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Let’s Go on a Fremont Street Coupon Run! Part 2

Book the Super Bowl NOW

My last post was Part 1 to the coupon run. All the information in this post is as of late November.

There are more opportunities than I can cover in this post. Please read the expanded version on my website.

Again, I highly recommend www.VPFree2.com for finding the location of the best video poker at each casino.

I also strongly encourage you to run through your free play first. Play 9/6 Jacks or Better, cash out (EV $9.95/typical $9.75), then use that money to partially fund your matchplay.

Okay, here we go!

Plaza
Signup bonuses: $5-$50 free play, $10 matchplay
MRB coupons: $10 free play, $25 matchplay
The Plaza has good VP, single-zero roulette. and 3-2 BJ, a $10 slot tournament with a $750 first prize (Wed., Thurs., Fri. at 10 a.m., noon, and 2 and 4 p.m., up to 4 entries).

Golden Gate
MRB: $25 matchplay (and 2-1 on blackjacks)
Signup bonus

Circa
Circa is cool, but very loud, and the games aren’t great. If you haven’t, check out the amazing sports book and come back late to use the MRB coupon up at the Legacy Club.

Binion’s
The million-dollar display is back; get your free photo in front of the display, and a free spin for coupons at the door.
MRB: 2-for-1 at Binion’s Café or 25% off at Top of Binion’s Steakhouse

Golden Nugget

Though the GN is cool and has a great pool, the gambling is crummy (triple-zero roulette, for one). The signup bonus awards between $5 and $1,000 in free play.

Four Queens
Four stars: Gives Good Gamble
My second favorite downtown casino — cool, old school, great comps and cashback.
MRB: $10 free play and 2-for-1 at Magnolia’s coffee shop
Excellent video poker (100.17% DB, 9/6 JOB)
Earn 500 points and get $30 free play and $30 comps.
VIP Note: This is a positive EV play using 9/6 JOB or DDB (details at www.BobbyVegas.com).

Downtown Grand
Five stars: Gives Good Gamble
Signup: $10 free play, $50 matchplay
MRB $5-$50 and $50 matchplays; $25 off $100 bill at Triple George
American Casino Guide $50 matchplay (you can use only one or two matchplays per day)
Hotel check-in: $50 matchplay
VP Progressive at Furnace Bar: positive EV at $1,944 (4-of-a-kind lowers it more)
Tournaments: Tues. and Wed. slots; Thursday blackjack and video poker

Bar: Joe’s special $3.50 Evan Williams Bourbon and Pabst Blue Ribbon; $2 dogs
Food specials: prime rib at Freedom Beat ($15 with 25 points earned, $50 coin-in on VP); lunch special at Triple George or MRB dinner coupon; Pizza Rock is excellent.

Fremont
Craps specials
Lanai Express: $2 shrimp cocktail

The D
MRB: $25 matchplay; 2-for-1 Coney dog

El Cortez
Signup: $10-$100 free play, matchplays, etc.
MRB: 2-for-1 at Siegel’s (or Super Siegels Wed. senior 50% off)
The good video poker is gone, but if you like coins, play the real coin-in machines in the front and the back room behind Siegels

So? How did you do on your coupon run? Best monthly win gets a free Bobby Vegas T-shirt! Email me [email protected].

Now head back to Circa for free Champagne for two at the Legacy Club and to see 1,000 ounces of gold and a killer 60th-floor rooftop view.

Thanks for playing.

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KNOW WHEN TO DOUBLE DOWN AT THE BLACKJACK TABLE

This post is syndicated by the Las Vegas Advisor for the 888 casino group. Anthony Curtis comments on the 888 article introduced and linked to on this page.

AC Says:

The title of this article doesn’t quite explain its contents. While it is about proper strategy for doubling down, it addresses only soft doubling, which refers to hands that contain an ace. These tend to be misplayed the most. Author John Grochowski properly makes the point that you double hands only when doing so increases your expected return. He provides the numbers to back it up, and it’s interesting to see how the magnitude of the difference in plays fluctuates, but all you really need to know is that doubling according to basic strategy will improve your results over time. If basic strategy says double down, then double down.

This article was written by John Grochowski in association with 888Casino.

Knowing when to double down is a key part of any blackjack player’s game. Permitting doubles is one way the house reduces the edge it gets from players having to risk busting first.

Most players who put a little time into learning basic blackjack strategy pick up on when to double hard hands fairly quickly…

Click to continue reading…

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Profile in cowardice; Mega-Jottings

All too predictably, lawmakers in New Jersey slunk away from their previous commitment to close the smoking loophole that solely benefits Atlantic City casinos. State Sen. Joseph Vitale (D) claimed to be one vote short of advancing the bill out of committee. Colleague Fred Madden (D) took the coward’s way out, saying he was open to a bullshit “compromise” advanced by the Casino Association of New Jersey, no friend of the working stiff. The CANJ alternative would amend the bill currently before solons to allow an 18-month continuation of wide-open smoking. During that period of sanctioned secondhand smoke, operators would have the option of enhancing their HVAC systems (an ineffecutal remedy) and creating enclosed smoking areas—with games and sponsored by tobacco companies. Hack casino executive and CANJ boss Mark Giannantonio‘s group claims—not very credibly—that no employee would be compelled to work in a smoking area. And if everyone refuses? What then? Those questions went begging.

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Rooms for NYE

Rooms for NYE

This year’s rate check was conducted on Nov. 29 and turned up 90 casinos that have rooms available for New Year’s Eve, compared to 79 last year. The number of nights is the minimum required stay; the dollar amount is the total cost; resort fees aren’t included. 

1 night: Buffalo Bill’s $110, Longhorn $188, Arizona Charlie’s Boulder $200, South Point $215, Silverton $223, Suncoast $224, Westin Lake Las Vegas $227, Arizona Charlie’s Decatur $229, Silver Sevens $239, Aliante $242, Palace Station $243, Gold Coast $248, Sunset Station $249, Sam’s Town $249, Skyline $255, Serene $256, Boulder Station $269, El Cortez $269, Gold Spike $269, Santa Fe Station $279, Binion’s $279, Hilton Lake Las Vegas $290, Downtown Grand $293, Orleans $298, Cannery $299, the D $299, Lexi $300, Rio $319, Fremont $320, Tuscany $320, OYO $323, Main Street Station $325, Four Queens $329, California $330, English $339, Circus Circus $368, Tropicana $379, Strat $399, Ellis Island $415, JW Marriott $441, Circa $459, Westin Las Vegas $484, Westgate $420, Sahara $445, Green Valley Ranch $499, Red Rock $499, Planet Hollywood $799, Four Seasons $970, Caesars Palace $1,011.

2 nights: Plaza $303, Railroad Pass $342, Palms Place $588, Casino Royale $640, Excalibur $665, TI $679, Luxor $707, Golden Nugget $708, Harrah’s $718, Horseshoe $718, LINQ $718, Flamingo $758, NY-NY $798, Mandalay Bay $807, Park MGM $808, Platinum $858, Palms $868, Mirage $868, MGM Grand $893, Cosmopolitan $898, Delano $958, Cromwell $1,058, Trump $1,086, Vdara $1,098, Resorts World $1,132, M Resort $1,198, Aria $1,238, Durango $1,298, Bellagio $1,348, Nobu $1,548, Palazzo $1,598.25, Venetian $1,598.25, Waldorf $1,651.30.

3 nights: Hotel Jefe $450, Virgin $874, MGM Signature $1,052, Elara $1,270, NoMad $1,627, Encore $1,697, Wynn $1,697, Paris $1,797.

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Locals lift Vegas; Tex Adelson’s ghost rides again

Formula One numbers will have to wait. The data of the day is Nevada‘s casino performance in October. It was good for the Las Vegas Strip, up 1%, but even better at the locals casinos, which rose 6% from 2022. Slot play on the Strip was fairly stagnant, with both win ($406 million) and coin-in down 1%. Table games sagged 6% to $219 million, driven by 12% less wagering. Baccarat, however, came to the rescue with $90 million won (+43%) as players wagered $589 million (+20%). Slots were tighter off the Strip, with 1.5% less coin-in still translated to win of $212 million (+5.5%). Table revenue was but $49 million, which represented a 7% increase. Statewide, casinos took in $1.3 billion, a 3% improvement.

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Show Holiday Dark Days

Show Holiday Dark Days

Many shows are on hiatus this month. Following is a list of dark days (no performances) for the major productions. All dates are in December and most shows are dark Dec. 31.

Alexis Park: Flashback 21, 30; King of Diamonds 21, 24, 27-29; Wonderland All except 2, 23, 25

Bellagio: O 25

Excalibur: Australian Bee Gees Show 22, 23, 29, 30; Spice Wannabe 19, 26; Thunder from Down Under 24, 25

Flamingo: Piff the Magic Dragon 19, 20; RuPaul’s Drag Race Live 25; X Burlesque 24

Four Queens: Mike Hammer Comedy Magic Show 16-25

Harrah’s: Donny Osmond All of Dec;  Hyprov 12-25; Menopause the Musical 16- 25 & 31; X Country 31

LINQ: “Jimmy Kimmel’s Comedy Club” 21

Luxor: America’s Got Talent Live 1-19, 25; Carrot Top 18-25

Mandalay Bay: Michael Jackson ONE 11

MGM: “Brad Garrett’s Comedy Club” 24, 25; David Copperfield 7-16; Jabbawockeez 5, 9, 12; KA 13; Tape Face 7-15, 18-21

Miracle Mile Shops: The Mentalist Live 2, 3, 5, 9, 26

Mirage: Beatles Love 19, Jan. 1-10; “Center Stage Comedy” 22-23, 29-30; Shin Lim 5-20, 27

NY-NY: Mad Apple 19; Terry Fator 3, 8, 12-18, 25

Orleans: Adam London Laughternoon 24; Marriage Can Be Murder 11, 24; Late Night Magic 11, 25

Planet Hollywood: Criss Angel MINDFREAK Live 6-14, 24

Rio: Penn & Teller 4-22; WOW 17-18

Sahara: Magic Mike Live 24, Jan 1-7

The STRAT: Banachek’s Mind Games 3-4, 17-18, 25; Rouge 19

Tropicana: “Laugh Factory” 25; MJ Live 25; Murray the Magician 25; Rich Little 25

Tuscany: Haunted Vegas Ghost Hunt 9, 20; Jew Man Group 30; Rat Pack is Back 30; Vegas Mob Tour 10, 24, 25

Westgate: Comedy Cabaret 1-30; Soul of Motown 7-16, 24; The Magic of Jen Kramer 1-16, 24-30.

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Rosati’s Pizza

Rosati’s Pub

For several years, we’ve had an MRB offer for $25 off at Rosati’s Pizza. It’s an excellent deal, but not one we sought out. Rather, it was brought to us by Rosati’s owner, a long-time LVA member. Though grateful, over all this time, we never went out to try the place, for two reasons. First is the location—Rosati’s Pizza Centennial Hills is located at 8001 N. Durango Drive, which is quite a ways from the Strip. Second is we keep hearing good reports from those who’ve tried it, so we didn’t feel the need to check it out. This month we did.

Rosati’s is another good pizza joint with Chicago roots. The pizzas are round, but the slices are cut in squares. There’s a choice of crusts—crispy thin, double dough, and Chicago-style—but what really stands out are the toppings, with a big selection of meats (pepperoni, sausage, Italian beef, Canadian bacon, meatballs) and fresh veggies. Large specialty pies come in at about $30.

We can easily recommend this pizza, but we were even more impressed with some of the other items we sampled, including excellent hot wings ($10.95/6), breaded mushrooms ($9.95), and a meatball parmigiana sandwich ($13.55) that’s one of the best we’ve had in town. There are lots of seats and an outdoor patio. The kitchen is open10 am to midnight. This is a terrific play with the MRB deal.

There are nearly 200 Rosati’s restaurants in the U.S., but as you’d expect, the Las Vegas version figures to be a bit different. Along with being a good place to eat, Rosati’s Pizza Centennial is also a 24-hour bar. And a good one. The TVs are all tuned to sports and there are specials on food and drinks during football and Vegas Golden Knights games (try a Petrifier if you dare). UFC PPV events are shown for free (call for a reservation).

Join the players club and get a play-$20-get-$10 sign-up bonus. The best game is 6/5 Bonus Poker (96.87%), but when we were there, every quad got a wheel spin. That’s something we haven’t seen before; it raises the return percentage above 98%. 

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Prepping for the Fabulous Fremont Coupon Run

Book the Super Bowl NOW

Scufflers, advantage couponers! Sharpen your … oh heck, no one uses pencils anymore. But now that it’s the end of the year, those coupons are expiring. So let use ’em! Never forget, a coupon is money in another form — until you cash it. Then it’s real money, your money, money in your pocket.

Why are coupons important? Time is money. And time is most often your enemy when gambling. Using coupons allows you to play on their dime as much as possible. That’s the why of a coupon run. It’s gaming the game, tilting the odds, squeezing as much good gamble out of your time as possible. And winning is much more fun than losing.

This will be a multi-part presentation consisting of the 6 P’s: Proper Planning Prevents Piss Poor Performance (actually, that’s a guiding principle for every great gaming trip) and eight tools:

  1. LVA’s Member Rewards Book (MRB)
  2. other coupons (ACG, etc.)
  3. www.VPfree2.com (very strong VIP tool)
  4. swag bag (like Zack G in Hangover, “It’s a satchel”)
  5. bankroll (cash no cards)
  6. Frugal Video Poker Scouting Guide by Jean Scott
  7. pocket notebook and pen
  8. good shoes

Then I’ll review exactly where to go and what to do and give you my personal Gives Good Gamble awards for best Fremont casino.

We can start from either end (the Plaza or El Cortez) of Fremont, though I prefer starting at the Plaza and you’ll see why.

First, a word about the MRB. For years, I tore out the Vegas coupon section of the American Casino Guide and grumble, as the MRB’s slim profile was so easy to slip in a pocket. Since the printed ACG book is no more, LVA’s MRB is our big play.

I’d also like to give a shoutout to www.WizardofOdds.com. Whenever I have a question about a game I can’t answer, particularly strategy, Michael Shackleford is king.

To prepare, always visit the casino websites at least two and preferably four weeks before you go on your trip. Sign up for a players card if allowed and to receive their newsletter. Also look for special events, slot and VP tournaments, and point promos for the dates of your stay. These are huge additions to your coupon run.

Stay tuned for the coupon run and Gives Good Gamble awards.

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Christmas on the Boardwalk

Our man on the Boardwalk stayed at Borgata last weekend and reports that the property is fully decorated for Christmas, juxtaposing Santa and slots. Golden Nugget is still getting started (way to go, guys) while Bally’s Atlantic City had “some small stuff” on view. That’s the holiday spirit. Not. Speaking of the last-place Nugget, it is requiring players to accumulate 200 tier credits before obtaining a December $25 gift card, which is a big outlay for players. Bally’s, by contrast, “will be offering $125 gift cards eight times, $150 one time, and $175 one time.” That’s mighty George of them.

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