New York - American Casino Guide Casino Reviews

Empire City at Yonkers Raceway: NOT TRUE VP

Luigi Barsotti — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 15:13:27 +0100

Some one has finally agreed that the VP is not real. No RANDOM NUMBER GENERATOR in machine. All controlled by central computer in Albany. Larry is correct. The VP machines in Connecticut, Atlantic City and Pennsylvania operated via an RNG which is the type of machine one should only play.
The machines in Yonkers and Monticello are VIDEO LOTTERY TERMINALS. STAY AWAY!

Akwesasne Mohawk Casino: A Joke.

Joan Pearson — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 01:53:48 +0100

The only good thing about this casino is the food, as far as the slot machines, very poor, you cant win, you could go night after night and not win, there are a lot of complaints from other gamblers that you cant win. It's a good place if you want to throw money away because as far as playing slots, it's a big waste of time and money. There is no entertainment in it because your money goes so quick, whether its a 25 cent bet or a 10 dollar bet.

Seneca Allegany Casino & Hotel: not bad

barwench41 — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 23:37:32 +0100

The last time I was there I didn't do too badly. I feel the payouts are better than other casinos in the area. The food is excellant.

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Monticello Gaming & Raceway: Coupon Problems

Larry Stone — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 16:45:18 +0100

This casino sends out many coupons to its players. Last time I had three different coupons for free slot play. However, you can only redeem one per day. I told them that this was a bad marketing decision, because it alienates their customers. Players love to receive and use coupons! They didn't care and I haven't returned to this casino.

Empire City at Yonkers Raceway: Phony Poker

Larry Stone — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 16:41:36 +0100

The poker games are not real. It doesn't matter what you hold. The winners and losers are pre-programmed.

Tioga Downs: unfortunate

smith — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 05:03:30 +0100

Treated very poorly by staff, expecially by the man named Jason. He is very rude and inconsiderate - very poor customer serivce.

Large percentage of employees are careless and don't care if you are happy with your visit to the casino or not.

Might be "a short drive away" but it's worth it to go the extra distance to the next casino!

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Empire City at Yonkers Raceway: Luigi's review

ed — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 22:08:39 +0100

Luigi is correct. I found out from this site that the poker machines are in fact of the "random" variety. I will never play them again.

If I go back it will only be for the horses. I never even knew that "random poker machines" existed. With that said I hit for $1,000 there.

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Vernon Downs: Vernon Downs

Pamela Miller — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 18:39:17 +0100

I love the hotel. Have stayed there a few times. Staff at hotel, casino, and track are very friendly and knowledgeable! Can't wait to go back even though I never win!!

Empire City at Yonkers Raceway: ADDITION TO ED

LUIGI — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 13:04:30 +0100

I returned from day trip on Thursday, 30 July 2009 and it appears I will NOT return. It is easy to enter and exit but I met with a lot of traffic. Be that as it may, I only play video poker and there were not a sufficient quantity.

They may advertise 5,500 machines but perhaps 80% are slots. I agree with Ed, noisy, crammed and crowded. I also hate the fact that there are no free drinks, like AC. I was curious about the poker machines with a tag attached stating "IGT".

I asked a slot attendant and could not get a straight answer as to, "Are these poker machines operated via a RANDOM NUMBER GENERATOR or by a central computer in Albany".

I do agree with Ed that the Jacks/Better are Full Pay, 9/6 and the Deuces Wild have payback of 99.42% which is very good, however, if they are VIDEO LOTTERY TERMINALS then it is all moot.

I have read in various casino books that playing VIDEO LOTTERY TERMINALS is like playing a lottery scratch off. On some of the poker machines a GENIE would appear and change the five card layout; never saw this before and this leads me to believe they are VIDEO LOTTERY TERMINALS and not true poker machines such as AC.

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Empire City at Yonkers Raceway: For horseplayers and locals only

ed — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 22:47:02 +0100

Excellent for horse players and simulcasting. Trackside dining room is decent if slightly overpriced. Buffet is a joke especially to anyone who has gone to ANY buffet in Vegas or AC. Food court is low end and does not compare favorably to any food court in any casino we have ever been in anywhere.

Casino closes at 2AM. Tough to exit by car if you hang out until closing time. Slots are fine and payouts seem better than in Pennsylvania. Video poker has better pay out tables than Pennsylvania casinos. Always noisy, crammed and crowded - Saturday nights are brutal.

No free alcohol. Service is erratic and servers have absolutely no personalities whatsoever. Restaurant servers are fine but virtually all "non-food staff" are cold and utterly disinterested in the customers. Good variety of slots, not great variety on video poker. No complaints whatever if you are playing the ponies. As a casino, its adequate if you live say within a 1/2 hour drive. The attraction is its convenient location to NYC and Westchester.

Interior of casino is visually mundane, machines are jammed together, small aisles, terrible pedestrian flow on the casino floor and hope you need not have to go to the bathroom because you may not get back to a machine. 5,300 machines and there are often lines to get at them - especially video poker.

It seems to us that the payouts at Yonkers on slots and poker are better than AC or Pennsylvania but we've never seen any published stats to back up our perceptions.