Just returned from a week in Vegas. I haven't read any reports as yet on how the Downtown Grand's Loss Rebate has worked out for people, since being reported here by Anthony in the LVA monthly newsletter.
So, here is my experience:
Never had a player's card here, and never set foot in the building prior to last Thursday. First, finding public parking was an issue, as at first glance, it appeared the only option was to valet park. I never valet park, even if it's free.
Fortunately, the multi-story parking garage across from the Grand has plenty of parking, and you need only get your parking ticket validated by the cashier to park free. Hurray!
Signing up for a new card was easy and quick as they had two boothlings at the Player's Card desk. I told her I wanted to participate in the loss rebate promo, and she signed me up, giving me the written rules, and kindly reminding me that I could only play slots, not video poker, to qualify for the rebate.
Off I went to the high limit slots room, a deserted little room in the back of the casino with empty tables and about 8 slot machines. All of them were the gimmicky five reel machines. I played through $200 in minutes, and decided to head out to the main casino for the rest of my play. That did not fare any better, playing a three reel old fashioned Triple Diamond machine (I think that's the name). It was underwhelming.
Deciding not to go for the whole $1000, I stopped after losing $800 . . . frankly, it was just boring.
Returned to the boothling to enquire as to the exact amount of my qualifying slot losses. She said it was $825.
Okay, I thought it was $800, but wasn't going to complain.
As a Non-local, I could claim half of my losses the following day. FYI, the day is a 24 hour clock from the minute you first start playing. Since I started at 2:30 on Thursday afternoon, that meant I could return to the Grand as early as 2:30 on Friday afternoon to start using my rebate (well, the first 50% of it).
By the way, they also had a separate promotion that day, earning points netted you a beach towel. I got two.
So, promptly at 2:30 on Friday afternoon, I returned to the Grand and presented my player's card at the booth. The boothling verifies the total amount of your loss, and then loads the free play on your card. This time, the boothling tells me that the casino ROUNDS UP, and that I actually lost $850, which meant that I was getting $425 to play off that day. Wow. Whoever heard of a promo where they ROUND UP your losses. Keep in mind that when I started play on Thursday, I simplified matters by placing ten one hundred dollar bills in a separate ziploc bag, so that I wouldn't over play to earn the rebate. I walked out on Thursday with two hundred.
Anyway, went straight to the Video poker at the bar in the middle of the casino, because your rebate IS valid on VP, thank goodness. Played a $1 DDB machine, which paid well. Seemed like I won most of my hands, so the $425 went a long way, and then was dealt quad 4's for a $400 payout (no kicker).
At the end of my free play, stopping exactly on the last dollar, I had in hand $825.
Awesome. So, I got back my slot losses all in one day. I still have left another $425 in free play through the rebate program. The next $215 or so is available beginning Sept. 1st, and is valid for two months (i.e. till November 1st. The second $215 is available beginning Nov. 1st, and is again available for two months.
The best way to work it is to travel to Vegas, assuming your schedule permits, for a week overlapping the two rebate periods, so you can redeem for the full loss rebate. Note that the rules expressly state that the player must wait 3 days (I think it is 3, not more) in between redeeming for the two rebate installments.
So, in my case, I'd redeem $215 on or about Oct. 27th, and then the rest on Nov. 1st.
In summary, the VP paytables were decent, and I got lucky with a winning VP machine. Slots were dismal, which is why I never ever play slots.
I'd recommend the rebate. If you are a local, obviously redeeming for the rebate is much easier.
So, here is my experience:
Never had a player's card here, and never set foot in the building prior to last Thursday. First, finding public parking was an issue, as at first glance, it appeared the only option was to valet park. I never valet park, even if it's free.
Fortunately, the multi-story parking garage across from the Grand has plenty of parking, and you need only get your parking ticket validated by the cashier to park free. Hurray!
Signing up for a new card was easy and quick as they had two boothlings at the Player's Card desk. I told her I wanted to participate in the loss rebate promo, and she signed me up, giving me the written rules, and kindly reminding me that I could only play slots, not video poker, to qualify for the rebate.
Off I went to the high limit slots room, a deserted little room in the back of the casino with empty tables and about 8 slot machines. All of them were the gimmicky five reel machines. I played through $200 in minutes, and decided to head out to the main casino for the rest of my play. That did not fare any better, playing a three reel old fashioned Triple Diamond machine (I think that's the name). It was underwhelming.
Deciding not to go for the whole $1000, I stopped after losing $800 . . . frankly, it was just boring.
Returned to the boothling to enquire as to the exact amount of my qualifying slot losses. She said it was $825.
Okay, I thought it was $800, but wasn't going to complain.
As a Non-local, I could claim half of my losses the following day. FYI, the day is a 24 hour clock from the minute you first start playing. Since I started at 2:30 on Thursday afternoon, that meant I could return to the Grand as early as 2:30 on Friday afternoon to start using my rebate (well, the first 50% of it).
By the way, they also had a separate promotion that day, earning points netted you a beach towel. I got two.
So, promptly at 2:30 on Friday afternoon, I returned to the Grand and presented my player's card at the booth. The boothling verifies the total amount of your loss, and then loads the free play on your card. This time, the boothling tells me that the casino ROUNDS UP, and that I actually lost $850, which meant that I was getting $425 to play off that day. Wow. Whoever heard of a promo where they ROUND UP your losses. Keep in mind that when I started play on Thursday, I simplified matters by placing ten one hundred dollar bills in a separate ziploc bag, so that I wouldn't over play to earn the rebate. I walked out on Thursday with two hundred.
Anyway, went straight to the Video poker at the bar in the middle of the casino, because your rebate IS valid on VP, thank goodness. Played a $1 DDB machine, which paid well. Seemed like I won most of my hands, so the $425 went a long way, and then was dealt quad 4's for a $400 payout (no kicker).
At the end of my free play, stopping exactly on the last dollar, I had in hand $825.
Awesome. So, I got back my slot losses all in one day. I still have left another $425 in free play through the rebate program. The next $215 or so is available beginning Sept. 1st, and is valid for two months (i.e. till November 1st. The second $215 is available beginning Nov. 1st, and is again available for two months.
The best way to work it is to travel to Vegas, assuming your schedule permits, for a week overlapping the two rebate periods, so you can redeem for the full loss rebate. Note that the rules expressly state that the player must wait 3 days (I think it is 3, not more) in between redeeming for the two rebate installments.
So, in my case, I'd redeem $215 on or about Oct. 27th, and then the rest on Nov. 1st.
In summary, the VP paytables were decent, and I got lucky with a winning VP machine. Slots were dismal, which is why I never ever play slots.
I'd recommend the rebate. If you are a local, obviously redeeming for the rebate is much easier.
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