I woke up and started watching the Silence of the Lambs — such a great movie but, alas, I would not be able to watch it through to the end as checkout time rapidly approached. I gathered all my belongings and checked out of the NoMad. I called for a Lyft and, apparently, they are still short on drivers as I waited approximately 30 minutes for a driver to appear. I was then whisked away to Caesars Palace.
Upon entering the Diamond check-in area I noticed it seemed a bit disorganized. Groups of people were milling about at various areas inside the Diamond check-in lounge while others were waiting int he line. Assuming that the line was the right choice, I joined in. A few moments later, it appeared as if I made the right choice as the registration desk clerks were calling people to check-in from the line rather than those milling about. However, upon making my way to being next in line, things changed. A woman that had been speaking with a clerk for the entire time I was in line was still entrenched in her position with the clerk — it seemed as if she had already checked in and was now asking a million and one questions about the property, how the Bell Desk worked with her luggage, etc. The diminutive asian gentleman behind me in line was none too pleased and began to express his frustration outwardly with audible sighs and comments to the effect of “Do people not understand how simple the check-in process should be?” and “What the hell is wrong with this lady - get your room key and move on.” A clerk opened up and motioned me over — before I could get to his station, one of the women milling around the lounge ran up and said she was next because she had spoken to a supervisor who told her she was next. I did not care to get into an argument with “Karen” and waited for the next clerk, who opened up mere seconds later.
Moments later, while “Karen” was still trying to explain whatever it was she discussed with the supervisor, I was checked in and had my keys. Onwards and upwards to the room:
After getting myself situated in the room I ventured down to find a blackjack game. Alas, all games in the Caesars high limit area were at least a $200 min. so I checked out the main floor. However, the $100 min. games on the main floor all called for the dealer to hit soft 17. So, I decided to take a walk through the casino and then occupy my time playing some slots.
I sat down at a $1 Wheel of Fortune machine and did not get any notable hits, promptly losing $100. I then made my way over to the “Cash Machine” slots which, at max bet, are $10/spin. I put $100 in and, on my last $10, hit for $100:
The excitement quickly disappeared as I did not hit anything on my next 10 spins. I slid over one machine and put another $100 in and, as usual, was summarily dismissed.
Trip is now +1750
I grabbed an energy drink and headed across the street to the Flamingo to see if their high limit room was open and, upon seeing that it was, I sidled up to a 6D $100 min. table and bought in for $1500. The dealer and pit boss were friendly and even wished me a happy belated birthday upon swiping my card. The first shoe was not that bad as I hovered around even for the shoe most of the way. The second shoe commenced with a blackjack in my favor and then devolved from there. For most of the shoe, I was dealt 14’s and 15’s against a dealer face card. Naturally, hitting the 14’s and 15’s would result in an immediate bust. The third shoe commenced with yet another blackjack to me and, once again, devolved from there. My second hand was a 2,2 versus a dealer 2 — I split and was dealt an 8 on the first hand, doubled and dealt a 3 for 13; second 2 I was dealt another 8, doubled and was dealt a Queen; the dealer turned over a 9 and then, par for the course, a 10, for 21. At this point, my buy-in had disappeared.
Trip is now +250.
On my way back to Caesars, I stopped into the Cromwell just to take a look around. Unfortunately, every table on the main floor, including the $50 min. tables, was now paying blackjacks at 6:5. Was there not a time, in the not so distant past, that the Cromwell would advertise that all their blackjack tables paid 3:2? Apparently, you can no only get 3:2 blackjack games in the high limit rooms at Caesars’ properties.
As the day turned to evening, a couple I know that lives here in Vegas met up with me for dinner at Gordon Ramsay Pub. I ordered the burger topped with cheddar cheese and bacon with a side of shoestring fries - it was serviceable, nothing to rave about but not that bad.
After dinner, I actually found a table in the main pit at Caesars that paid 3:2 blackjack — the tradeoff was having the dealer hit soft 17. The table was $50 min. and I was one of three at the table. The first shoe was a little rough, dropping about $200 with no hands of note. The second shoe was much more player friendly, with my actually being able to press some bets and go on a couple of nice runs within the shoe. Once again, no hands that really stood out but, in the end, I had picked up the $200 I had lost plus another $400.
Trip is now +650.