Pechanga looks like the winner for Video Poker

[Alan Mendelson]

It looks like Pechanga is the winner for video poker now in the San Diego area. Pechanga still has various full pay machines including 9/6 Jacks and 8/5 Bonus even at the 25-cent, single line games and including higher denominations at $5 and up.

Pechanga also has a large number of video poker terminals. I haven't made a count but I think it's a safe bet that Pechanga -- the largest casino in the Western United States and having more slots than any casino in Vegas -- probably has more video poker machines as well than any others.

Pechanga also has a weekly free play offer but I haven't been a regular there for several years so I don't know about a separate cash back program.

Pechanga also has a yearly gift event similar to what Caesars/Harrah's does with its Great Gift Wrap Up.

If anyone has current info on the Pechanga video poker environment, please let us know.

By the way, the Pechanga high limit rest rooms are featured in my report on the best casino restrooms here: http://www.alanbestbuys.com/id223.html

I haven't had dinner there in several years but I remember the restaurants as being excellent with good prices. Free valet service which is also good but also plenty of nearby self parking garages.

And Pechanga has one of the nicest, if not the nicest video poker rooms in Southern Cal. If there is a drawback, it's that the place is too big.

[arcimede$]

"Pechanga also has a weekly free play offer but I haven't been a regular there for several years so I don't know about a separate cash back program."

Sorry Alan, but how can you make any kind of analysis based on things like this. If you don't know the very basics required to assess whether a place is a "winner" then all you are doing is flailing in the dark. Silly nonsense.

[redietz]

Funny you should mention this, Alan, as a friend of mine took her father to Pechanga for Father's Day, accompanied by her mother, daughter, brother, and assorted relatives. They had a great time, mainly because they did well playing video poker. The only problem was that, with her parents 80-ish, getting them from point A to B in the casino required some logistics. It is, as you said, a big place.

The vp included 9/6 J or B. I think she said they also had NSUD. Free play is much lower than in the past, but still pretty generous.

Pechanga is actually very similar to a casino in my neck of the woods -- Cherokee in North Carolina, also Harrah's. Cherokee has expanded and is now in the ballpark sizewise with Pechanga. They both are also very uncramped -- lots of space, lots of non-gambling space.

[Rob.Singer]

Alan, exactly where is Pechanga? And don't worry--I'll listen to you and not irritatingly criticize what you say because I had to get up in the middle of the night or have nothing to look forward to tomorrow but build a walker.

If it's as big as you say, I'm sure the restaurants are excellent in line with everything else there. Redietz, I've been to Cherokee a half dozen times because I think I mentioned my in-laws live in Asheville. The last time there was expansion as el as ongoing construction....in 2010. Is it really THAT big now? I didn't get that feeling about it. It also didn't have a lot for vp.

[redietz]

I think Cherokee increased their floor space by maybe 40% and doubled their number of rooms. They have lots of vp now plus a decent buffet. When I first went there maybe eight years back, they basically had no restaurants and a crappy buffet. Now they have Paula Dean's Kitchen, the new steakhouse, and a buffet that is as good as any in LV except Wynn/M/Planet Ho/Bellagio. They also opened a "poker room" with a couple of tables.

You know, I may head over there this weekend, so I will report if I do. It is a pain-in-the-ass to drive to -- winding roads up and down hill and dale.

They also recently passed legislation to allow live dealers. Currently they are just electronic. And alcohol's allowed now; a couple of years ago they didn't sell alcohol.

[arcimede$]

I visited Cherokee over 10 years ago. At the time the only decent game I could find was Shamrock Sevens. Do they still have that game?

[Alan Mendelson]

Pechanga is in northern San Diego County and just about two miles off the 15 Freeway in Temecula. It is about 90 minutes south of Los Angeles when you don't travel during rush hour. I once had to go to a business meeting in Temecula at 6:30pm and I left LA at 3-PM but did not arrive till 7:30-PM because of the traffic along the 91 and the 15.

For those travelling south to the San Diego casinos, Pechanga is the closest to the I-15. Next is Pala and then several smaller casinos including Rincon. Rincon is about 20 minutes beyond Pechanga.

[redietz]

Arci, I don't even know what Shamrock Sevens is -- so educate me and I'll look for it.

They had 9/6 a couple of years ago, but that was MIA last year. There were two banks of NSUD machines last trip -- have no idea if they are still there. I haven't been there in almost a year, so I have no clue. They seem to change things up pretty dramatically.

[arcimede$]

According to vpfree2 they have 9/6 JOB and NSUD at the $5 level.

Shamrock Sevens is a variation of joker poker where you have a bonus round anytime you end up with 3 sevens. There's no real way to create a strategy without knowing the frequency of the various bonus payouts. However, my gut feeling had the game close to 100%.

[Rob.Singer]

Now there's a scientific answer! Joker poker with a "gut feeling"? God bless an AP's ability to self-valuate all that slot club fluff, right arci?

[arcimede$]

Now there's a scientific answer! Joker poker with a "gut feeling"? God bless an AP's ability to self-valuate all that slot club fluff, right arci?

It has nothing to do with the slot club. The bonus payouts are like a bonus round on slot machines. You win extra credits during the bonus round.

Now, don't you feel quite foolish? It appears you need to get out more often if you don't know what a "bonus round" is all about.

[redietz]

If I head there tomorrow, I will report. I have never seen Shamrock Sevens, but I'll give them a whirl. It appears as if blowing money at Native American Harrah's gets me better stuff than LV Harrah's. Do not know why. Maybe they figure anybody who ventures to an out-of-the-way Native American place is a real addict, so they rate you better. Who knows? But I love the new buffet and like Paula Dean's Kitchen. There goes the diet, guys.

[Rob.Singer]

It has nothing to do with the slot club. The bonus payouts are like a bonus round on slot machines. You win extra credits during the bonus round.

Now, don't you feel quite foolish? It appears you need to get out more often if you don't know what a "bonus round" is all about.

Umm...tell us more about that "gut feeling" again? Now get back to that bonus round of reading those gauges properly. After all, you failed her back then, so try to do it right this time.

[arcimede$]

Umm...tell us more about that "gut feeling" again? Now get back to that bonus round of reading those gauges properly. After all, you failed her back then, so try to do it right this time.

Actually, it was initially a "gut feeling". Being a little more intelligent than hacks like yourself, I did an analysis based on an average value from the bonus round. Even using a fairly low average value the return came out near 100%. Of course, I realize this kind of task is beyond your abilities. After all, you thought making up the 5th card flip-over lie was smart. Instead, it has made you look like a simpleton. How could anyone with any smarts at all claim a mathematical impossibility with a straight face. It's still hilarious.

Now, you compound your problems yet again. Every time you comment you make your ignorance more and more obvious. Please continue.

[redietz]

Update:

Not going to Cherokee. When Arci mentioned the $5 NSUD, I thought that was in addition to their 25-cent banks. Not the case, according to vpfree2. So their decent games are in denominations of $5. Not for me. If you don't play max coins, you lose 1% of value, and I don't play max coins at $5.

Oh well, their buffet and Paula Dean's Kitchen would've wrecked my diet anyway. The buffet is top notch.

[Rob.Singer]

Actually, it was initially a "gut feeling". Being a little more intelligent than hacks like yourself, I did an analysis based on an average value from the bonus round. Even using a fairly low average value the return came out near 100%. Of course, I realize this kind of task is beyond your abilities. After all, you thought making up the 5th card flip-over lie was smart. Instead, it has made you look like a simpleton. How could anyone with any smarts at all claim a mathematical impossibility with a straight face. It's still hilarious.

Now, you compound your problems yet again. Every time you comment you make your ignorance more and more obvious. Please continue.

I like how you get so rattled that you babble on and on while you try so hard to explain yourself as you make it up on the go. WAIT! It was the part that you COULDN'T respond to that set you off again!!

Right between the eyes......