I decided to take a trip across the river to do some gambling. Stopped at Rising Star to play some black jack. The first thing I noticed that there were no $5 minimum tables. Black jack tables had min bets of $10 (two tables), $15 (two tables), $25 min (three tables) and many $50 minimum tables.

 

A lot of slot machines have been taken out of the casino. Half of the bottom floor is empty and is a ghost town. A lot of slots are broken with signs saying "out of order", some have been out of order for several months. The regulars tell me the video poker machines are extremely tight. Several live table games have been replaced with electronic games.

 

Many of the regulars are saying their players club cards have been dropped one level and now they are getting less comps.

 

I wouldn't be shocked if Hard Rock made Rising Star go under.

Would hate to see it go. It is my favorite casino because it is small. $5 tables are hard to find anywhere, especially on the weekends.

Rising Star was the first "Tri-State" Casino which opened as Grand Victoria in 1996.

Business was so good that you paid to board and that ticket was only good for a two or three hour "cruise session." The slots all took coins and there were no vouchers, requiring many time consuming "fills" and trips to the cashier, where lines could be long. They had an excellent buffet.

 

Argosy Casino in Lawrenceburg put a dent into the business at Grand Vic, because the road to Rising Sun was dark and somewhat dangerous. However, the Grand Vic had a charm about it, lacked by Argosy and they held their own.

 

Ceasars in Louisville (Southern Indiana) and Belterra in Vevay opened with modern hotel/resorts and Belterra sported a top shelf Jeff Ruby Steakhouse, which further cut into the Rising Star Business.

 

Then much later came Belterra - Cincinnati, and Horseshoe Casino - Downtown Cincinnati, which later became Jack, and is soon to become Hard Rock. Miami Valley Casino opened up I-75 near Lebanon, and now every neighborhood has a nearby casino and they all cut into the business that Rising Star (Grand Vic) once enjoyed. I'm sorry to hear that the venue is not up to its former standards.

Rising Star was the first "Tri-State" Casino which opened as Grand Victoria in 1996.

Business was so good that you paid to board and that ticket was only good for a two or three hour "cruise session." The slots all took coins and there were no vouchers, requiring many time consuming "fills" and trips to the cashier, where lines could be long. They had an excellent buffet.

 

Argosy Casino in Lawrenceburg put a dent into the business at Grand Vic, because the road to Rising Sun was dark and somewhat dangerous. However, the Grand Vic had a charm about it, lacked by Argosy and they held their own.

 

Ceasars in Louisville (Southern Indiana) and Belterra in Vevay opened with modern hotel/resorts and Belterra sported a top shelf Jeff Ruby Steakhouse, which further cut into the Rising Star Business.

 

Then much later came Belterra - Cincinnati, and Horseshoe Casino - Downtown Cincinnati, which later became Jack, and is soon to become Hard Rock. Miami Valley Casino opened up I-75 near Lebanon, and now every neighborhood has a nearby casino and they all cut into the business that Rising Star (Grand Vic) once enjoyed. I'm sorry to hear that the venue is not up to its former standards.

 

Your post brings back many good memories for me and it's 100% correct.

 

I would also add, when the Grand Vic opened, there were live table games down stairs and a huge poker room upstairs. Texas holdem was the game most often played They had a big Texas Holdem tournament where people in line were sleeping on the pavillion floor waiting for the doors to open to purchase a seat. All I remember is it was $100 dollar buy in. I think the holdem tournaments were the only time the doors were locked, except for cruising.

 

Good read Mustang, thanks for the memories. :thumb: