Not the Ritz, Ain't a Hilton
Welcome To Hillbilly!
I have never seen such a messed up staff in 25 years of frequenting casinos. I later found out from a local that the property had recently changed hands and the new owners are having a huge problem keeping good help. Most of the staff are untrained and, I would guess, inexperienced in customer service and/or casino etiquette.
I rolled in about 9:30am. I went to the Player's Club to get my card. It took at least 10 minutes for the trainee to work the computer. She finally had to ask for help from a 20 something gentleman colleague. I finally got my card and she asked my birth date. She wanted to be sure I was old enough to gamble(white trash humor, I suppose). Funny, she thought her incompetence was cute or something, all the while making gestures and smirking faces. Truly goofy. And truly unprofessional behavior.
Anyway, I get my card and go downstairs. I sit at the VP bar and hit 4 of a kind on a $1.00 machine, $200. I go back upstairs and sit at another VP machine, $100 4 of a kind on quarters. I walk to the check-in desk. "No, your room isn't ready. We can't let you check in early". No problem, never hurts to ask. I sit at the VP bar next to the check-in counter. I hit 4 Aces on my 3rd deal...$300. The lady bartender didn't believe me. I said "come here and look!" Finally she walks over, looks, and makes the call. It takes the hand pay chick 5-10 minutes to walk over. She checks the machine states she will be right back. She leaves....and I wait, and wait, wait...and wait. Finally after about 20-25 minutes she returns with my money. She pays me and I walk away quickly without tipping anyone(which is unusual in itself, I Always tip when I win). No one, and I mean NO ONE, congratulated me. Very rude. Not even my fellow players. Something about this River Palms place was just off right from the beginningThe help, the players, very strange. Drink service was fast, friendly and efficient in the morning and early afternoon. In the evening? Forget about it.
Unique Quality: Nice views if in a view room. Good paying machines, as good or better than other Laughlin hotels.
The room was basic Laughlin. Even the way the room was laid out was off somehow, but it did the job. Unbelievable. Even on the 23rd floor, I could hear all the noise down at ground level; people yelling, girls screaming, basic loud partying. Also, the wind howls on the higher floors quite loudly too, just so you know.
I went to the gift shop at one point. I had to wait for 5 minutes or so while an older cashier told a story to her 2 younger colleagues abot how her husband got stranded in a recent flash flood. Very interesting story(not really). Hey, $6 for a pack of smokes and you get to hear a story, not bad : ). (ugh!)
Berri Lee-Comic AND Magician. What can I say about this guy! True cheese and crackers entertainment, Laughlin style. Rope Trick. The first pair of scissors break. The 2nd pair will barely cut the rope, would have a tough time with paper too, I imagine. Hey Berri, buy some Fiskars will ya. And get a decent suit. He wears 2 very expensive diamond rings...and a crap suit. And the whole time he's putting down his own act and the fact he's stuck in such a ***ty gig.
Anyway, the room rates are low, which isn't neccessarily a good thing. Either I've gotten classier or Laughlin has just plain gone downhill. I don't know, I'm not sure. But the casino was kick a$$ fun!! Lots of juicy, paying machines. I had a lot of fun winning, about $1000 gross and $500-$600 net, which is Great for Laughlin.
Bottom line: I won't be back. I doubt I'll return anytime soon to Laughlin but if I do, I won't be staying here. I'm going to save my money and stay at the Four Seasons Vegas on my next gambling trip.
(p.s. I was here with a very large group of 7 families, about 30 people all together of all ages. The concensus was similar to what I've posted. No one would stay here again or recommend it to others. Most comments and opinions leaned toward the negative).
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River Palms Casino
