I noticed on my last visit that the point structure has changed at the Pioneer. I made an e-mail inquiry today to the slot operations director. As always, I received a prompt response. Today it took a whole 10 minutes! JHolliday responded: "I can't really tell you what the point structure is since it differs from machine to machine. I can tell you that you still get $1.00 in Cashback and $2.00 in comp for every 300 bonus points that you accumulate. We also give back the most in cash and comp and the Pioneer still has the lowest hold percentage of any house in Laughlin. I want to thank you for e-mail and hope that your next visit to the Pioneer is enjoyable." *** It used to be $2 a point for all VP and $1 for slots. I think it is now $4 point for the decent games (Jacks, DB and FPDW). This cuts the slot club benefits in half, now $1,200 coin-in gets $1 cb. They certainly snucked this one in. The countdown does not show up anymore just a running total of accrued points. The comp balance still is listed upon card insertion. One positive is the revamped "Prize O Plenty" wheel promotion. In the March/April calendar they are going to do this one every Monday and Thursday (high noon-8pm). To qualify you neeed 500 points earned or $500 accrued table game buy-ins in the last 30 days. This is a 35 spot old style carnival wheel that you spin for a prize. Some junk logo items but there is a $100, 50, 25, 10 spots as well as room and food comps. Well worth your time, just show up a little later in the day to avoid any line. Sassy Sue's Saloon now has live tunes on the weekends and plasma TVs for game watching. The table games rules changed- $5 min Craps and BJ now, no more $3. The single deck rules went to double 10,11 only. The Pioneer still is one of my favorite joints on the river.

I don't think the Pioneer has hosts per se. But, there's a girl named Melody Tull who sends out their (frequent) emails, and she has arranged rooms for me on occasion.

The "Boarding House" coffee shop/buffet reopened on Oct 9th. Current promo for Oct, "River Ricks Flicks", 27" Sanyo TVs given away on Thursdays. Quads and suited BJ gets entries. Need not be present to win, but must collect TV by next drawing. Grand Prize- 45" Plasma TV drawing on Halloween, must be present.

Things are happening. The coffee shop is closed for six weeks starting July 7th. A total gutting. Coffee shop food now served in Granny's, with limited menu. The free VP tourney's continue. The July promo is their usual six-pack give-away. Any quad or suited BJ gets you Pepsi or Coors. They sent me a special "Bear with Us" offer, which was nice. Included a couple of nights for a Riverview room (a first), double points for 24 hours and a $40 food comp. I have averaged $1k/month coin-in for a couple of years. No more orange glass in Game Kings, all Aqua Blue now.