the smell of smoke in the air and on my clothing; I couldn’t stand playing in the non-smoking section for very long.

I found some new games and some old ones but nothing that was just amazing.

1. Wheel of Fortune® Video Slots - Las Vegas by IGT was a interesting new game. I’m not a fan of having to get symbols in all 5 columns to get into the bonus round so I didn’t spend a lot on this machine

2. Hee Haw by Bally. Win up to 30 free games by getting 3 sitting ducks in rows 1, 3, and 5. Also the corn bonus with progressive jackpot. My only complaint is because I’m a minimum bet player. If you are not playing the full max bet the corn bonus is worthless. I did see a lady get 7 ears of corn for a progressive of 137.00.

3. Indian Jones progressive by IGT. I didn’t have much luck or fun. I saw a good review and link on other gaming site I would recommend reading. http://www.thebadgambler.com/2008/07/how-indiana-jones-slot-machine-works.html

My last observation is an overall expression of my feelings for the new Mill Casino. The best thing I found in the casino was the new change machine. You put in a 20 and it gives you the option on how you would like your change, 10’s, 5’s 1’s. It’s really a sad visit when the best thing about it, is getting to choose what denomination of money you are about to put into a slot machine.

Trip Report July 29th 2008 Blackhawk, Colorado

Trip Report July 29th 2008 Blackhawk, Colorado

On Sunday I was finally able to go up the mountain for a nice evening of slot machines. This trip was sparked by 2 mail flyers, one from Mardi Gras Casino and one from Fitzgeralds Casino BH. Mardi Gras was a 2 day only $5 coupon which I thought was weird, until I received my mailer from Fitzgeralds announcing the grand opening of the new gaming area on July 28th and 29th, coincidently the same days my coupon was good for at MG. Either way I still took advantage of both.

I started my day at the Silver Hawk Saloon & Casino. This is a small casino in comparison to others in BH and Central City and for what its worth, the only reason I went was because the parking was so full for Bullwhackers Black Hawk, I was parked almost right outside of SH. At SH, they had only one floor of slot machines open. They used to have gaming on the second floor but that area has now closed. I found mainly older games including Risqué Business, The Munster’s, and Beverly Hillbillies.

I did sit and play the Beverly Hillbillies for a little bit. This was the version with Granny shooting the kangaroo thing bonus and Granny filling oil bucks and you get the highest amount in the bucket. Still an entertaining game but the bonuses seemed a little light on the payouts.
I left up from when I walked in the door but mostly would go back unless I was parked right outside the door again.

Next up was Bullwhackers Black Hawk. I walked in the main door from the parking lot and could barely get in the door. The line for the players club was blocking the doors. As far as machines go I saw Wizard of Oz, Monopoly, and some new 3 cent machines that I hadn’t see before on the main level. On the bottom floor there was Village People Party, Deal or No Deal Play It, the new Beverly Hillbillies game Cash or Crude version, and Gilligan’s Isle.

I played on each and won on VPP and GI. With VPP, I got into the twice. 1st time I got the pooper on the 1st pick but got the party saver, but again choice a pooper on my next pick. The second time I had a good run, finishing with 3 macho men and a party saver. On GI, I got into the bonus and selected all characters with the coconut spin getting the all character bonus award.

I continued my journey down the hill now stopping at the Fitzgeralds Black Hawk. The big draw was the grand opening of the new gaming area. It was very busy and with the new area they have also created a new player club, so the line for the PC was long and may people were confused on what line to be in.

The new area was very nice. Two floors of gaming with a nice rustic cabin decor (my opinion) Large TV's were in the corners mounted to the ceiling. It did feel a little cramped but that was do to all the traffic from the PC. The only new(er) game that I found was the Dean Martin Wild Party game. I’m not a fan of the reels on this game. If you haven’t seen it, it has 2 reels of 2 by 2 leading in to 3 reels of 4 symbols (totaling 60 pay lines) The pays can be huge but it was had to understand why some symbols match up and others didn’t. As far as the rest of Fitzgeralds went nothing that I had seen was changed. I wonder if they wont start shutting the other areas down for updates soon.

The Gilpin and the Canyon Casino's were uneventful. I did get to play the new Ebay community game at the Gilpin. Like many of the others you get a timer based on your game play that will allow you into a community bonus at random times. This one was different as that it is a free spin bonus on the large display board in front of the machines. All players are given the total result of the 10 free spins. It was more exciting than the Monopoly Big Event or Press Your Luck games as it was a more prolonged bonus but the base game just didn’t hook me enough to keep me sitting down.

On to The Lodge Casino. The newest machine I found here was the very large Wheel of Fortune community game. This thing was huge. I have no clue how the research and development team thought this one would be profitable. I’ve been to a lot of casinos that I feel this thing wouldn’t fit into. As for game play, for all lines and bonus option it was 60 credits a spin. Not bad for your average gambler but for the penny pincher, a little rich for my blood.

Last up, Mardi Gras Casino BH. There was a few new games but nothing that really stood out against the rest, I wont blame them though as I had already been to 6 casinos prior.

I did play Wild for Dolphins for the first time. This im assuming is a sister product to the Risqué Business slot machine as the bonus rounds are the same idea. With W4D you get into the bonus and select one of 4 dolphin performers. The your are taken to the performance take where 6 trainers are sitting at the tank. You select 3 trainers and they give your dolphin fish to perform a trick. You must reach a set amount to continue in the round.

I was very amused by the animation, I choose Juggling Joey. It was just funny how the game went from a stripping male or female dancer to a dolphin doing tricks. More family orientated theme for a slot machine? I will have to blog about an experience I had with the Risqué Business at another time......

Another trip in the books. Now for the likes, dislikes, and what’s new what’s missing.

Likes
1. New gaming area at Fitzgeralds Black Hawk. really nice design
2. No smoking. Still amazing to walk in and out of a casino not smelling of smoke. I love it
3. Just getting to go up to Blackhawk. Trips are getting less and less with the economy and gas prices.

Dislikes
1. Blackhawk on a Sunday afternoon. Im a morning gamer. Colorado currently is a 8am-2am gaming state. Getting here at 8 when the place first opens seems to be more fun for me. I can sit and play any machine without a wait for the first couple of hours.
2. Old Fitzgeralds Black Hawk. It was just such a contrast from the new gaming area to the old gaming area. I really hope they renovate the old side too.

New
1. Wheel of Fortune community game (The Lodge Casino)
2. EBAY (The Gilpin Casino)
3. 3 cent machines (Bullwhackers)

Missing
1. Top Gun. on my last trip every casino had atleast 2 machines but I didnt see one in any of the 7 I went to this time.
2. Wild Wilderness. One of my wifes favorites and it was no where to be found

That’s it for now. Next up will be a trip to Oregon in September. At least one stop into a casino is a must for any trip to OR.

Till next time, Happy Gaming
J

WMS Gaming Does It Again

Hey guys,

Just a quick update. I love that people are actually coming to this site so Im still trying to make it relevant and up-to-date. Keep coming back. I will hopefully have some more slot reviews in the next couple of weeks.

As for now. I just went to WMS Gamings website and found the have done it again. The have a really cool interactive view of 3 of there new games. Bruce Lee, Happy Days, and Bigger Bang Big Event.

On the main page for WMS Gaming select WMS Secret Head Quarters, (If your have your speakers on you may want to turn them down if you are in a quite location, like work) You are then guide through a 3 level world with each level representing one of the new games.

1st floor is Bigger Bang Big Event, 2nd floor is Bruce LEE, and 3rd floor is Happy Days.

On each floor has interactive views of the games and videos of slot play. Make sure to use you mouse to move around the room as there are Easter Eggs (hidden extras) in each room.

Im really excited to try the Bruce Lee game. It looks really fun.

The Happy Days game is one Im going to have to get my hands on before I make a snap judgement of it.

Well thats it for now. Please keep coming back to my site for update and drop me a line if you have any questions or comments.

Click Here for WMS Gaming's Site

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

Double Dragon Frenzy Slot Machine

Bally Gamings Double Dragon Frenzy (click link for corporate site with photos and online video)

This is a 7 reel 50 line configuration machine. The pay table was very hard to understand but it was paying so I didn't mind much not knowing why I was winning. Symbols on the reels are ying-yang symbols, coat of arms, and exploding firecrackers. Every time the firecrackers match up they light up and explode a credit amount. Fun feature at first but just like fireworks, it can get annoying after a while.

The game has an interesting feature of having a bonus line in the middle of the line configuration. The bonus line 4 has either wild symbols, auto pays, or blanks. Most slot players are used to seeing this type of configuration on line 5, as with WMS Gamings Ring Quest.

It appeared to have only one "bonus round" which is a re spin-re trigger icon that would appear in the bonus line. It gives you any win credit on the entry spin, a multiple of times. I only had it retrigger for a total of 3 times but the demo video on Bally's website has it triggered 5 times???

Other "Bonuses" that appears on line 4 were a 2x pay, 10x pay, or 100 pay. It makes for some very dynamic pay outs and also some very small ones too.

One of the other things that made this game enjoyable was the cabinet, seating, and play area. This has a large screen, easy for viewing and a very large cabinet, making for a very comfortable play area and lots of elbow room.

I found this game at The Lodge Casino, in Black Hawk Colorado. It was located at the top of the escalator from the street level.

Good Luck 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

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

3 Coffee Mugs and a Stuffed Animal Later

What a title to a blog, but believe me It has a purpose. Now the date of this trip has been debated by all parties but the story is the same either way.

It was the Summer of 1998. My parents and I did a road trip from Oregon to Texas, over to Las Vegas, down to San Diego, and the home to Oregon. Lots of driving but allot of fun, until Las Vegas that is.

I was 18 at the time. As you can tell by some of my previous post, gambling is in my blood. Most, if not all, of my family gamble. My mother's side are the Slot players and my fathers side is the Black Jack and Horse racing crowd.

In Las Vegas we met up with my Aunt and Uncle from San Diego. We spend most of our time in Circus Circus so I, the 18 year old, can have something to do. By now I've done the circuit of kiddy games, Ive knocked over milk bottles to get 3 Circus Circus coffee mugs and Ive won the roller ball horse race game to get a stuffed animal, Ive wasted about 50 bucks on games, owe well at least I had fun......

We leave Vegas for San Diego, Ive got my mugs and an animal to keep me company on the 5 hour drive, yeah.

We have been at my uncles house for maybe an hour. I'm at the table playing on a laptop, when my uncle asks if we want to go to the casino. I'm sitting at the table looking at him going, I just sat in Vegas and watched you guys play why would I want to do that here too.

My uncle replies "you only have to be 18 to gamble at the Indian Casinos in California."

Wait, hold on a minute, you only have to be 18 in Cali, I'm going nuts. You couldn't have filled me in on this little detail about 3 coffee mugs and a stuffed animal ago.....

30 minutes later were sitting at the Barona Casino and I'm playing. Nervous as all heck, thinking I'm breaking the law or something, but playing.

Needless to say on future trips to Vegas, I didn't play the midway games, I didn't play the pinball machines, I just stood by, leaned against the 2nd floor rail at the Rio, and watch my parents play the machines below. Knowing that in just a few hours we would cross that magical state line that kept me from doing what I love, gamble.

J

Slots and Technology

Hey guys,

My site is all about Casino's and Slot machines but without the newest and latest technology we would still be pulling on one-armed bandits looking for cherries and bells, boring.

I try to keep up with technology as much as possible. My favorite resource has always been CNET.com. I used to watch cnet TV every Saturday back in Jr. High and High School. I just liked all the new crazy stuff that I would most likely never be able to afford.

Sometime last year CNET ran a contest to do a tech review video for a chance to win a trip to Las Vegas for the CES conference. This is the largest tech show in the world where tech companies display all the new products (except for Apple, whom runs its own show)

I wanted to enter the contest but Technology is a hobby, unlike casinos and slots which are my passion. If Casino Player or Strictly Slots were to run a competition like this, I'm in.

Anyway, the point to this blog is to bring attention to a new link on my site for www.techsmesssage.com. This site is ran by one of the winners for that CNET contest, Nate Lanxon. After winning the contest, he was hired by CNET UK and now is there MP3 & Digital Music Reviewer.

His site now has an ongoing diary of life behind the scenes at CNET, with great prospective and information on Technology and life in general.

If you are interested in technology or just want to get a different prospective on things. (I'm starting to like CNET UK more than the US version now) Check it out on my side bar.

With all that said I'm still counting down the seconds till my next trip to the casino. As Ive said before, I will be leaving for a 7 day cruise in 15 days. Cant wait. We will just have to see what kind of machines ST. Maarteen has. I hope I didnt jinx myself and its all one-armed bandits with cherries and bells.

Till next time,
J

The "Big One"

As you can tell from my chip maps, Ive been to casino's all over the US and elsewhere. Ive hit the so called "big one" once and here's my story....

Now, what is the "Big One?" Well I deem it to be the highest paid line bet allowed by a machine. Not a win in a bonus round or mystery prize but 5 lined up symbols giving x amount of credits.

My "Big One" came in 2001 at Spirit Mountain Casino in Oregon. I was playing a .05¢ Monopoly Money Grab machine. 9 lines 1 coin total bet, so .45¢ a spin, ooh. I few spins and the the machine goes nutty. Money Bag wild symbols line up, 5 on line 9 Top right to Bottom Left. I'm watching the credits roll and excited as all heck. My mother is sitting about 15 machines away from me and I'm yelling at her, shes not paying any attention, finally I scream "Debbie", her head swings my way and she can see it in my face. She cashes out immediately.

The game is still just running off credits and I'm just taking in the sounds. I'm not touching the machine for nothing. My mother has finally made her way over and is excited for me as it finished rolling at around $750 or so. Now for a bet of .45¢ I'm just ecstatic.

The thing that I remember the most of the entire event though was the people around me, they were so mad and what I deemed to be just plain rude. Of course, I'm the only one in the whole bank of machines that's not playing at max bet. And wouldn't you know it, the lady right next to me, not happy for me at all, "You would have won $122,000 if you were playing max bet, like the rest of us." Owe, well thanks, glad to know that, Ill take my $700 and you have a good day.

Its funny. I see someone win $15 bucks on a machine and I'm happy for them. I'm wishing them the best. And the only person who seemed to be happy for me was my mom. Crazy! 21 year old kid, playing on a few bucks from a crap job, trying to have a good time, tears rolling down my face as I've already spent the money in my mind,(went to Massachusetts for two weeks and had a heck of a good time) and all this lady can say to me is "you would've." Whatever.

I guess it's because of this, that I wish everyone, especially those who have never hit the "Big One" the best, no matter how big or small the winning might be.

Are there any other penny players that have felt like this? Comments?

Until next time, Good Luck,
J
Colorado, USA

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