This example is specific to my location and circumstance, but the idea is most likely applicable to a lot of situations.
I’m in the Detroit area and play at Motor City Casino (MCC). The video poker is the 98.5%–99.0% variety. Between free play, comps, and mailers it’s an OK recreational play. One big perk is Signature status, which gets you and a guest into their Signature lounge. I would pay $75 a person for the meal there. The food is that good.
Now, to get Signature status, you need to earn 15,000 Signature points in six months. For video poker, $5.60 coin in gets you 1 point, $3.35 on slots. You need 90 regular points for 1 Signature point.
So in six months, you need to play $1,350,000 through on 99% video poker. The cost would be $13,500. The food is very good, but not worth $2,400 a month. There is 0.18% in free play and 0.112% in comps. That gets the cost down to about $10,500 (cashing in the comps for free play). That’s still too much to pay.
But recently, MCC started making comps redeemable at 1-1 for free play (formerly 3-1). Now, if I play the best VP game at 99.0% and add in 0.18% for base free play and 0.112% for comps converted to FP, we’re at about 99.29%. Add 0.05% for mailers and we’re up to 99.34%. But a 0.66% loss is still too much to give up on $1.35 million.
Another promo MCC runs pretty frequently is on Saturdays, if you earn $10 or more in comps, you get the same amount in free play. Comps for VP are 0.112%, so you need to run about $9,000 through on video poker. Slot comps are 10 times that, so finding some advantage slots is the much better play. That makes the VP free-play return up to about 0.4%.
Getting there, but still not enough.
Enter online play. If you play on FanDuel Detroit, you earn Signature points and comps at the same rate as live play. The best game is NSUD at 99.72%. Add the cash value of the comps (0.11%) and we’re at 99.83%. At level 4 on Fan Duel, you get a 15% loss rebate weekly up to $35. That adds about $50 a month (estimated). Now we’re getting close.
FanDuel also gives about $300 a month in bonuses.
Let’s add it all up:
For $1,350,000 coin in over 6 months on Fan Duel
Base game loss = -$3,780
Converted FP = $1,497
Fan Duel bonuses = $1,800
Loss rebate = $300
I’m down to a cost of $183. Playing at that level on FanDuel gets me to their VIP level. The loss rebate increases to 25% to $125 per week. Also, as a Signature member, the secret code bonus at MCC (twice a week on average) increases from $5 to $20. I’m sure there will be some other perks as well. I expect the Fan Duel bonuses to increase. I expect the Motor City mailers to increase.
What was once too expensive a proposition to attain Signature status via live casino becomes viable using their online casino partner.
A lot of conditions must line up for this to work. Even if you aren’t a typical online player, it’s worth checking out. Throw in the new-player sign-up bonuses and the convenience of getting in action whenever you feel like it and it might just be enough to gain status at your local casino.
I will report out how good the Fan Duel VIP program is as I gather more info. This will be the real test to see if this online play is worth it or not.
Also see my Las Vegas Savings Tips page for more ideas.