Wheeling Island has gone down hill lately. The last two times we visited we could not believe how bad the service was. My husband got severe diarrhea from their "new and improved" buffet. He had to spend the entire night in the bathroom instead of gambling. I was livid. I demanded to speak to a manager and I told him that my husband got very ill from the buffet and that there was NOTHING new and improved about the buffet. It was the same one they have always had. The manager agreed with me and said that he just ate there the other day and he did not see anything new at the buffet either. Ok? He gave us each a lousy $20.00 on our slot cards for the inconvenience. Then we decided to give this place one more chance and went back about two weeks ago because we had a free room. When we arrived we noticed that the entire 1/2 of the casino was closed off. I again asked to speak to a manager and asked them why they didn't mention this on the phone when I was making my reservations. I would have never made the 2 1/2 hour drive there if I would have know this. He responded "yeah, I am actually not a manager, but I am the closest thing to a manager you will find around here on a Sunday night". He continued to explain that the employees just found out about this that same day and that Wheeling does everything at the last minute and is very bad a communicating to it's employees what is going on there. He said he would mention that I was upset to a real manager when he saw one. Also, no one knew how long it would be closed but it could be 3 weeks or longer. Then I stopped at the front desk to ask for a late checkout on my way to bed at 3:00 a.m. The man at the front desk, Mr. Anthony told me that he would be "reamed out" if he gave me a late checkout. I said "WHAT"? he replied "yeah, I gave someone else a late checkout the other day and I was reamed out". He said they are not allowed to do that anymore. Usually casinos are more than happy you are up all night gambling and will do whatever it takes to keep you there longer. I have no idea if this place got new management or what but something is really strange at this place.
I'm a Diamond Club member at this joint and have been going here for two years at least 2-3 times a week. Well I used to. Just had enough of getting legally robbed. The machines are the tightest in the tri-state including The Meadows and The Mountaineer. I don't care what anyone has posted about winning here. I was a regular. And no I wasn't a senseless gambler either going out and betting max trying too nail a jackpot. I believe it's set up for you out of staters who show up once in a blue moon to hit something to lure you back. If you're not from West Virginia, you have better chances of winning. JUST LOOK AT THE WALL ON YOUR RIGHT WHEN YOU GO UP THE ESCALATOR. They have all the big winners names and where they are from listed. Just about EVERY SINGLE one is from PA and OHIO. Locals have no chance at all here. They know you keep coming back and spend your money, so why let you win? I believe your players club card has everything too do with what you win here. OR LACK THERE OF. The only machine you'll see hit is a Sizzling 7 machine, and that's not even a jackpot. It's $1,000.00. And that's a rarity. Once in awhile you'll see a dollar machine hit. With that many machines, there should always be a jackpot bell going off. ALWAYS. I went here 4 straight nights without seeing or hearing a jackpot. I've never personally hit one. You'd think being the highest level of membership they have you would have hit at least one measily $1,250.00 tax form signing jackpot. It's not just me either, The four other people i go with are Diamond members too and they too have never hit one. So throw out my bad luck or bad gambler thing out the window. Just saying If you live in the Ohio Valley (a local), DON'T COME HERE, YOU GET FULLY TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF. If you do, don't use a players club card. Besides they are virtually worthless as you can't get a free dinner anymore. The comps went out the door. The free play is a joke. It's true, I've never won a single ticket while playing with free play. Just a little advice from someone that knows this place inside and out
Well, went back hoping for a better review but cannot do it. These slot are some of the tightest I have ever seen. I played a favorite machine and did not hit one bonus after 30 minutes of play. Thought I would give the machine a chance. I know and I am pleasant surprised when I win big but feel strongly that the machines should pay a little so you can keep playing.
It certainly is to the casino's advantage to do this. But this one does not. I saw only 1 person win anything to speak of. Will not go back. Buffet is average at best except desert bar was very delicious. All in all, quite a disappointment the second time which means it has lost me as a customer.
I'm a local and have watched this place fall down deeper and deeper. They can't get it together. They didn't provide a restaurant or food vendor past 10 o'clock for about a year even though they're 24/7. This is after being in business for decades.
We go to visit my brother at least once a month and this casino is very close - about a 20 minute drive. We were so happy because they have table games and it just gives us an excuse to get away for a few hours. It's just that we have been coming to Wheeling every month for over 2 years and we have never come home a winner. I mean never in two years!
We switch from tables to slots, video poker, even the track now and then. We kept going back because we just couldn't believe our luck is that bad - next time we have to win! But, enough is enough.
We are both fed up with this place. It's not like we're bad gamblers! We've won at other casinos. I won big at Presque Isle a couple months ago and my husband won big several times in the last two years. But not at this joint. Their comps are not enough to make us feel better about it either.
Someone else commented that you never win on their free slot money and that is TRUE. You might as well not even use it. I'm sorry because Wheeling is so convenient for us when we travel, but next time we'll go to The Meadows.
