Caesars Windsor 9/30 to 10/04

[chattycattty]

Going to Caesars Windsor for 1st time. Doing one of our 7 star trips so we have $500 to spend for dining and plan to try their diamond lounge. Evidently this CET property does not offer free drinks. We were advised by host to have limo driver stop on the way at liquor store and stock up on provisions.

Anyone have an opinion on video poker there? If you have had some luck and don't mind sharing we welcome any suggestions. I couldn't find any full pay machines on the internet for them. I did notice on CET's website that they do have triple play machines which I prefer paying as long as the odds aren't too low.

As far as non-gambling is concerned the only thing we have planned is the Lionel Richie concert the last night we are there. We love to walk and have heard Windsor is wonderful place for walkers. We would welcome any ideas on things to see in and around the Windsor area.

Thanks in advance for any help or suggestions.

[marie meijer]

The casino is world class, huge, clean, great food and pleasant, helpful personnel. You will enjoy walking along the waterfront. If a Windsor booklet is not in your room, ask at info first floor or at registration desk. Use room key to access lovely pool and exercise room on 2nd floor. Great 5K seat auditorium. VP is only on first floor, by escalators, back door and high players along wall between those two. All of Ontario is smoke free. We have yet to take time for the two brewery tours in Windsor- Hiram Walker and ? on Sat?. Devonshire Mall is way out Howard St w movies. (never go there) Self serve beverage stations on each floor. I am comfy w security. Check it out on the net. G L! report back to us!

[marie meijer]

Request a river front room as opposed to city scape (IE ROOF TOPS). It's an international waterway w barges from many parts of the world passing through plus other boating activity. Maybe dinner cruises will still be running then. Newish Augustus Tower is near regis. desk, restaurant and route to auditorium. IF you use pool, hot tub and exercise room often you'll prefer older but still great FORUM tower near Nero restaurant and Artists Cafe. We request a room near the elevators. I usually play TDB and pay tables hurt. There is a tunnel bus to Detroit. You can catch the PEOPLE Mover at Ren Cen to GREEKTOWN CASINO, a few blocks in from the Detroit River. Better pay tables and more machines and variety in VP. People Mover is 4 mile mono rail down town loop, 13 brief stops, .75. LOOONG line up for concerts begins on 2nd floor towards regis desk. It's amazing how fast peeps can get in and out of that 5K seat auditorium with many ushers to assist.

[BillyJoe]

I, too, was thinking of using one of my 7Star trips for Windsor, since I had never been there. No US tax on hand-pays, right?

I would be anxious to hear how you enjoyed it.

[chattycattty]

Thank you for the helpful information. I believe the host my wife is working with has us in an executive suite in the Augustus tower with a river view. She heard somewhere that it is a long way to the casino from the Augustus tower so we do not know what to expect.

We are coming in on a Monday and leaving early that Friday morning. We are hopeful that the tours and dinner cruise you mentioned will still be going on. Sounds like there are no full pay VP machines in Windsor so if my wife does not do well on slots and I don't have a good hit on VP we will be looking for other things to do. I wish Niagara Falls was closer. We have never been. If it wasn't 4 hours each way we had thought about renting a car and doing a day trip there.

[chattycattty]

Billyjoe, we will let you know what are impressions of Windsor are when we get back. We have real low expectations on the gambling at this time. I hope we will be pleasantly surprised.

Windsor does have a lot of first rate entertainment. We are looking forward to seeing Lionel Richie. The hosts there so far seem like a breath of fresh air compared to other CET properties we have been to lately.

They worked with us to get first class air on our trip. When we took our 7 star trip to Vegas in Feb., even though it was our 25th wedding anniversary ( we got married in Vegas ) the hosts in Vegas refused to work with us even though the total for first class tickets was right at the $1200 allowed.

[marie meijer]

Windsor...No US tax on hand-pays, right?

 Guess again, billy. Since Windsor casino became a Harrah's property several years ago, wins show up on Harrah's Win Loss statement! They do not give out W2's with their hand pay, however. go figure!I predict the Ritchie show will be sold out. There are huge screens stage right and left.The casino is non smoking but has ltd no. of hotel smoking rooms.Redemption machines will exchange USD to CAD, saving trips to cashier. Click on "agree to exchange rate" and "dispense". ONE cashier booth at far end on first floor and one located in poker room on 2nd floor.You will enjoy the spacious Market Buffet on lower level w many stations and tier seating area. Amazing dessert circle!

[chattycattty]

Thanks again Marie for the helpful information. On the handpays, since they do not issue w-2's, is the threshold still $1200, and I guess the exchange rate is close to 1:1 so if you hit a jackpot of say 1200 credits they would bring it to you in Canadian dollars?

[marie meijer]

Yes, Windsor hand pays are in CAD. The exchange rate can vary on a daily basis. You pay a little % every time you exchange money. The exchange rate is currently a tad in favor of Canada. Put in a bengie US and you get a handful of bills and some loonies (dollar coin) or toonies (2 dollar coin) back unless you also feed in a few singles to cover the exchange rate. Canada has recently eliminated pennies. Eventually you will have a pocket full of those coins to tip or turn in at cashier for bills. I usually keep Canadian money for next trip. Hubby usually converts it back to US thinking in error he's never going back!

[BillyJoe]

[QUOTE=billyjoe] Windsor...No US tax on hand-pays, right?

 
Guess again, billy. Since Windsor casino became a Harrah's property several years ago, wins show up on Harrah's Win Loss statement! They do not give out W2's with their hand pay, however. go figure!
[/QUOTE]
Well, if I get no W2G, then they do not report the winnings against my SSN in the US, and that is all that matters. Whether they include it on the CET W/L statements is fine, as long as the IRS doesn't know.
 
That, of course, assumes I have a win ..