Day 8 Saturday December 21, 2002
I woke up really late today and realized I had actually slept through the alarm for almost an hour. I guess I was a lot more tired than I thought. When I got up I realized it was another one of those gloomy assed days out. It was raining again and according to the weather channel it was only 40 degrees. I’ve never seen it so nasty here before for one day and now this was the second one in a row.

One thing I can’t believe is I’ve been here for a week now. That means that there is only a week left to this trip.

When I finally got ready to go it was 2pm. This was quite a bit later than I had planned on getting started today but at least I was well rested. My plan today was to gather chips from the north end and center strip casinos and play a limited amount of craps in the places that weren’t packed. The term limited meaning I would hit and run for the most part and take the smaller wins instead of going for the kill.

The first stop was the Riviera but the table was packed so I just got chips at the cage and moved on to Slots-A-Fun. I played a little on their $1 table. I like playing here almost out on the sidewalk. The only thing I don’t like is they only offer double odds. I didn’t do well here and lost $14.

The next stop was Circus-Circus. They only had $5 tables and also only offer double odds but I bought in anyway. The table turned out to be ok with exception of my shooting. Instead of making a pass bet and come bets with odds I was only betting the pass line with odds and placing the 6 and/or 8. The lady that shot after me was great and made a couple of points and threw quite a few 6’s and 8’s. After she 7’d out I left the table with a $67 win.

Next stop was over to Westward Ho but the place was dead for a Saturday afternoon. The craps table wasn’t open so I just got chips at the cage and then moved on to the Stardust. Their tables were $5 minimums with 3X, 4X, and 5X odds. The lady that was shooting was on fire and hitting lots of numbers. I was wishing I was betting like I normally do but by the time she went out I was still ahead and cashed in up by $46.

I was done getting chips on the north end other than the Sahara but I wasn’t going to walk all of the way down there. I went back over to the Riviera and got my car and drove up to center strip. I parked over at Bally’s and made my to the center strip casinos.

First stop was the Barbary Coast. Their table was also a $5 minimum with 3X, 4X, and 5X odds. Unusual for a Coast property to offer more than double odds but I guess they are trying to compete on the strip. I got on the table at just the right time because the guy shooting hit a few points and the 6 and 8 a few times. I walked out after he hit a 7 with another $44 win.

I didn’t need to get any chips at the Flamingo because I have quite a stock of them back at home. Instead I went over to the Imperial Palace. There was a table with a lot of players at it but also a table that was empty. This was a $3 game with 3X, 4X, and 5X odds so I started alone. I was shooting great establishing my point and then hitting it the next roll. I did this 3 times in a row. I kept the dice for about 10 minutes and was up quite a bit before I 7’d out. I stayed on the table a little longer and eventually got the dice back again. There was a guy next to me betting on the don’t pass. Like I’ve said in the past, I’m not usually the greatest shooter but NEVER bet against me. I had another great roll and hit 5 of my 6 points before I went out. Even the dealer laughed at the guy after he left. That’ll teach him! The table started getting bad so I quit while I had the chance and walked out with a $64 profit.

The tables at Harrah*s were packed so I got my chips at the cage without playing and went over to Casino Royale. There was plenty of space at their $1 game and it offered 100X odds. A nice option but bit too rich for most people. This was a great table with a hot shooter. He made his point numerous times and during the roll he hit the 6 eight times in a row. Most of them were the hard way. One guy was making a fortune on the hard ways. When he went out I walked off with $124 in profits.

My next stop was the Venetian but all their games were packed despite the $10 minimums. It’s reasons like this I don’t play the strip too often, especially on the weekend. It was the same at the rest of the mega-resorts from Treasure Island all of the way back to Bellagio so I just went to the cage and bought my chips there.

On my way out of Bellagio there was a fountain show going on. It was a Christmas one with the song Sleigh Ride. I’ve seen the fountain show 100 times but it’s one of my favorite things to watch. If only it weren’t so friggen cold out here today!

The Aladdin had a $5 game with space available so I jumped in. The table seemed hot until I got in. Then it went to hell. I think I got paid about 3 times here and before I knew it I dropped $76.

It was getting later in the night and I was starving so I went over to Terrible’s. I have enough points there from about a year ago that I can probably eat there for free forever as long as they keep their liberal policies. Since it is Saturday there are no food specials until after 10pm according to the slot club boothling. Instead of a food special I went up to their buffet. I’ve read reports of it being bad but I figured for 1,000 points I’d try the dinner out. The reports are right. The food isn’t that great although it’s not terrible. The selection is poor and the food quality was average at best. I’ve eaten much better but I’ve had much worse too. This buffet is $9.99 for those that have to pay. One thing I know is if I had paid that much for this buffet I would have been pissed. There is better out there for far less money.

After I ate I went to the craps table and got in. This was a $3 game with 3X, 4X, and 5X odds. The first shooter was good and I made a few bucks but the next 2 shooters sucked. I quit here with a $20 profit.

I had enough of casino hopping for the day and it was getting a little late so I came back here to take it easy and call it a night.

Total win/loss for the day $200
Total comps for the day $149