The dollar 9/6 JOB machines -- slant tops by the downstairs bar -- are gone. Replaces by new and short pay machines. The only dollar machines left are some old ones by the deli and I suspect they will soon disappear also. Looks like the best gamble in the Ameristar is a $5 9/6 JOB progressive in the high-limit area with over $25K on the clock.   5-play NSUD, 9/6 JOB, and 8/5 Bonus -- can also be found in two kiosks of 6 machines each in the first floor VP area near the bar.

Some of you may recall my reporting that the KC Argosy had added quarter AA to their GameMakers, but shorted the pay scale (4-of-a-kind pays 150 instead of the usual 200, 98.49% payout). I said I hoped the other casinos in the area would not follow their example. Well, I was at the Ameristar tonight and the AA there has been shorted the same way, on both the quarter and dollar versions. Jerks.

BTW Ameristar is fairly generous with discressionary comps. We have found it is better to ask a host for a comp rather than a clerk at the promotions booth. The clerk is likely as not to take the comp out of your points. There is a host office to the right of the main slot booth outside the casino (across from the rail car) and a host station near the high-limit area inside the casino. You can cash in points for comps at the rate of 100 points per $5 or get Cashback at 125 points for $5 (then in both cases, even dollar amounts above $5).