It’s hard to believe that Brian Christopher has been spinning the slots and building the online slot community from the ground up for the past ten years. I also find it a little hard to believe that Brian recently held his 9th annual Rudies Weekend fan event – which is my 5th year attending.
You see, the casino industry relies heavily on trends. Once beloved slot machines are yanked off the floor to make way for a new title, longstanding promotions are given the axe to free up the calendar for the shiny new thing, and even cherished entertainers are given the boot in hopes another person or act will make guests happier.
Instead of being a fleeting moment, Brian has seemingly done the impossible. He has become a true mainstay in the ever-evolving industry and served as the blueprint for other casino content creators. This prototype sentiment is one shared by Plaza Hotel & Casino CEO Jonathan Jossel. His property played host to nearly 300 Rudies over the weekend and during a speech to the group, Jossel acknowledged that Brian was the first to do it. That “it” is the aforementioned creation of YouTube slot influencers (NBD).
Rudies Weekend 2026 was aptly dubbed Brian Christopher’s Diamond Jubilee in celebration of his 10 year career thus far. Throughout the four day event, participants, myself included, were treated to tons of themed activities that leaned into the elegant celebration of all things BC Slots. There were sparkly decorations, tons of snacks, and a stacked schedule that included everything from bingo to casual mixers, and of course the signature party.
A true highlight of the weekend was the Mega Group Pull on IGT’s Wheel of Fortune Cash On Reels. I was greatly impressed with the new location of the event within Plaza. For the first time at Rudies Weekend, the Mega Group Pull took place in the gorgeous showroom. The showroom at Plaza is truly something to be admired, presuming you can appreciate a vintage vibe.
For the event, Brian was seated at a slot machine that was brought onto the showroom stage just for him. I sat with my two Moderator friends, Carol and Heather, in a plush booth that offered the perfect view and place to settle in for a wonderful evening and decently long session. While I won’t spoil the group pull outcome, I will say it was a really great time and I appreciated all the upgrades – including the pizza!
Something else that I truly enjoyed was the elevated version of the annual brunch. This year, our group had the run of the entire Oscar’s Steakhouse space. It opened just for our group, which created a truly VIP feel. My mom came along this year and we sat with some friends overlooking Main Street and onto Fremont. I loved being able to sit against the windows in the daylight hours to take in the view that is typically reserved for dusk and later… and at least three dirty (gin) martinis.
Lastly, as a casino marketer, I find it important to save some space to call out the swag bags that were given to all attendees. Although I write for Flip The Switch, I normally go into event weekends blind, meaning I have no idea what upgrades or special additions might have been added to any given occasion. As soon as I was handed this year’s bag and pulled out the first item (a fully branded rubber duck), I knew we were in for a treat. Big shoutout to Bluberi Gaming for a large contribution of swag including a Devil’s Lock Slice n’ Dice lunchbox, to which they thoughtfully added the BC logo. It will be the perfect lunch time reminder of Rudie luck for many, I am sure.
Outside of the officially sanctioned Rudies Weekend activities, there are always a few things I like to get into while in town. First off, once a morning gambler, always a morning gambler. One of my favorite things to do during any given Rudies Weekend is to hit the slots early in the morning before most people are awake. Almost always before the sun is officially up, I will be trotting down from Plaza to the Fremont Casino to grab my beloved Dunkin’ and settle into a slot machine.
While I like to concentrate my play to the place I am staying, I feel the need to mix up the game selection from time to time – after all, when I am in Vegas, I come to play. I can be gambling, if luck is in my favor, for 8-12 hours a day. In addition to trying my luck at Fremont, I found myself at El Cortez twice this trip. I really appreciate the redesign the property has been undergoing in recent years. I’ve said it before, and I will say it again. I love natural light in casinos, probably because I primarily game during daylight hours. The remodel at El Cortez incorporates a lot of natural light and the cherry on top is their comfortable high limit room with steady drink service. I am very interested to see what the new high limit space will look like at The Plaza when it opens later this summer!
Overall, the gaming action was pretty lukewarm throughout my stay but there was one very nice hit that kept me in the game. Pretty early in the trip, my recent “double major” luck struck for the third time in just under two months. Like when recently on a BC Slots Cruise, where I landed not one, but two double majors, on this trip I scored the coveted jackpot on Phoenix Link. The major progressive was maxed out on the dollar denomination, resulting in a $2,000 major.
This $4,215 win on a $5 not only replenished my entertainment budget, but expanded it just a little to make for a rather enjoyable couple of days. While I was hopeful to be able to parlay my double major into a bigger win, that wasn’t in the cards. I am, of course, thankful to have won at all!
As is the ritual by now, I end my trips with a quiet night enjoying my Plaza private patio space. I look forward to sitting outside while listening to music (90s alternative) and eating snacks all while reflecting on the sights and sounds of downtown. While I admit that having to stare at my old employer’s building isn’t the nicest thing, it is worth the trade.
Back to the plot. I truly believe you will be hard pressed to think of another creator that has had such an impact on the industry and for such a long time that Brian Christopher has had. Brian, along with his dedicated team, have created a world that so many people are happy to be a part of. Here is to another 10 years of creating memories, and see you at Rudies Weekend 2027!
