Prepping for Atlantic City Visit and Frugal Get-Together
In my last blog, I popped the news that these days, I don’t always play advantage video poker when I am in a casino. Most of the time I do, but because of changes in my personal life circumstances and in the general casino environment, I’m also finding the joy recreational gambling can bring. If you missed reading that earlier blog, you might check it out. You might find it surprising, but perhaps helpful in coping with your current frustration with casino downgrades.
Having fun will be my goal when I, with Susan, my good friend and fellow senior resident in Legacy Reserve, head to Atlantic City August 9-12. Down through the years, Brad and I had scores of casino vacations, often taking along family. Most of these were almost completely free, thanks to the comps our heavy video poker play generated. However, because of my current limited play, I know that discounted vacations will be the more realistic goal for my future. But the savings can still be substantial. This trip is on a comped CZR air-charter package that includes airfare, baggage handling, and a room for 3 nights at the Tropicana Hotel, regular price of $800-$900.
As usual, I’m doing the research that I do before any casino trip. No matter what my goals are, I want to find the most frugal way to do anything and everything. I do a lot of Googling. I ask a lot of questions on my Jean Scott Facebook page — and a grateful thank you to so many of you who took the time to give me excellent helpful information.
I’ve been to Atlantic City quite a few times, but so much has changed over the years. Actually, the first visit was in another lifetime, a honeymoon getaway 63 years ago. No casinos were there back in 1958, but we loved the Boardwalk, which has always been a main attraction. I don’t recall many details of that trip, but I do remember the beach wasn’t crowded and we spent a lot of time cuddling on a blanket back in the grassy bush area of the sand dunes!
Brad and I have been there many times down through the last 39 years we’ve been visiting casinos. Back when we lived in Indianapolis, we made it a road trip. And once we took a train to New York City to sightsee at Christmas time, then made a bus side trip down to AC. I’d have to pull out my records that are packed away to see when we were there last, but it might have been 10 years or so ago. Not much incentive to go there once we moved to Las Vegas in 2000.
Susan and I plan major beach time and sightseeing this trip, but we’ll also be spending some time in casinos. Although Susan isn’t a serous gambler at all, she is interested in my showing her the ropes around casinos. And since my goal is to have fun, I’ve suggested we just roam around and play all sorts of games. I soon realized my best resource to do this frugally was to grab my copy of The Frugal Gambler Casino Guide.
“Whaaat!” you may ask! “You wrote that book. Don’t you remember what you write?”
Actually, I don’t always remember all the details of old writings. And when I wrote the chapter, “The Casino-Game Buffet,” in that book six years ago, I wasn’t thinking that I’d ever use all that information myself. This book was an update of the information in all my previous books and I included that chapter because I could see the serious downgrade in good gambling opportunities happening all over the country and knew players might be broadening out their choice of games. Brad and I were still living in Las Vegas and could still find advantage VP plays at that time, although we were finding our edge was getting thinner and thinner. But I didn’t foresee the changes coming in our personal life circumstances or how a pandemic would so drastically ruin the advantage-play environment for so many. However, I did stress in the book how I would be changing the emphasis in my writings: less about how to win and more about how to lose less.
Now, I needed to refresh my memory, studying that chapter that covered every game you might find in a casino and the smartest way to play each one in order to lose less. That will be a big part of the prep I’ll do for this trip. I know about video poker and blackjack, but what about Three Card Poker, Casino War, Ultimate Texas Hold ’em, Pai Gow Poker, big six, baccarat, roulette, and craps? Not that we’ll play all of them or that they’re all offered, but I do know we’ll tackle the slot machines. And I wrote a whole separate chapter in that book, giving the many ways to stretch your bankroll when playing this most popular choice. I’ll need to read that one carefully!
In the last blog, I mentioned that there was interest in a Frugalite get-together during my visit. Yes, it is going to happen!
It’s hard to arrange something complicated that needs reservations and a lot of organization. So I’ve chosen to plan an informal meet-and-greet, 4-6 p.m. on Wednesday August 10, in the Tropicana Hotel food court. No RSVP needed. Feel free to come and go or stay the whole time. Perhaps some Internet friends will enjoy meeting in person. I know all of you will enjoy chatting about gambling and sharing casino experiences. I will and I’m looking forward to meeting old and new Frugal friends.