Just returned from an overnight at Foxwoods. My sister and I celebrate our birthdays there twice a year, and we always have a great time. However, this time, with the trip coming less than 2 weeks before my annual Vegas trip, it really struck me why Foxwoods is a very very poor substitute for the Real Thing.

Selection of Video Poker Games - Nightmarish. Some terrible Deuces and Jokers, a few All American Poker which do not seem to match up with the 100.7 game the experts talk about, a watered down 9/6 Double Bonus game which pretty much cleans out your bank account, some Double Down Stud (just try getting a machine), Five Deck Poker and Pick 'Em.

Selection of SLots - Did it come out two years ago? Then Foxwoods should be getting it any day.

Selection of Nickel Machines - almost non-existent. About a dozen of the 45 liners down in Slots Down Under.

Table Games - $5 Blackjack players need not apply.

Attitude of the Staff - horrendous. Example - I cashed in a bucket of fifty-cent coins. The total came to $28.25 (!!!). I said, "That's not possible, these are fifty-cent pieces." The gentleman behind the counter said, "You must have had a quarter in there." I said, "No I didn't." (I never mix the coins.) He shrugged, pushed the money out to me and went on to the next sucker. Since we were talking about 25c, and there was (as usual) a long line, I didn't make a scene, but it makes me wonder if I ever get the correct amount of money when I cash in there!

Dining Options - Horrible buffet, mediocre over-priced Chinese, decent over-priced Chinese, decent Continental (The Bistro), mediocre over-priced steak house, and a couple I haven't tried.

Other Entertainment - some extremely over-priced shops, a small arcade and some motion rides.

If You Feel Like Trying Your Luck Elsewhere - well, the Mohegan Sun (which makes Foxwoods look like The Mirage) is 20 minutes away, and Atlantic City is a good 2-3 hours.

GIVE ME VEGAS ANY TIME!!!!!!!

Cathy in Boston, counting down the days


[This message has been edited by Cathy (edited September 20, 1999).]

[This message has been edited by Cathy (edited September 20, 1999).]

Kathy, thanks for an interesting comparison. It looks like Foxwoods just tied with the Windsor Casino for the same spot on my "to do" list<g>.

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Daisy-Beyond Vegas Moderator
daisy@talkvegas.com

Cathy....with a C,
We (wife & I) always do the math when we cash out our credits. I've already have the machine that's counting the coins stop, because a bag was full, and then have then try to get me to except that amount. NFW! Changed the bag and another $53 dollars where added to the total. It's not done on pourpose, but it's just sloppy and carelessness. It aint there money....remember!

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

Lee & Cathy, A few years back when we played at Sam's Town, the count was always one coin short. There is always a possibility that one or two employees are stealing that one coin. However, they ARE going to get caught.

Then Boulder Station started doing the same thing- one coin short everytime. I would say, "It's suppose to be___, I just cashed out on the machine X amount. Call a supervisor for me, please." They would usually just give me the extra coin. But I have had some employees call a supervisor and I would explain that I just cashed out X amount of credits and I made sure no coins were left in the bin. I think only one time the supervisor didn't want to give me the one coin <lol> so I asked if I could make out a written complaint. He came up with the coin!

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gail@talkvegas.com
Moderator, TalkVegas After Hours
Administrator, TalkVegas BB

In my experience short pays of 1 or 2 coins are the result of one or more of the following: A coin sideways in the tray that I have missed, A coin bounced out of the hopper
and I missed it. The only times that I have been robbed by a machine was on coins being put in. I have never had a problem with a cashier.
At Sams Town I find that if I am cashing out for an even amount, like $100 in quarters, and the counter shows $99.75, the cashiers round it up before you can say anything.
I will then sometimes scoot over to the machine , check the hopper, find a leaner and return it to the cashier.

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Regards
A.P.

Hi Cathy,
Now you really hyped me up for my upcoming first time trip to Vegas.
You should have skipped Cedars (steakhouse) and ate at Al Dente. Yes, over-priced as well but excellent service and food in my opinion. My husband's Uncle, a high-roller at Foxwoods, prefers Al Dente and also likes Fox Harbour (seafood). My in-laws like that Cafe that is down next to Al Dente, I can't think of the name of it, it's open 24 hours. There is a Food Court also.
I dislike the Buffet as well. We always eat at the Cedars Bar or the Boulevard Bar, yes, over-priced, but we always use our points so we don't pay anyway. We recently found the Sports Bar where you can get a burger or sandwich for cheap. They have bar-top VP where I did pretty well and the lady a few stools down got a Royal on a Double Bonus game. The rest of the VP in the Casino stinks.
Were you there on the week-end? We prefer early friday evening or sunday mornings, we always find $5 tables at those times.
As for entertainment, they do have headliners just about every week-end. My in-laws saw Willie Nelson saturday night. But no set show like the Vegas Casinos, Foxwoods should start thinking about having that. Most of the headliners sell out the day the tickets go on sale.
Sorry to hear about your trouble with the employees. Only one time did we have a problem with a dealer who was in a bad mood. Eventually the table made him lighten up and forget his troubles. We've always had good service at the bars and restaurants and the hotel. Which hotel did you stay in?
Hope the birthday week-end was happy anyway. Have a great trip to Vegas!

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Patty in CT

Cathy: Thanks for the Foxwoods observations. I like everything about the place except for the gambling and the food <g>.

I used to go once a year in September for a few years in a row but skipped it this year when we were in the vicinity a few weeks ago. Personally, I like AC much better than Foxwoods since you have fairer gambling there because of the competition. If I can't go to LV, then it's off to AC. Otherwise, I don't go to any of the other casinos scattered around the East Coast.

Cathy,
I have had problems with cashing in coins at the Luxor. We stayed there on our first trip to Las Vegas and did the majority of our playing there. I would cash out for an even amount, such as $100, $50 etc., and when I would cash in my coins I would be short 6, 8 10 coins each time. I used different change booths each time and it was at different times of the day and night. Obviously there was something wrong with their change counters, but when I would protest they would insist that the change counter was correct and I must have dropped the coins. After a few times, I stopped cashing my coins in at the Luxor. The same thing happened to my husband also.

Lee Ann
Past, Present and Future Forum Moderator
leeann@talkvegas.com

Can anyone imagine the rake if just every other customer is short a few coins?


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

Lee,
I was thinking the same thing.

Lee Ann
Past, Present and Future Forum Moderator
leeann@talkvegas.com