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Thread: Tahoe trip report: An unusual royal flush and a jackpot caused by an error

  1. #1
    A couple of weeks ago, my wife and I went stayed at Harrah’s Lake Tahoe. I used three express free play coupons which totaled $900. At checkin we were given a very nice suite and once again I confirmed with desk that we had unlimited in-room movies and internet.

    We arrived late on a Friday night and I used one of the $300 free play coupons as it was only valid that day. I broke even after putting in 1,000 Tier Credits on my card playing full pay video poker. Lake Tahoe is the only place in Ceasars empire in the Western United States with full pay 9/6 JOB and 8/5 Bonus. Meanwhile Wife went to sleep.

    The next day we enjoyed a wonderful view from the Buffet at Harrah’s. The food was fine and it is hard to screw up breakfast. Since I am approaching Seven Stars again this year we decided to play on my card until we hit 5,000 tier credits and then play on hers. She is was a Diamond at around 23,000 Tier credits. Wife played mostly Blazing Sevens dollar slots and I played mostly Video Poker. I was doing OK on Video Poker but I visited the craps table three times and three times essentially had my $500 buy-ins wiped out on cold, cold tables. If it got any colder on the tables, I would have seen a White Walker. After a few hours we decided to take a walk outside and later drive the car to fill up the tank in Nevada which does not have the gas taxes of California. I am guessing the gas was at least 25 cents less and not far from the casinos (near Zephyr cove) so I always fill up in Nevada if I remember.

    In mid afternoon Wife and I decided to watch a free movie courtesy of Seven Stars and saw “Shades of Grey.” I cannot say it was a good movie, but it was certainly appropriate to watch with the wife in a suite in the afternoon if you know what I mean.

    We then had dinner at the Sage Room on the casino level of Harvey. This was the first time I took the wife there. I really dig the old school charm of the place with wood panels and table side cooking by tuxedoed waiters. However, Wife greatly prefers the ambiance and view of Friday’s Station on top of Harrah’s so guess where we will be going next time?

    After substantial bleeding at the dollar slots, wife joined me at the video poker machines. We put points on my card then stopped when we reached 5,000 daily tier points. This was the threshold for maximum daily matching bonus of 10,000 additional tier credits.

    We then switched to her card. For some reason, the current daily accumulation of points did not reflect on the monitor on the machines but when we went to the Total Rewards booth they said that when there are a lot of players such as on a weekend night the machines do not reflect current totals. However, their computers at Total rewards do keep track so we can just approach if we want to know it. I was not very happy about this but the total she gave us seemed about right when we periodically stopped by the Total Rewards desk.

    I was break even that day except for the blood bath at craps earlier. I love craps but craps certainly did not love me. We were playing video poker around the full play dollar 3 or 5 play carousel at Harrah’s near the escalator down to Harvey’s when yelped in joy. She then said “How did I get a handpay?” I cashed out my credits into a ticket and walked over and saw this Hand Pay:

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    Last edited by FABismonte; 06-12-2015 at 07:45 PM.

  2. #2
    I too was puzzled. She and I either play 9/6 JOB or 8/5 Bonus Poker but you cannot get a hand pay on dollars absent a royal and this was not a royal. I then took a second look when the screen changed and saw this.
    As you can see, there Wife held three kings and hit two quads but I was still puzzled how she got $600 per hand. I then finally noticed the lower right corner which stated “Super Double Bonus Poker.” The Wife had switched out the game and instead of pressing the “Bonus Poker” button, got into the wrong game. If course in this circumstance I guess it was the “right” game. She said that she had just switched when the hit came in. At any rate, we were happy.

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    Later that night we were about to call it quits but before we did, we stopped by Total Rewards and asked for a current daily total for Wife’s card. We were told she was at 4,400 daily reward credits. So we played on until we hit 5,000. This is the first time we used her card at Lake Tahoe and I hope that one day’s heavy action on her card will generate some free play, hopefully in express play form.

    The next day, Sunday, we were driving back home. I got up that morning while wife was sleeping and hit the craps table, hoping that the tables had de-frosted. Actually it did but not much. I was down another $200 when the wife stopped by to take me for breakfast. I did not know wife was at my side as I was the only player at the table and shooting the dice when one of the dealers yelled “Watch your wallet!” I had no idea what he was talking about until I saw Wife at my side. Not surprising my next roll was “seven out.”

    After breakfast, we did a bit more gambling on my card I found myself at the craps table again and actually won. I even hit a four point fire bet. I had a $5 bet for myself and one dollar for the crew. I hit then knocked down the following points: six, eight, eight, five, nine, eight, five, eight then sevened out. I hit a few, but not many non-point numbers and I was losing a bit before the fire bet run so was up only $300 when I left the table.

    I then played fully play dollar video poker at 5-play to get points until I was approaching the 2,500 daily tier score which bonuses out another 5,000 points. At that point I decided to play the 50 play 9/6 JOB at quarters. This requires $62.50 a hand which is very rich for my blood but I was leaving soon. I was in about $300 when I started hitting with pat hands such as straights and flushes and was hovering around $700 in credits when I was dealt three to a royal: K, A and 10 all in diamonds. There was no high pair so it was an easy decision to hold all three cards. I then pressed the deal button and saw very few combinations pay, until two thirds of the hands were dealt and Royal was hit! It threw me off because the monitor showed coins flipping in the air toward me. This was the type of “BIG HIT” display I see on penny slots but never saw on video poker. Here is an image of the coins jumping out. The following images are of the same Royal including showing the particular combination. I then cashed out as you can see from the ticket. Rob Singer should be happy that when I got a Royal I simply stopped playing.

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    I did not play again and only watched Wife play until the 2,500 tier credit threshold was hit. We then packed up and headed home.

    I later looked up the Wizard of Vegas website and saw that there was a 1-1081 chance of a three card to a royal converting to a Royal Flush. Since I was playing 50 play, I had about 0.5% chance of getting a royal. This was much less than the four to a royals I had missed several times this week end on 3-play machines but I will take it. The Royal saved me from a loss of more than $200 so the drive home was quite pleasant.

    I also thought about the “mistake” by Wife that benefited us by some $1000. I wonder if others on the forum had made mistakes that caused such benefits.

    FAB

  3. #3
    Congrats on the error bonus and the royal. That's a great cashout.

  4. #4
    Thanks for the great trip report. It's always nice to have some big wins like that.

    Regarding the multi hand machine: some are programmed to automatically switch to a particular game when the machines are idle. There is the possibility that your wife started playing bonus -- then got distracted or removed her card -- and the machine reset to the other game. This has happened to me several times which is how I became alert to it.

    You were lucky on the 50 play machine. I've seen many times when someone was dealt four to the royal and didn't hit even one.

    Are the free play coupons sent to you in advance as an incentive to visit, or is it part of the promotion/offer you booked? I ask that because about every three months I get a mailer from Tahoe with a free play coupon included. The newest is for $200 of free play between July and the end of September.

  5. #5
    Originally Posted by FABismonte View Post
    We then had dinner at the Sage Room on the casino level of Harvey. This was the first time I took the wife there. I really dig the old school charm of the place with wood panels and table side cooking by tuxedoed waiters.
    I love taking the wife to the Sage Room at Harveys. It is located just feet away from the $25 single deck blackjack table that pays 3:2 on snappers. Part of the old school charm of the Sage Room is ordering cocktails at the bar before being seated at the table. We usually order a couple of rounds of drinks and during that time I slip out to that blackjack table to count to my heart's delight. When the count goes south, it's back to the bar to join the wife. Rinse and repeat a couple times to pay for first class meal and enjoy the great service to come while dining. This has been perfect cover and have never received heat from the pit in all the decades playing there.

    BTW, nice video poker jackpots at the Lake. Glad you guys enjoyed the trip.
    JSTAT on casinos, poker, and blackjack/baccarat card counting without charge. Saying what needs to said at https://twitter.com/Casino_Examiner

  6. #6
    Enjoyable read Fab. We've been to the Sage multiple times and it's always great. Stay away from the craps tables. Leave them to all the suckers who were roped into buying the phony dice influencing & dice control baloney Wong, Scoblete, etc. peddle for income because they can't actually win doing it.

    I don't understand the mindset of trying to save 25c a gallon when $500 buy-ins and multi-play dollar vp are the order of both your day. Even if you were filling up my 150 gallon rig, I'm not following it.

  7. #7
    Originally Posted by Rob.Singer View Post
    I don't understand the mindset of trying to save 25c a gallon when $500 buy-ins and multi-play dollar vp are the order of both your day. Even if you were filling up my 150 gallon rig, I'm not following it.
    There is nothing wrong with saving money -- that's rule #1. And there is nothing wrong with saving money that can be used to pay for a hobby -- and that's rule #2.

    Before I got into high value numismatics I was buying "collector coins" to fill up some Whitman folders of Indian Head Cents. Generally, these circulated Indian Heads were selling for about a dollar each at a local coin shop. When I was able to save a buck here or a buck there (often because I found a lower priced gas station or skipped dessert at a restaurant) I would use that money to buy a couple of coins. I did that as recently as about 15 years ago -- before graduating to the big leagues of PCGS Registry Coins.

    It's the same with casino gambling. There is nothing wrong with saving ten or twenty bucks at a store or at a gas station to have an extra ten or twenty bucks for a casino visit. I would never criticize anyone for doing that.

    Saving money from regular commerce for recreation is a smart thing to do -- period.

    Now, is it a little strange that someone who plays $62.50 per push of the button video poker or $25 per push of the button video poker, is concerned about saving 25-cents per gallon for gas? No. One thing has nothing to do with the other.

    When I go thru the Jack In The Box drive thru I always ask for the senior discount on my soft drinks. Sometimes it's a savings of 50-cents. And sometimes I do that after visiting a casino where I might have won or lost thousands.

    The only one who criticizes me for that is Gwen, who says "please don't tell people you're a senior citizen when you are out with me."

  8. #8
    Originally Posted by FABismonte View Post
    I later looked up the Wizard of Vegas website and saw that there was a 1-1081 chance of a three card to a royal converting to a Royal Flush. Since I was playing 50 play, I had about 0.5% chance of getting a royal.
    Congrats on the great hits.

    I think you meant to say about a 5% chance (50/1081).

  9. #9
    Alan,

    Next time request the Super Senior Discount.

  10. #10
    Redietz if I asked for the super senior discount Gwen would jump out of the car. Or worse: she'd scream that some dirty old man abducted her.

  11. #11
    Originally Posted by arcimede$ View Post
    Congrats on the great hits.

    I think you meant to say about a 5% chance (50/1081).
    Arci:

    I stand corrected. But what is an order of magnitude or two among friends?

    FAB
    Last edited by FABismonte; 06-13-2015 at 01:38 PM.

  12. #12
    Originally Posted by Alan Mendelson View Post
    Are the free play coupons sent to you in advance as an incentive to visit, or is it part of the promotion/offer you booked? I ask that because about every three months I get a mailer from Tahoe with a free play coupon included. The newest is for $200 of free play between July and the end of September.
    Hi Alan:

    For this trip, the free play was delivered in "Express play" coupons in the mail. To use them I was only required to tear the currency sized document carefully and slip into the machine along with my Total Rewards Card to access the free play. Lake Tahoe uses a lot of these which sometimes allows me to use more than one (depending on the overlap of validity dates) on a trip regardless of the one offer "limitation" otherwise printed on the offer's fine print. Sometimes there are offers I need to book ahead of time to get free play like I explained in my Easter Tahoe trip report for the "lucky Easter Egg" promotion.

    Does your Tahoe offer coupon have a written description as "Express Play"?

    FAB

  13. #13
    Why do I only remember the times in the middle of a hot roll, when my wife walks up to me, I 7 out? She knows now to wait until the end of the roll or to watch from across the room.

    Its not saving 25 cents in Nevada gas, I think to see the lake at Zephyr Cove is worth the drive. If you're lucky you might get to see the Tahoe Queen, or drive through Cave Rock. The beach is within walking distance, although the distance may be farther than use to due to drop in water level.

  14. #14
    Originally Posted by lpang View Post
    Why do I only remember the times in the middle of a hot roll, when my wife walks up to me, I 7 out?
    It's true. The dice are manufactured to show a 7 as soon as the wife walks up to the table.

  15. #15
    Originally Posted by FABismonte View Post
    Does your Tahoe offer coupon have a written description as "Express Play"?
    Yes. This is what I get (photo below). I get usually one $200 coupon per quarter. I've never been there. I once got a $500 coupon like this for Rio.
    Attached Images Attached Images  

  16. #16
    Originally Posted by lpang View Post
    Why do I only remember the times in the middle of a hot roll, when my wife walks up to me, I 7 out? She knows now to wait until the end of the roll or to watch from across the room.

    Its not saving 25 cents in Nevada gas, I think to see the lake at Zephyr Cove is worth the drive. If you're lucky you might get to see the Tahoe Queen, or drive through Cave Rock. The beach is within walking distance, although the distance may be farther than use to due to drop in water level.
    This part makes sense to me, and I understand the scenario in its entire context now.

    Alan, what I'm trying to get at is that gambling at higher levels should makes one's overall life easier when buying the necessities and convenience items. When I began playing higher limits, I learned to make just about everything I do, regardless what I buy, an easier event in my life, by not ever sweating the small stuff. You will NEVER see me drive even 500' further for 50c/gal. cheaper fuel. If a $10 coupon I'm suppose to get for a purchase online fails to take, I ignore it. If an item ends up missing from my grocery bag when I get home, I simply put it on the next list. If I find I've been overcharged $13 on my cell phone bill, it doesn't matter to me. And that constant struggle Dan puts himself through with a dollar here and two bucks there.....that stuff's just inconceivable to me any more.

    All the smaller financial annoyances in life that used to bother me, are no longer relevant issues in my life since I began playing higher limits. I just think them through, figuring that the last big win I came home with more than made up for all that, or if I lost then the loss could have been larger than if I wasted a bunch of time chasing down the pennies in life. Because of gambling, my life has become a heluva a lot more comfortable because of this approach. I've realized my time AND ESPECIALLY my peace of mind are worth so much more. Higher limit gambling has taught me this lesson.
    Last edited by Rob.Singer; 06-14-2015 at 06:33 AM.

  17. #17
    Originally Posted by Rob.Singer View Post
    You will NEVER see me drive even 500' further for 50c/gal. cheaper fuel. If a $10 coupon I'm suppose to get for a purchase online fails to take, I ignore it. If an item ends up missing from my grocery bag when I get home, I simply put it on the next list. If I find I've been overcharged $13 on my cell phone bill, it doesn't matter to me.
    All I can say is this: NOT me.

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