Calheel: San Manuel Report

[Calheel]

Took a trip to the new San Manuel casino in Highland; more out of a perverse sense of curiosity than any real expectation that the game would be decent.

Not surprisingly, the conditions are pretty sucky, mainly due to the large crowds. I am hopeful that once the grand opening hoopla dies down, that the crowds will thin out, but I doubt it. The casino is the closest to LA and Orange County (about 55 min) and my guess is that the conditions will actually get worse (rules and crowds) in the upcoming years. We shall see.

First, a question. Do all these California Indian casinos hire the same designers? Ok, Ok, we get it already. You want to honor your history. Does that mean that every casino has to have the same brown and yellow color scheme (Pechanga, Pala, Barona, Agua Caliente, San Manuel, etc., etc.)? How 'bout some reds, blues and greens?

As for the gambling, I counted about 60 tables, about 3/4 of which were blackjack and about half of those were CSM's. The remaining 20 or so handshuffled games had cuts ranging from 1.5 to 2.25 decks cutoff, give or take a few. All the games are six decks, with H17, DAS, NRSA, and surprisingly, LS. In addition, they still have $100 bonuses for 6-7-8 suited, 7-7-7, and 7-card charlie, at least until the player pool runs out of money. They do have a high limit room, but alas, no pitch games.

I did not check out the video poker schedules, but I assume they suck. It is a typical California slot palace, with the slot machines too close together and people actually waiting in line to play them.

There is a small food court, buffet, sports bar and night club. No hotel, yet, but it would seem like a good location for a hotel (nice view from the upper parking lot and reasonably close to Big Bear).

All in all, probably not much of interest here to card counters. Still, it was good enough to keep on the "maybe" list, and I will occasionally stop by to check it out.

[Parker]

At least they finally got rid of the collection. I agree that conditions will probably not improve much, due to the convenient location.

BTW, Sycuan (San Diego) has a lot of blue in their color scheme. :-)

[Greasy John]

> Took a trip to the new San Manuel casino in
> Highland; more out of a perverse sense of
> curiosity than any real expectation that the
> game would be decent.

> Not surprisingly, the conditions are pretty
> sucky, mainly due to the large crowds. I am
> hopeful that once the grand opening hoopla
> dies down, that the crowds will thin out,
> but I doubt it. The casino is the closest to
> LA and Orange County (about 55 min) and my
> guess is that the conditions will actually
> get worse (rules and crowds) in the upcoming
> years. We shall see.

> First, a question. Do all these California
> Indian casinos hire the same designers? Ok,
> Ok, we get it already. You want to honor
> your history. Does that mean that every
> casino has to have the same brown and yellow
> color scheme (Pechanga, Pala, Barona, Agua
> Caliente, San Manuel, etc., etc.)? How 'bout
> some reds, blues and greens?

> As for the gambling, I counted about 60
> tables, about 3/4 of which were blackjack
> and about half of those were CSM's. The
> remaining 20 or so handshuffled games had
> cuts ranging from 1.5 to 2.25 decks cutoff,
> give or take a few. All the games are six
> decks, with H17, DAS, NRSA, and
> surprisingly, LS. In addition, they still
> have $100 bonuses for 6-7-8 suited, 7-7-7,
> and 7-card charlie, at least until the
> player pool runs out of money. They do have
> a high limit room, but alas, no pitch games.

> I did not check out the video poker
> schedules, but I assume they suck. It is a
> typical California slot palace, with the
> slot machines too close together and people
> actually waiting in line to play them.

> There is a small food court, buffet, sports
> bar and night club. No hotel, yet, but it
> would seem like a good location for a hotel
> (nice view from the upper parking lot and
> reasonably close to Big Bear).

> All in all, probably not much of interest
> here to card counters. Still, it was good
> enough to keep on the "maybe"
> list, and I will occasionally stop by to
> check it out.

Went there last Saturday--it was very busy and the buffet was $42 for two people, so we ate in the sports bar area where the prices are much more resonable and the enviornment is nice too. There was a $5 9/6 Jacks VP game in the high limit room. No thanks. This place will be intolerable once they get their liquor license. Pala is better.