Carol McKinzie

Jonathan Fechner

Rachel Pomije

Mike Nelson

$2.00 coin in equals one point, and 100 points can be redeemed for $1.00 in cash.

In effect, everyone has three accounts: a point account, a comp account, and a free account. The free account is very short term and will give you a free lunch buffet if you earn 500 points that day or a free dinner buffet if you earn 800 points that day on days when the free point buffets are offered. The free buffets will not reduce your points, but on double point days the doubled points may not be used to make one eligible for the free buffet. Also, the free buffets must be eaten on the day they are earned.

The player's club won't tell you how much you have in your comp account, but they will let you guess. You can ask, "Do I have enough for three such-and-such," and they will say, "Almost, but you do have enough points for two such-and-such."

Points expire after a year, and the casino day runs from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 a.m. the next day.

Marketing comps: A small amount of play will get you $10.00 of free play, a room for a night, and a free buffet. A fair amount of play will get you $50.00 in free play during three 10 day periods of a month, a $50.00 discount at their excellent steakhouse, two free buffets, and a free night in each of three 10 day periods during a month

In addition to their private lines, Casino Hosts can also be reached through (800)477-7747 and (309)756-4608

Jumer's new hotel-casino in Rock Island opened in January. The shabbiest foulest-smelling riverboat in Illinois has now been replaced by a shiny comfortable non-smoking facility a couple of exits south of the old boat on Rte 92. I visited last weekend. Sadly, the ancient 10/7 DB $.25 coindroppers didn't survive the move to the prairie. They have been replaced by new TITO units with a slightly reduced 10/7(99.79) DB pay scale (239 for the Straight Flush and quad five thru Kings). There are 10 or 12 of these machines just outside the live poker area. (I couldn't find any other VP worth noting). The same decent BJ and craps games available on the old boat are still around, and in much nicer surroundings. There's also a steakhouse, a coffe shop, a Starbucks, and a showroom. (Don Rickles was appearing and I almost went to his show just to see how Mr. Warmth reacted to dragging his 107-year old body to a heartland outpost down the road from John Deere's headquarters.)

*** MIA - *** (12) 25c 10/7 DB - location and game details are unknown.

FPDB with 1% cashback; Great opportunity for quarter players, if you can stand the uncomfortable seating. $1 SW is the best opportunity for $1 players.

Jumer's, as your database notes, is a wasteland for VP. Found a few Illinois Deuces in denominations from nickel on up, but again, the cash back is low.

Not a very nice casino! If appearance matters, don't go here! But, they do have a bank of (12) 10/7 DB 25c machines. They also have 1% cash back, which makes these a pretty good play (they are a little slow though). On Monday's they even have 8 hours of x2 points (2% cash back!). During double points the (4) $ ugly ducks machines on the lower level are good plays as are the (6) Triple play 25c 9/6 DDB machines. The DB machines are very hard to get on.

The 10-7 DB is still there, but Cashback has been cut (to .25, I think). Also, they used to have 3 80-coin nickel machines with full pay NSUD and Triple Bonus Plus. Those are gone, apparently victims of a recent TITO installation.

A VP wasteland except for the 25c 10/7 DB bank.

Jumers will soon break ground for a new Casino a few miles west of the present one. Today was the last day for Monday double points. The 10/7DB machines are "antiques" and will be "MIA" soon. Frequent break downs now occur which is the reason they "are hard to get on," half of them are nearly always down for repair. Rumor is that replacement parts are all but impossible to find due to the vintage of these machines. They will not be a part of the "TITO" upgrades going to the new Casino.