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Thread: Good video poker machines disappearing from Harrah's and Harvey's Tahoe

  1. #1
    vpFREE2 hasn't updated it yet, but according to 'Vegasvpplayer' and 'zorak_94945' who were at Harrah's and Harveys Lake Tahoe recently, most or all 9/6 Jacks or Better (99.54%) machines from 25¢ to $100 denominations have been downgraded to 9/5 and worse paytables.

    The best video poker game now appears to be 8/5 Bonus Poker (99.166%). Remains $10 coin-in for 1 Tier Credit.

  2. #2
    Originally Posted by nerakil View Post
    vpFREE2 hasn't updated it yet, but according to 'Vegasvpplayer' and 'zorak_94945' who were at Harrah's and Harveys Lake Tahoe recently, most or all 9/6 Jacks or Better (99.54%) machines from 25¢ to $100 denominations have been downgraded to 9/5 and worse paytables.

    The best video poker game now appears to be 8/5 Bonus Poker (99.166%). Remains $10 coin-in for 1 Tier Credit.
    And the majority of what used to be 8/5 BP are now 7/5 BP. The $5 and up reel machines in high limits have tightened up as well. We used to love Tahoe but it has been difficult for us to win there lately.

  3. #3
    Originally Posted by seemoreroyals View Post
    Originally Posted by nerakil View Post
    vpFREE2 hasn't updated it yet, but according to 'Vegasvpplayer' and 'zorak_94945' who were at Harrah's and Harveys Lake Tahoe recently, most or all 9/6 Jacks or Better (99.54%) machines from 25¢ to $100 denominations have been downgraded to 9/5 and worse paytables.

    The best video poker game now appears to be 8/5 Bonus Poker (99.166%). Remains $10 coin-in for 1 Tier Credit.
    And the majority of what used to be 8/5 BP are now 7/5 BP. The $5 and up reel machines in high limits have tightened up as well. We used to love Tahoe but it has been difficult for us to win there lately.
    Then WHY do you keep going there? Are you fond of punishment?

  4. #4
    ROB, we have been going 4-5 times a year for the last 20 plus years. We enjoy the lake and the activities that come with the lake. We like the coolness of the mountain air in the Summers there as opposed to the heat and humidity where we live in East Texas. There is really not a bad time to visit Tahoe although Summer is our favorite time of year to visit.

  5. #5
    Originally Posted by nerakil View Post
    vpFREE2 hasn't updated it yet, but according to 'Vegasvpplayer' and 'zorak_94945' who were at Harrah's and Harveys Lake Tahoe recently, most or all 9/6 Jacks or Better (99.54%) machines from 25¢ to $100 denominations have been downgraded to 9/5 and worse paytables.

    The best video poker game now appears to be 8/5 Bonus Poker (99.166%). Remains $10 coin-in for 1 Tier Credit.
    That's so frustrating. I have a trip planned for January where I was going to re-earn Diamond.

    Now it's the same 8/5 BP crap available at Rincon and Laughlin.
    Check out my poker forum, and weekly internet radio show at http://pokerfraudalert.com

  6. #6
    Originally Posted by seemoreroyals View Post
    ROB, we have been going 4-5 times a year for the last 20 plus years. We enjoy the lake and the activities that come with the lake. We like the coolness of the mountain air in the Summers there as opposed to the heat and humidity where we live in East Texas. There is really not a bad time to visit Tahoe although Summer is our favorite time of year to visit.
    I spend a lot of time there myself. Summer and winter visits, year after year since the 90's. But I NEVER give Harrahs/Harveys any of my business any more because all they do is take advantage of players.

  7. #7
    Originally Posted by Dan Druff View Post
    Originally Posted by nerakil View Post
    vpFREE2 hasn't updated it yet, but according to 'Vegasvpplayer' and 'zorak_94945' who were at Harrah's and Harveys Lake Tahoe recently, most or all 9/6 Jacks or Better (99.54%) machines from 25¢ to $100 denominations have been downgraded to 9/5 and worse paytables.

    The best video poker game now appears to be 8/5 Bonus Poker (99.166%). Remains $10 coin-in for 1 Tier Credit.
    That's so frustrating. I have a trip planned for January where I was going to re-earn Diamond.

    Now it's the same 8/5 BP crap available at Rincon and Laughlin.
    Does Rincon even have 8/5 Bonus Poker? VPFree2 does not mention that game as being available there at any denomination.

    FAB

  8. #8
    I'm obligated by personal integrity to report that I agree with "Singer" pretty much completely on this.

    I have some friends who gamed the CET system for decades via host wink-winks and Druff-style maximum manipulation and timing. They have quit the process due to recent changes and crackdowns.

  9. #9
    vpfree2 was updated 13 hours ago.

    It claims that the 25c/50c/$1/$2 50-play 9-6 JoB machines are still at Harrah's (4 total), and that there also 3-5 play $5/$10/$25 machines (which of course are minimum $75/hand, so that plays a bit big).

    It does acknowledge that the following machines were removed:
    Two $5/$10/$25 JoB machines by "hotel elevators" (never played these anyway)
    Two $1/$2 3/5 play JoB machines in high limit area (played these a ton)
    Six $1/$2/$5/$10 single play 8-5 BP machines near cashier (never played)
    Eight $25/$1/$100 single play JoB in high limit (never played, way too high)

    Someone needs to search to see if the 50-plays are still 9-6 JoB
    Check out my poker forum, and weekly internet radio show at http://pokerfraudalert.com

  10. #10
    UPDATE

    A new user named stlLonghorn registered and sent me a message to pass on here. He said he didn't post it himself because I hadn't validated his account yet (which was true).

    Hey Dan, wanted to let you know I double-checked the Harrah's 50-play machines yesterday -- they are still 99% 9/6 JOB, 8/5 BP, and 9/5 DDB. Harvey's still has it's $1 progressive that is 9/6, 8/5, and 9/6.
    Please pass this along to whomever interested.
    This is great news. I plan to play these machines rather soon.
    Check out my poker forum, and weekly internet radio show at http://pokerfraudalert.com

  11. #11
    I will be in Tahoe soon (before the end of the month) and will post a full inventory here.

  12. #12
    Thanks for the validation, Dan. If you or @acesracked_1210 are in town and want to hang out with a fellow VP Nerd, let me know.

  13. #13
    sltLonghorn's report is accurate.

    In addition, the bank of 6 $1 9/6 3-play/5-play machines between the top of the Harrah's tunnel escalator and the California Bar have been reported on several sites as gone.

    This is only partially correct. 2 have been changed to 9-5, and 2 have been changed to Five Star. 2 remain at 9-6 however.

  14. #14
    I was in Tahoe from 12/29-1/2.

    The following 9-6 Jacks or Better ($10/tier credit) were found by me in the high limit room:

    2 Spin Poker $1/$2/$5/$10, in the center of the room, closest to walkway

    2 50-Play 25c/50c/$1/$2 against the center wall

    2 3/5-Play $1/$2 against the far wall near walkway. They're the 2nd and 4th machines out of the bank of 5 (the other three are NOT 9-6 JoB)

    2 50-Play 25c/50c/$1/$2 near the high limit cashier area

    I personally played four of the above machines.

    Video poker is not yet dead at Harrah's Lake Tahoe.

    Sadly I was unaware of a 3x RC promo they have there (which is both every Thursday AND on occasion at other times), and missed out on it. You have to swipe your player's card to activate it (near the Total Rewards desk). They wouldn't let me have it retroactively when I asked about it the following day.

    Also, if you enjoy vulturing slot machines, the Golden Egypt, Ocean Magic, and Scarab are left unmolested by APs, unlike other markets. Though they're only low limit, so it's not worth much money.
    Check out my poker forum, and weekly internet radio show at http://pokerfraudalert.com

  15. #15
    the problem with these machines is that the theo is awful. doesn't seem like there's a decent reason to play there anymore

  16. #16
    I agree. Theo is awful and you will get shit offers.

    Good for earning Diamond though.
    Check out my poker forum, and weekly internet radio show at http://pokerfraudalert.com

  17. #17
    Originally Posted by goose44 View Post
    the problem with these machines is that the theo is awful. doesn't seem like there's a decent reason to play there anymore
    Goose, when you say the theo is awful, which machines are you referring to and which games?

  18. #18
    anything up there in high limit and full pay likely has an awful theo.

  19. #19
    Originally Posted by Dan Druff View Post
    I was in Tahoe from 12/29-1/2.

    The following 9-6 Jacks or Better ($10/tier credit) were found by me in the high limit room:

    2 Spin Poker $1/$2/$5/$10, in the center of the room, closest to walkway

    2 50-Play 25c/50c/$1/$2 against the center wall

    2 3/5-Play $1/$2 against the far wall near walkway. They're the 2nd and 4th machines out of the bank of 5 (the other three are NOT 9-6 JoB)

    2 50-Play 25c/50c/$1/$2 near the high limit cashier area

    I personally played four of the above machines.

    Video poker is not yet dead at Harrah's Lake Tahoe.

    Sadly I was unaware of a 3x RC promo they have there (which is both every Thursday AND on occasion at other times), and missed out on it. You have to swipe your player's card to activate it (near the Total Rewards desk). They wouldn't let me have it retroactively when I asked about it the following day.

    Also, if you enjoy vulturing slot machines, the Golden Egypt, Ocean Magic, and Scarab are left unmolested by APs, unlike other markets. Though they're only low limit, so it's not worth much money.

    Here's an update as of August 2021:

    While I admit I did not do a comprehensive inventory, from the list above I did recently see at Harrah's Tahoe:

    The two 3/5-Play $1/2 9-6 JOB against the far wall in high-limit -- still the second and fourth machines, as noted above.

    One Spin Poker 9-6 JOB at various denominations in the center of the high-limit room.

    Two 50-Play 25c/50c/$1/$2 9-6 JOB uprights against the center wall in high-limit. (It's 20 lines minimum at the 25-cent level, meaning $25 per spin.)

    Other machines of note:

    Two 3/5-Play 9-6 JOB machines at the $5, $10, and $25 level in the center of high-limit. Of course, starting at a minimum of $75 per spin, these are approaching nosebleed territory. (Notice I didn't say Stephen Paddock territory, as that would be distasteful.)

    There's actually another 3/5-Play $1/2 9-6 JOB machine outside of the high-limit room -- it's between the westernmost entrance and the California Bar. Oddly enough, it's right next to an otherwise-identical machine that only offers 9-5 JOB. This machine could be a good option if you want to hammer this game and the two machines in the high-limit room are occupied.

    Then over at Harveys, there's that row of six $1 8-5 Bonus Poker progressives.

    To the right (west) of those, there's an assortment of machines offering non-progressive 8-5 Bonus at the $1, $2, and $5 levels.

    To paraphrase John DeBella when he popped out of a coffin at a press conference after Howard Stern held a funeral for him, VP in Tahoe "ain't dead yet, boys."

    Incidentally by playing a mix-and-match rotation of most or all of the above games, it's not too hard to cruise to Diamond Elite if you're interested in doing so.

    For several reasons, I choose not to pursue Seven Stars, but if you're so inclined I would imagine this is one of the better ways to grind up to that level as well.

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