The Downs Racetrack & Casino — Attraction in Albuquerque

Literally one of my favorite places to go as a local resident. The area it is located may be a bit intimidating for "out of towners". The staff that have been employed there for several years are tremendously consistent in their hospitality and reliability. They seem to still understand what it means to have good work ethic. The older and long term staff team members, display the appropriate amount of respectful appreciation, for those who patronize their place of employment. Some of the younger members of the staff (particularly those whose job title's fall under 'Security'), need to have additional training on how to balance two things: 1. Effectively follow thru on the responsibilities of your job title using the social skills required of your job title. i.e. "You can be firm in assuring that guests follow the casino rules, to keep everyone (including themselves) in the building safe; while at the same time treating ALL guests as if they were all high rollers. Simply put, treat all people you interact w/in your job role with the same amount of dignity, and common decency. 2.) Learn the terms ''the customer is always right'' (at the end of they say they supply your paychecks), and the term "power struggle" (how it relates to their interactions with customers and how it plays into the respect level they both give/receive when they implement rule enforcement). Have the newer and younger members of the security team learn that in their role as authoritarian; they should never feel the need to engage in power struggles with patrons. The rules should remain clearly posted to incoming patrons (removing any denial or ignorance factor). The safety and risk rules within a casino should always be non-nogotiable and CONSISTENT! The clear and concise rules should have NO wiggle room for different interpretations; by different people. The security team should be held to the highest standards of conduct since they hold the safety of many people in their hands. From vast personal experience, the only way your security team's job to enforce rules and security measures, will ever become easier is w/consistent grace, and professionality w/your patrons. This allows for an eventual shift toward overall better behavior in the majority of guests, due to a set mutual level of respect. Therefore, it's vital that your rules to patronize MUST BE withheld in the exact same ways, by the exact same standards, by ALL staff, ALL DAY , by all shift teams. I see security power struggle with guests OFTEN and it just perpetuates problems for the safety of the entire building. In the same manner a parent doesn't have to explain, the reasoning behind the rules in their home, to their minor children. The security staff should never repeat themselves or be drawn into petty arguments with unruly people within the...

Neighbors, its time to take a second look at the Downs. Really. This neighborhood casino is small in comparison but makes up for it with large perks that keeps coming back and eager to share with others. The loyalty program always has membership incentives if you use the card and despite the drawings aren't going to offer you a car or $1000's of dollars, what it does offer is a real time chance to get called, everybody plays the game and wins real money. Not freeway. There's also weekly freeway for those who come back and the only senior appreciation day that gives freeway as well as drawings. Does everyone know there an amazing food café inside with amazing prices and even more amazing food cooked on demand? Large variety to choose from and plates are beautiful, food is cooked the way you like and they have their hands on the roastiest green chile in town. Thumbs up to a masterful baker that puts out some 5stsr eclairs and cream puffs. Many dont know about The Council Room. An upscale dining experience that offers fine dining and mouth savoring meticulously meals best outlined during holidays. There is plenty of parking and even free valet, but please tip them because they work hard to do what you dont want to. The casino is clean. Thank the ladies some time. Bathrooms are always tended to. Arms in 3 locations and at the cashier cage,. Management is always on site and very intuitive. There is a bar with live music on the weekends thats always popular. Dancing is always in high demand. Smoking out front and anywhere you go you're guaranteed to be watched..well not the bathroom. Lol. The Downs provides a professional upgraded security program we dont typically witness in other establishments but its linked to State Police Dept partners in the surveillance of this site. You are required to provide i.d. upon entrance and typically do a bag search so remember, its all in the name of protection. Security is rigorous here and they maintain constant communications to ensure nothing gets passed them. Sometimes there are shuttles for the parking lot and lots of handicap parking convenient in the front plus a drive up drop off area for those who require...

The only non-native owned and operated casino in the state also features a security team which is a branch of the NM State Police. If not for the location and some good food at reasonable pricing they would have fewer clients than the measly attendance numbers usually on tap. Why you may ask? A good percentage of the active machines don't hit for S blank blank blank T. the rest of the machines are either inactive or antiquated to the point of having buttons that don't work. Few people I know who are avid gamblers hit there;(tight slots) so if it were not in the middle of the city it would draw no crowd at all. Greener pastures lure with more promise and glitzier trappings elsewhere such as Sandia, Santa Ana and even Isleta. The crowd is from the disenfranchised masses who lack transportation to go anywhere else. A great place to throw away bills but one can do that at a strip club or right out the car window, and at least you get some satisfaction from those acts. If I sound like I am bashing this establishment solely and too harshly, I apologize because the truth is that 1 in 6 machines should hit 80% over it's lifetime in payouts (low enough return) but that just isn't the case here in the Land Of Entrapment and it has only gotten worse with fewer players and less cycling of the machines so that even hardcore slot players are thumbing their noses at marketed incentives in favor of other entertainment venues. The over-inflation in the economy post- COVID isn't helping either. My advice to ailing operator's is simple...loosen up your slots to a reasonable degree. We don't mind lifting you from poverty but picking our bones clean so that you can live in corrupted quasi- Royalty can't be sustained. We can get screwed anywhere we spend our hard-earned cash, at least use some lubricant for love's sake ..you will thank me in the...