On Monday, an assistant slot manager had told me the new strikes were in the vault and that when the machines were emptied of the 2004 Patriotic series, they would go in. So when George Langley and I finished at Hard Rock, we decided to check. The machines had the new set of four in the display. We played and got 18 strikes, seven of which were Patriotic 2004. (No NO DATES, drat.) The slot shift manager explained: 1.Slots has no control over what's in the machine, that is up to the cage; and 2. Gaming has told them that any strike is ok, despite what is in the display, since the machine says "Win Souvenir Coins" and everything that drops out is a souvenir coin.He also said most peolpe like to get the old strikes as well as the new strikes.
After much discussion, we were able to get a swap. However, I think we wore out our welcome so we quit while ahead.
Cage manager said the RV Park had a fill of new ones today but didn't know if old strikes were still in the machine. Remembrt if you play at the RV park, there is no casino employee over there, so the chance of a swap is virtually nonexistent.
All four strikes are dated 2005.