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The New and Improved (?) Metropolis IL

Discussion in 'Non-Vegas Trip Reports' started by UKFanatic, May 20, 2015.

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  1. Travel Fanatic

    Travel Fanatic The Arbiter of Taste Caviar Kid

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    My Trip Report

    So a buddy of mine has been agitating since last year to make a quick trip up to Metropolis. After months of saying no, I finally gave in and agreed to go. So we got up at the crack of dawn and made the drive to greater downtown Metropolis Illinois!

    I finally relented because I knew that CET had taken the casino off the boat and actually opened a new one attached to the hotel. That, by itself, was a big improvement. I had only been to the Harrahs boat in metropolis a handful of times in the past, but I always found it crowded and grimy. The new casino is pretty small, but it was clean (hell, it was cleaner than most of the CET vegas properties) and still had a bit of that new casino smell to it.

    Decided to write this quickie TR mostly just to report on the new casino. And my conclusion after spending half a day there ...... meh. Its definitely not worth going out of your way to visit. But if you're passing through the area, its a nice place to stop and have a couple hours of fun.

    Definitely a lot more slots than table games. Seems like they eliminated some of the tables when they moved off the boat. Probably half the tables were set up for BJ ($5 to $500 limits, depending on the table), but only three of them were open today (no surprise, it was a Wednesday morning). Saw two roulette wheels, once of which opened around 10 am, two craps tables, one of which also opened at 10. Saw one mini bac table, a couple 3 card poker tables, and a Mississippi Stud table. The bac table never opened while I was there and I did not see anybody play the other carny games while I was there. There was no high limit area for table games and the supervisor seemed a little stunned when I sat down and asked for $2k in all black. Guess that is not normal there, at least mid week. in fact, the table I was at had a $300 max bet, which I did not notice until I tried to make a $500 wager a few hands in. There was a slot "high limit" area, but it was not really set apart in any way from all the other lots. I saw one $25 machine, a couple $10 machines, and several $5 machines in that area. There was also four poker tables set aside in the far corner, but no action that I saw today.

    The crowd was sparse, which is what I expected for a Wednesday morning. Just some hard core older gamblers, couple young guys in their 20s, and a younger Asian couple. The dealers and staff were very friendly. I talked to a couple of them about the changes. They both said the changes haven't really impacted the crowds. The dining options are still at the end of the old boat walkway (as well as a diamond lounge that apparently does not open until late in the afternoon each day). They have added a couple nice bars inside the casino and one just outside of it. I checked out the JoB VP at the bars and, to my surprise, they were 8/5. Not fantastic, but still better than I expected (especially in light of the recent changes to paytables in Vegas).

    Hung out with my buddy and played off and on for a few hours. Left the casino up one K, so that definitely made the trip better. Hope this info helps any members considering a trip to the area.
     
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  2. PTC Larry

    PTC Larry Off We Go

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    Thanks for the report. We will be headed that way in July and were wondering if it was worth stopping at the hotel and casino. Congrats on the win....
     
  3. Travel Fanatic

    Travel Fanatic The Arbiter of Taste Caviar Kid

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    Thanks. IMO, Metropolis is not worth the stop unless you are already in the immediate vicinity for something else. If it is purely a gambling trip, I would recommend finding out how much exztra time it would take to drive to Tunica. Tunica puts Metropolis to shame
     
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  4. broncofn

    broncofn VIP Whale

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    Only $300 max bets? I have not seen that anywhere. What was the minimum?
     
  5. Travel Fanatic

    Travel Fanatic The Arbiter of Taste Caviar Kid

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    $5. There was another table with a $500 max bet. Oh, and craps was 10x odds
     
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  6. broncofn

    broncofn VIP Whale

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    Don't know anything about craps but those other limits are crazy.
     
  7. Hobofrank

    Hobofrank Prime Minister of Idiocracy

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    wait wut?
    you don't play dice?
     
  8. tringlomane

    tringlomane STP Addicted Beer Snob

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    Surprise indeed! Last time I went there, I couldn't even find a unit on the floor with a game as good as 8/5 JoB (97.3%) without the help of a high progressive.

    Sadly for quarters, 8/5 JoB is also now the best quarter bartop at Horseshoe and Tunica Roadhouse. The worst quarter bartop games in all of Tunica. They do have 9/6 DDB (98.98%) for dollars though.

    Did you bother to look at any of the Superman stuff downtown? [emoji6]


    If you saw metropolis, you wouldn't think it's that crazy.
     
  9. Travel Fanatic

    Travel Fanatic The Arbiter of Taste Caviar Kid

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    The 8:5 I saw was at the $1 level. It may have been less at a quarter, I did not check.

    Didn't go see Superman this trip. We talked about checking it out, but we were ready to drive home by mid-day.

    And I agree about the Metropolis limits/area. For those that have not been there, Metropolis is a one stoplight town. I guess Paducha across the river in KY is the big "city" closest to Metropolis and its not much either. Its basically a locals casino, especially during the week and the locals do not strike me as wealthy people

    - - - Updated - - -

    That's actually better than most casinos in Vegas, but its less than Tunica.
     
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