Best ways to Seven Stars, Diamond, or "Diamond in a Day" for Caesars properties around the US

Video Poker Pro, Bob Dancer's Las Vegas Adviser blog is now behind a paywall. His article dated 18 Feb 2025 was called Change In Point Structure. It's about the recent change made at the ROW in Reno. Because of copyright concerns I don't think I can publish the article here. So I'll just give a few notes on his article:

1. The ROW in Reno, owned by CZR, has changed it's point structure from $10 per TC to $20 per TC.

2. They had made a similar change a few years ago, business dropped so they nixed the changes.

3. Dancer still plays to 7 Stars level. It's the package of benefits he likes, game, slot club, promotions, mailers. The benefits of 7 Stars that Dancer likes are:

A. 5 $100 food credits
B. $1200 travel to any Caesar's property
C. $500 resort credit
D. Highly discounted 7 day cruise for 2 on Norwegian
E. Each property has a daily benefit for 7 Stars players
F. Monthly mailers for free play, resort credits, and rooms

Note: Having followed Dancer for 25 years through his blogs I know that he plays NSUD, 99.73%, flawlessly. He's been playing this game at the ROW and also at Harrah's Cherokee for several years now to maintain 7 Stars status.

Another note: Dancer is a cruise junkie. IIRC, he's reported that he's been on over 60 cruises in the past 30 years. I did 4 interviews on his podcast, Gambling With An Edge, over the years. He became quite interested in advantage slot play. A few years ago his articles started carrying content on his advantage slot play on the Strip.

He doesn't play video poker on the cruises, the payscales are to bad, but some of his blogs have content on playing advantage slots at sea. Part of his day on each cruise is making laps around the advantage slots in the casino.

The advantage slots are a source of income that he didn't have until a few years ago.

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Originally Posted by mickeycrimm

Video Poker Pro, Bob Dancer's Las Vegas Adviser blog is now behind a paywall. His article dated 18 Feb 2025 was called Change In Point Structure. It's about the recent change made at the ROW in Reno. Because of copyright concerns I don't think I can publish the article here. So I'll just give a few notes on his article:

1. The ROW in Reno, owned by CZR, has changed it's point structure from $10 per TC to $20 per TC.

2. They had made a similar change a few years ago, business dropped so they nixed the changes.

3. Dancer still plays to 7 Stars level. It's the package of benefits he likes, game, slot club, promotions, mailers. The benefits of 7 Stars that Dancer likes are:

A. 5 $100 food credits
B. $1200 travel to any Caesar's property
C. $500 resort credit
D. Highly discounted 7 day cruise for 2 on Norwegian
E. Each property has a daily benefit for 7 Stars players
F. Monthly mailers for free play, resort credits, and rooms

Note: Having followed Dancer for 25 years through his blogs I know that he plays NSUD, 99.73%, flawlessly. He's been playing this game at the ROW and also at Harrah's Cherokee for several years now to maintain 7 Stars status.

Another note: Dancer is a cruise junkie. IIRC, he's reported that he's been on over 60 cruises in the past 30 years. I did 4 interviews on his podcast, Gambling With An Edge, over the years. He became quite interested in advantage slot play. A few years ago his articles started carrying content on his advantage slot play on the Strip.

He doesn't play video poker on the cruises, the payscales are to bad, but some of his blogs have content on playing advantage slots at sea. Part of his day on each cruise is making laps around the advantage slots in the casino.

The advantage slots are a source of income that he didn't have until a few years ago.

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Is this $20/TC on ALL games or just the full pay VP?

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Originally Posted by go_buccos

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Originally Posted by mickeycrimm

Video Poker Pro, Bob Dancer's Las Vegas Adviser blog is now behind a paywall. His article dated 18 Feb 2025 was called Change In Point Structure. It's about the recent change made at the ROW in Reno. Because of copyright concerns I don't think I can publish the article here. So I'll just give a few notes on his article:

1. The ROW in Reno, owned by CZR, has changed it's point structure from $10 per TC to $20 per TC.

2. They had made a similar change a few years ago, business dropped so they nixed the changes.

3. Dancer still plays to 7 Stars level. It's the package of benefits he likes, game, slot club, promotions, mailers. The benefits of 7 Stars that Dancer likes are:

A. 5 $100 food credits
B. $1200 travel to any Caesar's property
C. $500 resort credit
D. Highly discounted 7 day cruise for 2 on Norwegian
E. Each property has a daily benefit for 7 Stars players
F. Monthly mailers for free play, resort credits, and rooms

Note: Having followed Dancer for 25 years through his blogs I know that he plays NSUD, 99.73%, flawlessly. He's been playing this game at the ROW and also at Harrah's Cherokee for several years now to maintain 7 Stars status.

Another note: Dancer is a cruise junkie. IIRC, he's reported that he's been on over 60 cruises in the past 30 years. I did 4 interviews on his podcast, Gambling With An Edge, over the years. He became quite interested in advantage slot play. A few years ago his articles started carrying content on his advantage slot play on the Strip.

He doesn't play video poker on the cruises, the payscales are to bad, but some of his blogs have content on playing advantage slots at sea. Part of his day on each cruise is making laps around the advantage slots in the casino.

The advantage slots are a source of income that he didn't have until a few years ago.

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Is this $20/TC on ALL games or just the full pay VP?

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Dancer wrote only about the good video poker. He didn't write anything about the rest.

How the heck did I manage to earn a 1000 tier bonus on the last 10x multiplier in March (as congratulated by Caesar email), but only have 6737 tier credits? I started with around 1000 ish. WTF?!? Now they are calling about a 5x multiplier. I’m like, how about you pay me properly for the LAST ONE!!!

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Originally Posted by Renegaderu

How the heck did I manage to earn a 1000 tier bonus on the last 10x multiplier in March (as congratulated by Caesar email), but only have 6737 tier credits? I started with around 1000 ish. WTF?!? Now they are calling about a 5x multiplier. I’m like, how about you pay me properly for the LAST ONE!!!

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Did you opt in to the 10x at the kiosk before playing?

Which specific promo was this? Which property?

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Originally Posted by Dan Druff

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Originally Posted by Renegaderu

How the heck did I manage to earn a 1000 tier bonus on the last 10x multiplier in March (as congratulated by Caesar email), but only have 6737 tier credits? I started with around 1000 ish. WTF?!? Now they are calling about a 5x multiplier. I’m like, how about you pay me properly for the LAST ONE!!!

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Did you opt in to the 10x at the kiosk before playing?

Which specific promo was this? Which property?

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My account FINALLY got credited 10K tier credits yesterday! �� They credited the bonus 1000 tier credits 3/30. Took their damn time with the multiplier tier credits!

This was the 10x multiplier AC 3/17. Caesars & Trop. Video poker wasnt working out. It’s not really my thing anyway. Earned most at the Ultimate Hold em table at Trop. Straight flush $25 bet left me up a couple hundred. Not flopped:( (Spent $3000)

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Originally Posted by Renegaderu

This was the 10x multiplier AC 3/17. Caesars & Trop. Video poker wasnt working out. It’s not really my thing anyway.

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No more 8/5 bp at the trop (99.17%)? There was 1 machine left when i was there in 2022 and was still $10 per tc

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Originally Posted by EasyGame

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Originally Posted by Renegaderu

This was the 10x multiplier AC 3/17. Caesars & Trop. Video poker wasnt working out. It’s not really my thing anyway.

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No more 8/5 bp at the trop (99.17%)? There was 1 machine left when i was there in 2022 and was still $10 per tc

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From what I've read, that's gone.

https://x.com/vegastbone/status/1921...885502/photo/1

The cardreader shows its a CZR property. My guess is its Horseshoe Blackhawk or Lady Luck Blackhawk

Good call. It’s horseshoe Black Hawk. I recognize that bar.

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Originally Posted by Dan Druff

Iowa (updated February 20, 2025)

Iowa has two new casinos under the Caesars banner since the El Dorado merger.

Not a good market, though.



Harrah's Council Bluffs

Information is from 2023.

8-5 Super Aces, $1 per credit, 1-play (99.94% return). On the surface this appears to be great game, but beware. It has almost 100% return, and a similar strategy to Double Double Bonus. Super Aces is a form of bonus poker which rewards quad aces extra -- half of a royal flush payout! Located on a bartop machine, as reported by PFA user mickeycrimm. You do not need a kicker to get a big payout. However, don't get too excited by the extremely low "average losses" below. The quad aces comprises a whopping 9.5% of the game's return, so it becomes a horrible 90.5% payout average if you don't hit quad aces! And if you don't hit a royal or quad aces, your return will average 88.5% It will also be slow earning, due to the low limits. The strategy is here.
Average loss getting to Diamond: $30
Average loss getting to Seven Stars: $300

25-15-9-4-4 Deuces Wild ("LV Airport Deuces") $1/credit 1-play (98.91% return), also $10/$25 machines in high limit: The $1 machines are at the TAG bar near casino entrance.
Average loss getting to Diamond: $545
Average loss getting to Seven Stars: $5450

9-5 Jacks or Better (98.45% return), $1/$2/$5/$10/$25 per credit, 1-play: Located against the wall to the right of beverage station.
Average loss getting to Diamond: $775
Average loss getting to Seven Stars: $7750




Horseshoe Council Bluffs

Information is from 2022.

25-15-9-4-4 Deuces Wild ("LV Airport Deuces") $1/credit 1-play (98.91% return), also $10/$25 machines in high limit: The $1 machines are at the bar near Caesars Rewards, and also have 25c/50c on them.
Average loss getting to Diamond: $545
Average loss getting to Seven Stars: $5450

9-5 Jacks or Better (98.45% return), $2/$5/$10/$25 per credit, 1-play: Located in high limit room.
Average loss getting to Diamond: $775
Average loss getting to Seven Stars: $7750




Isle Casino Hotel Bettendorf

Information from 2022.

9-5 Jacks or Better (98.45% return), $1/$2, $5/$10 per credit, 1-play: Located in high limit room.
Average loss getting to Diamond: $775
Average loss getting to Seven Stars: $7750




Isle Casino Hotel Waterloo

Information from 2022.

9-5 Jacks or Better (98.45% return), $1/$2 per credit, 1-play: Located in main video poker area.
Average loss getting to Diamond: $775
Average loss getting to Seven Stars: $7750

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I visited Harrah's and Horseshoe Council Bluffs and also the Isle in Bettendorf in May 2025. listed here All video poker games listed here are current as of May 2025. Didn't visit Waterloo. One more thing to add, Iowa collects 3.8% tax on jackpots of $1200 or more.

The 35-8-5 Jacks at Horseshoe St. Louis is the best $5 video poker game I've found on a CZR property. Here is the location of the game in the casino. Besides the one in the pic there is another beside it that you can't see. Just two machines. This payscale won't be found on the lower denominations of the machine.

Also, in the 2nd pic, the 35-8-5 Jacks is under the Bonus Poker tab on the upper left.

It's up to Druff whether he wants to leave these pics up or not.

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Originally Posted by Dan Druff

Illinois (Updated February 5, 2025)
Harrah's Joliet

Note that this information is from 2022.

9-6 Double Double Bonus Poker, $1/$2/$5 per credit, as well as $5/$10/$25 per credit, 1-play (98.98% return): If you don't have the patience to play the $1 progressive below, you can play at higher denominations and get this done faster. There are $1/$2/$5 slant top machines near the bar, and more $1/$2/$5 in Game King and Superstar Poker bartops. The high limit area also has $5/$10/$25 machines like this (slant tops). There's a few $1 machines located two rows from the bar, but if you're going to play $1, you might as well do the progressive (see below).
Average loss getting to Diamond: $510
Average loss getting to Seven Stars: $5100

9-6 Double Double Bonus Poker, $1/credit, 1-play with progressive (98.98% return or MORE): This is a "progressive" machine. These are new "Game King" machines located outside video poker alcove near left hand side of the bar. To figure out the actual return, look for the royal flush payout for max credits. For every $20 over $4000, add 0.01% to the return. Then look at 4 aces with any 2/3/4. For every $16 over $2000, add 0.01% again. Sadly, this only a 1-play, $1 machine, so it will still take you 10 hours to earn 2500 tier credits.
Average loss getting to Diamond: $510 (less with progressive as described above)
Average loss getting to Seven Stars: $5100 (less with progressive as described above)

Double Super Times Pay 25-15-9-4-4 Deuces Wild ("LV Airport Deuces"), (99.41% return), $1 per credit, 3/5/10play: Super Times Pay will cost 1 extra credit (return is 99.18%), Double Super Times pay will cost 2 extras. Find these in high limit, and also various All Star Poker II machines outside the video poker alcove. Also there are a few at the bar, labeled Superstar Poker. Increased variance but better return compared to regular version below.
Average loss getting to Diamond: $295
Average loss getting to Seven Stars: $2950

25-15-9-4-4 Deuces Wild ("LV Airport Deuces"), (98.91% return), $1 per credit, 1/3/5/10play: Located in several places, without Super Times Pay, including high limit, and Superstar Poker machines at bar.
Average loss getting to Diamond: $545
Average loss getting to Seven Stars: $5450

7-5 Super Aces, $1 per credit, 1-play (98.85% return). High variance, and slow earning. Not really recommended. An approximate strategy is here.
Average loss getting to Diamond: $575
Average loss getting to Seven Stars: $5750

25-12-9-4-3-2-2-1 Super Bonus Deuces Wild (98.84% return). $1/$2/$5 per credit, 1-play: Located near bar. Also located on Superstar Poker at bartops. Strategy is here.
Average loss getting to Diamond: $580
Average loss getting to Seven Stars: $5800

80-40-20-13-4-3-3-1-1 Bonus Deuces Wild (98.80% return), $1/$2/$5 per credit, 1-play: Located near bar. Also located on Superstar Poker at bartops. Some $1/1-plays are around the casino as well. Strategy is located here.
Average loss getting to Diamond: $600
Average loss getting to Seven Stars: $6000

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I hate to be the bearer of bad tidings. I was there in May 2025. Everything on the above list has been wiped out except:

9-6 Double Double Bonus Poker, $1/$2/$5 per credit, as well as $5/$10/$25 per credit, 1-play (98.98% return).

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Originally Posted by Dan Druff

Indiana (Updated February 5, 2025)

Horseshoe Indianapolis

Note that this information is from 2022, so verify these machines are still as listed before playing.

9-6 Jacks or Better, $5/$10/$25 per credit, 1-play: In high limit.
Average loss getting to Diamond: $230
Average loss getting to Seven Stars: $2300

25-15-9-4-4 Deuces Wild ("LV Airport Deuces"), (98.91% return), $1 per credit, 3/5 play: In high limit.
Average loss getting to Diamond: $545
Average loss getting to Seven Stars: $5450



Harrah's Hoosier Park Racing & Casino doesn't have anything playable.

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I visited in May 2025. The 9/6 Jacks are gone. Pics of the playable payscales I found, besides the airport deuces, were 8/5 Bonus Poker 99.17%, 9-7-5 Double Bonus 99.11%, and 9/6 Double Double Bonus 98.89%.

In adddition, Indiana withholds 3.23% tax on handpays.