My blog entries of April 22 and 25 must have hit a nerve because I got a lot of comments, not just here but in personal posts.  Here is one that spoke to some of the issues:

“I have been an advertising and marketing executive all of my life.  So when you mentioned a correction about your emailed offer from The Palms for $49 in April, I went back and looked at it.  You were right the first time.  Sometimes the Palms and other hotels say that a promotion is specifically for (name of cardholder + account number).  The email you referenced only required that you mention "OPER 226." In fact, I emailed that offer to many friends outside of Vegas because I specifically checked to see if it was for me only or for anyone with knowledge of the code.

“I have been coming to Las Vegas continuously since 1964 and now I live here.  The cutbacks that I am seeing just in the past year are astounding.  I live next door to a guy who is a manager at U. S. Foods, which delivers virtually everything casinos use in their food and beverage departments.  They are the primary vendor to 70% of the hotels here in Las Vegas.  He says their business is down 20%.  First, the cuts came from the small bars and taverns that closed their kitchens due to the smoking ordinance.  Then, the vast majority of taverns who still serve food have seen their business shrink to a fraction of what they had been doing.  Now the hotels have cut back on quality and variety.  I was surprised to learn about the wide range of pre-prepared frozen foods that are available in case lots, virtually anything and everything you can name and in various quality grades.

“So with tighter machines, increased prices of buffets, less selection and lower quality food, and poor service, the casinos are only going to increase the downward spiral in their business.”

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Blackjack Insider is an online gaming newsletter that comes as a monthly e-mail. Although the primary subject material is about blackjack, many articles cover other casino gambling topics as well.   A regular issue has both free content for subscribers and some for members-only who pay a small yearly fee. I find it full of gambling information that is not only interesting but also valuable in helping me get more out of the casino than they get out of me! 

Just out is the 100th issue of Blackjack Insider and it can be read by anyone who has access to a computer. No subscription or fee is required. It is filled with articles by gambling experts in many fields: card counting, blackjack, tournament play, craps, video poker, and live poker. Some of the authors give interesting details of how they got started in casino gambling. In fact, I include in my article some “secret” details of my early gambling experiences (pre-casino) that I have never put down in writing ever before.  

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Some responses to yesterday’s blog entry:

I wrote: “I have been known to say that I would go to hell to play if there were $5 full-pay Deuces Wild and a slot club that gave 1% cashback.”

SA commented: “I'll get to hell before you; I'll go for only .5% cashback + a buffet comp.”

Darn it, there is always some sharp player who scrambles more than I do and locks up that one super-duper machine. I’m getting older – and slower!

Someone else commented: “I do not have any wrinkles on my face because I paid to have them taken out.”

Confession time for me. All my friends know this, but I don’t think I have ever put it in print: I have had two facelifts in the last 15 years. And here’s why:

      1. I found a world-famous plastic surgeon who gave me a big discount if I let his assistant practice on me.
      2. It gave Brad his favorite line: "Doesn't she look good for 89?"

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I just had to write about this annual Review-Journal feature in spite of having to read it with the fuzzies of one still-dilated eye and dark glasses. I enjoy this feature mainly because the descriptions are written with an in-your-face edginess and humor. But I also like to look for the selections where I wonder how in the world this got any votes. 

If you want to follow along -- and you don't have the dirty-hands version I am looking at -- you can go to the online list (although you will miss the oh-so-Vegas Elvis pix introducing each section and the special articles). Here are my "feelings" as I turned the pages:

1.  Page 5 - "Readers' Poll Goes Global" - I'm glad that going on the 'Net to get votes boosted the number of ballots cast this year. I had always felt there was too small a sample to draw any significant conclusions, and that last year's total of 1,657 ballots was a pathetic low. In fact, I figured they might scrap this feature. Opening up voting in cyberspace to the whole world this year produced 7,982 ballots -- hopefully a number that will grow and make the results even more valid in the future. And reducing the number of categories from 248 to 175 was a definite improvement. 

2.  The first section, "Eat and Drink," covered non-hotel venues. Since we almost never eat outside a hotel in Vegas (if you wonder why that is, you don't know me very well!), I have never visited any of the selections picked here so I don't have any opinions, pro or con. I have eaten at some of the chain restaurants mentioned here, but in other cities; however, I don't think that counts. An article in the hard-copy version (not online), "Specials, Coupons Help Stretch Dining Dollars," I could have written myself, but the author had to go frequently to casino hotels to find frugal eating tips, like the Ellis Island and Hard Rock Mr. Lucky's steak specials. And she mentions one of my favorite tips, joining a casino players club even if you don't gamble since the card often qualifies you for discounts at their restaurants (and in other places, too). There's a frugal extra at the end of this section, lots of restaurant ads, many with discount coupons you can clip.

3.  The next section is "Shopping." I strongly agree that Michael's is the best arts and crafts store, but I always wait for a sale or I have a coupon. I also agree that Borders is a great bookstore, but they go down a few notches in my opinion because they don't reorder my books soon enough after they run out of them. We buy electronics at Best Buy when we have earned Best Buy gift cards in a casino promotion but we usually find the best prices at Fry's, plus we have several hundreds of dollars of their gift certificates (compliments of a Palms promo). I am saving them for the next time my computer goes on the blink, but with two electronics-crazy, now-teenage grandchildren the certificates might not last until then. Brad does what little grocery shopping we need and he always goes to the "cheap store," Food 4 Less, unless we have gift cards for Smith's or Vons or Albertson's. For home improvement items, we had Home Depot gift cards for a long time and there is a store very near us, so Brad shops there unless we earn gift cards from Lowe's. As you may notice, our shopping selections often depend on our stockpile of gift cards. For thrift stores, I prefer the second choice in the voting, Savers, which is close to my home and they organize all their clothing by color, over Goodwill.  

And now for complete honesty here, Brad and I have visited both adult stores that came up on top in the voting, the Adult Superstore on West Tropicana and Love Jones at the Hard Rock. As for the first, we didn't buy anything the one time we stopped in, but it is in a category we call Let's-See-What-Other-People-Enjoy. We pass Love Jones once or twice a week when we go to play or pick up free play at the Hard Rock. We usually discuss what is being modeled in the window and whether Brad thinks that would be sexy on me. I usually comment that it would take several sets of the costume to cover me adequately. We have gone in and looked around a few times -- and had a giggle over some of the items. And I once did buy something there -- with my slot club points, of course: fishnet stockings to wear with a she-devil Halloween costume.

My eyes are tired of straining and it's giving me a headache. So I will have to continue this review another day. Tune in again.

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I’m going to have to limit my computer time for a bit. I’m between the two eye surgeries and both my eyes seem mixed up as to what their “duties” are, making me dizzy and giving me a headache from hell as well as refusing to help me read!    However, once I get the left eye done on the 19th (cataract gone and astigmatism fixed), I should be seeing great and able to take up blogging again. 

And by that time I should have a good report back from my blood work, done today. Thanks so much to all who have expressed their concern about my getting caught up in this current medical mess-up in Vegas. 

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If you like to hear gambling information as well as to read about it, you might enjoy going to Steve Bourie’s podcasts. Steve is the guy who gathers up all that valuable information about casinos all over the U.S. and puts out the very comprehensive annual American Casino Guide.

Steve has interviewed many gaming writers for his monthly podcast, including Anthony Curtis, Max Rubin, John Grochowski, Michael Shackleford, and Henry Tamburin. He has even chatted with me a few times, the latest subject being about gambling and taxes.

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This will have to be a short entry because Brad and I need to leave right away for the epicenter of the Battle of the Local Casinos. There are so many good promotions going on we hardly know which ones to choose – so we will cherry-pick the best ones, and play until our energy is gone and we have to go home and rest. 

Yesterday (Valentine’s Day), South Point had 3x points – and if you read the local R-J newspaper you would have seen an ad that spelled out how good this was: 1,000 points = $9 cashback. Also, their ads are promoting 2x points on Presidents’ Day, 1,000 = $6. Stations are having 7x points the 14th through the 18th. Tuscany had 10x points yesterday and will repeat that on the 29th, plus they offer 5x points on Sundays and Wednesdays the rest of the month. Silverton has 5x points on Fridays and Saturdays. The Palms has a bunch of different promotions during the rest of the month. All of these locals casinos offer cashback or Free Play, or comps plus bounce-back coupons. With a careful choice of games, many of these casinos offer an opportunity for over-100% play. 

So many people are taking the sky-is-falling attitude about video poker. Yes, on the whole it IS harder to find good VP plays; you have to be more flexible in where and when you play. But if you use the resources you will find on the Internet and in the newspaper, and if you do some scouting on your own, most people will find enough to keep them busy. We always have more opportunities than we have energy to play! 

Why are you sitting at your computer reading this? So many opportunities, so little time!!

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Back in mid-January I talked about the “war” the locals casinos were waging to win the hearts and the money of Vegas residents. Well, the shooting has not abated.

This month the Palms took a page from South Point’s war plan and put a little chart in their February mailers, comparing their comp-point system with Station and Coast properties, their close-by competitors. Never mind that you have to look at a lot more factors than how many points it takes to earn a $1 comp. (Like what kind of promotions they have, whether all machines earn the same for promotions and bounce-back, and whether you can get cash instead of comps.)  But their little chart showed that they were at the top of the heap for the least number of points needed for a dollar in comps.

However, I just got a mailing from the Stations and they are preparing for a major assault on February 14. I’m sure they are hoping this will be modern-day Valentine's Day Massacre that will destroy the competition. From that day on, all Boarding Pass members can redeem points for free slot play @ 1,000 points = $1. That is a major change in the comp-only points of the previous Station players club.

They are adding some “sweet” treats for the players that I’m sure will leave a sour taste in the mouths of competing casino executives. First, members will earn points while playing off their free slot play. As the notice said: “That’s free play on their free play!" And to kick off this new benefit, all the Stations will be giving SEVEN times points from February 14-18, which “will add up to more free slot play!”

Some details before you ask: Only points earned after February 14 are eligible for free slot play but there’s no max on how much you can redeem.  You won’t lose your existing points; they can still be used for comps.

Let the war continue!

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Brad and I always like to meet kindred gambling souls. If you see us in a casino, please stop and say “Hello.” We are always glad to stop playing – it rests our eyes – and chat a few minutes with old and new friends alike.

However, I am always happy when we have a chance for a public appearance that will give us more time to connect with other players, and I want to give you advance notice of one of these on March 9. It is a meet-and-greet from 1-2 p.m., in the Sound Trax Lounge at Palace Station. Joining me will be American Casino Guide author Steve Bourie; "Vegas Values" author Scot Krause; and prolific author of blackjack- and other gambling-related material Henry Tamburin.

All four of us will participate in a 30-minute session of answering questions from audience members on a variety of gambling topics. Then there will be time for you to talk to the authors on a one-to-one basis. We all will be happy to autograph books you already own. Plus, there will be a variety of gambling resources available for purchase, including the newest edition of Tax Help for Gamblers -- just in time, if the thought of April 15 is putting you in a state of confusion and dread about reporting your gambling earnings.

Admission to this event is free and there will be some door prizes.  Hope to see many of you there! 

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I received some interesting input about my last blog entry in which I said that sports betting is the only gambling option Brad and I choose that isn’t an “advantage” play.

One Internet friend commented: “I've always thought that sports bets were an excellent 'frugal gambler' option---you place a bet, sit down in the sports book or in front of your TV, relax, and watch the game; your ‘action’ lasts for several hours, and all you're paying is the ‘juice’ on your bet---only about 5% of your action. Plus, if you're watching in the sports book, a nice young lady in short-shorts and a football jersey will bring you a drink---what's not to like? :) Oh, and if you're at a Coast casino, don't forget the great hot dogs!”

This reminded me that I have charts in both The Frugal Gambler and More Frugal Gambling showing that for a Bet $11/Win $10 sports wager, your average loss per hour will be only about 25 cents. And I have said that if you can’t drink enough in a sports book to cover that, you aren’t even trying.

Well, Brad can't drink alcoholic beverages for health reasons and he was watching the game in our living room and not in a sports book.  But maybe I can give him a lap dance next year and it would raise his football betting EV into positive territory!!!

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