Video Poker Forum

   I decided to play more in casinos that are smoke free as I have a persistent cough. Illinois is non smoking.   The Rivers is a bit more than a year old, and is Illinois' highest grossing casino. They have 43,000 sq ft with1050 gaming machines, including a good variety of video poker. 44 video poker games are listed on this site and 48 table games. If you're a nickle player, like me, you'll not find much. 4 50/100 play machines, .02 and .05 cents. Also 2 in the high limit. You have to play a minimum of 20 lines on the draw poker or 17 on STP Quick Quads. So $2 minimum on the .02 and .05 is $5 minimum. I couldn't get on the QQ, so I played draw poker on the 50 play STP so I could play TDB.    The pay schedules are not very good. I didn't write them down as I needed to hurry. All Illinois casinos are open 22/7. This one opens at 9am and closes at 7am and it was near closing time. I played TDB on a 100 play STP, but played draw poker as only DDB is available on STP.    The best pay tables.     99.00%  BSP-JOB   200 16 8 5 2 2 2 1     $1     20-25 coins   1play   MS     98.99% BSP-DW    200 75 10 7 5 3 2 1    $1      20-25 coins 1play MS     98.98% DDB 800 50 400 160 160 80 50 9 6 4 3 1 1    $1 $2 $5 $10 $25   1 play, SP, 50 play     98.91% DW44 800 200 25 15 9 4 4 3 2 1     $1 $2 $5 $10 $25   1 play, SP, 50 play     98.90% BSP-JJ 200 25 19 13 5 3 1 1 1    $1 20-25 coins 1play MS     98.85% SA  800 60 400 80 50 7 5 4 3 1 1    $5 $10 $25 1 play       98.81% BSP-JP 200 40 30 13 6 4 2 1 1 1    $1 20-25 coins 1 play MS         $10 Coin in = 1 point. 100 points = $1 comp. 0.1% No cashback.                      I lost $400.     Rivers Casino   3000 S River Rd   Des Plaines, IL          

   They have a $500 new member payback.  I will recieve a mailer in 4 to 6 weeks with my freeplay. Promo lasts through September!

   They have a $500 new member payback.  I will recieve a mailer in 4 to 6 weeks with my freeplay. Promo lasts through September!

Thats a great promo! Good luck!

   Thanks, I'm glad I didn't go earlier in the summer when they had a free buffet for new members!

   Came out $130 ahead after playing my $400 cashback.

I'm 20 minutes away from Rivers, 1 hour away from Harrahs Joliet.  I was excited yet worried that a casino was going to be so close to home, for fear of losing my home.  No worries, not a Rivers fan.  I much prefer Harrahs. I've been to Rivers 5 times in the 15 months that it's been open, the last time 10 months ago.  They have 1,050 gaming machines, maybe only 80 VP, most machines are very tight. Not for me.

  I goofed, please remove, Mr Webman       Dave

   I agree, Sandrina, and welcome to the forum!  I'm a nickle player and The Rivers caters to the dollar players. Harrahs Joliet has a lot of nickle video poker, and better comps/freeplay. I've done much better there.      Dave

My husband and I hit Harrah's a couple of times a month, but I don't recall seeing nickle video poker there. Please let me know where the nickle machines are located. We recently made a stop at Hollywood Joliet (just down the road a few miles) and found they now have nickle VP machines.

     You may be right. I always go late at night, after midnight until close. There used to be a couple 100 play QQs that they got rid of. I usually  play the 50 play STP as draw poker for a nickel. Some of the games that require 6 to 10 coins can be played as 5 coin draw poker. Look at all the 3/5/10 games such as STP,  SuperStar, Ultimate X. Some can be played for nickles. Look in the video poker area along the back wall and nearby.     I believe all the single play machines are quarters and up.       Dave