Low Limit Gambling Destinations
#31
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: JFK/LGA/EWR
Posts: 1,296
There used to be a riverboat casino "parked" right at the back of the Hilton in New Orleans, about two blocks from Harrah's. I don't know whether it still is there.
IIRC St Louis has gambling on some riverboats near the arch.
In Minnesota, there's an Indian casino in Shakopee, not far from MSP airport. Another is a couple hours' drive north, at Mille Lacs. There must be some others in the area.
IIRC St Louis has gambling on some riverboats near the arch.
In Minnesota, there's an Indian casino in Shakopee, not far from MSP airport. Another is a couple hours' drive north, at Mille Lacs. There must be some others in the area.
I remember visiting an Indian casino near MSP maybe 10 years ago or so and I wonder if it's the same one you're referring to. I don't remember much about it but it was very pleasant.
#32
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: ORD/MDW
Programs: AA EXP, DL-Plat, WN-CP | Hotels: Choice-Gld, IHG-Plt, Rad-Gld, HH-Dia, Hyatt-Glob, Marriott-LtPlt
Posts: 2,888
I visited Harrah's NO in December and also don't recall any casino on a riverboat near there. I did walk right by a riverboat behind the Hilton New Orleans Riverside, but, the riverboat was not a casino.
#34
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Berkeley, California
Programs: Starwood Gold, Hyatt Platinum
Posts: 560
Deadwood, SD. I liked the old west history of all the saloons. There are some great national and state parks nearby, as well. South Dakota legalized gambling in Deadwood as a means of paying for restoring the historic downtown, but to keep out Las Vegas style casinos, they set the max bet at $5.00 for all table games. They recently raised the max bet to $100, but I understand that it's still a low rolling kind of place.
They had plenty of blackjack and poker tables when I was there. I don't play slots, so I don't know what the video poker is like.
They had plenty of blackjack and poker tables when I was there. I don't play slots, so I don't know what the video poker is like.
#35
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Charlotte, NC, USA | CLT, formerly LHR & AMS (with just a bit of PSP)
Programs: BAEC Gold, Hilton Diamond, BonVoy Titanium, (soon former) Caesars7*, (former) Wynn Black, HR "Icon"
Posts: 8,168
Kigali, Rwanda? Seriously?
There is $1 blackjack in Atlantic City, with a HORRIBLE 25cent ante rule. (I've never checked it out personally, but it does exist if one is dumb enough to play it.... )
#36
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 886
How long ago did you see the riverboat casino? I was at Harrah's NO in the fall and don't remember it. There are plenty of riverboats of course but I don't recall anything like a gambling barge.
I remember visiting an Indian casino near MSP maybe 10 years ago or so and I wonder if it's the same one you're referring to. I don't remember much about it but it was very pleasant.
I remember visiting an Indian casino near MSP maybe 10 years ago or so and I wonder if it's the same one you're referring to. I don't remember much about it but it was very pleasant.
#37
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: DTW
Programs: Dirt Status w/ All
Posts: 5,040
Deadwood, SD. I liked the old west history of all the saloons. There are some great national and state parks nearby, as well. South Dakota legalized gambling in Deadwood as a means of paying for restoring the historic downtown, but to keep out Las Vegas style casinos, they set the max bet at $5.00 for all table games. They recently raised the max bet to $100, but I understand that it's still a low rolling kind of place.
They had plenty of blackjack and poker tables when I was there. I don't play slots, so I don't know what the video poker is like.
They had plenty of blackjack and poker tables when I was there. I don't play slots, so I don't know what the video poker is like.
My travel plans had to be put on hold due to some family medical issues, but those are hopefully resolving themselves shortly. Weather-wise, how early is too early to do a driving tour of Colorado, Wyoming, Dakotas, Montana, etc.?
I need a one way rental deal like Thrifty had last year with the $1/day SEA-SFO.
#38
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: DTW
Programs: Dirt Status w/ All
Posts: 5,040
And the winner is .......
Colorado!
Just booked a flight for Friday to Tuesday over Easter into DEN along with a cheap rental car. I'll be sure to hit Cripple Creek and Black Hawk. I'll let the weather and how I feel any given day decide where I go otherwise.
I see there are some casinos around Santa Fe and Albuquerque. Are they worthwhile for that long of a drive?
Colorado!
Just booked a flight for Friday to Tuesday over Easter into DEN along with a cheap rental car. I'll be sure to hit Cripple Creek and Black Hawk. I'll let the weather and how I feel any given day decide where I go otherwise.
I see there are some casinos around Santa Fe and Albuquerque. Are they worthwhile for that long of a drive?
#39
Join Date: Jul 2004
Posts: 29
Saw you already booked..
Trump Plaza in AC seems to have changed their strategy and is catering to low rollers. They have $3 craps and 1$ BJ all day every day.
I like their $3 craps.. I was amazed that $3 craps even existed in AC. even 5$ is relatively hard to come by except for way way off peak times (weekdays, early weekends)
Trump Plaza in AC seems to have changed their strategy and is catering to low rollers. They have $3 craps and 1$ BJ all day every day.
I like their $3 craps.. I was amazed that $3 craps even existed in AC. even 5$ is relatively hard to come by except for way way off peak times (weekdays, early weekends)
#40
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: DTW
Programs: Dirt Status w/ All
Posts: 5,040
Are the rules the same for the $3 craps tables? I was in Caesars Windsor a couple weeks ago - curious as to why the $5 table was empty. After I cashed in and put out a pass bet, I realized it was a crapless craps table. I didn't know the odds/strategy, but being a gimmick game I figured it was bad and walked away after hitting a point.
AC does not feel like a destination for me. It is on my list to hit some day when I am in the area, or maybe a quick overnight trip. I'll probably end up doing more driving than gambling on the Colorado trip - especially if I head towards SD.
AC does not feel like a destination for me. It is on my list to hit some day when I am in the area, or maybe a quick overnight trip. I'll probably end up doing more driving than gambling on the Colorado trip - especially if I head towards SD.
#41
Join Date: Jul 2004
Posts: 29
Are the rules the same for the $3 craps tables? I was in Caesars Windsor a couple weeks ago - curious as to why the $5 table was empty. After I cashed in and put out a pass bet, I realized it was a crapless craps table. I didn't know the odds/strategy, but being a gimmick game I figured it was bad and walked away after hitting a point.
AC does not feel like a destination for me. It is on my list to hit some day when I am in the area, or maybe a quick overnight trip. I'll probably end up doing more driving than gambling on the Colorado trip - especially if I head towards SD.
AC does not feel like a destination for me. It is on my list to hit some day when I am in the area, or maybe a quick overnight trip. I'll probably end up doing more driving than gambling on the Colorado trip - especially if I head towards SD.
I've never been to any gambling destination outside of Foxwoods, Vegas (and Macau in the 80s where it was a backwoods gambling destination for HKers), so I have no context of where AC lies (ie: Tahoe, NOLA, etc). I probably wouldnt go out of my way to fly to AC as there isnt much to do here but gamble.
#42
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Middle Tennessee
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, Marriott Titanium Hilton Diamond, WN, AA, Total Rewards Diamond
Posts: 32
And the winner is .......
Colorado!
Just booked a flight for Friday to Tuesday over Easter into DEN along with a cheap rental car. I'll be sure to hit Cripple Creek and Black Hawk. I'll let the weather and how I feel any given day decide where I go otherwise.
I see there are some casinos around Santa Fe and Albuquerque. Are they worthwhile for that long of a drive?
Colorado!
Just booked a flight for Friday to Tuesday over Easter into DEN along with a cheap rental car. I'll be sure to hit Cripple Creek and Black Hawk. I'll let the weather and how I feel any given day decide where I go otherwise.
I see there are some casinos around Santa Fe and Albuquerque. Are they worthwhile for that long of a drive?
#43
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: DTW
Programs: Dirt Status w/ All
Posts: 5,040
Here is the quick trip report.
Friday:
Flew from DTW-DEN and arrived about 30 minutes early. ^ Grabbed a rental car from Enterprise and headed north bound for Deadwood, SD (I-25 to US-18). Pretty boring drive actually - lots of fields to look at, and cows. I had been planning on heading straight to Deadwood, but when I hit the decision point of hitting Mt. Rushmore, clouds had cleared and I still had plenty of daylight so I shot across US-16. I did a quick drive by of the Crazy Horse memorial, but opted to save my $10 and just check it out from the far parking lot.
When I got to Mt. Rushmore it was deserted. The gates were even up, so it was free. A storm had rolled through, plus it is still off season, so there were only about 20 people there. Gift shop was the only thing open. Custer and Silver City were pretty much shut down as tourist season really does not begin until May.
I then headed to Deadwood, as three deer tried to kill me. I swear I bumped the third one as I locked up the brakes, but no damage.
I wandered all the casinos. No table games I could find - slots only. Didn't see any full pay VP, but did managed to find some 8/5 JoB which is not horrible. I ended up staying at the Super 8 for $59 and took the $1 trolly back to town for some more gambling. Not a bad place for a day trip, but I don't think I would want to spend a full weekend there just to gamble.
Saturday:
Headed west on I-90 and stopped at Devils Tower. This was the highlight of my trip. Incredibly beautiful place. I did the walk around the base in about an hour. Again it was deserted - I saw maybe a dozen people in that time, but the parking lot had filled up a bit while I was walking. I continued on to Gillette, and then spent the night in Casper. No major excitement there.
Sunday:
Headed to Black Hawk via WY-487 (Medicine Hat, Laramie), US-287 to Ft. Collins, then Estes Park. I spent a bit of time wandering the town there - which seems to look like every other tourist town in America with t-shirt shops, ice cream parlors, and similar stores.
I continued the drive (very beautiful) through Rocky Mountain National Park. I ended up in Central City first. I did find some full pay 9/6 JOB at the $1 level. Again no tables.
I booked The Isle Casino in Black Hawk for a $69 rate. Not a bad place at that price. Wandered the entire town and hit each casino. Lots of $2-3 black jack and even a $3 craps table, but they only appeared to offer 1x odds. I settled in at a $5 craps table at the lodge. I did decently, but drink service was horribly slow, plus very weak on the booze.
Monday:
Drove down to Colorado Springs via I-25 and explored the Garden of the Gods, Manitou Springs, and Cripple Creek. Cripple Creek was dead - probably because it was a Monday afternoon, but there were also many vacant store fronts. Similar to Central City. There were table games, but most were closed due to the lack of players. I thought about heading up to the top of Pikes Peak, but it was getting late and there were some clouds rolling in, so I decided against it. I ended up getting a $60 hotwire rate at the Doubletree in Colorado Springs for the night.
Tuesday:
Awoke to dense fog, so ruled out any mountain exploration. I ended up heading for Denver and wandered downtown until it was time for my flight home.
Overall I covered 1420 miles in the car and won about $100 in the casinos. I need to learn to relax more on vacation, but had fun.
Friday:
Flew from DTW-DEN and arrived about 30 minutes early. ^ Grabbed a rental car from Enterprise and headed north bound for Deadwood, SD (I-25 to US-18). Pretty boring drive actually - lots of fields to look at, and cows. I had been planning on heading straight to Deadwood, but when I hit the decision point of hitting Mt. Rushmore, clouds had cleared and I still had plenty of daylight so I shot across US-16. I did a quick drive by of the Crazy Horse memorial, but opted to save my $10 and just check it out from the far parking lot.
When I got to Mt. Rushmore it was deserted. The gates were even up, so it was free. A storm had rolled through, plus it is still off season, so there were only about 20 people there. Gift shop was the only thing open. Custer and Silver City were pretty much shut down as tourist season really does not begin until May.
I then headed to Deadwood, as three deer tried to kill me. I swear I bumped the third one as I locked up the brakes, but no damage.
I wandered all the casinos. No table games I could find - slots only. Didn't see any full pay VP, but did managed to find some 8/5 JoB which is not horrible. I ended up staying at the Super 8 for $59 and took the $1 trolly back to town for some more gambling. Not a bad place for a day trip, but I don't think I would want to spend a full weekend there just to gamble.
Saturday:
Headed west on I-90 and stopped at Devils Tower. This was the highlight of my trip. Incredibly beautiful place. I did the walk around the base in about an hour. Again it was deserted - I saw maybe a dozen people in that time, but the parking lot had filled up a bit while I was walking. I continued on to Gillette, and then spent the night in Casper. No major excitement there.
Sunday:
Headed to Black Hawk via WY-487 (Medicine Hat, Laramie), US-287 to Ft. Collins, then Estes Park. I spent a bit of time wandering the town there - which seems to look like every other tourist town in America with t-shirt shops, ice cream parlors, and similar stores.
I continued the drive (very beautiful) through Rocky Mountain National Park. I ended up in Central City first. I did find some full pay 9/6 JOB at the $1 level. Again no tables.
I booked The Isle Casino in Black Hawk for a $69 rate. Not a bad place at that price. Wandered the entire town and hit each casino. Lots of $2-3 black jack and even a $3 craps table, but they only appeared to offer 1x odds. I settled in at a $5 craps table at the lodge. I did decently, but drink service was horribly slow, plus very weak on the booze.
Monday:
Drove down to Colorado Springs via I-25 and explored the Garden of the Gods, Manitou Springs, and Cripple Creek. Cripple Creek was dead - probably because it was a Monday afternoon, but there were also many vacant store fronts. Similar to Central City. There were table games, but most were closed due to the lack of players. I thought about heading up to the top of Pikes Peak, but it was getting late and there were some clouds rolling in, so I decided against it. I ended up getting a $60 hotwire rate at the Doubletree in Colorado Springs for the night.
Tuesday:
Awoke to dense fog, so ruled out any mountain exploration. I ended up heading for Denver and wandered downtown until it was time for my flight home.
Overall I covered 1420 miles in the car and won about $100 in the casinos. I need to learn to relax more on vacation, but had fun.
#44
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Somewhere over the rainbow
Programs: Airline Free Agent, Bonvoy Platinum, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 3,809
Saw you already booked..
Trump Plaza in AC seems to have changed their strategy and is catering to low rollers. They have $3 craps and 1$ BJ all day every day.
I like their $3 craps.. I was amazed that $3 craps even existed in AC. even 5$ is relatively hard to come by except for way way off peak times (weekdays, early weekends)
Trump Plaza in AC seems to have changed their strategy and is catering to low rollers. They have $3 craps and 1$ BJ all day every day.
I like their $3 craps.. I was amazed that $3 craps even existed in AC. even 5$ is relatively hard to come by except for way way off peak times (weekdays, early weekends)
#45
Join Date: May 2003
Location: GEG
Programs: Motel 6 Club Avoir Le Cafard
Posts: 5,027
If you have a $3 bet in AC craps and the table offers 5x odds, does that mean you can bet $15/$20/$25 odds? (AC rules allow $75/$100/$125 odds with a $15 flat bet, for effective odds of 5x/6.67x/8.33x.)