*** MIA - *** (16) $1 PKM Game Maker uprights (2 banks) in the southeast corner. (12) $2 PKM Game Maker uprights in the extreme southwest corner.

*** MIA - *** (9) 25c PKM Game Makers bartops @ the Palio Bar. (8) $1 PKM Game Maker uprights near the 'north end' bar.

Woodbine is no longer the "Pickem capital of the world" - Through a half-dozen maneuvers they've reduced the number of fullpay machines from 115 to 55.

The following machines were powered down and roped off last night: - all (12) 50-cent slant-tops. - all (12) 25-cent uprights in the back corner. - 5 of the 19 $1.00 machines in the southeast corner. At this time the PRESUMPTION is they're changing the paytables, but one of the suits said they were simply installing bill acceptors that will accept the new currency.

They have now back online the 30 Pickem machines they had taken down for "Upgrades". All 30 have had the pay tables reduced (from fullpay 99.9%) to an abysmal 96.7% variant. What's worse, they now have notices on the remaining (8) quarter machines at the Palio Bar. they will be down for "upgrades" Feb. 8 and 9. It appears thy're employing a scorched earth policy. - all 50-cent machines are now short-pay. - as of Wednesday next, all quarter machines will be short. - about one-half of the dollar machines have been shorted. At this point in time, the only inventory they haven't yet "upgraded" are the $5, $2, and (24) $1 machines. Time will tell.

The 25c bartops are still full pay with no 'upgrade' notices in sight.

Woodbine has moved the (19) $1 Gamemakers contining Pickem that were on the north wall next to the Winner's Circle. They are now at the extreme southeast corner of the casino along both corner walls, next to the security booth. The remaining $1 GM's are in their original locations.

Woodbine is now smoke-free, except in designated areas.

There are a total of 16 slots-at-racetrack facilities in Ontario. The one I am familiar with (Rideau Carleton Raceway in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada) has approximately 20 0.25 full-pay PKM and about 10 $1 full pay PKM. The same slot card is good at all 16 locations, plus 6 other so-called "Charity Casinos" in the province. Cashback: $1 through = 1 pt; 1000 pts = $4.25; CB = .425% I haven't figured out the comp rate - they use a formula based on today's play, recent play and historical play, but a rough guess would be that it is in the same ballpark as the cash-back rate. Mail offers for free buffets, free slot tournaments, etc. are also offered. There are generic ones as part of province wide promotions and casino specific ones, too. I have also played at Thousand Islands Charity Casino in Gananoque, Ont. (across the St. Lawrence River from Alexandria Bay, NY by way of the Ivy Lea Bridge) It has (last visit was

Mickey Mouse operation when compared to Vegas. Will not allow radio or CD player with earphones. Will not allow you to bring in a coffee from outside. Will not lock up any machines. Slow on handpays. Very loud machines. Very busy on weekends. Busy on weekdays. 1 restaurant with some reasonably priced specials and an overpriced buffet ($18 for lunch comp). The whole facility is kept clean and they have a fair sized non smoking section.

I would like to provide you a little bit of additional info for the Woodbine database. I only play Pick'Em poker there {it is full pay.} I was there as recently as today and can definitely confirm that you get 1 point for $1 in, at least for the Pick'em and I see no reason for the other video poker games to be different. I have keep accurate records and for $19305 coin in I have obtained $70 in food comps. I think this works out to .3626%. There is no way to know what you are eligable for in the way of food comps, you just go to the slot club and ask. The booth people don't seem to have any discretion and definitely will not tell you what is unused or how much coin in is required to qualify for what, in fact I don't even think that they know themselves. I have only been refused once for a comp on my 12th visit out of 18 to date. I usually get the $8 breakfast buffet on Saturday or Sunday{the only days which it is available} which I would call equivilent to a low end Vegas breakfast buffet. I generally only play on weekends and can assure you that hopper fills and hand pays generally are unbelievably slow{ generally 20-45 minutes} and are always blamed on too many staff phoning in sick.

During the week of Jan 11/04, Woodbine converted the (19) $.50 Pickems in the nonsmoking area to $1.00 machines. The current inventory of PE at Woodbine is; Denom.    Quantity $0.25  -  21  - location details unknown. $0.50  -  12  " $1.00  -  56  " $2.00  -  12  " $5.00  -  17  " TOTAL  -  118  " RE: Promos, comps - Most if not all Winners Circle members receive Birthday and Christmas cards with bounceback coupons. Mine were for $25 and $50, although I understand they go as high as $500. Woodbine has no formal categories of Winners Circle members (gold/platimum/diamond, etc). However, they DO look after their heavy players. My best guesstimate is that you need to earn at least $425 monthly cashback to qualify. This equates to $100k monthly coinin. Every 2-3 months they send special invites to these players for lavish events. Some examples in the last year: - "Super Bowl Party" in the 3rd floor clubhouse area. - "Boys Night Out" at the trackside tent - bbq'd steak, lobster, Budweiser girls handing out Cuban cigars by the handful, etc. - Private box at Air Canada Centre for Raptors NBA game. They lay on the food, provide live entertainment, free open bar (anything you want), have free drawings for trips to Mexico, Dominica, etc, provide gifts for all attendees, and usually hand out TITO coupons for $10 or so good for horse betting.

) about 5 0.25 full-pay PKM and about 8 $1.00 full-pay PKM. More info about Ontario gaming facilities can be found at http://www.olgc.ca/ .