*** MIA - *** (10) $1 PROG (RF,SF, and Quads) 9/6 JoB slant-tops near women's bathroom in the newer room.

Jackson Rancheria Casino is located off Highway 88 on the way to Lake Tahoe from Stockton. JR is home to about 1,500 slot machines and is probably the best place to play vp within 1 hour drive from Sacramento. The new casino is spacious (thank goodness!) Every $300 in action is one comp dollar for slots. It takes $600 in action for vp for 1 comp dollar. Therefore, comp rate for vp player is 16.66 basis points (0.16%). The weakest part about JR is the lack of Cashback. I gave it "0.5" because JR has offered cash promotions via mailers meaning it's less dependable than TV's free $5 instant rewards. The promotion is just average for this area. I am not aware of any bonus points days. So why the strong rating for vp game inventory? $0.25 9/6 JOB. Numerous progressive 8/5 JOBs and other games (the bank at the bar has the top 3 prizes being progressives). Lastly, JR offers quad 7s pays double with max bet for some hours of the day. I asked what happens if you hit a quad 7s when the quads are progressive during the promo? Someone told me JR would pay twice the jackpot hit as opposed to twice the baseline value. At one time JR offered a $10,000 extra payout for $1 or higher vp at max coins for a Sequential RF. My ratings are*: VP Game inventory: 6 Comp dollars**: YMMV, but call it a 6 Cashback: 0.5 Service: 6 Promotions: 5 TiTo: Yes Other Info: * 1-10 scale where a "10" is I'm parked there 24/7, a "7" is on my playlist, and a "5" is average. ** The comp dollar on a standalone basis at 16.67 basis points should be a "3", but given the many potential 100% ev games AND their platinum status gift catalog I could have easily rated it a "9", so I settle for a "6". Also, you have to be a local to get max value from this casino.

Jackson Rancheria is a revelation for anybody who has become jaded at the terrible games offered at most Indian casinos. Not only do they have a variety of reasonable progressives that could go positive on occasion, they also have some real, honest to gosh full pay video poker. The Layout: Jackson Rancheria is undergoing a huge construction program at the moment. Fortunately, the new casino was finished and open for my visit (although the hotel rooms, conference center and part of the parking deck were still under construction). It's convenient to think of the casino area as three casinos in one. First is the "large old casino" which is the casino you walk into first after parking at the multi-story parking deck. This one has a stage on the parking deck side and very high ceilings. Next is the "small old casino" which is a small area with a few slots and table games past Bo's Watering Hole Bar and Uncle Bud's Burger stand. Finally is the "new casino" which is a large area that looks almost exactly like Thunder Valley and Cache Creek (these new Native American casinos must all be hiring the same architect). It is done in muted earth tones with high ceilings and colorful lights that look somewhat like skylights. The foyer area is between the new casino and both old casinos, and has escalators leading up to their very nice buffet/restaurant called the Raging River restaurant. Video Poker: Back in the small, old casino you'll find 12 $1 9/6 Double Bonus 3- way Progressives. They are over by the Mother Load Bank cashier's windows. At the Bo's Watering Hole Bar, in between the small old casino and large old casino, are 8/5 Jacks or Better Progressives at the quarter level. In the new Casino, near the parking garage side wall over back by the restrooms are a double bank of $1 9/6 Jacks or Better Progressive machines. In the same area, over closer to the table games, is a bank of standard 9/6 JoB machines at the $5 level. About in the middle back side (farthest from the stage and the parking garage) of the large old casino there is a round carousel of upright Bally's GameMakers with quarter games of 9/6 Jacks or Better and full pay Pick `em. Most of the games in the casino are short pay of the 9/6 Double Bonus, 8/5 Jacks and 6/5 Bonus type. However, unlike every other Northern California Native American casino I've visited, Jackson Rancheria is an exception in that – if you look for them – you can find full pay and decent progressives around the casino. Player's Club & Promotions: The Jackson Rancheria player's club, called the Dreamcatcher's Club, is not particularly generous. It is a comps only system with a video poker schedule of $2 coin-in = 1 point, and 300 points = $1 in complimentary. This translates into a return on video poker of .167% (the return for slot machines is twice that level). The return on table games is roughly equal, on a coin-in basis, to the return on video poker. In April a natural quad 7's earns you a double payout for that quad. Other Games: I saw nary a single Continuous Shuffle Machine at any of their blackjack tables. They all appear to be machine shuffled six deck shoes with about 2 decks cut off. It's hit soft 17, double after split for a house advantage of around .65%. There is also the usual compliment of other table games; there is no live poker, however. Conclusion: Jackson Rancheria is not a candy store for either video poker or blackjack players by any means. But it offers by far the best deal I've yet seen in a Northern California casino. Couple that with a pretty setting in the rolling California foothill country and pretty good food, and you have a destination resort that may be worth a visit.

Got a bee in my bonnet yesterday and headed from my home in the Bay Area, east to Jackson Rancheria. It's a relatively large Indian Casino in the Gold Country. The database page had many positive or full pay VP machines listed, so I decided to take a look. Something not mentioned on their website (surprise, surprise) is that they are deep into a construction phase. This means that the parking garage is more hectic than usual, and the casino floor itself has dead ends and do not enter signs. There is one large room, which looks over a stage area. And then there is a newer area that is shaped in a "U" so you can't do a complete "circle" of the casino, but you can see the other end of the "U" across a construction zone. What I'm saying is that if you have a favorite machine at the upper left and another one at the upper right, you must do some walking through the rest of the place. I was nervous about the pay schedules when I saw the sheer manpower of people in orange vests directing traffic. You know when you go to a concert and they have people waving flags at you in case you can't figure out how to follow the guy in front of you as he parks in the big lot? There were more people waving flags at me than I have ever seen. When you are driving down a driveway and there is a barrier and a big sign that says Detour and a left arrow, wouldn't most of us turn our car left and follow the signs? Of course. But thanks to the five people with flags, I was motioned to the left over and over again. Thanks for the help guys! Someone is paying these staffers. I was hoping it wouldn't be me. The casino has a western facade, sort of like Whiskey Pete's or Boomtown, except you can tell it's newer. Parking garage pretty full for a Wednesday afternoon. Went to the slot club booth first thing. Short wait. No promos. No handouts. Sign behind booth said that: Database Update #1: it is 300 points for a comp dollar, not 100 as the database says. There is no alcohol allowed, but I can tell you that smokers will find comfort here. Good ventilation, but I seemed to always find a seat next to the heaviest smoker who dragged his oxygen tank from machine to - location and game details are unknown. There was more staff than I've seen at any casino ever. They had a lot of down time to talk amongst themselves. They seemed friendly. There were waitresses that offered drinks. I'm not sure what they were offering. Water or soda, maybe? And they get huge points from me for having multiple water coolers with cups available for anyone to have. There is a buffet open six hours a day, a coffee shop with sandwiches, and a grill. I had a decent hamburger at the grill. All these places can scan your player's card. VP Machines: Found the circle bank of (8) Quarter 9/6 JoB and Full Pay Pick'Em. Database Update 2: They were moved to about equal distance between the performance stage and the info booth at the bottom of the escalator. At any given time, half of them were being used. I never had to wait. Question for the veterans: Do you ever get tired of sitting at a full pay machine and watching someone five feet away from you playing the same machine at a lower payout? It made me smile. Jacks or Better: Quarter Progressive 8/5 was at about $1800 so I didn't play it. Dollar Progressive 8/5 was at about $6500 so I didn't play it either. Question for veterans: I read that an 8/5 machine "becomes" a 9/6 when the Royal progressive reaches about 9000 coins. Are there any other specific thresholds that make a low pay table machine into a 9/6? Also, can I assume that the dollar progressive would have been full pay if it also had a $9000 Royal? In the newer casino room, by the blackjack, there were 8 "high-limit" VP JoB machines. The dollars were 8/5 and, a travesty, the $5 was also 8/5. They looked like they had never been played. Database Update: The set of (10) $1 9/6 with progressives on R, SF, and 4OK were located in the corner by the women's bathroom in the newer room. All slant-top. The Royal had been hit recently as was at about $4025, the Quad was around $128 and was being hit often, the SF was closing in on $300 and wasn't hit while I was there. These machines not only beeped when you had something dealt to you, they held stuff for you. I feel like it took a bit of the strategy out of the game when I didn't even have to look for low pairs. The machine's strategy didn't always follow "the card" so I corrected it once in awhile. It made me feel too passive as I played. Sort of like a slot machine person. I was excited to see some quarter Multi-Strike machines. But I came down to earth when I saw that they were 7/5, and you didn't get the big Royal until after 20-coins had been played. No thank you. I'll continue to play online. ----- Blackjack Two tables of $10 minimum. They had a smaller circle on the felt for a special "bonus bet" of some kind. However, I was frustrated trying to read the little informational sign to see what this was. You know at the Venetian or even Harrah's they have the minimum sign lit up with all information on splits and double downs? At this casino they had brown type on beige paper. I think it said double down on 8-11 only, but I was feeling weird staring at the card while others played. I think the bonus bet was something with sevens. They also had the new fangled BJ games like Lucky Ladies and Texas something or other. There was a BJ tournament going on that appeared to be quite popular. ----- Craps They had a single craps table where lessons were being given. The table went live this morning at 8. I missed it by one day. No odds or mimimums were posted on it. ----- In conclusion, I'd probably go again if I got a "gambling jones" as it is the closest place to my house. It doesn't take the place of Vegas, Reno, or even North Tahoe. It was clean, safe, and definitely fully staffed.

Recently stayed for 2 nights (comped). This indian casino is about 5 miles N of the town of Jackson on Hwy 88 and about 45 miles E of Stockton on Hwy 88. $2 of play = 1 pt. 100 pts = $1 comp. No cashback but mailers may include free room & food, depending on play. Discretionary comps are very tight. My son & I played 30K ea & had to beg for an additional night beyond the free 1-nighter in the mailer. This place is usually packed & is one of the choke points for NV-bound traffic to Reno/Tahoe as Hwy 88 parallels 50 & will divert traffic when weather gets bad. VP & comps are much better in Reno/Tahoe. However, when Hwy 50 & 80 are closed, this is the next best thing. Thunder Valley in Sacramento is not a threat. Met many players from that area who know that VP & games in general at Thunder Valley are just too tight. In places like Reno or Tahoe, when I tire of a casino, I just head next door to the next casino. Well, there is nothing else close by & dining choices are limited so I was forced to explore outside of the casino to get some variety. This turned out to be a blessing as Jackson & nearby Sutter Creek are historic towns with a few good restaurants & also known as wine country. Had excellent lunch at Chatterbox in Sutter Creek & intend to dine at Palace (also in Sutter Creek) next time. Anyway, since there were no casinos next door to check out, I had a lot of free time which was very relaxing compared to Reno/Tahoe. There is a gift catalog for the high point earners. However, this catalog is nothing like the Hyatt's which has much more selection & much better items to choose from.