Illinois - American Casino Guide Casino Reviews

Hollywood Casino - Aurora: Not What It Used To Be

Gerry_L — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 22:50:16 +0100

The slots and video poker used to give you a chance to win, but they have tightened the machines. Now a decent pay is rare. The buffet is just about the same all of the time. It's OK, but nothing special. I won't play the table games because the minimum is too high. My wife and I would go almost weekly for the first 12 years because we felt we had a chance to win. Now we go to Hollywood once every 4 to 6 weeks. We would go to Empress, but the had a major fire in March 2009. They made changes in the way the customer earns slot points and now they don't seem to be worth much of anything. They have taken the fun out of this casino and made it mediocre.

Grand Victoria Casino: Loosen Up

Jeff — Wed, 06 May 2009 11:48:46 +0100

Since the smoking ban took effect in the Land of Lincoln, it seems all of our casinos, especially the Grand Vic have really tightened up the slot payouts. Loosen up a little. Other then that, great place, great people.

Jumer's Casino & Hotel: A big improvement over Casino Rock Island

hawkeyetom — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 01:36:33 +0100

A first-class casino. If you've been to Riverside Casino, it is similar (I think the same company designed both).

A big VP bar in the center with everything else "rotating" around it. Plenty of space and glad it is no smoking.

I have had lunch at the buffet 3 times and very happy with the food each time.

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Par-A-Dice Hotel Casino: Tightened up for a smoke-free Illinois

Kathy Isom — Sat, 14 Feb 2009 04:11:12 +0100

I live in the Peoria area and have been frequenting the Par-a-dice for the last 15 years or so. I used to win occassionally, but a few months before the smoking ban took effect on 1/1/08, the machines quit paying out even minimal amounts.

I'm sure they were tightened up to prepare for the massive loss of revenue due to the smoking ban. I might as well just throw my money over the side of the boat and get it over with quickly, instead of prolonging my misery!

As a smoker, in a smoke-free environment, not only am I inconvenienced while I'm loosing money, I'm annoyed too!!!

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Hollywood Casino - Aurora: Rude cashier

connie_skrypek — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 05:12:08 +0100

I can't believe a cashier told me to go "back in line" before i approached her cage. There was NO ONE in line and the cages were all without customers at the time. I told her that nobody else was there in front or back of me. She was just very rude and told me that next time she'll send me back to the roped area. I must be crazy to spend my money here to be talked down to.

Many customers including myself like penny slots. There's not too many of them. How about a little more variety on the buffet menus at least on a monthly basis.

Par-A-Dice Hotel Casino: Terrible

Joey Fatone — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 21:52:50 +0100

Terrible all around, worst paying casino I have ever been to!!

Hollywood Casino - Aurora: go elsewhere

Al Hejl — Thu, 25 Dec 2008 17:22:53 +0100

We WERE regulars for a long time. We no longer would go there if it was the last place to gamble. The manner that management took to "resolve" a 100 bill we found can best be described as a mugging.

They had 2 hours to ask for it the day it was found. They had 10 days to contact us for it before we went back. Notice I said 10 days. That would mean we go there more than once a month. They could have sent an e mail or phoned the house to ask for the found money back. They do call here for surveys, and they mail promotions to my house and e-mail account.

Instead they chose to approach a customer in an intimidating manner with the "request" to resolve this in a private office, 10 days after $100 was picked up from off the floor to be lost in slots anyway. More of a threat than anything. Was actually scared to get the car. I would go and cash in coupons and get more than that back, but I would be afraid they would try to extort me for the "juice". Gamble at your own risk here.

Jumer's Casino & Hotel: Jumer's New Casino

wildflower — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 06:18:36 +0100

We visited Jumer's December 12, 2008. The new casino is very nice. It's located just off I-280 and very easy to get to. I especially like the fact that it is in Illinois and is a non-smoking casino. It was so nice to play a machine and be able to breathe. We ate at the Buffet and found a good selection of food, much different than the old boat. We hope to return soon. The machines were a little tight, but not as bad as the other area casinos.

Harrahs Metropolis: Nice staff. Great Hotel..Very tight slots!

Gary A — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 02:45:57 +0100

We use to go here about 1 time per month, but we have noticed over the past year that it was getting harder to get any play time on the slots. So, we have decided to not go back.

The workers are very nice, the atmosphere is good enough (no smoking..yeh!) but the machines have been tightened down way too much. Others we have talked to have noticed it too. It is a little farther away, but I plan on going toward St. Louis casinos for now.

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Harrahs Metropolis: 4 Star Hotel, Friendly Staff

BJH62 — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 01:09:03 +0100

Beautiful Hotel. Non-smoking Facility. Very friendly and helpful staff. Casino is a river boat.

Good restaurants, but they do not serve breakfast in the buffet. The Rivercrest serves breakfast daily.

You can earn extra comps M-Th for the restaurants ($14 comp for every 50 points earned up to two per day). The extra comps are good for 24 hours.

Good mix of slots (many new penny machines). Video Poker payback not the best. Over-all experience was good.