Hard Rock downgrades

Video poker is now $2 coin-in to get 1 point. "Optimum" video poker is $4 coin-in per point. It used to be $1 coin-in to earn 1 point.

Good eye candy, though.

Wondering what they consider "optimum"? The best games now are/were 8/5 BP....wondering if these qualify as "optimum"?

It's too bad as this used to be a decent play. First the jacks went, then the mailers dropped by 65-70% and now this BS.

We're going on a cruise compliments of them during the first week of October. It might be fun having a few drinks and telling their resident marketing guru that perhaps he should have taken an accounting course in school. Increasing the hold with a corresponding significant decrease in drop will equal less revenue.

They'll of course have to complete a new renovation....make the high limit room another pool. They obviously don't want gamblers and this room is virtually empty (on the slot/vp side) so they might as well turn it into a place where they can make $40-60 pp cover and $35/drink.

Still have a BJ tournament to play there as well later this month. Cashing would be a fun parting shot.

We really like our host there as well.....it's all too bad.....

Dan

Dan: you may want to mention, as well, that I had been considering a first time visit, and players club sign up, for my next trip, but now I won't even bother. But then, maybe they'll make more $$ off of drunken frat boys ... if that's the image they want.

fredo

Fredo, these guys don't know how to run a casino. The rumor I heard is that they're make $1M on the weekends at the pool. They never get any big play in high limit on the slots/vp side so whatever little they were getting there will go away.

The most risk they have is from the drink hustlers....kids who strategically position themselves on a slot/vp machine as the cocktail waitress is making her round. They make it look like they're playing, order a drink and then just hang out until the drink arrives.

Can you imagine calling a 8/5 BP spin poker machine "optimum"? They dropped mailers to everyone I know by 70% and in some cases if you're a winner, no mail at all. Just so the marketing twits wouldn't have all the fun, the slot gurus decided to double (or more) the coin in per point. If their goal was to chase off vp players, they've accomplished it.

Here's the best part....on October 2nd they're hosting a week long cruise for up to 29 players and significant others. My guess is that between now and then, none of them will be playing there other than to run through their measly free play. It'll essentially be a going away (from HR) party....I pity my poor host who'll have to deal with potentially overserved and definitely pissed off past customers. I'm not sure he knows what he's in for....thought he was going on a vacation and will likely wish he never went!

I like my host....a really good guy who's never denied a request. He and the surgically enhanced cocktail waitresses and pole dancers are the only thing that will be hard to leave but I'll get over it. At the rate plays are dropping, my pool time is surely set to increase.

Dan

I hadn't been to the Hard Rock in years and was possibly going to go back this trip, but have definitely decided not to after reading this and similar items to this. Being from Minnesota though, I am looking forward to the video poker schedules in Las Vegas. In Minnesota, the compact with the Indian casinos negotiated a max 98% payback, so the best schedules are 9-5 DDB and 9-6-5 DB. We don't even have 7-5 Bonus Poker, as that is 98.01%, which exceeds the max percentage. Also looking forward to quick quads and wheel poker, which I haven't found in Minnesota.

MN3, there are still plenty of good plays around Vegas; especially compared to what you describe in the Indian casinos at home.

Thanks to both yourself and Fredo for taking a stand and opting not to play at HR. Playing there is akin to rewarding poor behavior/results. If any of us are expecting some of these casinos to change, the only way to do that is to vote with your bankroll.

As the casinos are prone to say in situations like this, "it's a business decision".....it would serve most players well to follow the casinos advice.

Dan

Good advice Dan! We have stopped our play at several properties which have pretty much gutted their VP. Most importantly we passed on, in writing (email) to our hosts letting them know how much we liked their help and loved the property but with the changes letting them know we wouldnt be playing there. It doesnt help to stop playing at a property due to their changes unless you let them know that is why you no longer play there. If you dont tell them they tend to chalk it up to just attrition.

Marc, you're right....if you don't communicate as to why you're no longer going to patronize the establishment, they'll never have feedback that something is "wrong".

The bad news is that the host is the person who bears the brunt of the player angst but typically doesn't have the horsepower to correct it. One only hopes that they push the bad news upstairs and that the numbers support the player feedback and there's an ultimate correction. I have a few hosts that are personal friends so we tend to get a bit more insight than most. In some cases, no one wants to rock the boat given the instability in the job market. They shut their mouth, knowing it's wrong and driving away players, in favor of keeping a job. In other cases, the marketing people don't want to hear bad news.....I know it sounds stupid but they don't care. Eventually, they go away either by their choice of the casino's in favor of another group who has the next best idea. And so it goes....

I'm glad that I don't have to do this for a living.....it's a tough market out there for an advantage player. There are still opportunities but not as plentiful....too many players and not enough opportunities. You can still find plenty of $20+/hr. opportunities out there so having a hobby that pays can still exist but trying to live on $40K/yr. without benefits won't put you on the road to early retirement.

Dan