Taking the Back Roads - 9/9 - 10/9

Yeah i jumped to the page where @eliza just wrote Friday's. Then I wondered if she actually ate TGI Friday's. Whoops.

If it beats a real casino in attendance, it's legit.

Well, that sign isn't hiding their thoughts on "beaver".

 

Id liked Crystal Bay, spent the night there summer of 2019. I really wish someone would reopen the Cal Neva. Tahoe is incredibly busy on the California side, I’m sure they could attract some folks to Crystal Bay. I actually stayed at the Biltmore which was an incredible dump. Original crappy cabin like room I booked didn’t have AC. I did have a lot of fun at the Crystal Bay casino, playing $5 craps and $10 BJ with a large number of Jim Beams.

 

Casino #29 - Tamarack - Reno, NV

Nice casino. Lots of newer slot machines. Some VP. No tables. I won $60 slotting around and watching some college football. Isn’t much here worth venturing far out of your way, but a decent enough option if you are in the area.

 

Casino #30 - Slots World - Carson City, NV

This place never turned up in my internet searching, but saw it and stopped. Medium sized casino with mostly newer slots and some VP. Actually had a lot of TVs including a VP bar, so I sorted around and watched Penn State struggling against Northwestern. Had a couple nice hits and

 

Hopefully you didn’t miss Casino Fandango!

 

I used to play $2 blackjack at the Carson Nugget. In the Before Before Times, for I think $29 we got a room in their motel, breakfast for 2 in the diner, and a free bet. Those were the days.

 

Casino #31 - Jackpot Crossing - Carson City, NV

Another place that never popped up on internet searches, but it was right behind the last place so I swung in. Tiny, dark place. But surprisingly nice. 8/5 BP starting at $.50 and a VP bar (but not with the good paytables). I won $20 quick and ducked out - there are still a long list of places to hit here in Carson City.

 

Casino #32 - Gold Dust West - Carson City, NV

Medium sized casino with lots of new slots, some VP, and a small pit. At 4PM Sat they had one $10 DD BJ game going. The craps table was marked at $5, but showed no signs of life. I lost $10 on $.25 7/5 BP w 3 way progressive while watching Penn State win. Then played some slots - I was up and down and up and down and ultimately left up $130. They had a bowling alley, a cafe, and a free ATM. I could like this place.

 

Not only did I play $2 blackjack at the Carson Nugget, but got a junket to do just that out of Portland, OR. I'll never forget, I left early in the morning, gambled all day, they fed us,, returned around midnight and came back with exactly $1 more than I left home with.

I also remember sitting next to a grandmother (like my age now) on the flight home and she told me that she snuck off to the Nugget after telling her husband of many years that she would stop gambling. She started sobbing because she lost A LOT of money and thought he would divorce her. IIRC, this was the second or third time that she had broken that promise. Sad.

 

Casino #33 - Carson Nugget - Carson City, NV

This place is depressing. Mostly older sot and VP machines. A three table pit with one $10 BJ game at 6PM on Saturday. Lots of empty space around the casino floor. It’s not in terrible shape, but somehow feels grungy. And not in the good way I normally like. Not even the three VP bars can sway me in its favor.

 

Indeed those were..I remember the $5 chips had a metal coin-like center haha.
I played alllll night on double deck 3:2 $2 BJ (and this was probably 2006?)

 

Love the first part, sad to read the second part.

 

Casino #34 - Max Casino - Carson City, NV

Just down the street from the Nugget. Also small and old, but felt less seedy. Maybe because of the Black Bear Diner bringing lots of folks in. The had a great projection screen along with 7/5 BP at the bartops - that’s probably where I would be if I was in town for a NFL evening game. I lost $40 slotting around. Mostly newer slots, some VP, no tables.

 

Well, I'm sorry to read that it's a shell of its former self but I guess I'd be surprised if it weren't.

 

Casino #35 - Bodines - Carson City, NV

Small, but nicer casino. Decent VP bar but no full pay. Mostly newer slots. No tables.

I won $105 slotting around but didn’t stay long. There just wasn’t that much there, there.

 

Casino #36 - Casino Fandango - Carson City, NV

Earlier I had decided I was hungry and made a grocery run picking up a salad to eat at my hotel. Which is when I realized that my hotel was directly next door to this casino. So I ended my night there.

This place was awesome. The neon signs. The bars. The volcano and rain storm slot sections. V old school while still offering modern games. And did I mention the neon?!



I found a beer focused bar and enjoyed a couple options while slow playing $.01 STP at $.60 a spin eventually cashing out even.



Table games at 7PM
BJ - $10, $15, $25
Pai Gow - $10
UTH - $5

 

Assuming you're headed towards Reno. Try not to miss the brand new Legends Bay in Sparks.

I think its open about a month now.

 

Glad you liked Fandango..also glad they kept the cool theming! (I was worried they may have taken out the rain storm and volcano)

 

I'm headed due east in the morning. But I did check out Legends the day after it opened during my last trip. It's a pretty great casino - well worth a visit if you are in the Sparks area.

 

Enjoy the Loneliest Road in America.