Many of the machines are set to higher payout percentages than either the strip or FSE. The casino has excellent paying machines and VP, as do most of the Stations and Boyd properties, including 100%+ VP.
I've never stayed in their hotel but haven't heard great things about it, which doesn't surprise me since Boulder Station is a local's casino. Honestly, things improve when they get to know you. Sometimes it just takes being a little more aggressive when the hostess passes nearby. I will agree that the drink service can suck sometimes, but it's not really that bad. One likes it because he won in 20 minutes, one dislikes it because he lost in a similarly short period of time and had lousy drink service. I've read the other reviews and one of them just made me laugh, as he speaks of desperate losers who've lost all their money and are down to nickels and dimes and $10 bills.