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Woodbine vs. Seneca

Discussion in 'Non-Vegas Casino Hotels' started by eloisegirl, Feb 10, 2013.

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  1. eloisegirl

    eloisegirl Low-Roller

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    Went in Feb to Seneca Casino for 2 nights comp and FB too - so parked in a covered garage for free, slept for free, ate for free, drank for free, indoor smoking - just had a BR to deal with and felt I got my entertainment dollar (read: no big win, but played nonstop over two days). Lots of room between slots and Hotel/Gaming staff were good.

    Went to Woodbine the other day and it was like being a sardine. All the slots were full, nothing paid and I lost my BR in an hour. No free drinks (wine is $10 a glass if you tip on the 8.80), smoking is outside, tight slots, uncovered spread out parking lot. My friend noticed, as did I, that people were grumbling at the machines more than usual. Several machines were in that near-broken state where you have to press line/bet or some combo thereof to make it spin. Blah blah blah grumpy ol' me. ;)

    We decided that we would not be going to Woodbine in the near future. Toronto is talking about a new casino but who knows how that will turn out. One gent we met in the Bill Breaker line was of the opinion that "US slots are looser because they can get tax on it but Cdn slots are tighter because there is no tax on winnings". This was something I had not considered before.

    Would love to hear other posters' thoughts on these casinos.
     
  2. lionelhutz

    lionelhutz Low-Roller

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    Woodbine is an amazing example of everything that is wrong with gambling in Ontario.
    Its an awful place, built VERY poorly, cramped as hell.
    Even though the point was to use the existing infrastructure of the existing racetrack, its still in such an awful part of the city.
    They nickle and dime you for a drink, and cut off booze at 2 a.m. And worst of all, it's the very long reach of the Ontario government, standing over your shoulder the whole time making sure you're having fun, but not TOOO much fun, and the machines pay out....what, 80%??

    it's terrible :grrr:
     
  3. habs0nut

    habs0nut VIP Whale

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    I avoid Woodbine like the plague, can't stand the place. Last time I was there was a year ago because of a mailing I received from Winners Circle. That was my first visit in close to 7 years and I doubt I'll be going back. I know they've done a lot of work to it and it was still under renovation when I was there. I haven't had much luck there and I'm not a fan of the area. Being on the Rexdale / Malton boarder was a dumb place to put a slot palace but that's where the track is. (I use to live in Rexdale so don't take it as me slagging the area or it's residences). With all this talk about a new Toronto casino I always cringe when I hear Woodbine being a possible location for it. If I just want slot action I'll head to Mohawk which is smaller and doesn't seem as cramped.
     
  4. Username

    Username VIP Whale

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    There are no taxes collected from Seneca Niagara Casino as it's completely owned by the Seneca Nation (Indians).....they have a compact with NYS to own and operate casinos in the WNY area....NYS is suppose to get, I believe 25% from all the slot machines with 12.5% going to the City of Niagara Falls and Niagara County..HOWEVER, it's been about 7 years now that the Indians haven't paid anyone a dime...the Indians don't like that fact that NYS has opened up Video Slot machines at some race tracks and now owes NYS and the City of N. F. over 500 million dollars.

    We have never seen anyone win big on slots at Seneca Niagara.....

    If you order beer while playing there, you get a plastic 7 once cup of who know what kind of beer...best to order wine....mix drinks are OK, but again SMALL....but at least there FREE (my favorite four letter word).
     
  5. may24

    may24 Low-Roller

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    A couple points.
    You mentioned that it was cramped as hell, so if that's the case then why would they make loose slots? Government runs the slots so as long as its going to be busy then why have loose slots, if customers are coming and dumping their money in then so be it. If people stopped going they might make the slots better, but for now, people still play and the government rakes it in.
    Under Ontario law drinks must be paid for, cannot be comped. You can be playing $1000 a hand at Rama and if you want a beer that's $6.75 please..no exceptions. As far as the smoking indoors, to me that's a plus. I am sure the United States will catch up with the theory in another 10 to 20 years.
    Blackjack rules in every Ontario casino suck as well. They can have crappy rules because there is no competition, but people still play.
    I agree, as a customer I would rather play in an American casino but I cant blame the government for having tight slots when people continue to pour their money into them.
     
  6. eloisegirl

    eloisegirl Low-Roller

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    May24, (how Canadian is THAT? Love it!), you are so right that they keep the slots as tight as the casino! Two words: Cash Cow. (Sounds like a game by Aristocrat! 500x pay with Max Bet!)

    Happy Family Day!
     
  7. eloisegirl

    eloisegirl Low-Roller

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    Back from Vegas and came to a decision: no more Canadian casino slot playing for me. I'd rather just play in the US where I have the great possibility of free rooms, free meals, drinks, etc. There is no point to gambling in Canada.
     
  8. lionelhutz

    lionelhutz Low-Roller

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    that is quite possibly the most truthful statement I have ever read on this board.
     
  9. redzone

    redzone Low-Roller

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    I have to agree 100% with most of the posters here. We have gone to Woodbine but I go for the racing and my wife goes downstairs to the casino and comes back in an hour and says "lets get out of here".

    It is not just woodbine though. We live within 40 minutes of Flamborough, Brantford, Fallsview and Niagara and very very seldom go to any of those places. We cross the border once a week to Seneca, stay for 4-5 hours and come back home.

    Just a question for eloisegirl (or anyone else who has been there). What do you think of the new buffet at Seneca?
     
  10. LolaDoggie

    LolaDoggie VIP Whale

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    You had me at comped booze. I had no idea they comped booze at Seneca. I've been there a half dozen times but I was driving :nono:
     
  11. eloisegirl

    eloisegirl Low-Roller

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    I was expecting a wildly improved buffet experience. I thought the physical set up looked like a junior high cafeteria from 1972, and did not seem to reflect the First Nations theme. The food was good and lots of varieties. No complaints about the food.

    What is nice about the buffet is that you can get in and out relatively quickly. We mostly eat at Three Sisters but next trip we are going to hit the burger place. Also, sometimes at three a.m. you just gotta get the turkey sandwich from Morrie's with a bottle of delicious American milk. Seriously, Niagara milk is awesome, we load up at TOPS and then we quote that commercial from the 70s with Joey the spokesmodel ("not sixty-nine cents, not forty-seven cents, but only twenty-three cents, at TOPS Friendly Market!").
     
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