I hate to do this but I feel it is my duty....

[DaBurglar]

This last week (03/07 thru today) in and around AC was in many ways and for many reasons, possibly my worst ever.    I am sorry if this seems like another "Da Burglar rants about AC again even though he still claims he likes going there" essays, but I don't see how I can minimize or sugarcoat this....First, the easy portion, the gambling:   I crapped out in the one tournament I entered, and in the cash game play I engaged in at both Borgata and Ballys, I lost $120 in about 6 hours total time logged (not a terrible result by any stretch, but I just was not about to try and put a positive spin on it given all else that happened.....)Video Poker:    My recent "minimalist" approach to playing VP in AC still might, in other players eyes, seem significant, even though it represents a serious drop off  for me personally.   This trip I allotted (I hate using the term "Budgeted" when describing gambling) a healthy 1200 bucks to try my video poker luck ......The majority of my VP play took place at the TAJ, Ballys and (much to my dismay and regret, and mistake) RESORTS.I did hit AWAK 25 cents once on the QQ game at the TAJ for 500 bucks, and I had a 210 dollar hit on Ballys progressive DDB game with four 2s & kicker, but other than these hits, EVERYTHING else was a horror show, and I lost the entire 1200 (plus the 2 hits mentioned above) by weeks end.    the worst by far was at Resorts, where my total losses were 840 bucks in just under 3 hours of play, mostly on 9/6/5 DB and 8/5 BP......and worse than that, Resorts no longer awards ANYTHING for video poker play (I mean NOTHING......the 840 bucks I lost earned me 1 point and 3 comp dollars!)    This was my own stupid fault, in that, I forgot that about mid point last year, Resorts simply up and changed its policy and stopped awarding much of anything to video poker players.   Resorts is now owned by Mohegan, and I actually spoke with a host at Resorts on Wednesday after my disastrous showing....I asked the guy "Hey, what's the deal here? look at my play,,,,,"    The host (named "James") flatly and directly told me "Yeah, MOST casinos now have the policy of not awarding much for Video poker play.   See, players can essentially BREAK EVEN playing video poker, so....."  His words trailed off and he waited to see how I would respond.   I paused, and then simply asked him for a "extra" food comp, and he gave me 50 bucks at Gallaghers, so that was something, but still hardly enough.......And furthermore, his statement that "MOST PLACES no longer reward Video Poker play" was just his cover story for the fact that it is MOHEGAN SUN's policy not to reward much for video poker play (i.e. NOTHING really.)   While it is true other casinos have reduced rewards for video poker, NO ONE in my knowledge has cut them as badly or as totally as Mohegan/Resorts-AC has done!!!!    Anyway, I had typically horrible results in a bunch of other sessions of various lenghts and on various games at Taj, BAllys and Harrahs.    What made this especially painful was this:   In the past (I mean back in the day in Vegas or Reno)  if you had a bad day or session, you could go away, relax in your room, do something else, and then come back to a different machine at a different time in a different casino and see different results (usually at least SLIGHTLY BETTER).....this always was the case, bad results/luck rarely followed you EVERYWHERE ALL THE TIME ANYWHERE YOU WENT !    yet that is exactly what I saw this week in AC, more or less......Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday & Saturday Morning....nothing changed.Did not matter if I put 20 bucks in or 200.....did not matter if I played DDB, DB, BP, JOB, BPDLX, White hot aces, One eyed jacks, Quck Quads, Dreamcard, Goodtimes, or Random Retards,......I hit NOTHING!!!!   the word "duds" doesn't even cover it this time.....UN FRIGGIN REAL.I have other things to report which will be more interesting (but no less annoying or unfortunate) about my past week in AC, including what is going on with the city of AC itself and with the Casinos in general and the Union Local 540, etc......and especially with the TAJ and Mr. ICahn!!!!     

[DaBurglar]

The Taj is circling the drain......Ichan is no longer going to plop anymore money into it since the idiots running (ruining) the state of NJ are seriously intent on putting another casino or two in north jersey (it is supposed to be decided in a Vote this november), and with this possibility hanging over the horizon, why on earth is Ichan going to invest anymore in the TAJ and attempt to turn it around like he did the tropicana???    Answer:  he is NOT.    Therefore, the TAJ most likely will be gone by the summers end ......this is what I heard from several employees I know and spoke with at the Taj this past week.     It is really a sad pathetic state of affairs......They will keep the TAJ going just long enough to try and get the summer crowd to drop whatever they can in what is left of the Taj, and then they will shutter the doors, around September 10 (just after labor day), waiting to see how the vote goes in November.  By all accounts, if they manage to put it up to vote, that will most assuredly mean it will pass!   And when it does, Icahn will totally pull the plug and good bye taj mahal.The place is a cess pool now.....this past week while I was there, the #2 elevator shaft (of three that typically operate) in the CHAIRMANS tower was out of service and had a big yellow caution/out of order plastic divider posted outside the OPEN elevator shaft!   ALL WEEK LONG this was there, with NO sign of anyone actually working to fix or repair it......and then the coup de grace......in the Convention floor hallway/lobby that leads to the connection with Resorts-AC next door, the entire ceiling was "Falling apart", which meant they had to erect fencing INSIDE the convention floor corridor to cordon off the sections that had falling parts of ceiling;  they also had a security permanently stationed outside this large internal fence/cordon to make sure no one crossed the barrier and had a lighting fixture or ceramic tile fall on their head!    What a total joke!    Last winter it was nothing but busted pipes....now with a mild winter, the ceiling caves in!    This would never be allowed to happen in Nevada.....Next, the city of AC itself is being taken over IN TOTAL by the state.....the state will be running EVERYTHING, thanks to the absolute shambles of AC's finances and the result this has had on all aspects of the city's operations.    It's a total travesty.....basic city services, like getting a friggin ambulance, are no longer guaranteed or able to meet minimum standards.   Scary stuff......Just what business do the brainiacs who are pushing another couple of casinos in the meadowlands think is going to materialize to make these worthwhile in the long run?    HOW DO PEOPLE reach such desperate delusional decisions??

[FAA]

Silver Linings Playbook: congratulations on hanging in for six hours of high pressure live poker with minimal damage.
Thanks for the guinea pig leg work and reporting for the bewildered AC clientele. There are five casinos in town where I would only play with house money, and reluctantly at that. I did so at Bally's today, and saw my winnings evaporate as fast as I earned them! I fled in horror after yet another Bally's beat down. Occasionally someone will win a fat slot prize there, but that's about it. I have really soured on them. Taj is a mystery to me. Resorts I have minimal experience with, a grueling session to break even. No desire to play there. Harrah's robbed me too. But it was mostly my own fault by not quitting while ahead. I may give them another chance.

[olds442jetaway]

What a bummer. I hear you on the Resorts situation. The vp results sound very familiar. The dud streaks there and at Mohegan are unbelievable. I have a new method of survival playing there that I have been posting about lately. Actually, I am well on my way to another 500k Royalless streak at Mohegan. Close to 145k hands now without one.
     One minor correction on the points situation. At Mohegan Sun, only the 300 or so vp machines that are marked do not pay Momentum Dollars. These are of the 99% variety. Playing the others as far as points go is hardly worth it since you need to cycle close to 500 bucks through for one Momentum Dollar which can be spent on gas, food, shops, etc.
      If you play a lot where you can attain level 3, there is still a good benefit at Mohegan on the no points machines. I will use myself as an example. You still earn status points at about the same rate on the no Momentum Dollar machines. Every month, I get 800 what they call choice credits. They are use or lose. You can redeem 100 of them for 50 bucks in free play once a month. I also get a couple of hundred a month in other free play offers. There are other minimal perks like small gifts, shows, etc. You can use the choice credits to " pay " for lounge access and rooms. Some mid week room offers appear too as comps. They also have various award levels for more free play depending on how much you play in a gaming day and how many status points you are up too. This is just an overview. The whole system is quite complicated and nowhere as good as the old days. For instance, I have to cycle about 15k through a vp machine in a gaming day to get 100 bucks in free play. More detail on their web site on all of the tier levels etc. The bottom line is the vp player is being punished. Nobody forces us to go there but I really miss the old days.

     Edited to add....Playing a 9/6 job machine at Mohegan with that 100- in free play for 15k cycled through actually puts you at playing just over a 100 percent level. That is assuming you hit the Royals as you should long term. That just doesn't happen for me at least going back about the last 6 years.

[FAA]

That's another issue. Grinding away like a zombie for next to nothing at CET is brutal. Now you earn another entry into their absurd Gladiator blackjack promo with $1,250 coin in on full pay JOB. Or hold your breath on the less than full pay machines if you lack a day to kill.

[olds442jetaway]

     I was actually thinking of starting a portable spa and massage business that actually comes to your machine while you are in the midst of a grueling marathon. Pretty gal or good lucking guy as the case may be, hot towels, a trained masseuse, refreshing and healthy drink, and even one of those portable folding bicycle type exercisers to replace your seat. I really need to get down to the boardwalk before the entire industry down there implodes. I really enjoyed it in the 80's as did the wife. Still have my dad though thanks to the guy upstairs and he is my full time job. A proud WW11 vet that still has his wits about him and a good ol Yankee sense of humor.

[DaBurglar]

     I was actually thinking of starting a portable spa and massage business that actually comes to your machine while you are in the midst of a grueling marathon. Pretty gal or good lucking guy as the case may be, hot towels, a trained masseuse, refreshing and healthy drink, and even one of those portable folding bicycle type exercisers to replace your seat. I really need to get down to the boardwalk before the entire industry down there implodes. I really enjoyed it in the 80's as did the wife. Still have my dad though thanks to the guy upstairs and he is my full time job. A proud WW11 vet that still has his wits about him and a good ol Yankee sense of humor. what can you tell us about your dad's WWII experiences olds?    I am a Military History Buff and would love to know what his memories are , especially if you say his wits are still with him!!!!    So few vets from that era are still with us these days!   Also, what you describe, a masseuse / masseur is indeed available at some (but NOT ALL)  poker rooms in various casinos throughout north america.....but they are not as detail oriented or dynamic (or just plain attractive)  as what you describe in your business plan!     I will gladly invest in this venture of yours if you are serious! 

[JT]

I've pretty much abandoned the boardwalk casinos. Only Caesars' seems still maintained (fully 1/2 of Bally's floor is simply empty, including the entire WWW section, they turned the back which used to be the VP area into poker tables, and the rest of it is simply open space with a few table games that aren't in play, there's a few slots and a bar still at the front by the BW entrance) and the rest of them just, well, suck. The Taj used to be my home there, but it's so bad now it's just too sad to go into.   If you're going to AC, the only place to play VP is Borgata, and the only casinos worth visiting are on the Marina.   

[FAA]

I couldn't buy a vowel at Bally's yesterday. Walked next door. Five quads in under three hours. Bally's VP is unplayable beyond one hour. You will simply give back what little was earned, or you will cease to hold your own. The clientele and waitresses are eyesores in equal measure. JT, your post got me to thinking. I simply do not trust the venue. Plus it's not even fun. No way should I continue to abide these results. Heck, I don't even have to go outside to switch casinos!

[DaBurglar]

I've pretty much abandoned the boardwalk casinos. Only Caesars' seems still maintained (fully 1/2 of Bally's floor is simply empty, including the entire WWW section, they turned the back which used to be the VP area into poker tables, and the rest of it is simply open space with a few table games that aren't in play, there's a few slots and a bar still at the front by the BW entrance) and the rest of them just, well, suck. The Taj used to be my home there, but it's so bad now it's just too sad to go into.   If you're going to AC, the only place to play VP is Borgata, and the only casinos worth visiting are on the Marina.   
+1     Thanks for adding your own weight & verification to my comments, thus the readers will know this is not simply me bashing tramp taj & AC again.....If the Taj goes (which is now all but a certainty), then Resorts AC is sure to follow, unless by some miracle SOMEONE somewhere can see their way to actually purchasing the TAJ and keeping it going as a casino-resort.    I guess we could hope that Mohegan might buy the Taj and simply expand their holding of Resorts to engulf and include the TAJ;  turn it all into a SUPER-CASINO/resort  which rivals the connecticut property.There is simply no way resorts AC can survive a Trump Taj closing, not under current circumstances, and certainly not if the steel pier goes with the TAJ, as that would all but KILL the vital SUMMERTIME tourist traffic that gravitates to that end of the boardwalk.    With the loss of 2 more casinos, AC is totally bereft of any future, and will have to permanently remain under the state's direct management and in receivership.