Whenever people say "Indian Casino," I think of Taj Mahal in Atlantic City, New Jersey. I prefer the more politically correct term of "Native American" or if you must, "Tribal." And name calling aside, for a long time, I've found Mohegan Sun interesting as the second chapter to a fascinating story that started with Foxwoods Casino in the mid-1980s, and just ten miles West. Over the years, several books were written and many newspapers have chronicled these two casinos prompting many skeptics to argue over the legitimacy of casinos proliferating on reservation land and the sovereignty of United States government to oversee these businesses. For those of you truly interested, here are the key people, place, and events: The Indian Reorganization Act of 1934, Richard 'Skip' Arthur Hayward, Thomas Norton Tureen, Lowell Palmer Weicker, Jr., the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act of 1988, the Genting Group, and Solomon Kerzner. And now about my trip... The property is located about half way between Boston and New York City so it is a fun detour choice along with Mystic Pizza and Yale. The place is large and yet comfortable in her enormity. You don't have to fight for a machine, there are thousands available. You don't have to worry about eating when you can choose from high-end steak house down to just donuts. The ceiling is high enough that the smokers can coexist with the non-smokers. In fact, the place is so big that it is more of a self-contained ecosystem than just your average typical ordinary casino. They started new players like me with $100 free slot play, just show them a Player Card from NYC or AC. http://www.mohegansun.com/$100 or http://www.mohegansun.com/ac100 So I looked around for full-pay JoB with 25 cent coins and found many all over the three sections (Casino of Earth, Sky, and Wind) of the casino floor. Really makes me wonder why anyone would play the 8-5 short-pay JoB machines... As usual, I fail to hit the Royal but I cashed in $97.25 for 97.25% I then used one of my three Package vouchers on the buffet which was fun because I ordered an orange Coke. (Make sure you get in there before price change for dinner at 5PM.) I won both hands with the other two match-play vouchers on the blackjack table with a very helpful and friendly dealer. They also gave me a nice free t-shirt which I changed into for my ride back home. I would love to visit again with friends and their postcard comp offers may be more enticing if only it does not expire so fast. I got it in the mail a couple weeks after my visit and it is set to expire on September 30th. I highly recommend you to play at Mohegan Sun if not just for the experience, come for the history and the orange Coke! sugardaddy1

Ever wonder how much is a Free Buffet? Wonder no more! I will share my thoughts with you and hope to guide you to your next free meal! I went to Showboat for the Free Buffet Promotion eight times. Although the data size is small but I think it is a fair representation of the numbers. It is a simple three step process: 1) Read the fine prints first. 2) Plan a course of action. 3) Focus and get it done. Now, in my situation: 1) Showboat requires 10 Tier Points and 30 minutes of play. The French Quarter Buffet costs around $30 depending on the time of the day and the day of the week. 2) Apply my Bus Package bonus to the play, I will risk only the balance. There is one bank of 9-6 full-pay 25 cents coin JoB located at floor section KM. Note at all the Caesars properties, they award one Tier Point per $5 of slot play but requires $10 on Video Poker. However as a self-respecting proficient player, I opt for the full-pay JoB as should you. As you play, keep an eye on the small screen monitoring the accumulation of the Tier Points knowing that you will need to play exactly $100 worth over 30 minutes. So that means you should play eighty hands set at maximum coin of $1.25 per hand; which is basically three hands per minutes. 3) Pick a machine that works properly. (And I hate the noisy Keno machine right to the East.) Here is my result for the $100 wagered: The average loss was $3 and the range is less than $10. This is very much in line with 97% Payback for perfect play, absent of the Royal Flush jackpot. And yes, that means my Buffet cost me only $3. Once you see the math, you can adjust this formula to any "Play for Free Buffet" promo. PS. This is the best buffet on the Boardwalk. (Foodies argue over the merit of Harrahs v. Borgata on the Marina side of Atlantic City.) I highly recommend the raw oysters but stay away from the unlimited lobsters. Baked crusty salmon can be very good. All the regulars know Sharon of North Carolina is the best waitress. Be nice to her and she'll remember your drink. If you don't have one, ask her to make you a cranberry with seltzer! sugardaddy1

If I were to own a casino, this would be the one. On the other side of the coin as a player however, much is left to be desired. First off, this is very much a local's casino with familiar faces showing up like clockworks. They all dress up in their Sugar House t-shirts, sweatshirts, and jackets - like workers in uniforms ready for duty. Sugar House baits them with frequent but cheesy free gifts such as soap dispenser. Parking is free and never an issue. The so-called 'Sugar Express' shuttle is really a free tour bus of the City that takes many ridiculous circles before finally reaching the Casino; all the while you are sitting on hard wood park bench dazed and confused. You really should take a quick taxi ride instead. The machines are tightly packed and on a busy night, the smoke permeates through out the floor. The sandwiches are fine for a quick snack, I recommend the pork with a little oil. You should venture back to Center City for a proper meal. The bathrooms are clean always, much to their credit. The Professionals are friendly enough but you should sit near the center of the floor if you want to be served a cocktail. Note that the cocktail cup is tiny so you are better off asking for a bottle of beer, I recommend the Heineken and Corona. Lastly as I stated, this is very much a casino for the locals and entertainments is a reflection of that business model so you should come see Jerry Blavat and dance the night away! As reported on a weekly basis on http://gamingcontrolboard.pa.gov/ Sugar House is usually the tightest slot machines payout in the State. And along with Parx, two casino with the highest revenue on a per machine basis, as reported in "PENNSYLVANIA GAMING CONTROL BOARD ANNUAL REPORT 2010-2011 under 'Taxable Slot Wins Per Day'. Although the VP numbers are not broken down separately, there are only three IGT Game King machines offering 8-6 JOB on 25¢ coin, most others are either short-pay 8-5 or even less. There are a few 5¢ VP machines but they are all short-pay. I will leave you with these final thoughts. Parx is a much nicer casino North just outside of Philly, it is basically a smaller version of Borgata. However Borgata offers many full-pay JOB on 25¢ coin, all the IGT Game Kings at Parx are short-pay for 25¢ coin JOB. But for those of you who enjoys thoroughbred racing, the admission is free. Harrah's Philadelphia Casino is South at Chester in the middle of industrial waste land but it has all the charm of AC Bally, if you like good-but-cheap buffet and free meals for premium members at the Diamond Club. There are many 8-5 JOB on IGT Game King machines in both smoking and non-smoking areas. This racino is also admission free. Plus free soda for everyone. All three casinos provides ample free parking. sugardaddy1

Think back two years ago and say that you had this favorite uncle who asks you what you would like for Christmas and since he already knows full well that you are a gambler, he already has the most fun casino ready to roll out with you in mind - even before you answered. That man is Mr. Dennis Gomes and his gift for us, is the new Resorts Casino in Atlantic City. Thanks to his friend, Uncle Bailey, they bought a classic junker for not much more than a song and turned her into the Casino of the Year 2011. He starts by polishing clean the Art Deco gaming floor. He then hands us the out-sized bus package which is a generous $41 in slot play plus a voucher for a free buffet that opens all seven days serving unlimited crab legs. He provides us with the hottest cocktail waitresses and dressed them in the scandalous fashion of roaring Twenties. And along with the easy money, the easy boozing, and the Naked Circus; he offers us a couple full-pay JOBs, and many more full-pay Bonus Pokers on IGT Game King 25 cent coin machines. Yes, he did it all for us in a time when Uncle Trump left behind only his name on the wall and when Uncle Wynn has long since left town vowing never to return. Gomes saves these full-pay video poker games in a world where 8-5 becomes the new standard payout on 25 cents JOB. For all you've done - thanks for the fun filled year, Uncle Gomes. And oh how I miss that smoking hot hostess on Beat the Chick tic-tac-toe game... sugardaddy1