Point differential for VP vs slots

Someone told me that at the El Cortez it's posted that Points on 

 your players card are different between VP machines with better pay tables and orhers. Also, the biggest point harvest comes from slot play. Is it so transparent that points are just a function of how bad the pay out odds are

That is something that the "locals'" casinos started many years ago, and Stations, which now owns EC was a pioneer in that point-slashing.

You can meander down to the Four Queens and earn the same points on all machines and redeem those points for comps and free play at a MUCH higher rate than Stations/EC. 4Q has good VP and you earn almost 1 percent in comps and free play.

The El Cortez used to be the best joint downtown but now, frankly, it's shit.

  The El Cortez used to be one of my favorite casinos - not any more. They have removed most of the playable video poker, relocated and/or removed most of the good coin droppers and replaced them with the brainless to play new games that suit the new generation of Vegas donators/visitors. Room comps have disappeared. Siegal's cafe is way overpriced, except for the prime rib special. The only other redemming gambling there is BlackJack. The bean counters have ruined another Vegas casino. One perk there is the airline boarding pass redemption which is good for (usually) $10 free play (or a $10 food voucher) and a $25 matchplay. If you book a room, there is a refrgerator in the room and you can request a Keurig coffee maker (no charge) which comes with coffee pods.

Kevin: I think EC remains independent, though Stations does operate their sports book. If you know otherwise, tell me.

I believe you're right--Kenny Epstein is the current owner. At some point--probably the same time the sports book was Stationized--there was some rumbling over "merging" the EC with Stations. I kind of lost interest in the place around then because everything pretty much went to hell as far as VP and their players' club were concerned. (They stuck with their good BJ games for a while, but I had no interest in playing in a joint where doubling your bet got you a frowny face and tripling it could get you thrown out.)

This was a period, if memory serves, when Stations had developed a huge appetite for other casinos, and ate many others all over the Vegas valley. We even developed the term "Stationization" for the phenomenon of a good locals' casino being eaten by them and turned into just another bad joke ripoff joint. I guess Epstein managed to ruin it all by himself.

Yeah - I think the lesser schedules offer points at half the  rate as slots (used to be the same rate).  Thats not the worst thing ever.  If you  play a 7/5 BP game -  and you play on a day with a point multiplier...it can work out nice.     Especially since they have the little wheel spin at the kiosk after 1000 points each day 

The 8/5 game will give you a higher percentage of payback  directly..but then you get the crappy comps. 

So - sometimes playing the lesser schedule can give you a higher payback there.     

That's pretty much true everywhere that points on decent VP get slashed and a promo depends on point accumulation. On JOB-based games like Bonus Poker, it's pretty easy to calculate what playing at the inferior schedules costs you. A one-unit drop on the value of the full house or the flush--by far the most common type of short-pay--costs you 1.1%. So, 7/5 Bonus will return just over 98%--ecch. Any promo would have to be pretty good to overcome that.

Of ccourse, if there are extras, like that wheel spin, you have to guesstimate what they're worth. I use a very rough calculation of (1.5) x (the worst prize). I remember when Stations had a long-standing promo where you played some relatively small amount--something like $500 coin-in--and you got a virtual wheel spin. The prize I got was 1,500 points ($1.50 in comps). Every single time.

But now, of course, you could play $100,000 at Stations and you'd be lucky if you got a kick in the nuts. (TWO kicks in the nuts for Platinum and higher.)

100 per cent with you, Kevin. It's sad, but the fact. I used to visit the EC for over 20 years. The staff has always been nice to me. I remember when they had 2 downtown deuces games and vp point multipliers. The hole coin dropper section was full with people that enjoyed their time there. this was back then. Today it's different.

The Siegel's Café is highway charged. The breakfast is now 20 dollars and up, plus the tip. They say..."inflation, post covid, bla bla bla". I feel sad when I think back not even 5 years and how much fun we had there.  And today, when you walk through the casino at nights, you probably see more homeless and other dangerous subjects gathering around. I really liked the place and the management has always been nice to me, and generous on the room comps. I just can't understand what made them become so different.  I don't want to lie to them, but I will go and play elsewhere when visiting Vegas. The good times at the EC are definetely over, and all these super modern video reels just don't blend in that legendary casino. They forgot about that completely.

I was at Four Queens last month, and the 50 play / 100 play Bonus Deuces Wild  machines (98.80%) were $20 per point. Same for 9/5 JoB on the same machines.