Gaming West Virginia Style

Last Friday I headed over to Cross Lanes, West Virginia with my sister-in-law and my best friend for some good slot machine action at the Mardi Gras Casino and Resort. I love video slots because I can make a buck stretch a long way with bonuses, especially on my favorite video slot machine, Hot Penny. I will go ahead and say that I do not have many photos of the casino because photography within is forbidden unless taking photographs of your friends with no one in the background.

Anyway, the Mardi Gras Casino is formerly known as the Tri-State Gaming Center and Greyhound Track. The Greyhound track is still there and my brother is a genius when it comes to playing the dogs. He can easily win $600 on a single bet. That is why when we go back in a couple of weeks, he is going with me to teach me how to play the dogs. I have done it once before, but was beyond unsuccessful in winning anything.

The system that is used within the casino has evolved in the last several years. With legislation that now allows tabletop gaming in West Virginia, the casino has grown by leaps and bounds, moving from a system where the machines spit out tons of quarters to a ticket system that enables you to print out a ticket worth the amount of your winnings. You can play the same ticket in other machines rather than play more cash, and you can then insert the ticket into a machine that allows you to redeem it. It is all very streamlined and simple.

I like the fact that when you look at the screens of other gamers, they aren’t really playing with big bucks. I never take more money with me than what I can afford to lose, which means I don’t take a lot. First, I spend money on food. There is the Café Orleans, which I love. They make the best double cheeseburgers and Reuben’s and their fries are to die for. However, my sister-in-law loves the Friday night seafood buffet at the French Quarter and I do have to agree with that. For $22.99 you can get an amazing seafood spread that includes crab legs and some of the same delicacies you will find on a seafood buffet at the beach. It’s well worth the price.

After I eat a meal, that’s when I like to play. My friends like to go to the many bars spread throughout the casino. There are a couple of bars stationed in the video poker area, one in the poker tournament area, and a number of others throughout. This casino has a couple of floors for you to work with.

For those that may be drinking, there is a resort. The resort is VERY nice and one that my best friend tends to stay at. I’ve seen the rooms that she has stayed in and they are quite elegant. For those that want to have a nice weekend getaway, there are packages that include casino cash and a stay at the resort. These packages are great because they can save some money.

If the resort seems a little expensive, there is a Comfort Inn within walking distance. For those that do not want to walk, there is a shuttle that will take gamers to and from the Comfort Inn.

This is one of my favorite places when I want to have a good time with my friends. Last week, I came home with $80 more than I started with, so I fared quite well, considering I played nothing but penny slots at the minimum bet on 20 lines. Like I said, I can make a dollar stretch.