Anyone remember when they had real, reel slots in the bartop machines? I remember them at O'Shea's and the Golden Nugget. They didn't have but a few each, but Sue and I used to play the daylights out of them.
The video slots I hate in the bartop, don't know why.
Now anyone know where there still might be a few in operation?

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Lee-PA
Moderator, What's New Forum
lee@talkvegas.com

Lee, have you checked the Plaza lately?

I can't answer your question but I have a related one regarding bar-top slot machines which I hope someone can answer for us.

What is the general casino policy regarding complimentary drinks while playing these bar top machines?

I ask because I experienced three different complimentary drink policies in three different casinos from Great to Just Plain Lousey!

THE GREAT! - The policy at the Karaoke Lounge Bar at the Gold Coast was great - A complimentary drink of your choice when you sit at the bar and get a roll of quarters and start to play. And the complimentary drinks just kept on coming as long as yu sit there and continued to play!

So I played the slot machine for a long time and ended up singing Karaoke songs off key and in terrible tune. Had fun though! And left a sizeable tip!

The OK - One comp drink when you play a roll of quarters. To be honest with you, I forgot where I was! That's not unusual for me! I often walk up the Strip with one foot on the curb and one foot in the gutter so I am assured to walk in a straight line!

The Terrible and Just Plain Lousey! - This one was kind of strange and it might just have been a bad night for all concerned but it did happen at the Golden Gate! I've been going there for years and have always saddled up at the bar with my two 99 cent shrimp cocktails to order a beer and a roll of quarters to play the bar-top slots.

There was a new and very young bartender on duty that night, so I asked him if the house would still comp my beer if I played a roll of quarters. He said "OK" and set a Heinekins by the side of my shrimps and then got me a roll of quarters.

Within ten seconds the old guy who has been there for as long as I can remember came by to tell me that beers (or maybe he just meant Heinekins) were no longer comped by the house and he was sorry that the new guy had made a mistake but the beer I was about to enjoy was a comp due to the mistake. So I just said "OK, thanks" and proceeded to enjoy my rarely comped beer and two shrimp cocktails.

15 minutes later, I thought that that was rather strange and maybe I had heard him wrong, but I didn't want to go back and ask so I just continued to roll the dice in Binions.

Any comments regarding comped drinks while playing the slots at the bar would be greatly appreciated. Most of the time I just ask and a drink and a roll of quarters appears like out of nowhere.

Are some casinos getting so worried that they have to change their comp drink policy at the bar?

Inquisitive drinker wants to know. .. And a related question, if I may?! Do they still make slot machines with cherries, and lemons, and watermelons? Or did the Little Piggies eat them all!!?

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will800

Will: I have actually noticed a change for the better this past year that has not been a practice in the past--that I have experienced anyway. At the Desert Inn and Caesars, each one of the bartendars not only did the usual comped-drink thing but also comped Walt, who was not gambling. Bellagio actually comped 3 of us when I had my daughter with us, and again, I was the only one sitting and playing a machine at the bar.

Golden Nugget still comps drinks in exchange for the standard roll of quarters purchase, but I was the only one there, so I can't say they have improved on it, but they haven't lessened it either. Main Street Station still does the same as G.N.

Looks like the cutbacks mentioned may be limited to certain casinos, so it would be nice to sort out which ones.

Will, I do most of my bar-top playing at
Treasure Island, and over several years have
had no problems with receiving comp drinks
if I'm playing a video poker machine, either
at the bar or out in the casino.

Dick

Lee,those were the good old days and as we all know they be gone.the reels would never turn straight,squeak,moan and grown and would payoff like crazy!! paid for a few trips and drank alot of comp beer playing those oldies in reno.
D.A.G.

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D.A.G.SEATTLE
furdoo3@aol.com

D.A.G.,
The best part of the whole thing was the drinks kept coming too! LOL

Will,
The Golden gate is sort of an odd little place. But I'm wondering if that bartender just ment he couldn't comp the Hinekin? Although, right across the street at the LV Club, no problem with the Fosters and other imports. We used to like the Gate, but now I feel buggy when ever we sit in the joint for too long. Seen my first real Las Vegas Bar fight in that old place (I was a by-stander). LOL


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Lee-PA
Moderator, What's New Forum
lee@talkvegas.com

JMT,
Not much reason to go in the Plaza anymore, except for the cheap eats at Centre Stage place.
Sandy won't go in the place and gamble, she had a bad experiance there, so we pretty much avoid the place.
I'm not even sure if they have bartop games at the bar?

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Lee-PA
Moderator, What's New Forum
lee@talkvegas.com

Will, I have played bartop vp practially everywhere and never had a problem. The rule is buy a roll, get a drink and the drinks keep coming as long as you are playing. I also make sure the bartender sees me puting $1 into the tip glass. That always helps. It sounds like the Golden Gate is trying to save a few bucks. It would not surprise me that some of the low roller places would do this. It does seem cheap though.


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John
Moderator Dining Forum
john@talkvegas.com

I have played the bar top machines a lot at Treasure Island, Bellagio, Rio and Stratosphere. I usually order a drink and a roll of coins. After that I play with paper money and never request more coins. The drinks have always been comped, as many as I like, as long as I'm playing. I do tip the bartender for each drink, the same as if a cocktail waitress was bringing a drink to my machine. I have never paid for a drink in Las Vegas. At least not directly <G>.

My favorite bar top play is at MSS. Choice of single malt scotch and they keep em coming. I've had non-players sit with me and get comped drinks also.
Several people have mentioned buying a roll of quarters. Do you think the comp policy would be differrent if you sit down and feed a ten spot into the bill changer?

jm

Jeff, there is no difference if you feed the bill changer. The bartender will look to see how many credits you have and as long as it is over 40 on a quarter machine you will get your drinks.

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John
Moderator Dining Forum
john@talkvegas.com

Jeff,
Good question about the bill validators.
At the Flamingo Garden bar, & Bugsy's bar they don't sell quarters. You must stick the bills in the machine.
Also I'd have to agree that MSS is a very drink friendly bartop to play at, as well as the Cal. (although the single malt choices are way down thier, they still have the High Roller Red, micro brew from MSS on tap)
But my personal favorite The Flamingo Garden bar, I can not knock one bit. Some of that though comes from just being a regular and a tipper. They know I'm gonna play!

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Lee-PA
Moderator, What's New Forum
lee@talkvegas.com

the only thing the bartender wants you to fill is that empty glass that's in front of you in the bar rail

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D.A.G.SEATTLE
furdoo3@aol.com

Wow! Thanks for all these answers! I am not much of a slot player, but I do sit at the bar on occasions, so now I know how to act like a real drinker/gambler without having to ask the bartender.

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will800