Couple logs 6,800 miles at Boyd properties

For many of today's recreational gambling enthusiasts, their first casino experience likely took place during a Las Vegas vacation.

Alex Bratu is one of those people. Thirty years ago while he was living in California he made a trip to Vegas that he never forgot.

"I had never been there before," he recalled. "But it was love at first sight. It was just a very exciting place to be with things to do at all hours of the day. The neon lights were something else."

After he and Mary Anne Sulik were married 17 years ago, casino visits became their hobby. Earlier this month they took that enthusiasm to a new level by deciding to embark on a cross-country road trip to visit every Boyd Gaming casino property in the United States.

The round trip from their home in Milford, Conn., put about 6,800 miles on their Toyota Camry and included stops at Blue Chip Casino, Hotel & Spa in Michigan City, Ind., and Par-A-Dice in East Peoria.

They are two of 14 Boyd Gaming casino destinations in six states nationwide, also including New Jersey, Mississippi, Louisiana and Nevada.

Mary Anne, who kept her maiden name, said her affinity for Boyd casinos begins with the hotel amenities, which are exemplified in the new Spa Blu Tower at Blue Chip.

"We travel a lot, and Boyd properties are always immaculate," she said. "The staff always seems to be extra friendly and helpful, and every employee I've encountered is always very complimentary of how they are treated. That's very important."

"Mary Anne and I are what you'd call 'low rollers,'" Alex said. "We like the penny and nickel slots. For us it's entertainment."

The couple had a chance to meet and chat with William S. Boyd, executive chairman, and Keith Smith, president and CEO of Boyd Gaming, when those men flew in for an employee talent show that was being held at Sam's Town Tunica.

"We had a blast," Alex said. "We're not 'glitzy' people and we love the downtown area in Vegas and other locals-oriented casinos. It's also nice to be able to play with one player's club card, Boyd Gaming's B-Connected card, which can be used at every one of their properties."

Alex and Mary Anne are also fond of the old Silver Strike slot machines which award silver coins for jackpot combinations.

"We are Silver Strike collectors," he said. "Years ago just about every major casino had these machines, but Sam's Town is one of only four casinos in Las Vegas which still do."

Early in their journey Alex e-mailed Elvis Radio Memphis to request they play "Viva Las Vegas."

"They played it just after 4 o'clock 'Elvis time,' as they call it, when we were west of Albuquerque," Alex said. "It was great."

So far a major jackpot has eluded them, but that doesn't mean Alex has forgotten the kind of hits that keep them going.

"One night while we were in Reno, Nevada, on vacation, I was playing a machine and hit five jackpot symbols across a pay line for $1,250," he said.