June 2-6 at the Cromwell... Bullet Point Notes

- Service quality everywhere is down due to the staffing issues - you can tell everyone is desperate for workers. Restaurant and other hours were adjusted, too
- Caesars pool drinks and cabanas were great. Food was horrendous even by the standards of pool food. Eat before you go in or afterwards.
- Cromwell rooms are showing some damage...need some refresh of the fixtures like lamps and dressers. Walls/floors/bathroom were fine, they just need to buy some new items for the broken ones. My wife loved the room and I think it's fine sized for two people. Personally, though, I'd rather stay somewhere else, because
- Cromwell gaming is destroyed, as others have noted. I suspect I'm going to stay at Paris or Caesars next time.
- Crowd noticeably picked up day by day. It's still a younger, more Cali-centric crowd than a year ago. Never heard so much English spoken in LV. The lack of foreign players is very notable at Paris and Caesars Palace, and Harrahs has more 30 year olds than I've ever seen there.
- Table mins have come down, as people noted. Lots of $5/10 games on weekdays. Even on Saturday night, plenty of $10 ultimate hold em, 3 card, $15 6:5 blackjack, etc. Craps is the one that's noticeably higher everywhere still - there's clearly a push to get you to play that digitally if you want to play for $5 or $10. I did see CET running the Paris Shoot to Win table (the crazy light up one) at $5 on Friday during the day.
- The blackjack conditions are worse, as others have noted. One 3:2 table at Flamingo for $25 the entire time I was there; was $15 in the morning on Thurs or Friday. Caesars Palace, bizarrely, still has tons of 3:2.
- Harrahs is running the free live entertainment in that front bar still - Big Elvis, etc. It seemed like basically everyone was back from before. Most of it was very good; whoever the solo white guy singer on Friday night was was so bad that my wife thought he was there as a karaoke guest.
- The club line/crowd at Cromwell on Saturday was as big as I can remember. It was their first weekend back with entertainment
- Earl of Sandwich still isn't open at Caesars, FYI
- Bugsy and Meyers was better than I expected
- Venetian/Palazzo had far more plexiglas left than anyone else - if you're looking for more of this sort of thing, this is your best bet. Note: I didn't check out anything South of PH or the Bellagio.
- The cops are out in heavy force. Vegas is serious about cleaning things up. And Caesars has a paramilitary looking super security force out there now (SRT or something like that.) No one is screwing around with this. Don't do dumb things if you go.
- Flights were 100% full

Feel free to fire away if you have any questions on Cromwell, CET gaming, CET food, or the Caesars Pool.

 

Sad to hear the deterioration of Cromwell gaming conditions. Always wanted to play there never got the chance.

Interesting that the Shoot to Win tables can be found with $5 minimums ...might try it out next trip

 

Thanks for the info/recap! Is it still 100x odds @cromwell? Just the high table mins at all times of the day? is the single roulette table still around or has it moved on to double and triple zeros.

 

Dont hold me too it but believe i read earlier in a post that 100x odds is gone at Cromwell;

Someone will correct me if I am wrong.

Will be interested to see how quickly things evolve for the better or if things wll devolve over the next two months...

thanks for the updates...

 

Were you able to get in Caesars Pool while not being a guest there because of player status?

Hoping so. Because when capacity limits were lower, not even Diamond Plus was able to get in without a room key so I continue staying at Caesars for access to the pool.

 

They still have the $2 beers all day happy hour at the casino bars?

 

It's been what, a little over 6 weeks since I was there, so no telling what has gotten worse since then, but last time I walked through Cromwell, the one craps table at the front still had the 100x odds engraved sign, but was $25 minimum.

 

Thanks for the updates. I also found Bugsy and Meyers, better than expected. Plan to go back there in August.

 

Cromwell did away with 100x odds on craps on or around May 22. Played there on Friday, May 21 with 100x odds, went back the next day and it was 3x4x5. Crew told us to complain to our hosts so they could run it up the chain of command but doubtful they've changed it back. Cromwell only had 3:2 blackjack in the high limit room that weekend as well. I would assume that is still the case.

I'll echo OP's post that my Cromwell room was beat to all hell when I stayed there that weekend. Struggling to think of a reason to visit that property again at the moment.

 

Super informative. Many thanks.

I hope you enjoyed your trip!

 

Its just baffling to me what they are doing to Cromwell. Its such a small property...like is it really that big of a deal to have 4 3:2 blackjack tables at a non-marquee property? Its not like tourists are flying to Vegas because they need to see the beautiful Cromwell. It was the perfect place to have good gambling conditions for those who know where to look. I will play 6:5 blackjack at the Bellagio because its the f**king Bellagio. Certainly not going to play 6:5 at a fancier Bill's Gambling Hall.

 

Crew did not seem happy with the change, not that management is reading their complaint box submissions. They seemed to attract 2 types of customers - reasonably "sophisticated" gamblers who enjoyed the better odds relative to other CP properties, tipped well, enjoyed dealer banter (e.g., me) and the Cali club crowd. But yeah, if the rules are all the same then I'll park my @ss at the Bellagio or any number of much better properties.

 

Nothing material to add - just an observation.

I find it ironic that a post about Cromwell has a Big Elvis mention in it. My early trips to vegas involve $5 blackjack at Bill's 30-40 feet away from Big Elvis at the pit near the cage. I used to enjoy taking in his show while playing blackjack.

Glad to hear he's back.

 

Always been a fan of Big E-great voice, great energy (regardless of his stature) and super generous with the post show selfies. Glad he’s back. Sad to hear about the 3-4-5x odds change. Cromwell/Bills/Barbary Coast was one of the little havens of the strip. It is a small and cozy casino but now...thank you to all for the intel on the ground and OP for sharing.

 

Was there last week myself and stopped in the Cromwell for an hour or so. Very disappointed at what it's become. Ended up just sitting at the bar to play VP because that was the only way we were going to get drinks, they had two servers for the whole casino at 9 p.m. on Wednesday. And, of course, we just stuck to beer because of the .75 ounce liquor pours. The bartender didn't like it any more than we did. Unless conditions improve dramatically, I don't see myself running much more money through at any CET properties. Cromwell was the last good one, and now it's just like the others.

 

This sucks! Hate to hear that is is what has become of the Cromwell. Like others have said it was a great little place in a sea of monstrosities on the strip that had great odds, great waitress & great dealers.
What a shame.

 

I always enjoyed playing there but maybe not so much next time. Thanks for the report!

 

Yep I am here this week and can confirm most of this, but also add in they have ripped out the table games area in front of eatwell which will be slots.

the dealers and pit bosses are angry, like visibily sometimes, but are fully on our side regarding the awful gambling conditions. I can’t see it lasting at this rate with this trajectory. Good point made above about the split between attracting savvy gamblers and club crew… gonna be only the club crew left soon.

I saw somebody say it would be a great candidate for derek stevens to get some strip exposure… now that may be a pipe dream, but a damn good one.

I will say this is probs my last CET play day. I have 3 more trips booked comp this year, but I am going to do MLife and see what others options are out there

if anyone wants any other info let me know and I can advise

 

Appreciate the insights for sure. Like many, Cromwell was my primary place to place. After my April trip, this is no longer the case as the rules and drink service were garbage.

It had the best rules, best drinks and awesome dealers but now, it seems worse than most anywhere on the Strip. Really, really disappointing.

 

3/4/5 odds confirmed and single zero, per Mehaffey, is gone. I didn't personally check roulette but I did check craps.