I am not a big visitor to the local casinos but I do go to Hollywood every now and then. I have also been to Majestic Star and Trump in Indiana and frankly they didn't impress me. It was nice as a Marquee member (slot club member)at Hollywood since I could get free valet parking. All I had to do is pull up flash my card then pay the tip when I left.

When I got back from Vegas in June, there were two letters in my mailbox highlighting the changes. The first letter told of how the state was increasing the taxes and how when they raised taxes last year(?) from 35% to 50% the casino decided to absorb the cost. Now it is increasing to 70% and the state was demanding a gate fee of $5 for every person through the door whether they are gambling eating dinner or just meeting a friend. The letter discribed how drastic changes had to be made to pay for the increase in taxes and fees. Among changes were

Lay Off of "Several Hundred Employees"

Reduction of Hours , Poker Room and Table Games close at 4am. Buffet only open for Lunch and Dinner, Steak House (Fairbanks) open only 5 days, closed Wednesday and Sunday.

Players Lounge CLOSED

Poker Room Opens Daily but there will now be a $30 fee Monday through Friday and $50 on Saturday and Sunday. Price Includes $5 Entry Fee and Rake is reduced from $5 to $2 per pot.

New Fees

$5 Entry per person
$5 Parking (Valet) Used to be Free with the Marquee and above cards)
$2 Parking (Self) I think used to be Free with Marquee Card and above.
$1 for NON-Alcoholic beverages in the Casino.

The second letter I received was the normal letter that comes with coupons etc. The most notable change is that I used to be getting a $30 coupon each month. That in itself would draw me out the nearly hour drive every month. I was actually starting to enjoy going out with my girlfriend having dinner at the buffet and collecting my cash and playing for a few hours. Now the coupons that I received were, $7 instead of $30, Free Admission for one person, Free Self or -$2 on Valet Parking.

I just got another letter a few days ago with a sticker that goes onto my Marquee Card. That supposedly will entitle me to Free Admission for 2, Free Self Parking and Free Non-Alcoholic Beverages. I also got another $7 voucher.

As a regular slot player and one who would MAYBE play some blackjack it isn't that bad, I guess. The biggest hit for me is the $23 in voucher money that I don't get anymore to enhance the amount of play I can get for my visit. I get some of it back with free admission for 2, and free drinks.... However that was money I could play with before. Now I have to loose it for those other items. It seems that in the end all it involves is that I can't go early for breakfast or that I have to pay a couple bucks more for the Valet Parking. The only things that would push me away is the $50 weekend or $30 weekday fee for poker, which I do not play anyways and the high limits on the table games. Currently I have noticed $15 minimums. That is very difficult for me to afford on any regular basis. Certainly at the least it minimizes the frequency that I can afford to play. Further if they raise it more, than I would definately not be able to go play tables at all.

A friend of mine went to Horseshoe (Indiana) last weekend and won big on a $5 slot. 10x triple bars 10x. She is a very frequent visitor to Hollywood (Illinois). I have been noticing her going out to Horseshoe a little more frequently. I don't know if there is any connection with the new fees and taxes. I haven't asked. She seemed, though, to be very satisfied with her Horseshoe experience. I Might have to try going there myself.

Too bad the IL Gaming Board can't get off their Arses and get the Emerald license settled. Either put the construction workers back to work and finish the Rosemont casino and get it open or give it to Mayor Daley and Blagojovich's Father in Law so that they can put a boat at Meigs Field and start drawing revenue for the state. Instead of having an idle license in limbo which could be drawing hundreds of millions of dollars to the state this governor decides to raise taxes to the point where it makes the Illinois casinos unable to compete, may harm the economy of the state and puts a bigger and bigger burden on the taxpayers and citizens. I hate to think what will happen to Aurora, Joliet and Elgin if that revenue dries up and closes down. Then where will Blago get his budget money for the schools.