maxev Live TR Quest for $1M -- Harrah's AC to Harrah's Vegas 11/18-11/23

Hello, I'm max, nice to see you!

First time live trip report (well, first time any TR), long time reader.

This is brought to you by @FABismonte who requested this way back when in happier pre-C-word times.


https://www.vegasmessageboard.com/forums/index.php?threads/150k-millionaire-maker-tournament-at-caesars.179322/

Well now, my memory is a bit faded, because from that date, I see it was actually during peak C-word.

Nevertheless, I figure I can look back on this thread in 10 years and remember what it was like winning a million bucks.



Yep, I'm playing in what I suspect is the last Millionaire Maker slot tourney. CET was faithfully doing these yearly but the tea leaves look like Eldorado has put a stop to it in their synergy cuts. Why give players $1m when that can be a bonus for your CEO? And by the way, what's the deal showing your stock photo of all $50s. Any gambler knows those are unlucky.

First place is said million, last place is a bracelet (back when it was still Binion's Horseshoe , I remember playing poker during WSOP and getting a straight flush. The dealer excitedly said that wins a poker bracelet and money clip and called to the desk, who returned with a rubber band and paperclip.)



I won this trip from qualifying for the Millionaire Maker slot tourney in November 2020, playing a tourney at Caesars Palace and placing in the top 20.

"Won" = entry into the tourney, a free flight to Atlantic City (up to $1100), and 3 nights accommodations. In an attempt to max out the flight award, I'm taking along my fellow degen sister for the AC part of the trip.

What's nice about the flight award is you can depart from and arrive to any city, along with your companion. So tomorrow I'll fly to Philadelphia and shuttle to AC. Then after my triumphant win I'll consider a limo, then will ultimately take the free shuttle back to Philly, and fly to Vegas.

Here's my plan:

Harrah's AC: Win $1m
Harrah's Las Vegas: Gamble $100k

Based on prior experience, this will more likely be:

Harrah's AC: Gamble $5k
Harrah's Las Vegas: Gamble $5k

But I have a secret -- I'm well past 7 Stars renewal, so really have no need to play at all the rest of this year. And getting future AC offers don't appeal to me. So take that, CET!

I checked with @Sonya about multi-city TRs and decided to put this in the Vegas TR, mostly because I won this trip from Vegas, all I know is Vegas, there'll be Vegas at the end of the TR, and it'll be AC with a Vegas point of view.

Please follow along, if you like, and feel free to comment and ask questions. Pursuant to any legal regulations, I will (or "may" -- legal) pick someone at random to share a part of the $1m.


--max

 

Ooh, I'm excited about this one. I've always been curious to hear firsthand experiences about the Millionaire Maker. Thanks for bringing us along!

 

Love that story and it reminded me of how much I miss the old Horseshoe.

 

Congratulations, hope your plan comes true. There are lots of folks on the board familiar with AC, so feel free to post any questions.

What kind of shuttle do they offer from Philly to AC?

 

Good Luvk on taking 1 mil home. Feel free to head out of Harrah’s AC for better food choices

borgota is right next door and a cab can take you to Doc’s for seafood just past where Trump Plaza was

 

Testing sending photos via phone…

It’s a cold, gloomy, rainy day while I do laundry in preparation for the trip.

These penguins appeared in my neighborhood a couple years ago and ever since then, I touch them for luck before going gambling.

Well, I may not actually touch them but I look at them.

 

I had the privilege of sitting in the media room for the final WSOP Main Event at the old 'Shoe. It was never the same at Rio, but maybe it'll be a bit better at Bally's/Paris.

Thanks. It's been awhile since I've been to AC. When we lived in DC circa nickel slots and no TITO and no casinos, my sister and I would take the shuttle to AC once a month or so. I've been a few times since then, but this will be the first time we'll be there together since then.

I'll send a photo of the shuttle when I get there.

Good idea! Was hoping to check out the full meals at the Diamond/Seven Stars lounges and use up as many RCs as I can, but seafood sounds great.


--max

 

You can use RC at CZR on the Bwalk. They have some good places too. And free with RC is always good

 

following….looks adventuresome…..

 

Sweet!

When you win, I expect to see you in a suit just like this:

 

Love it!

It should be required every winner wears that suit when handed the Big Check.

My first Millionaire Maker slot tourney was in 2013 at Planet Hollywood, and I ran into this woman, who was happy to pose for a picture.

 

I will proudly wear the label of the one talking @maxev into doing a live trip report on the Millionaire Maker event.

Good luck and share all the details including any celebration dinner.

BTW, I like the way your penguin rocks.

 

CET Laurel Lounges in AC...medium shelf alcohol is as good as it gets...food served is reminiscent of a typical high school lunch program.
CET restaurants...best choices are at Tropicana, next best set is at Caesars, last choice (other than GR Steak) is Harrah's.
MGM owns Borgata. If you have tier match to them, they have an excellent buffet (closed Wed/Thu) for $12.50 in comps. They have an excellent Amphora Lounge (prime rib and food to match, top shelf booze) also for $12.50 in comps. Only available to Gold level and above.

 

Last time I was in AC, I wasn't 7 Stars so couldn't take advantage of the lounges. I'd heard before that they had stellar food and service but perhaps it's gone downhill since then.

I'll check 'em out anyway -- I can easily flip between Panda Express, high school lunches, and NOBU. And they'd be a welcome sight to the Vegas lounge closures.

I matched Diamond with Borgata's Black Card (I think) in their early days and picked up the $100 freeplay. This year in Vegas, I matched to MGM Platinum (but with 0 play and points) so can at least cut the taxi line. May have to play some to build up $12.50 comps exactly to get into Amphora or the buffet.

I have a pet peeve with MGM... before I was 7 Stars, I used to visit Vegas for the Luxor slot tourneys and stay there or Monte Carlo, New York New York, Mirage, Treasure Island (pre-Ruffin) or even Excalibur. Then I dropped off playing for 6 months or so, and my points expired. I don't think it was much, just $50-100 or so. I asked if they could reinstate as a one-time courtesy, and was met with an huffy no (a friendly no would've been acceptable), so I decided to no longer play at MGM properties.

Well, no longer play carded. I'll still do the occasional Aria/Bellagio poker and slot. Yeah that'll show them, I thought!

Within the past 3 years or so, I've been getting MGM offers (although with resort fee) so if I can't find any other place to stay, I'll take Vdara or Aria or Bellagio and stiff 'em.

But now that Cosmo (my favorite hotel/casino) is turning into MGM, looks like I'll be back in the fold.


--max

 

Here's the schedule:



The mystery TC multiplier is 2x-5x and I don't need that, but the 10x RCs is intriguing. Getting 10x takes the hurt out of 2:1 restaurants.

Unfortunately, I'll miss it since I'll get in just after it ends at 9 p.m.

Don't know why they wouldn't extend that to midnight. Maybe they'll offer a welcome open bar and hors d'oeuvres. And why just a 4-hour window for each?

Also, the past two Millionaire Maker slot tourneys I've played were 3 sessions. Much prefer that as it evens out variance and still gives you hope if you bomb the first session. Hoping it'll be on the TournEvent games (like 2019's Lake Tahoe), since I feel I have a slight advantage and can squeeze in one extra spin and one extra balloon pick per session.


--max

 

I dug up the welcome gift they gave from the Millionaire Maker slot tourney at Lake Tahoe in April 2019.

I think the basket is what they normally give 7 Stars guests, and the stuff in the Got Tahoe bag was what they gave to qualifiers when checking in.

The wrapped items are two glasses. I think I still have the beef jerky.

 

Beef jerky is valuable if it's a good brand. Can't find cheap and good beef jerky these days.

 

I have a kitchen cabinet I haven't opened in months. I'm rarely home for more than a few days, so could be anything in there. But I opened it to go looking for that beef jerky.

Didn't find it, but did find:


The Jack Link's have an expiration of January 2020, the Chef's Cut July 2019.

I remember using food credit to get the Jack Link's at Harrah's Joliet and a food comp to get the Chef's Cut at the Silver Legacy in Reno.

Beef jerky has a long shelf life but do I dare risk having some, one day before my trip? Hmm...


--max

 

Somehow I missed @FABismonte 's followup to his and his wife's Millionaire Maker tourney last year, the finale of which occurred right before the shutdown.
https://www.vegasmessageboard.com/forums/index.php?threads/won-millionaire-maker-finale-entry.162583/

I just read through it and now I can't wait to see the welcome snacks.

Caesars' using those stepper games where the top prize is 10x the next highest combination is bad tournament design. Even though the games are juiced, it's possible to never see the top prize. Likewise, if you get lucky and get just two top prizes, you're likely to cash.

Granted, it's all luck anyway, but I much prefer TournEvent or Spinferno, or the old stepper games where the second highest prize is, say, 1/2 the top to at least give a chance at close scores.

The last slot tourney I played at Caesars (the $150k "Back to Basics" in July 2021) didn't use the same machines as the Millionaire Maker, but it had a similar discrepancy between the top 2 payouts (although the 3 triple bars could be 120x4 with two wilds).

 

Good luck!!!