2022 so far

It has been an interesting year for me so far. As many know, I have been taking a break from my usual amount of blackjack advantage play, while things cool down a bit. I have gotten in a few nights play on busier holiday weekends, like Superbowl weekend and the current President's day weekend. Last night (Presidents weekend) really wasn't very crowded. We usually get that California crowd driving in for 3 day weekends, and it just seemed like a normal weekend night compared to a holiday weekend. Anyway, that limited blackjack play hasn't amounted to much. Some decent EV, but not a whole lot of winnings to speak of.

I also did a 6 day stint playing for a fellow AP, who threw me a bone on a play he needed some people for. I appreciated the opportunity made a little coin, but that kind of thing isn't really my thing. Plus, I had to travel to another state.

Earlier this month with some free time on hand, I put through a lot of coin playing video poker at half dozen casinos. I/we used to do this a lot when my partner was alive, but I really have gotten away from this supplemental activity. For me, the return (and profit) is all about the mail offers that follow. I am down almost 10 grand after putting through about 400k, so we will see if future mailers in the coming months make this profitable or even get my investment back.

I tagged along with my brother playing blackjack a couple days, watching from a far. He is doing well. Nobody (pit nor dealers) seems to think much about his play. I would like to say I taught him well, but I think it was more him just getting into the game and picking things up.

With fantastic weather most of February, I have gotten out for some day trips around Nevada. My brother and I did the railroad/bike thing I read about at WoV. You pedal a bike like contraption on the rails from Boulder (Nevada) and then catch the old train back the 8 mile trip uphill to the train museum. It was ok. The bike things on the tracks were overpriced. $90 and you quickly caught up to the "bike/car" in front of you and could only go as fast as they were going.

Also visited St Thomas, which was a town in Nevada that was swallowed up by Lake mead, when they built the Dam and for 60+ years laid 60 feet under water, but as Lake Mead has water levels have dropped, St Thomas or what is left has re-emerged and you can walk among what is left which is mostly foundations and parts of the first level of buildings.

Visited Goldsprings, south of Vegas, which is supposed to be a Ghost town from the mining days that is haunted and has been on several of those haunted type TV shows. We didn't encounter any ghosts, just tourists. :(

Kind of enjoying some free time to do some things I normally wouldn't do and getting out in the perfect weather.

Good for you brother! Always appreciate the HONEST reports on how things actually are out there. Hopefully you follow up on what mail you get on the VP play. Appears you were under expectation on the play being off 2.5% but nothing crazy if you didn’t get any royals. Also assuming you mixed it up at multiple places to track your return. Sure someone will bash this but I believe it’s good information you can share without naming the exact details and casinos involved.

Did you mean Goodsprings? Not much there other than Pioneer Saloon, which as you said is supposed to be haunted. One of my Top 5 bars in the country, which I’m kind of an expert at. We are friends with Tom Sheckells whose father owned it for years but recently sold it. Haven’t been there since the ownership change but the Ghost Burger is one of the best around.

Yes Pioneer Saloon. Is it Goodsprings? My bad.

Wasn't impressed. Not sure exactly what I was expecting. Maybe some Ghosts. ;) Was still something different. I have lived in Vegas over a decade and am just getting around to seeing some of these places nearby. Focused too much on casinos. :(

The ghost thing has always been overhyped. Zac Bagans loves the place because he used to be able to get away there and no one knew him when the place wasn’t as busy. Basically he and the owner hyped it as “haunted” with a few stories and they pushed a haunted lockdown where you spent the night there listening for ghosts and got to see the basement. Total money grab but there are people out that believe in the ghost stuff.

The place has been around for many years and some of the stories are true including the guy shot playing cards with the bullet holes still in the wall. Also Clark Gable did sit there for days drinking and waiting for news of the plane crash that killed his wife Carol Lombard and her mother on Potosi Mt. It was also used in the Cheech and Chong movie “Things are tough all over” in the 80’s and numerous other ads over the years. Pawn Stars filmed there at one point as well.

The food is good and as an outsider I always met good people there from locals that actually live in Goodsprings to Vegas bikers and many others. Have friends from Vegas that ride their 4 wheelers from their home near Silverton through the desert there. The Sheckells were always adding on and had grand plans including a brewery, distillery and even a small hotel that never came to fruition. Place did get busy on weekends but during the week there was times we were the only customers during a weekday with Tom.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nLl_K9CBrJU