The Big Jackpot

This week the progressive jackpot on the Wheel of Fortune was surprisingly very high.  The meter readings were soaring skywards as the money rose to a record of over eight million dollars. It’s true that although I really am convinced that types like myself are not usually capable of raking in such sums, I still felt the urge to try and have a go. Naturally I didn’t get lucky. However, late at night success struck and there was the victory dance.

Last Saturday the Reno-Tahoe Gambling Weekly first issue came out. It was a good feeling to be active once more and get that surge of optimism penetrating my body. It goes without saying that for a long time now I’ve been down in the dumps. Recent and veteran subscribers gave me terrific feedback.

It revived me once more. I really want to say thank you to all those who spent time in wishing me a welcome return. The number of people who answered me and recharged my batteries – gave me the energy to bounce back – hopefully!

This weekend Reno is preparing for the Great Reno Balloon Race. It’s one of my most annually preferred events. Assorted colored balloons will fill the sky and as the sky fills with the latest forms I always get excited. This coming year will enjoy the Dawn Patrol. In an optimistic mood, the winds should get calmer, as this is when I’ll be around and I will be able to see the sky at dawn filled with colorful balloons.

Virginia City will also witness the thirty third camel race will also be taking place this weekend when emus and ostriches will also be participating in the races. Reno is a great place to be in this time of year. At Reno-Stead Airport, the coming weekend, the skies will be hosting the National Championship Air Races and Air Show. Don’t miss this event – it’s really worth seeing.

These vintage plane competitions is not something you see frequently. Street Vibrations is the weekend event when the region get filled up with thousands of motorcycles. You can’t really claim that there’s not much to day after Labor Day in Reno.  
       
The casino with its latest session of slots is something that leaves me pondering. I didn’t get one coin returned after trying Spook slot and Elvira – IGI’s latest weird slot. And the latest Harley Davidson slot I also had a go at. Amazing video and audio and the graphics are superb as well as the fantastic bonus – if you can get it.

However, the problem is you’ve got to play twelve to fifteen lines to make progress on any one of the slots. In my opinion it’s a low sum at the beginning and I’m not too keen on the odds and the sum of sixty to seventy nickels to obtain a jackpot. Why, should I spend a great deal for so little when you can just see the sum spent on the Wheel of Fortune for three quarters.

For a few dollars you get into the megabucks of more than thirteen million dollars, if I get the psychological meaning behind the ideas of the slot makers, perhaps then I could comprehend the sense of it there but I’m not sure at the moment. The pennies instead make feel more and more happy.

With pennies people don’t mess around. There’s no problem with the game’s tempo and payouts although take into consideration that not much is paid out. By playing pennies I know of people who are raking in hundreds of dollars. They actually can win by playing from thirty to seventy five cents.

Once I made fun of them but now I respect them. What difference does it all make when the bottom line in gambling is simply to win. It doesn’t matter about denominations as long as you get to win.     

Today I was browsing the online newspaper when I read that on January 1, 2003, Harrah’s Entertainment (HET)’s chief executive officer, Phil Satre, is stepping down and letting Gary Loveman take over. It’s really sad to see him resign.

Over the years I’ve received lots of answers to my queries from Phil Satre who would phone me and email me. He’d always answer immediately and tolerated my going on about the jackpots. Although I wish him all the best I’m still to going to miss him. However the board will still enjoy having him for several more years. He’s certainly steered the ship in the right direction. I’ll always recall him whenever I go along to Harrah’s. Ever since Bill Harrah departed he’s been an important factor there.

Over the last few years how many of you have visited Reno? Since the Silver Legacy was established have you been there, and strolled from Circus-Circus into the Silver Legacy, both owned by MBC, Mandalay Resort Group, and then moved on to El Dorado? To get away from it all, it’s so great to be able to roam from one place to the next and in a wonderful environment see the vast variety of games.

It never stops to amaze me to observe the 120’ mining machine put up next to the Legacy; and the Circus Circus midway, or El Dorado’s grub and games. Perhaps make a trip this autumn if you haven’t visited Reno in a while.

There are great grub specials and plenty of lodging, and there aren’t crowds at the casinos, and everything stays on, and the jackpots continue to expand, and then if I’ve got anything to do with it then each day as Teno once did, Reno will be setting up online sites for their progressive jackpots at the www.RenoGamingguide.com. And people will see that if that gets done, and it’s bound to happen as that’s how life develops.

What’s worth doing in Reno, all about Reno including gambling, and lodging, I’ve got an answer to all your queries. However, if each Saturday you’d just prefer getting a free email newsletter in your mailbox then simply register at www.RenoGamingGuide.com and you’ll have one. My new version Babelfish is ready for translating into other languages, and I’m also engaged in putting on the how-to-play site sections too.  

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