Today’s LVA Question of the Day discusses the drop in casino revenue and what casinos plan to do about generating more visitors in a slowing economy.   (Anyone can read the current day’s QOD but only LVA subscribers can access the archives.)

Here is my “unofficial” take on this question: I am seeing more good casino promotions for the scrambling player than I have seen in years. However, you have to be quick to take advantage of them – the casinos are finding some are “too good” and are pulling them sooner than advertised or are making them off-limits to certain machines. I see a certain desperation in many of the casino efforts.. For example, they offer a super promotion and then the next week downgrade the tables on some of their VP machines. I bet casino marketing departments are working a lot of overtime. Back and forth, trying to pull the customer strings so they play only certain times or not on certain machines.   But a savvy player will learn to be flexible.

I have never been busier changing my play calendar all during the month. Used to be I could make it up at the beginning of the month and not much would change. Now I am adding and deleting plays every few days as some promotions end prematurely and other ones start mid-month.

How do I find out about all these changes? 

1.  Ads in the local newspaper that I read daily – especially good for finding last-minute promotions.

2.  Casino snail mail - some casinos are adding to their one-time monthly mailing by sending postcards all month long describing new promotions.

3.  Casino e-mail – some casinos are sending mid-month e-mails. It pays to sign up for e-mail at casino Web sites or at their slot club booths. Friday Brad and I received an e-mail from the Palms, saying we had $20 and $40, respectively, in extra free play on Saturday. We wouldn’t have known that without the e-mail.

4.  The vpFREE Web site – the forum is a major source of promotional information with an extensive database of good VP games all over the US.   Subscribe at vpFREE-subscribe@yahoogroups.com.   Some locals who didn’t get the Palms e-mail I described above gleaned this information from the vpFree forum and were able to go and collect the free play that was sitting in their account.

5.  The American Casino Guide’s Vegas Values lists promotions for the current week and ongoing promotions from the past weeks and months, a very extensive list that can keep you busy in casinos all over town!

6.  Scot Krause’s Bonus Point List – a constantly updated list listing all the casinos that are giving extra points for the general public’s play. (You may find more opportunities for bonus play by checking your individual casino mailer.)

7.  From friends. It pays to be nice to other savvy players – you not only might make some good friends who share your interests, but they might become a valuable resource for “secret” plays. Brad and I are lucky to be rich in casino-forged friendships, and sharing gambling tips is always a big part of our conversations!

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