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Harrah's - Joliet
August 2003
by
Dr. Kenneth T Pittman, Ph.D., CIS
Harrah's - Joliet is one of the few casino's in the greater Chicago, Illinois area that I have frequented in the past on several ocassions. Historically, I had really enjoyed this particular facility with it's more than generous Las Vegas style table rules. In my opinion Harrah's has always freely offered more than ample Comps, making the gambling experience in thier various establishments a truly enjoyable one. As it turns out, the state of the economy has definitively reached and touched the casino's in the Chicago, Illinois area. As was evidenced by a letter recently received from the management of the Harrah's-Joliet Hotel & Casino, informing me of "some operational changes" which would likely be in place upon my next visit to thier Joliet, Illinois facility. The letter went on to state that these 'changes' were to be effective as of 01 July 2003.
Effective 26 July 2003, Harrah's-Joliet Casino & Hotel no longer offers breakfast buffet and/or hotel room service. Thay have also opted to discontinue offering lunch on Friday through Sunday at the "Winning Streaks Stadium Cafe," and chooses to close that restaurant on Wednesday and Thrusday evenings. However this facility will continue to offer breakfast sandwiches and/or fresh baked items at thier "Club Cappucino" in the mornings and/or buffets for lunch and/or dinner every day at thier full-service restaurants, "Van Buren's Steakhouse" and/or "Winning Streaks." Harrah's-Joliet promises that at least one of the restaurants would be open daily for dinner?
Since Harrah's-Joliet has stated in thier letter that they will "no longer continue to subsidize money-losing areas" of thier business, 'Food and Beverage Operations' is but one area undergoing changes. As of July 28th, Harrah's-Joliet no longer absorbs the $5 admission tax imposed by the State of Illinois on each entry into the casino. Re-entry into the gaming area is not allowed, when they refer to each entry - that is exactly what's meant! Should you leave the casino to go back to your room, go out for lunch/dinner, or event to run back out to the car for some forgotten item - it will still cost you another $5 to get back into the casino. Given this particular dilema, this is definitely a facility where registering into thier players' club may become beneficial later on? Especially since thier 'Diamond Card' members are still afforded "Free" admission onto the gaming floor. Although "Gold Card" members were mailed two tickets, each good for one free admission apiece.
Being that this was not my first visit to Harrah's-Joliet Casino & Hotel, I was mildly surprised at was presented this trip. I was here last back in late-January o fthis year, and actually walked away with $650 after a little less than three hours of play (that particular session was only a $60 buy-in). On this visit I found that the number of table games had been reduced to a total of twelve tables, with three of them being Roulette, another three deeling Carribean Stud Poker, three more were for Craps and the final three - Blackjack!
Posted table rules allowed for pairs to be split up to three times, except Aces - which could only be split twice. However double-downs were allowed after a split, again Aces were the exception to this rule - of which Aces only received one card respectively after a split. As usual, the dealer hits Soft-16's and stands on all 17's. Blackjack paid the ever-popular 3 to 2 and Surrenders were not allowed. Playing with a six-deck shoe (there were no Pitch Games offered on this visit ) penetration was decent, with the Dealers' placing the cut-card anywhere from 65% to 75%. Minimum bets of $15 with a restriction of $25 being imposed on "tracking" made this experience just a little pricey as compared to casino's in other states/areas. Everything else aside, all three tables were fully occupied upon my arrival, and since I've played this facility before as well as those at Cherokee, NC, Tunica, MS and Las Vegas, NV, I was able to redeem some of my 'member points' for a complimentary lunch while waiting for a seat to open up at one of the tables.
With lunch out of the way, I proceeded back into the casino at which time I was able to locate an empty chair at one of the only three Blackjack tables. Despite my earlier feelings of misgiving, the game really turned out quite nicely. Given the $15 per-hand minimum, coupled with the house-favored table rules, it was still possible to enjoy a small advantage while playing. Although on many occasions I did refrain from splitting Aces, opting to treat the hand as 2/12 instead. To my surprise this action did not upset any of the other players at the table. Instead, a couple of the others began to hit the 2/12 - many times drawing 8's and/or 9's (or lesser value cards).
For the most part this was a particularly good session, with a majority of the players walking away winners - myself included. On my way out, on an impluse, I stopped in at the casino gift shop and made a very pleasant discovery. In response to the new $5 addmission (for each entry), the higher minimum bets and various other adverse conditions, Harrah's-Joliet now allows players' club members to redeem earned 'players points' anyhwere in the facility. Which, by the way, includes any'all merchandise available in the gift shop!
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