I've copied and pasted Martin's trip report here. Tgere's some good info and taking advantage of the many goodies offered for seniors (50+) on an ongoing basis in Vegas.
Here is the detailed results - the good, bad, and ugly of it all.
> Began at 6863 base Tier, ended at 20, 701 (earned 13, 838 - mostly vp,
> some slots, and some Bingo<?> not sure how tier pts counted).
>
> Overall trip : Came home +120 more than what I brought (so covered
> expenses, gas, etc - a few meals I ate out incl Applebees in Victorville,
> a break from the LA traffic, and Barstow Del Taco 50th Anniv Tshirt - ya
> gotta see it!).
>
> Boyd Goodies: Dunkin Donut Coffee, Lunch bag (GC) for work, Vodka-given
> to my dad, Beach Umbrella, Young At Heart T-shirt, Wine glass holder
> (Xmas gift for stepmom), various notepads (ST/Orleans), Closet space save
> hangars, and $5 cashback (GC). ST - had different amts of freeplay based
> on previous days play - all recycled into more tier pts....
>
>
> Sat - good traffic, arrived at Silverton around 10am. Played a little
> (10x pts was for SLOTS only, later I found out), and 1st miss - 4cd RF in
> Spin ugly 2s, got zippo! ($600 woud've been a great start to this
> trip!).
>
> Sam's Town - earned 578 pts total (200 only needed for the free coffee 1
> lb bag at ST), Broke even 9/6 JB (at so-so $1070 rf), but then lost -60
> on QQ (378 played so 85% return range). QQ would be a drainer for me
> this trip.
>
> Played 3 hrs live poker (+50 bonus As/full or higher hourly), lost
> minimal -12. -11 on nickel blazing 7s by poker >$80 jackpot (later I
> noticed it hit by $83).
>
> *Boulder Station 5pts for bonus swipe : won $5 on NSUD - slants by
> sportsbook give full pts! - and extra $4.50 in cp pts (4500).
>
> To 7541 Tier. Sun-Wed Heavier Play at ST gives 1% (+$5 Freeplay every
> 500 base, up to $50 for 5k - I never made that).
>
> Sun - 1500 base / All ST ($15 fp rebate on Monday).
> **Started out with NL AM tourney win ($130 for 2nd place, but should've
> split 200-200 at heads up!), although I had 3:1 chip lead, blinds too
> high, and final hand my all-in covered Ace-4 offsuit lost to J-8h, when
> the Hawaiian sr lady turned a Jack, and I missed pairing the ace.... $70
> mistake not to chop.... lesson learned here. Although 3rd place guy
> insisted on continuation of play (big chip leader who busted out in 3rd
> for $85.... bigger mistake costing him about $90 difference!).
>
> I thought this would bring me luck, but ST vp has not been kind to me.
> 9/6 Prog ~1100, -$60 in 400 pts (very few wins, perhaps gave up too soon?
> $ACE$ BP - still no 4k -35 more in 100 pts only! (65% short run return!)
> horrible
> JW (Joker Poker upstairs near Bingo- other side past 9/6 progs)
> 4700-17-7-5 game ~ 98.5%. -40/160 (75% return)
> Net of -33, if not for NL win, but only 660 pts (horrible 75% return on
> vp). No quads is the issue here.
>
> Boulder Station break - -3.75 this time and only 1.50 bonus pts (1500).
> +$6 (6k station pts) and +1.25 in short run for future.
> Sidebar = Early AM Silverton run (100 or nothing promo): At least they
> TELL you up front you might swipe and get -0-, which is exactly what I
> did. Unknown $100 FREEPLAY winners given away, though.
>
>
> PM - lost -60 QQ#2 (You'd think I'd stay away from this by now 5play
> nickels!). 9/6 JB -50 more on 400 (still no quads, so 85-88% return).
> .50c did better for final pts to reach 1500 (only -$5/150 pts).hmmmmm
>
> About -150/1500 (really -250 in vp play! - if not for the NL win...)
>
>
> End Tier : 8957, and about -350/2K vp, can't keep that pace, or will
> end up down more than planned!
>
>
> Bonus Meal of the Day - decided to put on VS card for bonuses. Daily
> Specials at TGIFs - check them out sometime. Using comp pts though cost
> 1000/$1 vs 600/$1 here.
>
>
> MON: Better day, and BIG BINGO day!
>
> Freeplay at ST not eligible until > noon, so headed back to check into
> Orleans.
> This AM, though, decided to play at GC, as they had an "August" bonus Sr
> day Monday! This got me extra Bingo pack and it happened to be "BuzzBall
> Bonus days on Mon/Thurs in Aug" (Bingo on cashball - 1st number drawn
> for prog prize for that session OR Bingo on ANY number ending in '8' for
> $500, B-8 = $1000 bonus!) only at 11am, 1pm, 7-9pm)''
>
> Other Sr day bonuses was after 50 pts, - free vp tourney entry (9/6 JB 10
> min session paid to 35 places - I came up short with 1775 pts, incl 2
> quads (my missing ones from live play!). 1900 was cutoff. Bonus lunch
> tote after 300 pts earned, and the daily bonus of 5xVP pts for SRs age
> 50+. It's GREAT to be over age 50 in LV!
>
> Today - I did quite well -
>
> 2 (3 hr) sessions of .25c NSUD (there are only 5 uprights by
> Ping/Pang/Pong - buffet side of casino, and 2 are unfortunately near WOF
> bank (players keep playing that - even though most spins < 50 coin wins).
>
> There was also (surprisingly) plenty of .50c/$1 NSUD - I just can't see
> making THAT my primary casino core property in Boyd group. Some parts of
> GC had strange odors (like old Downtown smoky joints), and other areas -
> newer - like upstairs with Bingo - much nicer).
>
> GC #1: 2030 pts (830am - 1130am - missed Bingo session 1, planned on
> 1pm, which paid 2x/3x on various Bingo games).
> Net of +$21.25 on 1600 ++ hands of vp - THAT's more like it! And so
> many close calls : 3-2s a few times, 4cd RF once or twice
>
> 1pm Bingo - I paid $45 for a bonus 'I' pack, which included sm/lg
> rainbows (diff colors paid diff prizes), and some blue member bonus packs
> + my sr bonus pack). All told, I had '90' cards or faces (each pack has
> 6 cards). Game #5, double-hardway Bingo - I needed G-58 on about the
> 14th number called (75 total, so about 1:61 chance). G-58! ON A RED
> card winner!
> Red Bingo card paid $100 normally, but this was a 3x payout win ($300)
> PLUS G-58 paid $500 bonus! $800 WIN just like that! salvaging the
> vp-damages suffered at ST.
>
> GC #2: Continued to play at 5x pts, still too early to check in
> Orleans... Another 2000 tier and +$41.25!
> NSUD totals in 3200 hands (65% of hitting ducks, no go), BUT hit 23
> SF/wild sfs (50 coins each), 16 5kinds for $20/80 coin wins, and 8 wild
> RFs ($31.25 each). Well above avgs of approx (16 sf, once/200h, 10 5ks,
> once/320 hands, and 5 wild RF, once/600 hands).
> and doh! _ I do believe a few of my 5ks were with '1' deuce - and one
> was AAAA-2 that DDB big winner... in wrong game again!
>
> Orleans - after checking in , still had enough time to eke out 447 tier
> pts (only 300 needed for Beach Umbrella).
> -30/300 at Piano bartop 7/5 BP prog was over $2000!- quadless again.
> Won +$20 back on 3plays (always playable, it seems, one RF > $350).
> Dealt RF on nickels was high at >$4k.... not to be seen by me this trip.
>
> Registered for Festival of Fun - had great 1st sessions at 9am, noon -
> freeing my time up for tier pts play later on Tuesday.
>
>
> 9pm = Tried BuzzBall Bingo at GC nearby Orleans, and did get Bingo on
> regular card for $50 win only (non bonus pay session), but it covered my
> buy-in of $45. $5 tipped to Bingo callers on the win.
>
> Big Tier day +4477 tier to 13, 707 (+Bingo pts added later/delay in
> system). Bigger win gross of $800 bingo + $60+ vp.
> Put me from -275 for the trip to + 560 or so...
>
> Did try the Orleans Chowder today (still good, just not as good as the
> 'first' time when it was new to my buds)
> PingPanPong - great Chinese food and supposed to be 600/$1 comps - slot
> booth told me to check bill, sometimes cashiers or mgr on duty has it set
> to 1000/pt. Fortunately my bill came out ok this visit.
>
> Half-way done - my goal was about on schedule. I figured if I made
> 18k-20k this trip, I could finish up on next visit in Oct (3-4 days
> play).
>
> So now I needed only 4300-5300.
>
> Tuesday - Festival of Slots day.
> I had great slot RWBs scores of 17K 1st round and 14k 2nd round to hit
> 31K. I figured 30k should be in top 100, possible to be in 4-35th for
> $100 freeplay. I made it by just 350++ pts! whew!
> 1st place scored 37, 412 (avg 18500), 2nd place 36,418 (21700 1st session
> - like yours!), and 3rd was 34,734.
> cutoff for 35th place was 31060 (yes someone had 31054 for 36th place,
> missing extra $50 in freeplay by 4 pts - any all blue/red/white twice or
> any mixed bars...). So I actually just made it by 282 total slot tourney
> pts (Whew!).
>
> Orleans : Broke even on 600 tier (300 for Vodka today), -55 on triple
> plays, and a 4cd RF didn't fill (Big miss #3).
> However, the Piano Bar prog was now over $2200, and I hit 2 4ks for net
> +50, won +5 on some penny slots - also played the inhouse bonus game -
> just to check that out... "More Bonuses More often ads tied to this
> promo- so really not 'faulty advertsing')- slightly deceiving, perhaps.
> For slot players though, definitely worth trying. Inhouse game pays to
> top 25 slot players earning top bonus game pts - to encourage more play.
>
> GC 300 more base tier netted +16.25 more on NSUD and a free lunch tote
> bag!
>
> ST - 1500 / -140 (used my +15 free, earned another 15 free for Wed- Sr
> day).
> JB actually held up for 2 quads, net of +15/885 base....hmmmm should
> persist on this game.
> JW85 -30/300, $1 20-coin nickel prog >1200 -30/30 only, 8/5 BP prog
> downstairs by table games/sports bar area -35/200 and then big drain on
> Bonus DW (I'm done with this one.) -50/150 and very few 4ks (with 2s
> wild, where are those 2s?)?
> I lost another $25 on the Blazing 7s game.
>
> Tier pts: +2400 today, to 16, 424
>
>
> Meals of the day included: Orleans - Oxtail Soup special, Rio dinner at
> Chinese Restaurant (where bowling alley used to be) and had
> half-sandwich/soup deli special at Sams' Town.
>
>
> Memorable moments: Enjoying an Ice cream while watching ST afternoon
> water show at Ram's Head bar area - spectacular and relaxing! Rio -
> just visiting again like a tourist and took a look around. Very artsy
> convention hallway areas- fine art along the walkways.
>
> Wed - Last big play day. Goal 1600-2600 tier to reach 18k minimum.
>
> I surpassed that goal, due to the Sr Multiplier bonus.
> Orleans : 6x vp, 10x slots. I did 200 pts mininum for dbl-gifts (I
> chose Young At heart T-shirt, wine glass holder).
> I won $76.50 on the 100 freeplay (NSUD), then played longer for pts,
> broke even 3plays mainly.
>
> Also earned lunch/dinner buffets and $4 movie tix (wouldn't have time to
> see today)
>
>
>
> GC : got low multiplier here 4x vp, 6x slots (I was hoping for bigger
> one). Played 300 minimally for +30 - on a winning streak here!,
>
> I picked up a mystery gifts/leftovers similar to Orleans - closet space
> saver hangers - actually needed
> ANother free lunch/dinner buffet.
>
>
> ST - Darn Bonus Multiplier got 10xVP and 20x Slots.
> Logically, it made the most sense to play at ST> Luckwise - just ain't
> happening!
>
>
> SO - I plugged away (11am-5pm) on various games to get the 2500.
> ***Rant : Some smarter srs had 'locked up' and / or reserved the 9/6
> progs, so couldn't play those. Even DB prog by Donuts > $2k so all 6
> machines full. I will usually check the 4 inner BP/prog by tables game
> area/bar - those open, prog near 1200, so ok.
> I still lost, though.
> $1 20 coin 20-5-4 Jkr over $1300 worth playing, I hit 1 SF for $40
> (shorted from 50) and 5 4ks, but minimal loss on 600 pt
> BP -40/550 pts. Slots - I first won +15 on prog Golden Monkees game by
> FPDW (bottom prog $90++, resets to $5). 1.25 spin risky, but it paid off
> for me. Unfortunately, I lost on every slot game tried after that, incl
> $40 on Blazing 7s upstairs, and some .75c/spin blazing 7s pennies by slot
> club area. Net of -120'/VP approx 2k, and -30 slots / 400-500 played.
>
> Not too bad, salvaged by Golden Monkey win to start. still losing at ST
> though.
>
> PM - Suncoast BuzzBall bingo evening sessions 9pm/11pm no Bingos this
> time, and I donated back $90 for my visit to JM's Suncoast. Found the
> 5plays against a wall in a hallway - not the greatest of areas - many
> people walking by. They have similar shortpay vp prog for dimes a little
> further in the casino....
>
>
> Suncoast ok - I think it's showing it's age. I still like Orleans/ Sam's
> T better. They are trying, too bad they shorted all their vp games
> though.
>
> End tier score : 19, 684 (must've included Bingo pts).
>
> Thurs - Get away day (plan was to play 300 pts for GC final bonus gift
> day - cash prize), and the Freeplay ($25 ST).
> B-Station 20th anniv gift a bust (Fine print - bottom of sign - this was
> a Invited Guest only give-away!).
>
> GC - Luck finally ran out. And I made mistake in play!
> 1. Machines I played are Multi-denom, somehow when I began play for 300
> pts NSUD, it was on .50c vs .25c, and I was losing 1st 10-15 hands! So I
> drained -40 by mistake early. THen I fijnished off the pts, but as NSUD
> was unlucky, tried some 9/6 JB upstairs by Bingo - and some games were
> also shortpay (I played 8/5 JB by mistake toO!).
>
> Net result -70 back for 300 pts - my bad. My bonus : $5 cash rebate!
> (although many 'other ' prizes of 10-20-25-30-50-100-up to 500, most were
> $5 winners, as the lady added my 'tally' to her ticksheet. I saw maybe 1
> in 40 were bigger prizes). Boo!
>
> 2. ST : FUNNY, I earned "+23" on my $25 freeplay. Hmm- NL tourney
> started soon, so I signed up. Can't resist. Ended up 1st alternate, got
> in the tourney at 3rd level (10:45am), made it all the way to final
> table only to bust out in 9th place. Had to risk All in with A-9 weak vs
> Lady had AQ. Dominated and lost!
>
> I must've earned some more tier here. WIth GC's 300, my FINAL tier score
> ended at 20. 701 (about 1k today?)?
>
>
> 3. Buffalo Bills on the way home, wonged a penny Blazing 7s (bottom
> prog) for $31.47, reset to $20, but only profited about $10-15. Took a
> look around, had fun on various WMS Hot-Super Respin games, profited $3,
> covering McD final snack and Iced-C for drive home. I'm about 100 pts
> ($50 slot play) away fromj $10 in comps and/or cb on their A-Player club.
>
> Rants and raves next post.
>
> SO I did it - but if not for the BINGO and NSUD play at GC, it would've
> been a brutal ride. $13-14K had about 1/3 on JB/BP games of 85-90%
> returns, due to shortage of quads and bonus quads in BP- -maybe next
> trip?
>
> QQ was a drainer too - I'm going to have to layoff that one (I did better
> at Riverside, not ST for some reason).
>
> Perhaps I'll take a chance on ST Dbl-DW game (similar to the one at
> Stratosphere) - 16-11-4-3-2-2-1 on bottomj is tough. However 4-deuces do
> pay $500! And $1/PT on this 99./62% game, but extremely more volatile.
> Dennis from AZ swears by this game for tier pts crunching vs JB - we'll
> have a discussion next visit in Oct. His wife plays less - mainly dimes
> FPDW.
>
> That's all for now. Sorry if it's rambling - not as good as when posted
> daily like your reports, but all the details are here just the same.
>
>
> Martin - only 4300 pts short of Sapphire/B-Connected! Very reachable,
> next trip. Perhaps I'll GRIND it out on the 9/6 JB...if I can get a
> machine - otherwise BP is the next best play or Dbl_DW?? pop-shot?
>
Raves and/or comments:
>
> 1. B-Connected/Young at Heart benefits - continue to amaze me. even
> with minimal 4x/5x multiplier, that is equal to .4-.5% cb on their good
> vp games or .65-.85% in comp pts, very easy to go up to 1% or more on
> just 7x or higher (I had 10x for 1 day).
>
> I get 7x pts the whole trip next visit!
>
> And that doesn't include other extras of usually 2 buffets (both
> Bkfst/lunch and dinner), $4 movie tix, possible free slot/vp session for
> freeplay, drawings - Young at Heart only players, and even bonus Bingo
> pack!
>
>
> 2. Various random bonus gift/give away days. Yes - some are just
> practical items that you could get for $10 at any Walmart store, but some
> things are nicer. 300 pts usually is all it takes for these items!
> Unless you make a mistake (as I did playing .50c denom, or 8/5 JB for
> some hands), generally, you won't lose more than $30, and sometimes even
> win on their decent VP games (Orleans, GC, or ST).
> Only Suncoast has degraded vp
>
> 3. SAM'S TOWN free entertainment - besides the watershow/laser show.
> Sunday afternoons 1-2:30pm "Taste of the Town" entertaining and free
> (with kiosk printed out coupon).
>
> This time I saw Denise Clement (very good vocalist/singer) - slightly
> older age, but had showcased her talent back in the days of the Hacienda,
> Stardust, LVH (with Liberace). She was on TV and sang live with Bill
> Cosby show and Andy Griffith. Included was a comedian (Tracy
> Skein?)-from Last Comic Standing, and 2 more singing acts (Good
> imitiation quartet called Aces - a men's quartet group from the Jersey
> Boys era and a children's girls group that did charity work acts - very
> good show!).
>
> For free - fantastic and great value! This would include any free MNF /
> SNF parties - with discounted food/beverages and giveaways!
>
>
> 4. BuzzBall Bonus Bingo ball days. If I were local, I'd be playing
> Bingo only at 2x/3x payout sessions on the days that have Bonus cashball
> (Buzzball) bonuses. 8 extra chances (about 1:9) of when you get a Bingo,
> to also get a big bonus payoff! Some sessions midday/midweek - which is
> why they offer these - to draw players/senior locals to THEIR Bingo hall
> instead of competitors - Stations, Canneries, etc, etc. Just like Poker
> rooms - they are struggling (I think) to compete and draw players from a
> limited pool of players.
>
> This makes for some possible 'Advantage' Bingo (if that's a term). I
> may have stumbled onto something here - I'll let you know how my LV Bingo
> experiment goes - as I'll begin to track costs/play. So far (last
> trip), I invested $45 x 4 = $180, but was paid $850 in gross wins, so
> >$600 profits, even after tips! I can freeroll for a few session for a
> while, as long as I don't go hogwild and buyin over my limit!
>
> 5. Daily specials in various casino restaurants - Orleans has theirs,
> GC - theirs, and ST - deli is the best!
> Even TGIF (ST only!) has daily specials posted on a large display board.
> Very reasonable - aka coffeeshop special pricing <$10 meals!
>
> 6. SLS - Like LVA - at least a one-time vist must-see, while still new.
>
> 6a. Decor/design very sleek/modern - even casino banks of slots have
> newly designed displays (like stick-drawn people/faces with simple
> lighting), to hallway areas leading to nightclub that reminded me like
> Mandalay Bay / Russian Commie stuff. Graffiti wall. Not sure what it
> represents, but funky and different.
>
> 6b. - From Parking Garage area / Hotel registration area- carpeting had
> unique and classic vintage postcards imprinted with famous people - like
> Dean Martin/Sinatra and the Rat Pack, James Bond 60s era movie set
> shots, Sahara hotel scenery and cars/people dressed from the 50s, etc.
> Very nice to look at, but with all the foot traffic (it wasn't under any
> kind of plastic/walkway protection) and sunlight, I thinking it'll be too
> expensive to replace when it wears out.
>
> 6c - I didn't get any pictures, but ALL the table casino dealers had
> 'monkeys' as part of their printed dresscode. So I guess it is up to the
> players to try to get the 'monkey' off the dealers back? Goes along with
> their Monkey Bar (real bar and lounge) that had similar Monkeys
> everywhere (Paintings, rails, imprinted on booths, etc).
>
> 6d - SMALL / compact- is what I thought of their new casino. Most of it
> is where the Old Sahara's main casino was, but it seemed even
> smaller/tighter to me. Machines fairly close together - almost as if the
> casino is a boutique casino, central area, but around the outside are
> bigger venues - restaurants, lounge/bar areas, and hallway leading to the
> nightclub/pool, etc.
>
> The OLD casino that wrapped around towards NASCAR Cafe (and old cage)
> seem to have disappeared. I'm not sure if there are admin ofcs back
> there, but the new casino/public area ENDS about where the entryway /
> slot booth was in the front. THen that wall extends down the rest of the
> casino/resaurants fronting Sahara Blvd- it's as if the old area didn't
> even exist anymore....
>
>
> RANTS:
>
> 1. Even for Boyd - Time limits on when gift pts/bonuses can be earned.
> I've learned to 'read' the fine print. Time limits used to not be an
> issue on 'multi-pts' days - now its fromj 7am - 7pm, or 8am - midnight.
> Every casino/property is different.
>
> GC's extra Bonus Pts Sr day (5x vp) was from 7am - midnight. Most
> WEDNESDAYS are 7am - 7pm only, and a 10000 base pt max limit for the
> bonusing.
>
> 1A. Minor rant on B-Connected restaurants: Due to cutting
> corners/profit margins , etc. By 'Franchising' some of their
> restaurants (like TGIF in ST as their coffeeshop) those now charge 1000
> pts/$1 comp vs 600 pts/$1. Unless you ask, sometimes hard to know which
> restaurants are franchise vs casino owned (like KOJII inside Orleans is
> Franchised vs Oyster/Big Al's Oyster bar is casino at 600/$1).
> Not too big a deal, as long as they keep offering BONUS PTS days for
> their players.... otherwise the comps take much longer to earn (i.e. -
> less return to the player)
>
>
> 2. Stations is WORSE (as you know). 3x very deceptive advertising
> (basically equivalent to old sys- WITHOUT any true bonusing).
> As for their Gifts/giveaways - if for 'invited guests only' - at least
> they could still let players 'PLAY" to 'earn ' the gift....
>
> i.e - I would have played 500 pts min for the 20th Anniv T shirt, but
> since that wasn't even an option - I simply walked OUT the door.
> Bad marketing on their part.
>
> I still like the fact they have >100% vp - it's just those games will
> earn very little if any benefit in return.
>
> 2A - Fixed or Rolling 6 months period to earn the next tier levels. I
> wonder how your previous contacts who WERE formerly "Chairman" at
> Stations are doing? How about AP - does he even play Stations anymore?
>
>
> 3. RESORT FEES - Even Boyd has caught up with this one, Jon. Festival
> of Fun (June) was $99 + taxes, brought it up to 110.88 last timje. For
> August - I had prepaid, and upon checkout, an additional 9.99 or
> 11.99/day was added, a weird extra $36.23 was leftover balance I had to
> pay. I tried to discuss with the desk/registration supv- but they said I
> shouldv'e been charged those "Resort Fees" even in June. I guess this
> event/"Offer" is not a true 'comp'd' room offer (in which case then
> resort fees are waived!
>
> So I guess - if it's NOT FREE/comp'd room offer, then expect to pay their
> daily resort fee ON TOP of whatever the discount/event offer pkg cost
> are........
>
> It does now say (on the Festival of Fun Tournament postcard) at the very
> end in fine print "A daily resort fee per night will be charged ..."
>
> 4. Minor rant - Local SENIORS do / will lock up machines (guess they
> either got a good multiplier, or decided to park themselvses at a bank of
> machines like the 6 JB progs upstairs at ST). No way to deal with it
> other than to be polite and try to find other playable games in the same
> casino... (It seemed odd, though, that twice over 3 hours I walked by
> and although the machine was 'marked/locked reservedk, NOBODY every
> played one of the six machines)---long eating/break?
>
> 5. Games I like to play are sometimes in the WORST locations in the
> casino....
> Orleans - new bank of GREEN MultiGlass machines I found with the 9/6
> BPDeluxe, NSUD, have 1 side facing MAIN CASINO walkway aisle, where all
> people entering the casino from the Big Alligators entrance and walking
> towards tables games/sportsbook or Cafe, etc all walk by and sometimes
> don't pay attention - very DISTRACTING to vp player trying to play there.
>
> 5a - Volumes on such games as "WHEEL of FORTUNE" right by good vp (GC).
> or Caveman Keno....
>
> 6. Odors / rancid stenches. GC - get a clue. One Bathroom/public had
> the stall completely messed u p- looked like it needed major plumbing
> repairs, or had overflowed overnight, and was a big mess! I had to run
> out of there the smell was so bad.
>
> GC - in general - seems like some carpeted areas of the casino are NOT
> shampooed/vacummed or cleaned everynight like in the old days? A weird
> mixture of cigarette smoke, chinese food smells and that bathroom stench
> permeated parts of the casino. It's weird anyways to walk DOWN into the
> casino - was it always built 'below' pavement level to prevent
> burgularies ??
>
> i.e - the would-be casino robbers would stumble trying to run up the 5 or
> 6 sets of steps?
>
> At least on the Buffet end, they keep that part of the casino cleaner (at
> least where I played).
>
> 7. Needing to 'swipe' for coupons to printout and redeem for certain
> prizes. Why can't these just be auto-loaded after you swipe, and then
> you just enter a pin # or show ID for verification at the pickup area
> (for gifts, etc).
> Movie theater/buffet, I understand, as they probably need that for
> accounting, but for the casino gift giveaways and other bonuses, seems
> like they could save time and paper by electronically automating some of
> these things.
>
> 8. Construction zones - guess LV will continually evolve. I ran into
> certain street/construction zones that delayed my travels a few times -
> Desert Inn road is an ongoing wideing lane project. Certain parts of
> Flamingo Road, and I-15 has ongoing construction projects.
>
> 9 - Poker players who are bad, but seem to get lucky. In my first
> session of play- as you know, it's barely break-even to maybe profiting
> 1-2 BB's per hour, so promo hands only way to beat the game. With thin
> margins, having a player call your max raises with Ax any offsuit beat
> your pocket faces (J-Q-Ks), is ugly and happens alot - it seems. I'm
> hoping for the time, should I start to raise with AK, to have them
> DOMINATED and Ace flops, as long as they don't hit their kicker. That's
> the only other way they'll win (or wrap a ST around their kicker)....
>
> 10. I should be able to come up with a TOP ten rant - but I'm out of
> rants for now. Perhaps all the 'clueless' drivers in LV - who either
> drive too fast in public roadways like it's the Indy 500 OR too slow -
> not even paying attention - perhaps too tired/.drunk/old/ or just not
> caring for what others are doing and how they are causing possible
> accidents to occur while also rudely taking up more of other people's
> time..... by being in their way, when they could easily move to the far
> right slow lane....
>
>
> Sidenotes:
>
> Running out of Promo gifts - didn't happen to me - but if you decide to
> play towards the end of the timeframe (i.e 11am - 7pm, you arrive at
> 4-5pm to play a few hrs to get the gift), it might be wise to see if they
> still have any left, before you decide to play for the gift....
>
> As any promo - read the details! "Subject to Management, " (I.e. - they
> are the final say).
>
> Don't complain/rant too much over promos - we should be happy they still
> OFFER them!
>
> The good old days of Great VP (over 100%) PLUS bonuses are gone, but at
> least some of the bonuses still exist.
>
> And for my Dad - FPDW only, at Sapphire, he's getting $2/pt for $1/1200
> .08% comps or $1/2k (.05%) cb - very minimal, but considering the game
> he's playing, still doing pretty good.
>
>
> FUture - Who knows what the future 'advantage' plays will be? Will there
> even be anything worth pursuing by the time I retire?
>
> I suppose there will always be a cheap buy-in Poker Tourney somewhere -
> I'm just not sure if the ever changing vp/slot club bonuses scene will be
> around in the future...
>
Here is the detailed results - the good, bad, and ugly of it all.
> Began at 6863 base Tier, ended at 20, 701 (earned 13, 838 - mostly vp,
> some slots, and some Bingo<?> not sure how tier pts counted).
>
> Overall trip : Came home +120 more than what I brought (so covered
> expenses, gas, etc - a few meals I ate out incl Applebees in Victorville,
> a break from the LA traffic, and Barstow Del Taco 50th Anniv Tshirt - ya
> gotta see it!).
>
> Boyd Goodies: Dunkin Donut Coffee, Lunch bag (GC) for work, Vodka-given
> to my dad, Beach Umbrella, Young At Heart T-shirt, Wine glass holder
> (Xmas gift for stepmom), various notepads (ST/Orleans), Closet space save
> hangars, and $5 cashback (GC). ST - had different amts of freeplay based
> on previous days play - all recycled into more tier pts....
>
>
> Sat - good traffic, arrived at Silverton around 10am. Played a little
> (10x pts was for SLOTS only, later I found out), and 1st miss - 4cd RF in
> Spin ugly 2s, got zippo! ($600 woud've been a great start to this
> trip!).
>
> Sam's Town - earned 578 pts total (200 only needed for the free coffee 1
> lb bag at ST), Broke even 9/6 JB (at so-so $1070 rf), but then lost -60
> on QQ (378 played so 85% return range). QQ would be a drainer for me
> this trip.
>
> Played 3 hrs live poker (+50 bonus As/full or higher hourly), lost
> minimal -12. -11 on nickel blazing 7s by poker >$80 jackpot (later I
> noticed it hit by $83).
>
> *Boulder Station 5pts for bonus swipe : won $5 on NSUD - slants by
> sportsbook give full pts! - and extra $4.50 in cp pts (4500).
>
> To 7541 Tier. Sun-Wed Heavier Play at ST gives 1% (+$5 Freeplay every
> 500 base, up to $50 for 5k - I never made that).
>
> Sun - 1500 base / All ST ($15 fp rebate on Monday).
> **Started out with NL AM tourney win ($130 for 2nd place, but should've
> split 200-200 at heads up!), although I had 3:1 chip lead, blinds too
> high, and final hand my all-in covered Ace-4 offsuit lost to J-8h, when
> the Hawaiian sr lady turned a Jack, and I missed pairing the ace.... $70
> mistake not to chop.... lesson learned here. Although 3rd place guy
> insisted on continuation of play (big chip leader who busted out in 3rd
> for $85.... bigger mistake costing him about $90 difference!).
>
> I thought this would bring me luck, but ST vp has not been kind to me.
> 9/6 Prog ~1100, -$60 in 400 pts (very few wins, perhaps gave up too soon?
> $ACE$ BP - still no 4k -35 more in 100 pts only! (65% short run return!)
> horrible
> JW (Joker Poker upstairs near Bingo- other side past 9/6 progs)
> 4700-17-7-5 game ~ 98.5%. -40/160 (75% return)
> Net of -33, if not for NL win, but only 660 pts (horrible 75% return on
> vp). No quads is the issue here.
>
> Boulder Station break - -3.75 this time and only 1.50 bonus pts (1500).
> +$6 (6k station pts) and +1.25 in short run for future.
> Sidebar = Early AM Silverton run (100 or nothing promo): At least they
> TELL you up front you might swipe and get -0-, which is exactly what I
> did. Unknown $100 FREEPLAY winners given away, though.
>
>
> PM - lost -60 QQ#2 (You'd think I'd stay away from this by now 5play
> nickels!). 9/6 JB -50 more on 400 (still no quads, so 85-88% return).
> .50c did better for final pts to reach 1500 (only -$5/150 pts).hmmmmm
>
> About -150/1500 (really -250 in vp play! - if not for the NL win...)
>
>
> End Tier : 8957, and about -350/2K vp, can't keep that pace, or will
> end up down more than planned!
>
>
> Bonus Meal of the Day - decided to put on VS card for bonuses. Daily
> Specials at TGIFs - check them out sometime. Using comp pts though cost
> 1000/$1 vs 600/$1 here.
>
>
> MON: Better day, and BIG BINGO day!
>
> Freeplay at ST not eligible until > noon, so headed back to check into
> Orleans.
> This AM, though, decided to play at GC, as they had an "August" bonus Sr
> day Monday! This got me extra Bingo pack and it happened to be "BuzzBall
> Bonus days on Mon/Thurs in Aug" (Bingo on cashball - 1st number drawn
> for prog prize for that session OR Bingo on ANY number ending in '8' for
> $500, B-8 = $1000 bonus!) only at 11am, 1pm, 7-9pm)''
>
> Other Sr day bonuses was after 50 pts, - free vp tourney entry (9/6 JB 10
> min session paid to 35 places - I came up short with 1775 pts, incl 2
> quads (my missing ones from live play!). 1900 was cutoff. Bonus lunch
> tote after 300 pts earned, and the daily bonus of 5xVP pts for SRs age
> 50+. It's GREAT to be over age 50 in LV!
>
> Today - I did quite well -
>
> 2 (3 hr) sessions of .25c NSUD (there are only 5 uprights by
> Ping/Pang/Pong - buffet side of casino, and 2 are unfortunately near WOF
> bank (players keep playing that - even though most spins < 50 coin wins).
>
> There was also (surprisingly) plenty of .50c/$1 NSUD - I just can't see
> making THAT my primary casino core property in Boyd group. Some parts of
> GC had strange odors (like old Downtown smoky joints), and other areas -
> newer - like upstairs with Bingo - much nicer).
>
> GC #1: 2030 pts (830am - 1130am - missed Bingo session 1, planned on
> 1pm, which paid 2x/3x on various Bingo games).
> Net of +$21.25 on 1600 ++ hands of vp - THAT's more like it! And so
> many close calls : 3-2s a few times, 4cd RF once or twice
>
> 1pm Bingo - I paid $45 for a bonus 'I' pack, which included sm/lg
> rainbows (diff colors paid diff prizes), and some blue member bonus packs
> + my sr bonus pack). All told, I had '90' cards or faces (each pack has
> 6 cards). Game #5, double-hardway Bingo - I needed G-58 on about the
> 14th number called (75 total, so about 1:61 chance). G-58! ON A RED
> card winner!
> Red Bingo card paid $100 normally, but this was a 3x payout win ($300)
> PLUS G-58 paid $500 bonus! $800 WIN just like that! salvaging the
> vp-damages suffered at ST.
>
> GC #2: Continued to play at 5x pts, still too early to check in
> Orleans... Another 2000 tier and +$41.25!
> NSUD totals in 3200 hands (65% of hitting ducks, no go), BUT hit 23
> SF/wild sfs (50 coins each), 16 5kinds for $20/80 coin wins, and 8 wild
> RFs ($31.25 each). Well above avgs of approx (16 sf, once/200h, 10 5ks,
> once/320 hands, and 5 wild RF, once/600 hands).
> and doh! _ I do believe a few of my 5ks were with '1' deuce - and one
> was AAAA-2 that DDB big winner... in wrong game again!
>
> Orleans - after checking in , still had enough time to eke out 447 tier
> pts (only 300 needed for Beach Umbrella).
> -30/300 at Piano bartop 7/5 BP prog was over $2000!- quadless again.
> Won +$20 back on 3plays (always playable, it seems, one RF > $350).
> Dealt RF on nickels was high at >$4k.... not to be seen by me this trip.
>
> Registered for Festival of Fun - had great 1st sessions at 9am, noon -
> freeing my time up for tier pts play later on Tuesday.
>
>
> 9pm = Tried BuzzBall Bingo at GC nearby Orleans, and did get Bingo on
> regular card for $50 win only (non bonus pay session), but it covered my
> buy-in of $45. $5 tipped to Bingo callers on the win.
>
> Big Tier day +4477 tier to 13, 707 (+Bingo pts added later/delay in
> system). Bigger win gross of $800 bingo + $60+ vp.
> Put me from -275 for the trip to + 560 or so...
>
> Did try the Orleans Chowder today (still good, just not as good as the
> 'first' time when it was new to my buds)
> PingPanPong - great Chinese food and supposed to be 600/$1 comps - slot
> booth told me to check bill, sometimes cashiers or mgr on duty has it set
> to 1000/pt. Fortunately my bill came out ok this visit.
>
> Half-way done - my goal was about on schedule. I figured if I made
> 18k-20k this trip, I could finish up on next visit in Oct (3-4 days
> play).
>
> So now I needed only 4300-5300.
>
> Tuesday - Festival of Slots day.
> I had great slot RWBs scores of 17K 1st round and 14k 2nd round to hit
> 31K. I figured 30k should be in top 100, possible to be in 4-35th for
> $100 freeplay. I made it by just 350++ pts! whew!
> 1st place scored 37, 412 (avg 18500), 2nd place 36,418 (21700 1st session
> - like yours!), and 3rd was 34,734.
> cutoff for 35th place was 31060 (yes someone had 31054 for 36th place,
> missing extra $50 in freeplay by 4 pts - any all blue/red/white twice or
> any mixed bars...). So I actually just made it by 282 total slot tourney
> pts (Whew!).
>
> Orleans : Broke even on 600 tier (300 for Vodka today), -55 on triple
> plays, and a 4cd RF didn't fill (Big miss #3).
> However, the Piano Bar prog was now over $2200, and I hit 2 4ks for net
> +50, won +5 on some penny slots - also played the inhouse bonus game -
> just to check that out... "More Bonuses More often ads tied to this
> promo- so really not 'faulty advertsing')- slightly deceiving, perhaps.
> For slot players though, definitely worth trying. Inhouse game pays to
> top 25 slot players earning top bonus game pts - to encourage more play.
>
> GC 300 more base tier netted +16.25 more on NSUD and a free lunch tote
> bag!
>
> ST - 1500 / -140 (used my +15 free, earned another 15 free for Wed- Sr
> day).
> JB actually held up for 2 quads, net of +15/885 base....hmmmm should
> persist on this game.
> JW85 -30/300, $1 20-coin nickel prog >1200 -30/30 only, 8/5 BP prog
> downstairs by table games/sports bar area -35/200 and then big drain on
> Bonus DW (I'm done with this one.) -50/150 and very few 4ks (with 2s
> wild, where are those 2s?)?
> I lost another $25 on the Blazing 7s game.
>
> Tier pts: +2400 today, to 16, 424
>
>
> Meals of the day included: Orleans - Oxtail Soup special, Rio dinner at
> Chinese Restaurant (where bowling alley used to be) and had
> half-sandwich/soup deli special at Sams' Town.
>
>
> Memorable moments: Enjoying an Ice cream while watching ST afternoon
> water show at Ram's Head bar area - spectacular and relaxing! Rio -
> just visiting again like a tourist and took a look around. Very artsy
> convention hallway areas- fine art along the walkways.
>
> Wed - Last big play day. Goal 1600-2600 tier to reach 18k minimum.
>
> I surpassed that goal, due to the Sr Multiplier bonus.
> Orleans : 6x vp, 10x slots. I did 200 pts mininum for dbl-gifts (I
> chose Young At heart T-shirt, wine glass holder).
> I won $76.50 on the 100 freeplay (NSUD), then played longer for pts,
> broke even 3plays mainly.
>
> Also earned lunch/dinner buffets and $4 movie tix (wouldn't have time to
> see today)
>
>
>
> GC : got low multiplier here 4x vp, 6x slots (I was hoping for bigger
> one). Played 300 minimally for +30 - on a winning streak here!,
>
> I picked up a mystery gifts/leftovers similar to Orleans - closet space
> saver hangers - actually needed
> ANother free lunch/dinner buffet.
>
>
> ST - Darn Bonus Multiplier got 10xVP and 20x Slots.
> Logically, it made the most sense to play at ST> Luckwise - just ain't
> happening!
>
>
> SO - I plugged away (11am-5pm) on various games to get the 2500.
> ***Rant : Some smarter srs had 'locked up' and / or reserved the 9/6
> progs, so couldn't play those. Even DB prog by Donuts > $2k so all 6
> machines full. I will usually check the 4 inner BP/prog by tables game
> area/bar - those open, prog near 1200, so ok.
> I still lost, though.
> $1 20 coin 20-5-4 Jkr over $1300 worth playing, I hit 1 SF for $40
> (shorted from 50) and 5 4ks, but minimal loss on 600 pt
> BP -40/550 pts. Slots - I first won +15 on prog Golden Monkees game by
> FPDW (bottom prog $90++, resets to $5). 1.25 spin risky, but it paid off
> for me. Unfortunately, I lost on every slot game tried after that, incl
> $40 on Blazing 7s upstairs, and some .75c/spin blazing 7s pennies by slot
> club area. Net of -120'/VP approx 2k, and -30 slots / 400-500 played.
>
> Not too bad, salvaged by Golden Monkey win to start. still losing at ST
> though.
>
> PM - Suncoast BuzzBall bingo evening sessions 9pm/11pm no Bingos this
> time, and I donated back $90 for my visit to JM's Suncoast. Found the
> 5plays against a wall in a hallway - not the greatest of areas - many
> people walking by. They have similar shortpay vp prog for dimes a little
> further in the casino....
>
>
> Suncoast ok - I think it's showing it's age. I still like Orleans/ Sam's
> T better. They are trying, too bad they shorted all their vp games
> though.
>
> End tier score : 19, 684 (must've included Bingo pts).
>
> Thurs - Get away day (plan was to play 300 pts for GC final bonus gift
> day - cash prize), and the Freeplay ($25 ST).
> B-Station 20th anniv gift a bust (Fine print - bottom of sign - this was
> a Invited Guest only give-away!).
>
> GC - Luck finally ran out. And I made mistake in play!
> 1. Machines I played are Multi-denom, somehow when I began play for 300
> pts NSUD, it was on .50c vs .25c, and I was losing 1st 10-15 hands! So I
> drained -40 by mistake early. THen I fijnished off the pts, but as NSUD
> was unlucky, tried some 9/6 JB upstairs by Bingo - and some games were
> also shortpay (I played 8/5 JB by mistake toO!).
>
> Net result -70 back for 300 pts - my bad. My bonus : $5 cash rebate!
> (although many 'other ' prizes of 10-20-25-30-50-100-up to 500, most were
> $5 winners, as the lady added my 'tally' to her ticksheet. I saw maybe 1
> in 40 were bigger prizes). Boo!
>
> 2. ST : FUNNY, I earned "+23" on my $25 freeplay. Hmm- NL tourney
> started soon, so I signed up. Can't resist. Ended up 1st alternate, got
> in the tourney at 3rd level (10:45am), made it all the way to final
> table only to bust out in 9th place. Had to risk All in with A-9 weak vs
> Lady had AQ. Dominated and lost!
>
> I must've earned some more tier here. WIth GC's 300, my FINAL tier score
> ended at 20. 701 (about 1k today?)?
>
>
> 3. Buffalo Bills on the way home, wonged a penny Blazing 7s (bottom
> prog) for $31.47, reset to $20, but only profited about $10-15. Took a
> look around, had fun on various WMS Hot-Super Respin games, profited $3,
> covering McD final snack and Iced-C for drive home. I'm about 100 pts
> ($50 slot play) away fromj $10 in comps and/or cb on their A-Player club.
>
> Rants and raves next post.
>
> SO I did it - but if not for the BINGO and NSUD play at GC, it would've
> been a brutal ride. $13-14K had about 1/3 on JB/BP games of 85-90%
> returns, due to shortage of quads and bonus quads in BP- -maybe next
> trip?
>
> QQ was a drainer too - I'm going to have to layoff that one (I did better
> at Riverside, not ST for some reason).
>
> Perhaps I'll take a chance on ST Dbl-DW game (similar to the one at
> Stratosphere) - 16-11-4-3-2-2-1 on bottomj is tough. However 4-deuces do
> pay $500! And $1/PT on this 99./62% game, but extremely more volatile.
> Dennis from AZ swears by this game for tier pts crunching vs JB - we'll
> have a discussion next visit in Oct. His wife plays less - mainly dimes
> FPDW.
>
> That's all for now. Sorry if it's rambling - not as good as when posted
> daily like your reports, but all the details are here just the same.
>
>
> Martin - only 4300 pts short of Sapphire/B-Connected! Very reachable,
> next trip. Perhaps I'll GRIND it out on the 9/6 JB...if I can get a
> machine - otherwise BP is the next best play or Dbl_DW?? pop-shot?
>
Raves and/or comments:
>
> 1. B-Connected/Young at Heart benefits - continue to amaze me. even
> with minimal 4x/5x multiplier, that is equal to .4-.5% cb on their good
> vp games or .65-.85% in comp pts, very easy to go up to 1% or more on
> just 7x or higher (I had 10x for 1 day).
>
> I get 7x pts the whole trip next visit!
>
> And that doesn't include other extras of usually 2 buffets (both
> Bkfst/lunch and dinner), $4 movie tix, possible free slot/vp session for
> freeplay, drawings - Young at Heart only players, and even bonus Bingo
> pack!
>
>
> 2. Various random bonus gift/give away days. Yes - some are just
> practical items that you could get for $10 at any Walmart store, but some
> things are nicer. 300 pts usually is all it takes for these items!
> Unless you make a mistake (as I did playing .50c denom, or 8/5 JB for
> some hands), generally, you won't lose more than $30, and sometimes even
> win on their decent VP games (Orleans, GC, or ST).
> Only Suncoast has degraded vp
>
> 3. SAM'S TOWN free entertainment - besides the watershow/laser show.
> Sunday afternoons 1-2:30pm "Taste of the Town" entertaining and free
> (with kiosk printed out coupon).
>
> This time I saw Denise Clement (very good vocalist/singer) - slightly
> older age, but had showcased her talent back in the days of the Hacienda,
> Stardust, LVH (with Liberace). She was on TV and sang live with Bill
> Cosby show and Andy Griffith. Included was a comedian (Tracy
> Skein?)-from Last Comic Standing, and 2 more singing acts (Good
> imitiation quartet called Aces - a men's quartet group from the Jersey
> Boys era and a children's girls group that did charity work acts - very
> good show!).
>
> For free - fantastic and great value! This would include any free MNF /
> SNF parties - with discounted food/beverages and giveaways!
>
>
> 4. BuzzBall Bonus Bingo ball days. If I were local, I'd be playing
> Bingo only at 2x/3x payout sessions on the days that have Bonus cashball
> (Buzzball) bonuses. 8 extra chances (about 1:9) of when you get a Bingo,
> to also get a big bonus payoff! Some sessions midday/midweek - which is
> why they offer these - to draw players/senior locals to THEIR Bingo hall
> instead of competitors - Stations, Canneries, etc, etc. Just like Poker
> rooms - they are struggling (I think) to compete and draw players from a
> limited pool of players.
>
> This makes for some possible 'Advantage' Bingo (if that's a term). I
> may have stumbled onto something here - I'll let you know how my LV Bingo
> experiment goes - as I'll begin to track costs/play. So far (last
> trip), I invested $45 x 4 = $180, but was paid $850 in gross wins, so
> >$600 profits, even after tips! I can freeroll for a few session for a
> while, as long as I don't go hogwild and buyin over my limit!
>
> 5. Daily specials in various casino restaurants - Orleans has theirs,
> GC - theirs, and ST - deli is the best!
> Even TGIF (ST only!) has daily specials posted on a large display board.
> Very reasonable - aka coffeeshop special pricing <$10 meals!
>
> 6. SLS - Like LVA - at least a one-time vist must-see, while still new.
>
> 6a. Decor/design very sleek/modern - even casino banks of slots have
> newly designed displays (like stick-drawn people/faces with simple
> lighting), to hallway areas leading to nightclub that reminded me like
> Mandalay Bay / Russian Commie stuff. Graffiti wall. Not sure what it
> represents, but funky and different.
>
> 6b. - From Parking Garage area / Hotel registration area- carpeting had
> unique and classic vintage postcards imprinted with famous people - like
> Dean Martin/Sinatra and the Rat Pack, James Bond 60s era movie set
> shots, Sahara hotel scenery and cars/people dressed from the 50s, etc.
> Very nice to look at, but with all the foot traffic (it wasn't under any
> kind of plastic/walkway protection) and sunlight, I thinking it'll be too
> expensive to replace when it wears out.
>
> 6c - I didn't get any pictures, but ALL the table casino dealers had
> 'monkeys' as part of their printed dresscode. So I guess it is up to the
> players to try to get the 'monkey' off the dealers back? Goes along with
> their Monkey Bar (real bar and lounge) that had similar Monkeys
> everywhere (Paintings, rails, imprinted on booths, etc).
>
> 6d - SMALL / compact- is what I thought of their new casino. Most of it
> is where the Old Sahara's main casino was, but it seemed even
> smaller/tighter to me. Machines fairly close together - almost as if the
> casino is a boutique casino, central area, but around the outside are
> bigger venues - restaurants, lounge/bar areas, and hallway leading to the
> nightclub/pool, etc.
>
> The OLD casino that wrapped around towards NASCAR Cafe (and old cage)
> seem to have disappeared. I'm not sure if there are admin ofcs back
> there, but the new casino/public area ENDS about where the entryway /
> slot booth was in the front. THen that wall extends down the rest of the
> casino/resaurants fronting Sahara Blvd- it's as if the old area didn't
> even exist anymore....
>
>
> RANTS:
>
> 1. Even for Boyd - Time limits on when gift pts/bonuses can be earned.
> I've learned to 'read' the fine print. Time limits used to not be an
> issue on 'multi-pts' days - now its fromj 7am - 7pm, or 8am - midnight.
> Every casino/property is different.
>
> GC's extra Bonus Pts Sr day (5x vp) was from 7am - midnight. Most
> WEDNESDAYS are 7am - 7pm only, and a 10000 base pt max limit for the
> bonusing.
>
> 1A. Minor rant on B-Connected restaurants: Due to cutting
> corners/profit margins , etc. By 'Franchising' some of their
> restaurants (like TGIF in ST as their coffeeshop) those now charge 1000
> pts/$1 comp vs 600 pts/$1. Unless you ask, sometimes hard to know which
> restaurants are franchise vs casino owned (like KOJII inside Orleans is
> Franchised vs Oyster/Big Al's Oyster bar is casino at 600/$1).
> Not too big a deal, as long as they keep offering BONUS PTS days for
> their players.... otherwise the comps take much longer to earn (i.e. -
> less return to the player)
>
>
> 2. Stations is WORSE (as you know). 3x very deceptive advertising
> (basically equivalent to old sys- WITHOUT any true bonusing).
> As for their Gifts/giveaways - if for 'invited guests only' - at least
> they could still let players 'PLAY" to 'earn ' the gift....
>
> i.e - I would have played 500 pts min for the 20th Anniv T shirt, but
> since that wasn't even an option - I simply walked OUT the door.
> Bad marketing on their part.
>
> I still like the fact they have >100% vp - it's just those games will
> earn very little if any benefit in return.
>
> 2A - Fixed or Rolling 6 months period to earn the next tier levels. I
> wonder how your previous contacts who WERE formerly "Chairman" at
> Stations are doing? How about AP - does he even play Stations anymore?
>
>
> 3. RESORT FEES - Even Boyd has caught up with this one, Jon. Festival
> of Fun (June) was $99 + taxes, brought it up to 110.88 last timje. For
> August - I had prepaid, and upon checkout, an additional 9.99 or
> 11.99/day was added, a weird extra $36.23 was leftover balance I had to
> pay. I tried to discuss with the desk/registration supv- but they said I
> shouldv'e been charged those "Resort Fees" even in June. I guess this
> event/"Offer" is not a true 'comp'd' room offer (in which case then
> resort fees are waived!
>
> So I guess - if it's NOT FREE/comp'd room offer, then expect to pay their
> daily resort fee ON TOP of whatever the discount/event offer pkg cost
> are........
>
> It does now say (on the Festival of Fun Tournament postcard) at the very
> end in fine print "A daily resort fee per night will be charged ..."
>
> 4. Minor rant - Local SENIORS do / will lock up machines (guess they
> either got a good multiplier, or decided to park themselvses at a bank of
> machines like the 6 JB progs upstairs at ST). No way to deal with it
> other than to be polite and try to find other playable games in the same
> casino... (It seemed odd, though, that twice over 3 hours I walked by
> and although the machine was 'marked/locked reservedk, NOBODY every
> played one of the six machines)---long eating/break?
>
> 5. Games I like to play are sometimes in the WORST locations in the
> casino....
> Orleans - new bank of GREEN MultiGlass machines I found with the 9/6
> BPDeluxe, NSUD, have 1 side facing MAIN CASINO walkway aisle, where all
> people entering the casino from the Big Alligators entrance and walking
> towards tables games/sportsbook or Cafe, etc all walk by and sometimes
> don't pay attention - very DISTRACTING to vp player trying to play there.
>
> 5a - Volumes on such games as "WHEEL of FORTUNE" right by good vp (GC).
> or Caveman Keno....
>
> 6. Odors / rancid stenches. GC - get a clue. One Bathroom/public had
> the stall completely messed u p- looked like it needed major plumbing
> repairs, or had overflowed overnight, and was a big mess! I had to run
> out of there the smell was so bad.
>
> GC - in general - seems like some carpeted areas of the casino are NOT
> shampooed/vacummed or cleaned everynight like in the old days? A weird
> mixture of cigarette smoke, chinese food smells and that bathroom stench
> permeated parts of the casino. It's weird anyways to walk DOWN into the
> casino - was it always built 'below' pavement level to prevent
> burgularies ??
>
> i.e - the would-be casino robbers would stumble trying to run up the 5 or
> 6 sets of steps?
>
> At least on the Buffet end, they keep that part of the casino cleaner (at
> least where I played).
>
> 7. Needing to 'swipe' for coupons to printout and redeem for certain
> prizes. Why can't these just be auto-loaded after you swipe, and then
> you just enter a pin # or show ID for verification at the pickup area
> (for gifts, etc).
> Movie theater/buffet, I understand, as they probably need that for
> accounting, but for the casino gift giveaways and other bonuses, seems
> like they could save time and paper by electronically automating some of
> these things.
>
> 8. Construction zones - guess LV will continually evolve. I ran into
> certain street/construction zones that delayed my travels a few times -
> Desert Inn road is an ongoing wideing lane project. Certain parts of
> Flamingo Road, and I-15 has ongoing construction projects.
>
> 9 - Poker players who are bad, but seem to get lucky. In my first
> session of play- as you know, it's barely break-even to maybe profiting
> 1-2 BB's per hour, so promo hands only way to beat the game. With thin
> margins, having a player call your max raises with Ax any offsuit beat
> your pocket faces (J-Q-Ks), is ugly and happens alot - it seems. I'm
> hoping for the time, should I start to raise with AK, to have them
> DOMINATED and Ace flops, as long as they don't hit their kicker. That's
> the only other way they'll win (or wrap a ST around their kicker)....
>
> 10. I should be able to come up with a TOP ten rant - but I'm out of
> rants for now. Perhaps all the 'clueless' drivers in LV - who either
> drive too fast in public roadways like it's the Indy 500 OR too slow -
> not even paying attention - perhaps too tired/.drunk/old/ or just not
> caring for what others are doing and how they are causing possible
> accidents to occur while also rudely taking up more of other people's
> time..... by being in their way, when they could easily move to the far
> right slow lane....
>
>
> Sidenotes:
>
> Running out of Promo gifts - didn't happen to me - but if you decide to
> play towards the end of the timeframe (i.e 11am - 7pm, you arrive at
> 4-5pm to play a few hrs to get the gift), it might be wise to see if they
> still have any left, before you decide to play for the gift....
>
> As any promo - read the details! "Subject to Management, " (I.e. - they
> are the final say).
>
> Don't complain/rant too much over promos - we should be happy they still
> OFFER them!
>
> The good old days of Great VP (over 100%) PLUS bonuses are gone, but at
> least some of the bonuses still exist.
>
> And for my Dad - FPDW only, at Sapphire, he's getting $2/pt for $1/1200
> .08% comps or $1/2k (.05%) cb - very minimal, but considering the game
> he's playing, still doing pretty good.
>
>
> FUture - Who knows what the future 'advantage' plays will be? Will there
> even be anything worth pursuing by the time I retire?
>
> I suppose there will always be a cheap buy-in Poker Tourney somewhere -
> I'm just not sure if the ever changing vp/slot club bonuses scene will be
> around in the future...
>
