Whitehall Street Real Estate Funds is buying Stratosphere

Ultimate Rewards is now A.C.E. Rewards, and "Action Cash" has been replaced by a new cashback program. It now takes $1 to earn a point on slots, $2 on video poker and $8 on positive video poker at all ACE properties. 600 points equals $1 cashback. There will also be a weekly mailer with additional cashback and food comps for active players.

The amount of coin-in required to earn a point on decent games has increased frequently and dramatically at AZ Charlie's Decatur (and probably at AZ Charlie's Boulder and Stratosphere) in the last couple of years. It's a "don't ask, won't tell" situation that doesn't sit well with me. We no longer investigate the changes or play there.

ACE removed two of the joker machines this morning and replaced them with Men in Black slots. The six remaining full pay jokers (4000 royal) have had their points REDUCED AGAIN. Now $125 in gets only 70 points -- this is down from the recent 100 points for $125 coin in. The above six machines were moved last month from the area by the Philly Steak deli to an area by the Sportsbook.

The NSUD slant-tops near the upstairs bar now have 15/9 paytables.

*** MIA - *** (14) 5c/10c/20c/25c MG/MD TITO NSUD slant-tops near upstairs bar.

In the Sportsbook area at Arizona Charlie's Boulder only the 14 machines on the back wall have 9/6 JB remaining at the $1 level only. The machines on the side wall of the Sportsbook have had the higher denominations removed. ALL JB in the Sportsbook area are now 8/5 with the exception of the 14 $1 games already mentioned.

*** MIA - *** $1 MG/MD TITO NSUD uprights scattered around the Sportsbook room.

All of the FPDW and 10/7 DB is downgraded. No positive games remain.

All of the FP Jokers, most of the 10/7 DB, and all of the bartop 9/6 JoB have been removed or downgraded. Nothing good in multi line games anymore.