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Prepping for the Fabulous Fremont Coupon Run

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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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Coupons at Golden Gate

I decided to use the coupons for Golden Gate in the Las Vegas Advisor Member Rewards booklet. There were three that were of interest to me — $25 match play (worth $12 or so); first blackjack pays 2-to-1, up to $25 (worth about the same); and playing $10,000 in coin-in within 24 hours on video poker gets you $100 in free play. (We’ll talk about how much that is worth.)

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Unrealistic Expectations

Many of you know that I participate in storytelling events. I’ve been regularly attending a workshop to improve my skills.

Recently, after we had all practiced our stories online for the day, Pete, the leader who lives on the East Coast, asked me if I would be willing to take him around and show him how to play were he to come to Vegas.

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