In addition to being posted on www.bobdancer.com, these weekly blogs are also posted on www.gamblingwithanedge.com, where there is a forum for reader discussion. Recently, a man who posts as “Boris from Switzerland” wrote (slightly edited): Change of subject: Why has Boyd stopped offering multipliers to everybody, and why did they clean out their casino floors by removing their 99.50% and higher games? This is something I don’t like at all.
While I’m not a big fan of Boyd and the gambling decisions they have made, Boris has misstated what they are actually doing.
First, at Boyd you must “qualify” to earn any slot club points — multiplied or not. And the basis for qualification is based somewhat in mystery. When you first get your card, you are “Ruby” level. To receive slot club points, you need to move up to their second tier, which is called “Sapphire.”
The definition of Sapphire, 750 tier credits – 14,999 tier credits per qualification period, seems straightforward enough. The “mystery” part of it is how much you must play in order to earn a TC. Loose video poker, of which there is precious little, earns TCs very slowly relative to coin-in. Tighter video poker and slots earn TCs much faster for the same coin-in.
Your TCs are not displayed on the reader while you are playing. Only your “session points” are, and only then if you are at least Sapphire. If you haven’t obtained the Sapphire level, the display shows that you are earning zero points for your play. Which you are, if you’re talking about slot club points (which are different than TCs). If you go to the kiosk, however, it will tell you how many TCs you’ve earned so far and how many you need to obtain the next tier level.
Once you’ve obtained Sapphire level, your session points are displayed on the card reader, and if you pull and re-insert your card, it will tell you how many TCs you have earned today. It’s cumbersome, but the information is available.
At Boyd properties, they have a Young at Heart (YAH) program which is for players 50 years and older who are Sapphire level or higher. At Las Vegas Boyd properties, Tuesdays are YAH days, and YAH members receive 10x slot club points and some Bingo free packs.
Some Boyd casinos offer additional 10x point days. Occasionally these multipliers are offered to everybody, of whatever age, whether they have reached Sapphire level or not. Each casino has a monthly calendar of events near the slot club booth which tells when such multiplier days are being played and who is eligible. Or you can ask at the booth and they’ll tell you.
Now for Boris, who lives in Switzerland and visits Vegas a few times a year for a week-or-so at a time, this is a distinction without a difference. He’s probably not going to be earning enough to be Sapphire level each year (especially without receiving multipliers and mailers along the way), so for him there are no multipliers ever. The fact that this upsets him is not surprising.
Insofar as loose video poker goes at Boyd properties, in addition to progressives which are positive some of the time, most of these casinos have a bank or two of machines marked “up to 99.8% return.” These can include such games as 9/5 Triple Bonus Plus, NSU Deuces Wild, and 9/6 Jacks or Better, along with several others. These are all single line games for 25¢, 50¢, $1, and maybe at a few of the casinos, $2.
Since Boris limits his gambling to loose video poker, these are the machines that will be most attractive to him. They will earn TCs at a very low rate, but they will earn them. Whether it’s possible to earn Sapphire by playing two solid days of $1 NSU on these machines, simply because I don’t know the conversion rate between slot club points on these machines and TCs.
Should Boris ever earn Sapphire, he’ll now receive 10x multipliers one day a week should he be at least 50 years old. For video poker, a 10x multiplier converts to a half-percent. He’ll retain his status until the next calendar year, but he’ll have to keep playing at that level to retain that status.
So, back to Boris’ original question which was, “Why does Boyd do this?” Not being a mind reader and having no inside information at all, I conclude that Boyd has made a conscious decision to market to locals and not out-of-towners. And locals who are at least 50-years-old get the best benefits. Presumably Boyd has calculated that specializing in just these players is the best decision for their bottom line.
Boris, however, isn’t in the preferred demographic. He’s old enough, I believe, but is only an occasional visitor to Las Vegas. So, it’s probably a smart decision on his part to avoid Boyd casinos. There are numerous other casinos in Las Vegas which will welcome his action without penalizing him for not living close by.
Well, for whatever reasons that Boyd has decided to decimate their slot club, it isn’t producing positive results. Every time I go to the Sun Coast, whether during the day or at night, weekday or weekend, all I ever see is a casino devoid of customers. The bean counters they now employ have ruined their slot club and locals are not supporting their stupidity. Another master stroke by the bean counters was shutting down the buffet, which was a huge local draw. The morons who hired these bean counters and who are making decisions for Boyd need to be fired.
First Ruby cardholders were cut out from earning comp credits. Then they stopped sending out offers to many of the prior customers. Now they removed the -40% at some of their restaurants. What’s going on here?
They’re pushing out all of their loyal customers.
I won’t be returning.
Hello Bob
You absolutely hit the point . It’s not easy for me to earn 1500 base points in order to reach at least Sapphire. I found a way to do as I play other games until I have these 1500 pts that are necessary. I also play some of these slots you mentioned in one of your recent column. This is the way to get to Sapphire level even if I can only visit 2x/year.
The fact that Boyd also eliminated the cashout option and instead leaves you the only chance to do so by loading your points up by converting them into freeplay is another loss of value. Not 100 per cent sure but I take it free play mode doesn’t earn me any points while I play it through,
The Gold Coast had a lot of NSuD games last time I was there. That single day a week when Boyd offers 10x half points (=0.50 per cent club ) is much worse than it used to be. Overpriced restaurants means the points earned are worth even less so the overall value has somewhat vaporized .
Without attractive games or at least good eateries (buffets) I don’t have much incentive anymore to put my money at risk there.
I once was a big fan of the Gold Coast snd Sams Town. Will they make it happen ever again?
From Switzerland
Boris
Question for Bob or anyone : Why did Mr. Gaughan sell his Coast Casinos to Boyd ? We all miss the good old days of the Orleans and the Gold Coast when even non APs could enjoy a fair gamble and great deals. If Boyd’s business is in fact down perhaps Mr. Gaughan could buy them back. Can you imagine having all of those places restored to what they used to be? Boris might visit more than twice a year ! Also : Thanks to Boris, I enjoy your comments.
In addition to that, I would like to remind you fine readers about Station Casinos’ new strategy:
– no more buffets
– no more good videopoker
– eateries are far from inexpensive
– their senior day is only valid to “invited locals” only . What do you have to do in order to be invited?
– some multiplier days were available at Green Valley Ranch or Santa Fe , again, “INVITED LOCALS ONLY”.
The trend is obvious but to me, in a highly competitive market such as Las Vegas, making not much sense. When I was visiting both places, I had the feeling that there are less patrons gambling like 5 years ago. Both times I was visiting in the peak time hours, between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. That’s when the casinos used to be packed on multiplier days. I think that this new strategy is back-firing a lot, because:
– not all patrons that are visiting during a multiplier day were playing loose videopoker machines back then, so even a 98 per cent game becomes a 98.50 per cent game at best, so that’s still a good game for the house.
– the atmosphere at both places (GVR and Santa Fe) while I was visiting was different from before. It looks like the employees know that something happened, but the commercial ads , posters, that you see everywhere are trying to tell you the contrary. The message was clear: The house has tightened up but the gamblers shall come and play anyways. Not all of them follow that message.
In a competitive market you can do that if you are controlling it. Fortunately, there are still alternatives.
From Switzerland
Boris
I talked “live” with a lady slot manager a few years ago, and she explained the new system (as it was at that time), including telling me how much money I had to put through the machines be able to be anywhere worthwhile in their new system, and I believe that the amount of play was $750,000. That is absolutely ridiculous. Some of us would have to stay & play in downtown LV, and the Fremont’s machines are mostly old & slow, so it would take forever to get $750K through the machines, especially if you aren’t rich and have to play at the 25-cent level. I think they just don’t care about “the little guy” player and want as high a percentage of their players as possible to be rich ones. The 4 Queens right across the street offers so much more bang for your buck, and their machines are newer and thus faster. To play at the Fremont instead of the 4 Queens is financially foolish.
I have ceased playing at both Boyd and Station properties. I play where my play is wanted and rewarded and that’s definitely not Boyd or Stations.
When Boyd revamped their system in 2018, various online sources reported that their video poker points were assigned at the rate of one tier credit per $50 coin-in, divided by the “perfect play” house advantage at each game. So for example playing Airport Deuces (theoretical return 98.915%; house advantage 1.085%), it would be $50/1.085, or $46.08 per tier credit. For Deuces Wild Bonus 25-13-4-3 (house advantage 1.197%), it would be $41.67 per tier credit. In December 2018 I did a limited clocking experiment with these two games at Orleans, and found this to be correct.
I’ll skip the calculations; but the expected loss per tier credit was constant across all Boyd video poker games. Calculated coin-in to reach Sapphire from scratch was approximately $34,500 and $31,400 on these games respectively, and the expected loss with “perfect play” was $375 for each.
At that time, Orleans had some quarter 5x DW pNSU games near the Blackjack pits and the Alligator Bar. On these machines, it would take about 5200 hands at $6.75 each to reach Sapphire. Playing the $.50 NSU games at Gold Coast, it would take more coin-in; but the expected loss would be the same: $375.
Then there were complicated “carry-over rules.” At first all tier credits expired at the end of the year; but this was soon changed to allow some minimal amounts to carry over for each rewards level. They also had special promotions and rewards for earning tier credits late in the year, or folks would just have waited and started over again in January.
And looming over it all in the fine print was the possibility that they would just 86 you if, in their sole and absolute discretion, they deemed you a loathsome, bottom-feeding “Advantage Player,” under the infamous “Rule #8.”
Despite all this, through 2019 and into early 2020 it was possible to maintain Sapphire status and get comped at Boyd with some dining credits, for a relatively small expected loss; plus they had free parking, an excellent poker room, and three-to-two Blackjack if you looked for it.
Then came the pandemic. All my points and tier credits evaporated in the shutdown, and they did not offer any extensions. To rebuild it all would have taken several trips paying full prices for everything, and I decided not to go that route.
My last Las Vegas visit was July 2020. According to several blogs the place is are doing very well these days with gaming income at or near an all-time high, so they probably don’t miss me. And the feeling is mutual.
If I were to start all over again, it would probably be at South Point, just on principle.
So what is the best company/casino to play and stay at. I am a better than average player at VP. Do not think I would br looked at as an advantage player. What place to go play, and stay? I am a Diamond Elite at Caesars. My wife and I are pretty tired of how tight Caesars has become. I like playing at the Orleans, and the VP seems to be much better than the strip. I feel I do better there. Based upon the comments, I guess Orleans is just as bad. Where to go to make my gambling get the best bang for the buck. It has become much cheaper to just pay for the rooms and food, then try to play for comps and tier rating. Obviously, I do this for fun, try to win, but have no delusions that I can be an advantage player.
Lucky
I recommend you to analyze the VPfree2 website. There you find a nice rundown of casinos with their best machines available. Not so sure how accurate the information is that you can get. I take it it’s 90 per cent up-to-date.
As for me, I have given up long time ago the idea to make huge profits playing videopoker or any other slot machine. I noticed that if you are willing to spend a little bit then the casinos give you something back. Quid pro quo. That’s my philosophy. As a European, I am not used to the way people like Americans throw around their money tipping each and everybody. Still I learned that it helps a lot if you’re nice to the people you like and the people that are doing you a favor. I learned for instance that longterm relationships are very important and taking care of such people is always something that helps. When I go on a Vegas vacation I treat it like a vacation to any other place in the world. Once this is said, I think that spending 5000 dollars during a nice 3 weeks’ vacation in Vegas is just as fun as staying somewhere in a beach resort where you feel bored after Day 3. So, if the casinos comp my meals and my room and I spend some money playing the machines that’s perfectly fine with me. I go by the overall result. If I can spend a 3 weeks’ vacation and lose less than 5000 then it’s ok with me as going to a 3 weeks’ vacation anywhere else would cost me just as much.
Each one has his/her own strategy. I don’t route for the big jackpot as that’s a longshot anyways. I think however that if you go to a casino and know that if you lose 500 or 1000 or whatever and in return they give you free rooms and free food, then that’s perfectly ok for me. Whenever I go and stay at the El Cortez , for instance, I stay there and I play there. I actually WANT to lose a certain amount which is in the same range as booking the room and paying for it in full but not gamgling at all. I think that’s fair for both sides and what exactly the casinos want. I don’t lose much and they don’t win much, but I still get a great time in return for gambling at the venue where I am staying. I don’t need to make a living playing any sort of game but of course I like to win. If I lose, what the heck, it’s not the end of all days. I will still keep returning to Las Vegas, but I will still know where to play and where to stay. Feel free to contact me at bradtke2222 at g mail dot com for additionals informations. always great to make new friends with similar interests.
From Switzerland
Boris
David Sabo, from what I saw, Station’s and Boyd’s poor management strategy is backfiring! People love and play at other places. Only suckers stay loyal without realizing that they’re the fools. I am sure that sooner or later either Boyd or Station will blink and get back to how it used to be…
From Switzerland
Boris
I appreciate Boris’ frustration with Boyd (and I’ll throw Stations aka Red Rock in as well). There was a time when I could spend 2 or 3 nights at the Cal and never step outside. Everything I wanted was there or at the connected Main St. Station; great video poker, a comfortable room, and good food options. Sometimes I won and sometimes I lost but I always appreciated the value I was getting for my time and play. Now, I don’t even consider stepping onto a Boyd or Stations property. I understand their choice to make the local player their target customer demographic. But their players clubs are designed to only reward locals. According to the 2021 Las Vegas Visitor Profile, over 25% of Las Vegas visitors come from Southern California. Over 50% of visitors arrive by car. We’re not treated like locals although we might visit as many as 4 to 6 times a year. For us, playing at Boyd or Stations makes little sense.
During the pandemic (when the casinos were open), visitors from SoCal and other nearby states helped to keep Las Vegas alive. The number of visitors making that drive up the I-15 to Nevada actually increased. Now to be fair, California CoVid restrictions drove many to head north so they could enjoy activities like getting their nails done, enjoying a round of golf or having their hair cut. But just getting away from home was a powerful incentive. That customer base has tremendous value in Las Vegas but apparently not to Boyd or Stations.
To me, not rewarding play at a players club base level is the equivalent of adding the triple zero in roulette. The casino is saying, “I don’t respect you but if you’re dumb enough to walk in the door, I’ll be happy to take your money”. Why would you patronize Boyd or Stations properties when there are others willing to give more value to your visit?
I fully agree with Patrick. After 15+ years, Boyd and their moronic bean counter management team have lost me as a patron. I will only set foot in a Boyd’s property to use my points for food.
I earn enough tier credits playing blackjack at my semi-local Boyd-owned casino in Pennsylvania to maintain Sapphire. I did play some 9/6 JOB at Gold Coast in December but it takes $2,000 in coin in to earn $1 in comps OR cash. And now that they have gotten rid of the 40% restaurant discount, it really isn’t worth much at all. They have 9/6 JOB at the Four Queens and it only takes $320 to earn $1 in cash PLUS $2 in comps.
Mr Island
Let’s add another frustrating bonus fact to the 40 per cent restaurant discount cancellation: no more cashback for your points effective Jan 1. What’s this all about anyways?
From Switzerland
Boris
Meanwhile Boyd Gaming is making profits and is being rewarded by Wall Street. However I believe their business model is not sustainable.
Sounds to me as if they are modelling themselves after strip casinos. Very poor VP, very poor coin-in per point. Looking to make profits from non-gaming revenue sources? I heard the new food court at the Fremont is crazy expansive.
I haven’t received any mail or ‘offers’ from Boyd beyond an email that said check out your offers, not anything specific like it used to say. I was surprised to see I could get 5 nights Sunday – Thursday at STown, that’s more than they used to offer and I haven’t been there for a few years. I didn’t check any other properties because we won’t likely be going to LV with the prices we are seeing for food and entertainment. We can gamble in Colorado and get most all the games, some with better paytables.
RAA,
I have received the same from Sam’s Town. I played maybe 45 minutes of FPDW on my August trip last year.
I’m getting the same from Gold Coast and Orleans and it’s been a decade since I’ve been in the Orleans. If they’re willing to comp me rooms for playing 100%+ video poker, then I’m going to take them up on it.