They are largely careful to not give away actual cash at most of their drawings, only something that doesn't cost them a dime (free play). The operative phrase there was 'free play'. You can lose thousands of dollars and you're lucky if they give you $5 of free play. They are amongst the cheapest when it comes to comps. In closing, a word about comps at The Rivers. Our winnings in the past had been modest anymore they are non-existent.
As I told my wife, you can't win at a machine (computer) that has been programmed to not LET you win. I might even go so far as to say the 'returns' defy mathematics (as determined by the odds posted on the machine). I used to 'observe' many more video poker wins at The Rivers than I do these days, and I am convinced (despite what management might say) that it is NOT my imagination. Since the construction of the first Sportsbook (the smaller one, now replaced by the larger one), video poker at The Rivers has gone into the crapper. And the familiar sound the machine makes when someone gets a 4 of a kind? One hardly ever hears it anymore. There also used to be 'regulars' in the video poker section. It's been so long since I've seen anyone get a handpay video poker I can't remember when. The payback has seemingly gotten progressively worse.
My wife and I have played video poker at The Rivers for several years now.
