Playing High to Reach Another Tier

I had a nice windfall this year. My wife and I and some relatives just went to Vegas. We had a great time. I was playing higher (VP, primarily $2 9/6 DDB) than I usually do, having decided to put some of my extra money at risk. I lost, but don't mind. I could have won. Approaching "President" level at Stations, I made an extra push and got there. Not sure there's a whole lot more advantage, since the main boost seems to be better parking, and I don't live in Vegas. But it feels good to be a president and have a black card. Now I'm tempted to try to get up to "Diamond" at CER. What do people think of playing extra to get to these higher levels?

We do it on occasion but only if we can handle a really long losing streak at the higher level. We hope for the best, but are ready for the worst.

You are playing right into the casinos' mind game, for that heady feeling of earning the next tier, the diamond card, whatever. Are the perks worth the cost?

I suggest you stay right where you are. Once you are at the top of the food chain, you'll see those who are below you getting the same (sometimes better) offers because the company doesn't have to work so hard to win your love.

Just my humble opinion, having done all that!

Actually, I'm into my 3rd President cycle and its a good deal. Although the offers are only slightly better, they treat you very well in the VIP center (often getting a suite), you get head of the line priv at the buffet and 50% off (and you get the parking perk). My host at the RR keeps me informed of whats coming up and comps meals often. My biggest complaint is the 6 month time period as I usually hit vegas quarterly...but so far hitting 50K plus each trip has not been a problem (I sure miss the carry-over as I'm already over 70K for this period and I still have the Oct trip coming up).
Of course the Emerald at Boyd is better...same perks and more casinos outside of Vegas (I like Tunica & Biloxi). The Gold card at Sams is very nice (although we get tired of the steak house).

I rank them as follows:

1. Gold Card at Sam's Town; this is not a tier level, but comes in monthly invitation
Also, special dinner or show invitations, such as Beatles Love and Cirque MJ

How to get it: Don't make full pay your main play.

Distant 2nd, 3rd, 4th:

2. (tie) Senior day at Stations, for 1/2 point dining all day, and sometimes a (rare) point multiplier
2. (tie) President or Chairman at Stations, for 1/2 point buffets any time and special buffet line

3. Diamond at HET/CET, for the diamond lounge and some free shows. Otherwise, Platinum is ok for lines and check-in. You can be diamond at CET and get terrible offers (Don't know why. That is the mystery of CET).

4. Emerald at Boyd, for higher (comp, not tier) point-earning multiplier, and front of the line at buffet and club. Tier level is on a rolling schedule, not 6 months or year, so if you drop below you can catch up and get it back if you drop through.

- bcc

I would say that the question that people need to ask and answer for themselves is whether the value of the additional perks that are connected to getting to the next tier level are worth the money (as well as the risk) that they have to play through the machine(s) to get there?

RecVPPlayer

The trouble with President is that no sooner do you make it for this 6 months, then you have to do it again for the next 6 months. Only if you visit several times a year, play at that level all of the time anyway, and eat lots of buffets, is it worth it.

I love being Diamond at Harrah's, but the expense of getting there is not worth what you get in return, other than feeling good about it. A lot of it is intangible, such as being greeted by name when you arrive, handshake, pat on the back, etc.

- bcc

I guess I don't understand the mindset of playing (and risking) more just to get more comps. Sure you might win but as we all know the odds are against you. In the "old days" when you had to ask for comps when playing table games I'd see players staying at a table much longer than they should because they were hoping to be offered a coffee shop or buffet comp. Crazy stuff. But it's the allure of getting something "free".

Well said. That free stuff is really expensive.

The most affordable way to enjoy a trip to Vegas is to pay for it. In this computer age, I just don't think much of what Max Rubin wrote about in Comp City back in the day applies very well anymore, the casinos just know so much about our tendency to lose now.

I think you may be right. I had a great run with the Max Rubin book, for many years. I have decided to keep playing high this year (as I said, I got a nice windfall), and then, beginning in January, just play whatever I feel like playing and letting the comps fall where they may. That is what I do at the Cosmo, a place that I dearly love, primarily for the restaurants and the spectacular high-limit bar, with its amazing servers. Granted, they are $5 machines, but they are also 9-6 JoB, and I probably put less than $5,000 through them a day, but still get free-room offers every month. Though the Comp City scene seems dead, and I have pretty much given up table games, I am still surprised at how many offers I get. I haven't played craps for years. I really used to love it as part of my total gambling fun, but because of the Comp Wizard plays available at blackjack, I gave it up. Then, I turned almost exclusively to VP. I'm going to mix it up much more again in 2014 and pay for things if I have to.