Editor's Note: UrComped user DKim followed up his last fantastic Trip Report with another one from his UrComped trip to Ameristar Kansas City. We really enjoyed it so we're reposting it to the blog! You'll find his video review of an Ameristar suite and scroll down farther to see some of his jackpot photos.
This was my first trip to a midwest casino in Kansas City, and with no idea what to expect, I was pleasantly surprised by the sleek, modern look of both the exterior and interior lobby areas. Once I reached my room, a wonderful corner spa suite, which you can see in the video, was quite large, a living room, dining area, wet bar, and half-bath in living room and then a large master bath with bi-folding doors to the spa tub, visible from the comfortable king size bed.
The casino property has a railroad theme in the common areas, with an old 1800’s custom Pullman luxury private train car, train station clock and more. The casino itself has two floors and a more riverboat feel with lots of stained glass ceiling light and other features. As common with Missouri casinos, there are beverage stations to serve yourself, even though they do have the usual roaming cocktail waitresses, but we can call the cocktail waitresses, because they cannot serve cocktails. If you want an alcoholic beverage, you have to go to the bar, and no, they’re not comp’d. You can take them onto the floor to play, you just can’t be served on the floor. Silly MO rule. Speaking of MO rules, if you receive a hand pay, the state of MO take a few percentage points of your winnings right off the top.
The property offers several dining opportunities, from a simple diner-like restaurant, a sports bar, and the casino staple, a buffet. Out front of the diner, is a coffee and danish bar from that quick grab and go. The property offers a kids area for the young ones to play while the adults are playing grown up games.
Gaming was a full offering, with even two types of craps, the traditional as well as “crapless craps” where you can place or come bet every number, but the evil seven. They also offer up to 20x odds on your pass line bet. Card games were plenty, from Texas Hold ‘em, to Blackjack to Mini-Bac. The slot machines were a mix of newer generation and several generation old, but more of the older school games, which were very popular, showing that some folks are not just set in their ways, but also comfortable with what’s familiar.
One of my reasons for coming to this property was the opportunity to see the great Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, and what a show. UrComped arranged the comp tickets as well as limo service to and from the show which made the experience much more enjoyable.
I am not a super concert goer, but over the last few years I have been seeing more and more, because the opportunities arise, but this show is a show I will remember and reflect on forever. I won't ever even try to use it as a measure, because it would be unfair. There's no comparison and trying to do so would be wrong. Bruce Springsteen is an incomparable experience and was a perfect anchor event to a fun trip to Ameristar KC.
As a whole, you might not think of KC as a “destination,” but you can do so much between shows, you can go see the World Champion KC Royals, The KC Chiefs, go hiking, and more. Ameristar is a very nice and comfortable property, with nicely appointed rooms, so if you’re looking for someplace new to check out, this is one to consider.
About the author: DKim is a successful businessman in the automotive and motorcycle racing industry, who travels much of the world attending events, shows and racing events. Along the way, he enjoys “collecting” casinos by way of visitation. DKim has visited casinos across the USA, from South Florida to California, and around the world from Moscow, Russia, to Amsterdam, Geneva and across Europe. DKim is primarily a high limit slot player, and the occasional craps play, and maintains elite accounts at several casinos, gaming chains and is a Caesars Seven Star player.