This was an event filled trip. Our flight from Detroit was delayed while they waited for a connecting flight to join us. Once we finally started to back up a passenger felt ill and had to be removed from the flight. Then weather stopped our departure for a short time.
I really thought this was a sign and I should have cancelled all plans to gamble. We stayed at Paris again this trip and they did not disappoint me again. Service was great all weekend.
Day one started with us gambling at Bally’s and first few hours found me down $400. Friday continued the bad gambling at Paris and the Pai Gow gods still don’t like me. Friday evening went down to New York New York to watch the Detroit Tigers play New York at the sport bar. Game postponed for rain. First two days not very good.

Then Saturday arrived and we went to the new Cosmopolitan to gamble and watch Michigan State beat Ohio State. Casino is very nice and employees are very helpful. Decided to play some video poker while watching the football game. Only winning was Michigan State. Dinner was at the Burger joint at Paris (always a good burger). Then off to see the new Margaritaville Casino at the Flamingo. Love the new décor and the waitresses in bikinis.

Then off to Harrah’s for a free slot spin, won a t-shirt. While picking up the t-shirts a brief restroom break and I put $20 in a dollar slot machine waiting for a friend to come out of the bathroom. Four spins at minimum bet and I hit the top payout $6,020. Never playing max bet when I need too (would have been $30.000). Drew a small crowd while they paid me so I decided to return to Paris to put the money in the safe. Now up for the trip.

Sunday went to see Holly Madison in Peep Show. Nice adult show and exactly what you would expect. Lot of nice topless women, with some decent song and dance. Again tried Pai Gow and the gods still punished me for something.

Saw a new penny machine Golden Hammer and decided to play. The bonus is a free spin at 10X pay if you use the wilds. 3 bonus symbols get 8 spins, 4 symbols 15 spins and a minor jackpot of $12 for each credit per line, and 5 symbols 100 spins and a major jackpot of $120 for each credit per line. Hit a few 3 symbol and 1 four symbol bonuses at minimum bet. Then I decided to play max bet 10 credits per line. First spin 5 bonus symbols, 100 free spins and $1200 major jackpot. Free spins paid an additional $600 for a total payout of $1800.

Meals for the balance of the trip where buffets. Paris and Planet Hollywood buffets still very good selection. Dined at Caesars for dinner Monday and both of us found a hair in our food at the buffet. They were very apologetic and removed the suspect food from the buffet immediately. Might be last time I eat at Caesars buffet.

Monday again decided to try Pai Gow and again failed to win. Decided to go see the Pawn Shop in Pawn Stars. Our dealer said it was a couple blocks from the Stratosphere. So, we took the bus to the Stratosphere and started to walk, only to find its closer to Downtown then the Stratosphere. Nice the see the place and surprised to see how small the shop is compared to the appearance on TV. Placed was packed and they have a waiting line outside. Now I can say I actually walked from the strip to downtown (glad it was day time). Returned to Paris and continued to lose for the balance of the day.

Overall was a very enjoyable trip and finally profitable.

Ed - Congrats on the wins - sounds like you came home with some extra cash in your pockets! What kind of dollar machine was it that you won $6,020?

Hey Ed, Nice wins!
Thanks for the report too. I really enjoy reading these between trips.
Those golden hammer penny slots, what does it cost fully loaded? Thats what gets me, when people say "Oh I just play pennies"! LOL
I'll play the pennies fully loaded, but I do the same thing, I hate playing full load on the dollars, and most times those dollar reel slots are less, then the pennies fully loaded up!

We stopped eating at Caesars buffet a long while ago. Last time I was their it was for a meet of some kind, with Wendell. And that was years ago.

Again, thanks for the great trip report!
So, when are you going back?????

The $1 machine was Diamond Solitare Deluxe. Five lines and I was only playing $1 per line. The .01 machine is $3.00 max bet, 30 lines at .10 each.

Next trip is supposed to be New Years and hotel is booked but might cancel this year.

I wasn't a fan of that weekend. Too busy, but I can say we did it one time. Just wasn't my cup of tea, but a lot of people really go for the crowds and excitment.

Thanks for the trip report Ed. I really like the burger place in Paris. The whole sports bar aspect seems a little disjointed to me, but the place is often packed so I guess it works. They rank as one of my top burgers in town.

I can't believe you walked from the Strat to the pawn shop. It's not all that dangerous especially in the day. It certainly is the scenic tour. You should have stopped at Luv It Frozen Custard. It's on Oakey, behind the Olympic Gardens. Good stuff and a Las Vegas tradition. You also should have continued downtown after you left the pawn shop. It's kinda interesting with the historic 5th Street School, Oscars River, the Lloyd George federal building, and other sights. Anyway, glad you made it there and back.

Thanks again.
Joe

We did walk the rest of the trip downtown and enjoyed the sites. I wish I had known about the frozen custard as I would have stopped.

Guess Ihave a new place next trip.

Thanks

My son would love to see the Pawn Stars Pawn Shop. Since we won't have a car, is the best way to go there via cab? Was it worth it? Did you see any of the owners from the show?

None of the stars were on-site. If you are a big fan of the show it was fun to go in the store. As the day goes on the line outside gets long and you have to wait. We arrived around noon and got right inside. The shop was packed and you move slowly through the store.

You can take a cab as a lot of them were in the parking lot. If you don't mind walking you can take the bus downtown and walk to the shop (during the day), I think from downtown if was only a 6-8 block walk. I wouldn't have the cab wait as you will be there for a while depending on the line.

They have a lot of souvenirs to spend your money on and if you watch the show a lot you will see a number of items from the show.

Ed, was the hot dog stand still out front. I heard that it belonged to one of the kids.

Gail, it's not a bad walk from downtown during the day if the weather is okay.

They have a stand in the front of the parking lot.