From one of the LVA Question-of-the-Day staffers about my complaint (2/11) of no coffee makers in so many Vegas hotel rooms: “We did this as a QoD on 5/11/05. Number-one reason was getting people out of the room. Number two: expense. Number three: health department regs.” (If you are a LVA subscriber, you not only can access the current QoD as everyone can, but you also have access to the archives, a veritable gold mine of Vegas information.) 

Q: Re the Palms:  “I just tried to use my 3X point POV coupon but was told it would not apply to the FPDW. Same with my 3X swipe. I don't understand how you get all your offers if you are a net winner. 

A: We would use restricted offers like these on less-than-100% games. In fact, we often play slightly negative games when coupons or promotions or slot club benefits are so valuable that it makes the play better than one on a better machine. 

One outstanding example: Brad got his $100,000 dealt royal on a Hundred Play machine at the Palms that had a lower EV (expected value) paytable than some other games in that casino. However, we were playing it, just for a short time, because we could earn tickets faster for a drawing and we also had a coupon we couldn’t use on better games.   It also would give us some future slot club benefits. Adding all this up made this machine the best play for us for the short time we would be playing it. 

Q: Should I play at just one Coast casino to maximize my offers, like additional point days, free play, cashback, etc.?

A: Some casino chains, like the Stations, combine your play from all their casinos for one monthly mailer. However, each Coast casino sends out its own mailer and it is based on your play at that particular casino only. And you have to be careful in this area – not all Coast properties have the same offers, i.e., bonus-point days. Read your mailer and newspaper ads carefully.  However, the tiers for their players card are standardized for all properties and are based on coin-in over a 90-day period: $0 to $19,999 for Ruby, $20,000 to $124,999 for Sapphire and $125,000+ for Emerald.

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