maxev Live TR NYE Virgin in Vegas -- plus Venetian, Cosmo, Encore, Binion's 12/28-1/11 (now 2/11)

I'd say it's actually decently busy, peeking into restaurants (mariachi band at Casa Calavera, crooner at Olives, the constant thump-thump club bass at Kassi, which my room is right above) and seeing peeps walking around. Never do I feel so underdressed and overold as I do at Virgin, especially when I'm playing Baron von Bacon and these 21-year-olds (actually I think younger, I don't see many drinking or drunk) in silver sparkling David Bowie-esque jackets are walking behind me, making me paranoid. I think it's mostly locals, same with the tourney entries too. The casino floor is still desolate, which makes my playing stand out even more.

I recognize a few people from my previous Virgin trips, all around video poker. One with a backpack, one with a cane, one sleeping at the machines. There's a downtown vibe here with the people.

Virgin should just kill the Mohegan Sun contract and add more clubs, bars, and restaurants.

But exercise too!

Well organized + little attended = my favorite kind of tournament. At the tournament desk, they had a scrolling display of the leaderboard with all of the scores, so you could see where you stand and the total number of players. V/P's Spinferno is capable of this but they choose not to show it until the very end. CET never displays the winners, just the top scores after the first day, and then when finished you have to ask to see your standing. CET says it's a privacy issue, but then you see a place like The D showing full names and player's card numbers. If I were a host, I'd write all these names down and do some cold-calling. CET will also sneakily decrease the prize pool if their tournament is under-attended.

 

To be fair, just because another place is doing it doesn't mean that they're supposed to be. Some legal departments are more conservative than others.

EDIT: Personally I think that's pretty dicey of The D. Forget rival hosts, I can think of plenty of reasons why I wouldn't want my name broadcast as being in the casino right then.

 

I agree with this 100%. I wouldn't want to participate in a tournament that did this, which makes those big MLife buy-in tournaments a little disconcerting. I watched a video where they were announcing winners -- first initial/last name (and I have an uncommon last name) -- and the amount won, and it's on the internet, in a video no less, forever.

 

That reminds me of when I went to Encore when it opened. The casino had reached capacity and there was a long line outside. So many news channels were taping and I had to leave because I didn't want anyone from my job to see me on the news.

 

Always seems that casinos play the privacy card when we want to take photos (completely understandable -- I want to be completely anonymous), but when it's the other way around for publicity, they'll post a sign that says we give up all rights to our face, our voice, our likeness, our soul.

I'm okay with first name/last initial, but very uncomfortable seeing my whole name. Bad enough to be shanked in the parking lot or carjacked driving home (both of which happened to others in Chicago), but with your full name broadcast, people could look you up and meet you at your home.

 

Same reason I never post about big wins until I get home.

 

Come walk with me!

Haven’t done Virgin to Bally’s before, so let’s go!

RIP, Mr. Lee. Killed in a car accident a few weeks ago. Such a mainstay of getting Vegas locals liquored up.

 

Not a bad walk but cars awfully close.



Destination sighted!

 

Stayed at The Platinum on a work trip. Shared a 2 bedroom suite with a coworker but he fell asleep on the living room couch and farted up the whole room. Had to open windows.

 

Bravo!!!
You got me to read through this entire post, not an easy feat.

Keep up the good work as this is a very interresting TR.

 

I love a good Vegas walkabout! My last trip I walked from downtown to The Sahara via Main St and it was so cool. So much of Vegas I've never seen.

 

Also stayed at The Westin on a work trip, back when they had a casino.

Roomed with a coworker who got so drunk that when I got to the room, he was face down leaning on the bed, feet on the floor, pants down. And vomit everywhere. Bed, floor, wall. Bathtub.

I didn’t touch him, figuring face down was best. The next morning, he was gone to the conference. I left the room and passed housekeeping lugging a wet vac. I tried ignoring her, like I wasn’t coming from that room at all.

I don’t have luck with work roommates.

 

If shoes could talk… “You should see the other shoe.”

 

This tent is the site of Battlebots (new slot game from Konami coming soon) and currently Hell’s Kitchen is filming there, but they aren’t advertising.

I was there for its first incarnation, when it was the site of the first Monopoly game show, hosted by Billy Gardell from Mike & Molly.

The audience was divided up in sections, and one person represented that section, and participated on the giant LCD floor of Monopoly games. The audience also shared what their rep won.

The show didn’t last more than a few episodes, but I was in one of those audiences, cheering away with the best of them.

Met Gardell in his trailer and he was very personable, and I didn’t see any showgirls inside or their feathers.

 

Very sad news about Mr. Lee.

And great on the walk. I was wondering how you stayed thin given what you eat but the walking you have been doing definitely burns the calories and for you (and me) the weather in Vegas now during the day is perfect long-walks weather; it's chilly but still comfortable as long as it's not too windy.

 

Regarding BattleBots, it is a very, very cool show that I've been watching for years, and the Vegas season just started airing the other week.

 

One day I’ll write a story about people living in the Vegas sewers. It’s a whole world down there and so fascinating.

 

Arrived!



Bally’s spa is likely the worst in the CET empire, but they gave me a toothbrush and toothpaste.

I think it might’ve closed before Covid.


Or maybe this one.


Bally’s pool is also pretty bad, and I’m trying to think if it’s the worst, and yeah it probably is. When you think of a word to describe Bally’s pool, it’s less “resort” and more “super8” (one word).

 

The reason for the Bally’s journey was threefold.

1) I needed money.


2) I needed to geo confirm my Caesars William Hill sportsbook app. I’d done it with non-Caesars but needed Caesars. So I did that and then re-logged in for my sister’s bets.


3) to come

 

Played through my cash advance reimbursement to almost even.

Then swiping my card at the kiosk, noticed this:


I’m booked Monday under this offer and it’s appearing now. Time to take advantage and then change my booking to another offer.

This is a loophole that I’ve seen before but thought they had fixed it.

By the way, when using the keypad, they say to press 7 to download freeplay, but that makes you do it in increments. Press 9 and it’ll download the whole thing.


Ran it through to poor results, converting 50%.