Reno
« Previous EntriesThe Bear Growls: Reno bums and street people
Tuesday, December 14th, 2010Reno is getting worse in that even in good weather such as the last few days, bums are coming in off the streets to suck up free drinks in the sportsbooks that do not closely police their “drink tickets.” Recently, in a large sportsbook, I watched as two drunken bums argued and almost fought over [...]
The Bear Growls: John Ascuaga’s Nugget tells employees to lie to patrons
Thursday, August 12th, 2010We all know lying to the public is part of a normal day for many front-line casino employees. Dealers lie about 6 to 5 blackjack not being as bad as it is, reservations agents lie about the hotel being sold out, pit supervisors lie about not being able to issue certain comps. All of that [...]
Can Las Vegas learn from Atlantic City? Eastern USA and Canada trip report
Wednesday, May 26th, 2010It has long been a goal of mine to visit every state. Prior to this trip, I had been in every state except Delaware and the six New England states. I have now been to all fifty. The main purpose of this trip was business in Toronto; the tour through the seven states was just [...]
The Bear Growls: Peppermill Reno stupidity and cheapness — Marketing trying to equal Circus Reno stupidity?
Sunday, May 31st, 2009Peppermill Reno recently sent out “birthday month” promotions to patrons who list birthdays in July. Some of the offers appeared to be for slightly more freeplay than some patrons normally receive as part of the Peppermill’s marketing efforts. A nice touch, especially in view of the current economic climate. It seemed like a good way [...]
The Bear Growls: Circus Circus Reno customer dis-service
Monday, May 18th, 2009With the exception of its excellent sportsbook, Circus Circus Reno has long been one of the worst-managed casinos in the Reno area, seemingly actually being run by clowns. Old and dirty, with paranoid, unfriendly pit personnel, most dealers suffering from shuffling disease, and featuring house-ordered preferential shuffling even against tiny-stakes players, the dump is a [...]
Good News: Herbst Gaming loses its casinos
Wednesday, March 11th, 2009From this news article: Herbst Gaming, which has spent the past year seeking a financial restructuring plan for its $847 million in debt, announced an agreement Tuesday with its bondholders in which the company will lose ownership of its 15 casinos in Nevada, Iowa and Missouri, but retain control of its Nevada slot routes. As [...]
The Bear Growls: Reno-area Casino Death Watch may claim a third one
Thursday, December 18th, 2008Silver Club has been horribly mismanaged for quite a while, focusing on coin-playing fleas instead of trying to get the overflow from JA Nugget. Its closure would be no surprise, having been predicted by several of us. Better would be if someone with a functioning brain purchased the dump. We’ll see. Silver Club in Sparks [...]
Bear Praise: Lucky’s sportsbook revisited
Wednesday, October 15th, 2008Previously, I wrote: … Hopefully the new ownership will get rid of the twin failures, casino manager Navegante Group and sportsbook failure Lucky’s Race and Sports Book. Lucky’s is not even in the same league with the former independent book that was at Grand Sierra. Apparently undercapitalized and definitely paranoid, Lucky’s is an embarrassment. I [...]
The Bear Growls: Gaming Control Board wastes public resources over nine dollars
Wednesday, August 27th, 2008According to this news story, a dealer at the Cal-Neva, a nasty low-roller dump in downtown Reno, is accused of stealing nine dollars from the casino. I am certainly not condoning theft, but let’s keep it in perspective. If an average citizen accused another average citizen of stealing nine dollars, the police would probably [...]
The Bear Growls: RIP Reno Siena — It has downgraded itself to a low-level grind joint
Friday, June 13th, 2008As reported in the June issue of Current Blackjack News, Siena has lowered its table max to only $300. A pit employee recently told an inquiring patron, “Management doesn’t want anything but small action anymore.” There is now a laughable $3 minimum, $200 max double deck where on a recent visit, most patrons were [...]
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