Caesars Pulls an MGM

"An idiot and a sucker" with "no sense of value or price discrimination". Hmmm.

I'm the first to admit that I'm conflicted about spending entertainment dollars in Las Vegas. When I first started going, room comps were easy, the drinks flowed strong and quickly, and restaurant deals were everywhere. Even for me and my crew of low rollers.

It's not that way anymore. Maybe it'll come back to some extent if the economy tanks, but I think it's unlikely it will ever be as good as it was. 

The price of everything goes up over time. Hershey bars used to be a nickel. I can fold my arms, stomp my feet and yell that the candy industry is screwing me and swear off Hershey bars forever. Or I can decide whether the product is worth a dollar (or whetever it goes for now) to me. Not what it's worth to somebody else, but to me.

All the increases in costs, watered down drinks, raised table limits, etc, etc. detract from my enjoyment. Maybe someday my friends and I will reach a tipping point and decide we're just not getting enough fun per dollar. If that day comes, we'll do something else with our money, and if the casinos go under I won't be sad. They made a business decision that didn't work out. I also won't be mad if they thrive without us. 

But - as of today, anyway - I'm not there yet. We will probably still go to Vegas for March Madness (unless there's another pandemic or similar disaster) and laugh at a lot of the same jokes we make every year. Calling people stupid because they value something differently is, well....immature. It's like saying somebody is stupid because they don't like the same music. 

I'm sorry, but I don't respect the people who enable this price gouging. The prices of rooms have more than doubled, the house edge on all their games has quadrupled, food is at least twice as expensive...and the only reason they can get away with all that is that people are shrugging and paying it.

That said, of course it's every individual's decision and it's their money. I just wish more than a tiny percentage (apparently) of prospective Vegas visitors would laugh and walk away when they see how much and in how many ways they're being gouged.

  Where is your proof that the "house edge on all their games has quadrupled"? The rest of your post is spot on.

Actually, the house edge on blackjack is eight times what it used to be, while craps is (oddly) about where it always has been. So I averaged.

Video poker house percentages are at least four times what they used to be. You used to be able to find 9/6 JOB, at least, almost everywhere. Now, you're lucky to find 7/5 Bonus. 

But why quibble about the exact amount? The point is, the games are much worse, but people still play them.

  Over averaged? No, you lied. The video poker percentages are not 4 times "what they used to be", in actuality the higher percentage paying games have mostly been removed and replaced by lower percentage paying games. The real point is that there are less high paying video poker paying games being offeres by casinos that were offered in bygone years. Saying that "the house edge on all their games has quadrupled", is also untrue. 

Kevin, did you know that some people go to Vegas for reasons other than to play full-pay deuces and have a massive expected value of $7.50 per hour?

A lot of people go for the shows. And the elegant restaurants. And the over-the-top casinos. And the excitement. And the elegant pools and cocktail lounges. And yes, for the views, bright lights, and fountains. And yeah, some people find all of that stuff worth paying for.

So let's just file this under "Kevin demands that everyone thinks like him."

I've never been one to chase tiers.   I've always found it more lucrative to play a little bit at alot of places instead of dumping everything in one place (or casino group).   Many places give you free rooms and food vouchers for just showing up and putting $20 in a machine.

But then again I've never been a Diamond member anywhere so maybe there's some good perks that I dont know about.

All great comments on what WAS Vegas and what IS Vegas.  A lot has changed since my first visit in 1997.  I've been there around 10x and will return in 6 weeks. This is likely my last for awhile since I've got 3 other trips planned after this. LV is going after the younger people who never experienced the free offer at the table and STRONG drinks on demand.  All of us are the dinosaurs.  I doubt they "mine out" the younger crowd like Tunica, MS and the tribal casinos in OK have.  Those places are virtual ghost towns even on the weekends.  I'm not a big player but know bad BJ rules, bad VP pay tables and sucker side bets.  I'll spend a day on my trip going to the local places to play 3/2 BJ and craps.  The rest of the trip will be enjoying the sites.  I will be taking advantage of the LVA 2/1's and MP.  Fewer people are grinding out 8 hours of play to maximize comps and 100% EV.  If that's your fun in Vegas, more power to you.  

Try comparing a 3-5 day trip to Vegas against a flight to FL, Mexico or anywhere else with sand and water, versus a discounted flight to Vegas.  It's still a bargain vacation. 

Now let's hope that monkey pox doesn't shut everything down, again. 

  Well said and I totally agree - enjoy you Vegas trip.

When did I ever say anything like that?

Don't be a jerkass just because you and I think differently.