Bally's new beverage policy - 12/28/2020

We arrived at Bally's for a three-night stay, leaving on 12/31/2020. The cocktail servers (most of whom we know well) had to inform us there was a new policy regarding cocktails - No Top Shelf spirits for players on the casino floor. 

My biggest issue with this is that CET management made it the servers' and bartenders' responsibility to inform the customers. If the "suits" made this decision, then the "suits" should be the entity communicating their new policy to the customers. There are several ways for them to do this: Inform guests at check-in; put a letter in the check-in packet; send an email prior to arrival/check-in; drop a message in the CET app.

An epic fail in my opinion on CET part. I get that they are trying to survive the pandemic. But communication is important.

Sha-

I've always doubted floor drinks would actually be top shelf even if I called for one.   I mean, why would they?  At least at my level of play, which is not minnow but not whale either.   I've not played at Bally's, so maybe they've been better about giving top shelf all these years than some other joints.

I'm reasonably sure that management would not want to go on record about it, letter or otherwise.

Still, it isn't like we aren't paying for top shelf with our gambling.

Candy

Beancounters justifying their existance at the expense of visitors. 

Suits suck, it is the blue collar bartenders & cocktail servers that make Vegas cool not the suits, beancounters & owners, also include the crap table workers at 4 Queens & Fremont not the greedy ones that have $15 & up table mins. WOW that felt good to get that said. Love Las Vegas blue collar workers.

Not to hijack the topic but...

I would very much like to hear (anonymously, of course) from a Vegas cocktail server about how things really work in back of the bar. There's a casino we've been going to for years, and a couple of the cocktail servers recognize us and serve us even when we're standing around not playing. We tip them fairly generously (though they sometimes refuse to take the money) and give us premium liquor. 

They always tell us, "it's no big deal, I won't get in trouble". I just don't understand how that would work. Isn't the casino watching pennies these days? Do the servers really have that much latitude over who gets the good stuff? 

Would like to know anyone else's recent experiences at any of the Caesars properties.  

Caesars new owners have a reputation for being - how can I say it nicely - "thrifty".  With all of the cuts in the industry in general, now Caesars has an owner that is known for just being cheap.  There, I said it more plainly.

I'm just a beer drinker. I like "Higher end" beers, not Bud light.Corona, no lime is fine. German beer is my go-to, when I can get it.

That said, I couldn't tell the difference in top shelf liquer over well drink spirits on a bet!

Shots are a different story.

What about complex drinks to make? Mai Tai comes to mind. Lemon drops?Freddy fud pucker,sex on the beach and the list goes on.

I was at Harrahs over Christmas. No VIP check in , in fact it was all kiosks you couldn't even check in with a person unless you had a problem and that line was quite long.

I chatted with the bartenders and they also said limited top shelf. The new owners are just not ordering it. They often run out of things like Jack Daniels. When I was in Laughlin in October I was told the same thing.They are even limiting 7 stars to 4 comped drinks a day.

With no shows, no  dedicated  check in, no lounges I am having second thoughts about making Diamond next year. The benefits just aren't there.

Thanks siswst852 for the information.  Hope more LVA'ers will add their recent experience.  Tend to agree about benefits for levels.  For everyone's information the lounges in Council Bluffs are open but with limited seating and limited dining.  I'm wondering if the manager's of the individual properties have more to say about their locations and not just corporate.  Also, from discussions with various supervisors/managers, beverages are ordered based on a monthly budget and that can change what brands are available.