Plaza $5,000 Jackpot Winners Drawing 8/30

I've never participated in one of these, so I was wondering if someone had some feedback on it, perhaps Kevin?

If you won a jackpot you are eligible.

Must be present to win, $5,000 Cash Drawing

Drawings begin at 8pm and will continue each half hour until 11pm (i'm assuming including 11pm)

5 participants also drawn to receive a free cruise.

No other detail is given, so I am assuming they are giving away $5,000 total over 7 drawings, maybe even multiple people win per hour, unsure.  But I think that makes it $714.29 per 1/2 hour.  I can't imagine them drawing $5,000 each 1/2 hour so it must be the total prize pool but they don't specify.

I'm assuming the locals that play at the Plaza will swarm in.  It's also Labor Day Weekend, so higher traffic in general.  Of course many regulars will show up from around the country for this as well.  So do we figure 1000 people in each drawing?  300?  More?  What could the expected value in this drawing be?

Thanks in advance!

I only know one person who was present at the Plaza for something similar a few years ago, and he says the joint was packed (he didn't win).

The last time South Point had their $25000 "must hit" promo, I did a walkaround and tried to estimate the number of players as the limit approached. The place was, understandably, crowded--all the folks who had been sleeping behind the dumpsters waiting for the jackpot to climb were playing one nickel at a time, very slowly--and every machine was taken. I counted 1,200 people.

Now, the Plaza crowd might be bigger, because all you would need to do is stand there, not necessarily playing. So I think your 1,000 estimate might be on the low side (pretty big place). But how many of those would be eligible? They'd have to have won a jackpot, right? 

I don't see any way to estimate the number of players who would be present. However, I suspect that there will be seven $5K prizes, not one. If that was the case, add in the cruises, and the EV of being there would be about fifty clams.

Thanks, I appreciate the insight.  Yes, it's an invite/RSVP promo for those that have won a jackpot.  Fifty clams and a cruise, love the imagery.

How was the event?

Interesting.  I would estimate 30 people there.  You received 1 entry for each jackpot you had over the previous 2 years.  But, you could only win once, except for the final drawing for cruises where your tickets were put back in the hopper.  I'm guessing there were 50-80 tickets in the hopper total.  

Starting at 8pm, a $500 and a $250 dollar drawing occurred every half hour, except the last drawing at 11pm for $1,000.  Then 6 drawings for Carnival Cruises.  

A person had around 3 minutes to get their winnings.  There were a number of redraws due to being a previous winner, so some people had a bunch of tickets.  The only sketchy thing was we had to be present, but one guy was back at the table games and of course didn't hear his name called for $500, but his host ran over there and got him.  I thought that was super shitty.  

I had 2 tickets in the drawing, but managed to escape all winnings, but i noticed repeat winners with $ and a cruise.  One guy and his wife won two $ drawings and a cruise, maybe 2.  Helps to have more chances!

In all, far less people than i would have expected, the host move was irregular and annoying, but all around a decent event.   

Not at this event, but FWIW after seeing the same people win the big prizes, and the fawning over them by their Hosts and event personnel, the blatant familiarity with the winners, I decided some tournaments are rigged for the bigger players and not worth the trouble to me.  Probably my 'conspiracy theory' imagination, but it looked that way more than once at the same high end Strip property.

Candy 

Casinos aren't really looking to give gamblers reasons to stop gambling.

So a winner was present in the casino and had their name drawn? And you're mad they were awarded a prize you did not win?

Nothing sh**y about it, that's good casino management. I'm sure they'd rather lose your business than that gambler's business.

'Must be present' and '3 minutes to claim your prize' are a complete sham.  I'm just pointing out the obvious skew in the rules.  I'm not sure that would be called good casino management, it would probably be against some gaming regulation but a very gray area. 

What if he went off property and they deemed him a winner anyway?  Is that still 'good casino management' ?

I suspect the 3 minute limit to claim the prize is because they know that in the later hours many entrants would have already gone to bed.  In the usual structure they draw until somebody claims the prize of the moment.  Waiting longer/drawing over and over would take too long.

And the rule for "Must be present"...of course.  One winner out of hundreds every 15 minutes still gambling, still hoping.  They'd be nuts to let somebody register then head for home or for another casino and win the prizes.