Brad and I don’t play at any Station casinos at the present time, but I have been listening to the buzz about them among my friends and on the Internet forums. Many skilled players (including Bob Dancer) who had been playing there regularly are no longer receiving monthly mailers. This is especially true for those who play only the games with the highest EVs and/or for those who put in long hours pounding the best machines, particularly during promotions. 

And a recent surprising development is that most (all?) players who have been cut off from the monthly mailers have also been cut off from participating in the Wednesday Senior Day events, including 5x points. This is a particularly disturbing development – and some think unethical if not actually violating the Gaming Commission regulations about promotions – since there is no mention of this exclusion in the rules. 

Casinos have all sorts of “rights” – and I know times are hard for them – but I am wondering if they are considering the public reaction to many of their aggressive moves. 

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My discussion about a “resort fee” a couple of days ago generated a lot of comments, both here and in emails to me privately. This is a bigger hot point than I had originally thought. 

Many responders wondered why I didn’t call out the casino where this incident happened to me. As a rule, I like to give general advice about a subject as much as possible. I didn’t want people just to be careful about this one casino, but to always go over their bill before they check out of any hotel. Another factor is that I hate to give negative publicity to one person or company when it might be just an isolated honest mistake. 

However, this time I am going to mention the casino. It was Green Valley Ranch. Now I like the Stations casinos. They run some great promotions. Brad and I have played at a Station casino for many years and plan to continue doing so as long as they have good video poker games and good promotions. But I hope someone with decision-making authority there will read my blog entries about this situation and also take note of the comments and realize that dinging players with extra charges is negative PR that is pushing customers away. 

Speaking of reader comments here, there is a lot of helpful information in them. When you read my blog, you may be missing them. You have to scroll down below the blog entry on the left side of the page to see a list of “Recent Comments.” However, some people don’t comment on a particular blog entry right away. So if you are interested in a specific subject, click on the title of a particular blog entry and at the end of it you will be able to see all the comments that have been written.

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Today on the “LVA Question of the Day” I answered a question about mailers sent out by Station Casinos and how the bounce-back amounts seem to be lower than usual. (You can read this QOD for free today only at http://www.lasvegasadvisor.com/qod.cfm if you aren’t a LVA subscriber – once it goes into the archives the next day, only subscribers can read it.) 

I need to add one note to this subject. The information I gave in the QOD was correct for Green Valley Ranch at the time I wrote it, but I have heard that the Stations are "experimenting" with various bounce-back options, including using daily average and various qualification periods. And they may do one option only at one or some of their casinos and not at all of them. So it may be hard to track this until they settle on one option for all their casinos, something they might never go back to! 

Oh dear! I may never be able to retire! 

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Last week we stopped by Silverton, the first time we had been there since the new expansion had opened. It was nice to park the Frugal Plum in the new parking garage, but we will appreciate that even more during the blazing heat come July and August. 

When we walked into the casino, we definitely got the “Wow” feeling. Instead of narrow aisles where you had to turn sideways to get between the machines, they have opened up the atmosphere with nice wide aisles with no crowding of machines.  But although we had been a frequent player at this property down through the years, even back when it was Boomtown, we were a little “lost” when we first walked in. Because of the re-arrangement and additions we couldn’t immediately get our bearings and know which way to find the old familiar places. 

Silverton is running a good food offer through December 30 – Buy one, Get One Free at all their restaurants (except Starbucks, Johnny Rockets or Luciano). You don't need a coupon.  

Station Casinos has been running an ad in the local newspaper, Buy One, Get One Free, for buffets at all Station Casinos and Fiestas. You do need the coupon. 

South Point has been running a promotion that runs through Dec. 24, 50% off when paying with your club card. This includes not only all bars and restaurants, but also the hotel, gift shop, liquor store, bingo, spa, salon, showroom, movies, bowling, Prestige Travel, and all New Year’s parties. Plus I just got an e-mail from them announcing they are offering triple points on Dec. 22, celebrating their 3rd anniversary. This is in addition to double points on Dec. 25. 

As usual, you should stop in the slot club to get the official rules of all these promotions. 

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There are hundreds of things I do in order for Brad and me to be successful playing video poker – that is, making money at the activity – but the one that may be the most important – it certain is the one that keeps me the busiest – is staying on top of casino information. I feel like a large sponge that demands constant moisture, and I spend hours a day feeding this demand, soaking up information in the casinos, on the Internet, in magazines, books, and newspapers, and from fellow gamblers. 

Case in point is the information I have learned about Station Casinos just in the few days since I got back from Europe.  

1. The Stations may be switching back and forth their qualification schedules for figuring their mailed free play. I found this out by reading a recent Bob Dancer’s article from CasinoGaming.com.   (If you don’t read this column every week, you are missing out on a valuable source of information. You can go back to the archives and catch up on this rich resource from the last three years.) 

2. I was reminded of the cold hard bankroll facts about the Deuces Bonus Multi Strike game that we love/hate at Green Valley Ranch, again in a recent Dancer article, this time at another Internet site, Video Poker 365.   (This also is a rich resource for VP players where Dancer and I both write articles on a regular basis.) 

3. I received this post about our recent European trip: “I am fairly new at the comp game. It would be great to learn how you applied the Stations points to your trip expenses. According to their Web site I am eligible for "travel bucks." Is that what you used, and how does it work?”  

Yes, that is what we used – and you have learned one good comp game hint, that of going to a casino Web site for information. Casino Web sites vary greatly in how much information they give, but I’ve noticed a welcome trend toward their being more player friendly and helpful. 

Station travel bucks are only available to players on the Platinum, President, and Chairman levels. We used them only because we have “old” points, those accumulated before they changed their system and you can redeem points for free play. Although you can use new points for travel bucks, this would not be a good use if you were Platinum since it takes 1200 points for one travel buck and you can redeem for free play at the 1000 to 1 ratio. At the two higher levels, the ratio for each option is the same, 1000 to 1, but we would not bother using our new points for travel since Prestige Travel, which handles the travel arrangements you make for Station travel bucks, charges a fee for each reservation. 

4. Friday I noticed there was no Jumbo Jackpot at Green Valley Ranch.  I asked about this at the slot club desk.  They said that when all the individual casino jackpots have been hit, they plan to go back to a Station-wide progressive.  No further details on what this would be, whether it would be like it was before. I’m guessing it will be cut, but who knows the minds of casino executives!

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In today’s R-J you can find the August edition of “My Station,” the glossy 23-page magazine full of information about and coupons for all the Station casinos. There are no longer any all-Station coupons; each property has a page of coupons specific for only its own casino. Although there are coupons for food, drink, and entertainment items, the most valuable ones are an up-to-$25 matchplay for table-game even bets and 5x points. 

These coupons are not as valuable as they were during the last two months. Besides the fact that each is property-specific, they have done a better job clarifying the details, especially whether you can print them off the Internet. You can’t. The fine print on the matchplay states: “Reproduction or copying of this coupon is strictly prohibited.” The 5x points is “available any day of your choice in the month of August” and is “valid any one calendar day.” To activate the 5x bonus, you must put your name and Boarding Pass number on the coupon and turn it in at the Rewards center. 

If you are from out of town and can’t pick up today’s paper and get this magazine, you might ask for a copy at the players club. Last month they had copies they would give out – perhaps they will continue that practice in August? Be sure you read the fine print on each coupon. For example, to use the Red Rock 30% spa discount, you must show a Nevada driver’s license. 

For a household that has more than one gambler, you might want to buy extra papers today to get more magazines. I might send Brad dumpster diving tonight to look for the extra copy we need. In fact I might even go with him – people throw away some really good stuff in our condo complex!!!

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I just can’t let this subject go as long as explanations are needed. Although we were told that 6x bonus points yesterday (Friday) at Palace Station were for everyone, again the casino had not done its usual preparation for this promo. Ordinarily you could go to a kiosk and that offer would be there for you to click on and get the bonus automatically. Evidently only the people who got the card about this promo could do that. However, experienced players went to the players club desk where they were cheerfully given the bonus manually. 

Another time where double-checking information paid off dividends! 

In today’s newspaper there was an ad for 6x points at Sunset and Boulder Stations today (Saturday). This offer should be available to everyone at the casino kiosks. But if it is not, go to the players club and have the bonus points added manually.

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I hope this is the last time I have to talk about Station coupons, at least until July is gone. This gets pretty boring to a lot of readers, especially those who want details that you can depend on or they are not interested. 

Well, people who want dependable details might not want to make special trips to use these coupons. By the number of private e-mails I have received, player experiences have been all over the board. Some have been able to use the matchplay coupons every day; some have been refused at certain Station casinos. Your experience with the coupons might differ depending on what shift you use them or what pit boss makes the decision. Or, it might make a difference if you have the original coupon from the magazine or an online printed copy. 

I was told I could use the 5x points coupon just one time per month; someone else has been able to use one several times, in the same casino. Some have been able to use that coupon in two different casinos on the same day. 

So YMMV – your mileage may vary – is the final warning! 

One piece of news you might not have heard, and it is verified. There is 6x points at Palace Station this Friday, the 25th, for everyone, locals and out-of- towners. I don't know, however, if some machines are excluded. Better check at the club before you start playing. 

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Someone just commented that Green Valley Ranch is not accepting coupons printed off the Internet.   (See July 13 blog entry for details) There is the possibility that just today management finally addressed this issue and has just put out instructions to their employees that only original coupons from the magazine will be accepted. 

However, last night they were still honoring the online coupons - although I had to explain to a pit boss where I got them. What amazes me so often is how casinos will run a promotion but won’t inform employees about it! Station Casinos has put this nice glossy magazine in newspapers all over the city both in June and July, probably being read by hundreds of thousands present and potential Station customers – and here is a pit boss – a pit boss – not a salad maker back in a restaurant kitchen – but an important front line employee – and he not only hasn’t seen a copy of this magazine, but he hasn’t been given instructions on the details of the coupons that will be used in his area of authority. 

I try to keep a low profile when I am playing in a casino, even though many casino employees do recognize me from my TV gigs. But this pit boss was so puzzled that I felt sorry for him and gave him the complete explanation about these coupons, showing him a whole page I had printed out and kept in my purse - so he could see I wasn’t making all this up. I said I had used a printed coupon several times already and it had been okayed by other dealers and pit bosses that seemed to be very familiar with the promotion. 

After I used my coupon (and lost the $25, by the way) and started to leave, he stopped me and thanked me for explaining the promotion details – and then he and the dealer started discussing how valuable this coupon was and how much a person could make by going to every Station every day.   I was laughing with them and pointed out that you might use up more in gas than you made in coupon profit. But when I finally left, he and the dealer, as well as the players remaining at the table, were still discussing what a good coupon deal this was. 

I wonder if I should submit a bill to Station Casinos for employee training services!!!!

Anyway, I will probably be going back to Green Valley Ranch tonight (if my mouth is still numb after the root canal I am having this after noon so I won’t be feeling much pain) and I will try to use my online coupon. This will let me know if there is a new policy.    People who have had trouble in the past may have just hit an uninformed pit boss – and need to try at another game pit.  

Tune in here later for the latest.

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I guess I got a little hyper two days ago when I was talking about the good but frustrating Bounce Back Bonus promotion that the Stations is running at Green Valley Ranch and Palace Station. 

I try to never lose my cool with casinos. After all, I spend a lot of very enjoyable time in them and they provide Brad and me with enough comps to allow us to live a very luxurious life. So that wasn’t very nice to say that I was going to go out and try to beat them to death. In fact, that isn’t our style at all. I know casinos are not non-profit organizations – at least they don’t plan to be! I know they are companies that are trying to make a profit and I accept that. And Brad and I never entered the gambling arena with the goal of “making a fortune.” In fact, let me quote from the summary chapter of my first book, The Frugal Gambler. It is titled “Breaking Even is a Terrific Thing.” 

This was written when we still lived back in Indianapolis and were mainly just quarter VP players. People would ask us how we did when we returned from an extended stay in Vegas. Very often we would say that we broke even on the gambling and got all our expenses paid.  People would be disappointed that they wouldn’t hear a dramatic story that involved large sums of money changing hands. “Breaking even is about as undramatic as it gets,” I wrote. 

“But here’s how we figure it. At the end of the year, we’ll have spent up to five months in casino towns. If we stay free most nights, eat free once or twice a day, see a few free shows, play up to eight hours a day, and recoup what we do spend out of pocket, we’ve actually made money by breaking even. We haven’t had to spend any of our own money, so our ordinary income continues to go into the bank and pile up. Anything we don’t spend is the same as winnings.” 

Of course that was 1997 and many things have changed. We now live in Vegas. We play much higher than quarters and we don’t have the energy to play long hours any more. We have been lucky and won some big amounts at times, but our goal to “break even” really has never changed. We have never “beaten any casino to death.” Our biggest hit, ½ million in a Caesars tournament, didn’t hurt the casino – they were going to give that to one player anyway. 

So playing an hour or two at Green Valley Ranch or Palace Station on some days during this promotion is not going to be a death threat to their bottom line, by any stretch of the imagination.. We hope to grind out a small profit, of course, but if we only break even, we will still be happy gamblers. 

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