05/20/07

Overall: Atmosphere Value



First, let me say that my review is based on dozens and dozens of visits to Potawatomi over the years. I will, however, never go there again. Responding on the basis of slot machines only, Potawatomi casino is the smokiest and worst paying casino I've ever been in, with the exception of Aztar, Carruthers, Mo.



They have many older nickel video slots and quarter and dollar reel slots. No pennies or two centers. There are banks and banks of slots that sit unplayed because the payout percentage is so low.



There are far too many machines that have 30 or 40 or even 100 lines. I have run through 20 or 30 dollars without ever getting a hit of more than I bet, much less a bonus. Of course, Indian casinos are not required to publish the payouts their machines are set at, but I would venture to guess that Potawatomi orders the absolute lowest payback the slot machine company makes.



When I go, during the week, there are always people just lounging idly on the stools because they have long ago run out of money, and they are probably just waiting for the bus to take them out of the casino.



The people working in the cages are usually blabbing a mile a minute to each other, and you often have to tell them twice what denomination bills you want in change. They are too busy blabbing to pay attention. They act as if you are an interruption to their social lives.



And the worst thing? The Potawatomi are doing their absolute best to block the construction of a casino in Kenosha. Because they know that if it opened, multitudes of their captive patrons would vacate the premises, never to return.



If I were running this casino, I wouldn't be able to sleep nights knowing how much I have bilked the people of Milwaukee.



OK, I can recommend one and only one thing about this place, and that is the sports bar (which is separately owned and operated) The food is wonderful. Try the reuben sandwich. And you might consider splitting the sandwiches. They are enormous.