VPFree reports $1 9/6 JOB ... that is true. There are about 3 or 4 multi-game machines at the $1 level with 9/6 JOB. They also have 8/6 Bonus Deluxe, 9/7 Double Bonus, and 9/6 Double Double Bonus on those machines, all at the $1 level. These machines are on the top level (3rd level) of the casino.

I was at the Argosy last Sunday, March 7, 2004. I agree that most of the VP machines have pitiful pay schedules. I did not check out the $1 PROG, but I did go into the high-limit Area and found a $5 9/6 JoB which was 1 of 3 VP machines in that area. The next time I am at Argosy, I will find out more. I have played the 25 cent PROG a few times. So far, I am way over the normal expectations. It seems as if the Royal comes up on this bank of 10 or 12 machines regularly. Although I didn't play it on my last trip, the PROG was paid out while I was there. The trip before this one I won the PROG when a Royal came up on my first $20 of play. Unfortunately, I won only $1000.75, because a minute or so before me, another machine two away from me hit the Royal for the ~$1,700 PROG jackpot. She got it in diamonds, and I got it in spades. I was playing Double Bonus with a cheat sheet and playing only about 100 hands/hr. I drew Q, A, T to a held J K. I was looking at my cheat sheet to see whether to keep the J K alone or also keep the 8S. Maybe if I wasn't so new to the game I would have played faster and won the larger jackpot, but at least I didn't get a W2G, if that can be a consolation. I also had already hit 4 aces and 4 2-4 so I paled down to $300 and cashed out. Just before I removed my players club card, I noticed I only needed two more coins in to be at an even number of points. I put in $2 more to get to even (I just hate to leave with partial points earned) and hit a full house or something, so cashed out for another $7.75. Argosy had given me $35 in coupon cash on my Royal trip and I cashed in $30 in Cashback points, which are earned at the slot rate or a $1/point and must be redeemed in increments of 4000 for $10, which I believe is a .25% rate. I know this is unusual and I don't expect this to repeat any time soon. About two trips before the Royal trip, I cashed out $200 from the 25 cent PROG when I hit 4 aces on my first $20. On my last trip, I cashed out $150 from the first deck 25 cent standard machine. On that trip I hit the 4 2-4 and 4 5-K, I was playing on Argosy's $20 coupon cash, so I played the whole time on their money. I went home $37 better than I started, but earned 1260 Cashback points. The only other time I played the 25 cent PROG, I lost $50 pretty quickly. Playing VP is a new interest of mine. Before, I would mindlessly play slots, but did win a $1,250 jackpot on 25 cent (2 coin max) red, white, and blue. That was my first and only slot jackpot, just as I expect that I may have won my first and only Royal jackpot. I normally go to the boat about once a month if that often and play about 4-8 hours.

Argosy Lawrenceburg is about 30 minutes from Cincy. It is by the far the busiest, but also has the weakest VP. The only machines they have that are even remotely playable are a bank of (10) $1 9/6 JOB progressives. During the week these machines are often positive. Cashback is 0.25%, but I have never seen any multi-point promotions. There is nothing for the 25c or 5c player. Also, Argosy charges for entry during the weekend ($3 - $5). Personally this reason alone keeps me away (it's not a lot of money true, but it's the princible of the matter).