MIA - $1 on the 3 plays in high limit with 8/5 SA, NSUD, 9/6 JoB, 8/5 BP and 9/7 DB.

MIA - The $1 APDW single line bank of 8 machines are GONE and have been for quite a while. They were removed when the video poker area was moved to allow for more penny slots.

Note all of these juicy machines in the HL room have some placard though that excludes them from same day slot multipliers.

Grand reopening is 8-8-08, but I don't even think that half the VP is ready. Looks like the 25c PROG are all gone. There are going to be a lot of $1 9/6 JoB machines and I also saw $1 APDW. The APDW was in a bank of four (two next to each other and then two more back to back with those). As you are going to the back (where most of the VP) is, they will be on the right side. I could only check the pay table on the one machine as another one was being played and the other two weren't operational.The $1 9/6 JoB are just before you get the the ones against the back back wall. Those were more to the left as you go into the VP area. I believe in a bank of 8. Found a lot of $1 JOB and BP. Also found some $1 uprights with APDW on them in an oval type of layout, on the way to the Vintage 51 Bar. There is a $1 progressive bank with 9-7 DB among other games. (About in the right center of the VP area.) The high limit room has 2 fifty play machines with AFPDW as well as single line $5 machines with 8/5 Super Aces, AFPDW and other 99+% games.

I visited the new Horseshoe in Hammond yesterday. The place is beautiful. The Diamond Lounge remains where it was before - so it is quite a walk to get to. A 7* lounge is located by the HL Slot & HL Table Game rooms. I took a tour of it; it is large and very, very nice. The host told me that there is a special menu that guests can order from. Nice bar with TVs (all sports shown). I only checked out the machines in the HL Room, so can only report on those. They are all brand new and pretty cool to play. (1) $2 MG 3/5/10P (2) $1 MG 50P (6*) $5 MG SL (1) $25 MG SL (1) $50 MG SL (1) $100 MG SL Games available in SL include JB, BDLX, BP, SDB, SA, 9/7DB, 10/6DDB, OEJ, 15/11 NSUD (not sure if that has an acronym yet or not). Games available in 50P are the same except DDB is 9/6. I did not check the pay tables on the lone 3/5/10 play. *I am guessing there were six, did not count them. Two were out of service. The service was excellent and they are keeping Coke products in back for those who specifically request them. Yeah!! Cashback is now freeplay and can be downloaded at the machine. My only disaaapointments were the music (rap) and the mandatory IN state tax - it's a killer.

I have not done a complete scope job but I have not seen or heard of anything playable at the 25c level. The 25c 10 coin game with a $25,000 base sequential progressive mentioned at vpfree-Chicago base games under 97% hence no good. The good 25c progressive (180-80 OEJW, NSUD etc.) is gone. There is a bank of eight $1 machines in a "football" shaped array near the back left of the vp area near a single "Poker Pro" table with APDW (15-11) and 9-6 jacks, 9-7 DB, 9-6 DDB, 8-5 bonus. There was a bar area still closed with VP that I could not get in and check. I understand that high-limit still has the games that were previously in high limit. Another bank of $1 progressives with 9-7 DB (and some other games but nothing better) in the right center area of the vp area.

*** MIA - *** (8) 25c MG 99.9% OEJ, NSUD, 35/8 USA Poker, 9/6 JoB, 8/5 BP, 9/7 DB and 9/6 DDB PROG (RF - slow meter) on east side of 1st Level against the wall to the left of ladies' restroom.

The place was hopping so I didn't see everything, but what I saw of the quarter single and multiplay inventory sucked --Paytables like 6/5 DDB and other awful versions of jacks and bonus games. Quarter progressive slant-tops on lowest level were 8/5 DDB, 7/5 JB, 9/6 DB, 6/5 BP, 7/5 BP Deluxe and a 25-16-13-4-3-2-2-1 Deuces. Bad news. The progressive was just over reset and most of the seats were taken. There is some good news for $ and better players. Upstairs in the high-limit room there are slant-tops with some decent paytables. 1 $ 10 play with FP JB, SA, BP and 9/7 DB and 25-15-9-4-4-3-2-1 Deuces. 2 $ 50 plays with FP JB, SA, BP, 9/7 DB and 25-15-9-4-4-3-2-1 Deuces. 1 or 2 $5 3 plays with FP JB and NSUD -- Maybe SA, BP and 9/7 DB as well; My notes are a little sketchy here. At least 2 3 play 1$, 2$, $5 machines with FP JB, SA and NSUD. $5 per point for slots and $10 per point for vp. 100 points for $1: .1 CB. Card readers advertise 3X points on Mondays. The boat feels small and cramped, but the dockside facilities are sharp. Inner Circle Lounge and Steakhouse have lakeside views of the Chicago skyline. Dining options look good. Players lounge fare and buffet seem a higher quality than the NW Indiana competition.

Harrah's Entertainment Inc. has agreed to acquire Horseshoe Hammond, with closing expected to take place in the first quarter of 2004.