I’m always looking for new information that can help me make more frugal decisions when I visit casinos, including dining choices as well as where, what, and when I will play. Some of this information I discover is new because the casino has changed or introduced a new policy or program; some of the information is only new to me, either because I hadn’t been in that casino or I had just overlooked or forgotten some of the benefits. But whatever the case, here are some pieces of information that might help you have a more frugal casino experience:
- That read-the-fine-print drum I have been pounding on for a thousand years must be mentioned again here to be sure you didn’t miss this recent downgrade. Station’s MyGeneration program has long time offered 10x/6x points for senior Wednesdays. Now that 6x for video poker is “up-to 6x.” This has been changed on their website, a reason that I have encouraged you in the past to check the benefits each month as the details can change. If you get the monthly Station mailer and check the calendar, you will see that change, but get out your magnifying glass to see that tiny “up to.” Actually, many of you recently missed this same “up to” in their newspaper ads telling about special multiplier days. And did you notice that the Palms logo is missing on many of these promotions described in the newspaper ads? And remember that the Palms does not participate in the MyGeneration program that is in place at all the other Station properties. No special benefits for us oldsters there!
2. Here’s a policy at Station casinos I didn’t know about – one that isn’t widespread, I don’t think – but might be wise for some players, especially elderly ones who want to be sure that benefits aren’t lost if one member passes away.
Up to two (2) eligible Boarding Pass members residing at the same address may link accounts to share Boarding Pass points. Both members must be present with valid photo identification at the Rewards Center to link accounts. Either member may request that a link be removed from his/her account in person at the Rewards Center with valid photo identification. Each Member of a linked account will be issued an individual Boarding Pass program card and account number. However, all Members on a linked account may modify any linked account data and will share Boarding Pass points. Visit the Rewards Center for additional linked account details.
- Palace Station’s new buffet is very similar to the new one at the Palms. Although the prices at the Palms are reasonable compared to other more-upscale buffets in town, the prices at Palace Station are even lower. Check them out here. And if you are at one of the top two tiers, President and Chairman and paying with your points, you get that hefty 50% discount on top of these low prices for a party up to four. Platinum tier gets a 25% discount for party of two. (These discounts are in place for buffets at all Station properties.)
4. At Harrah’s Laughlin, if you have a Las Vegas address, you are considered a “local” and can get their half-off local discount on the breakfast/lunch (brunch) buffet. I didn’t ask how far “local” goes but perhaps it goes wider in NV and/or includes Bull Head City and wider areas in Arizona. Just ask!
5. More and more food coupons require careful reading. Here are some fine-print restrictions I have recently run across:
- “One coupon per table” rather than the more usual “One coupon per person.”
- “Not valid on holidays.”
- “Offer Monday through Friday only.”
- “Not valid for Specialty or Seafood dinner”
You might be asking now why I am not adding new details and explanations about the new Boyd Gaming players club here.
I will tell you why not! I am exhausted trying to find verified answers to the many questions this drastic downgrade has raised. I have read everything from official company sources I can find and so much is not spelled out clearly. I have talked to numerous employees, many in management positions, but I am getting extremely conflicting explanations. If the employees don’t know what is going on, how do we players have a chance of understanding? (Be careful reporting a “fact” because you heard it from a host or someone in management – most employees mean well, but it seems corporate has put out a “line” that the employees are to parrot, but it often seems just like hype, and doesn’t always make math sense!)
I will keep up my research, and just as soon as I find out some definitive information I will post it here. In the meantime, the discussion is still raging on vpFREE. You can check out resources I gave in my last blog. I do have one more to add – the Young at Heart rules for the downtown Boyd properties. One of the differences from the others uptown is that they still have a cap on the number of bonus multiplier points.
The huge number of comments on my last blog will be helpful reading for many of you, suggesting ways to cope with this major change, including new casinos to which to move their play. More discussion is encouraged following this blog, by using the “Comments” feature.
To Teresa. Next time u come to Las Vegas stay at Red Rock. it is a beautiful Casino with advantage play . It also was the place where one of Station’s owners daughters got married. It only cost $25M.
Like Greg said, the facebook pages are deleting and hiding comments about the change at Bconnected. I have emailed bconnected and my daughter did too. As a visitor and recreational player, the things I cared about did not change. But as a prior local advantage player who LOVED Sam’s Town even as far back as the 80s, I am broken hearted to see them do this. It gives me less confidence that I am choosing the best casino if I go there on my next trip. In asking about points, in addition to the same stuff you found out, my daughter was told one dollar played in Bingo earns you 6 points and every six dollars buy in earns one tier credit. The next trip my family will make will be sometime around Cmas or as late as Feb. I will be watching for the local’s comments between now and then while I decide where I want my loyalty to be placed.
Hello. Stop the whining and do not play at Boyd anymore. BTW a free room at Mandalay is not good. It’s like getting a pass for the TITANIC!
Boyd group continuing to delete posts on Facebook when people question the rhetoric that Boyd staff are posting on Facebook about the new loyalty club. Instead of answering questions posed, they delete posts for the most part. It’s a bad look and reinforces at least my thoughts about the bait and switch they pulled at the VIP unveiling party before the new program was announced to the public. Instead of being transparent, they are having staff say how wonderful the program is and how easy it is to move up. It just gets people to not trust whatever comes out of Boyd anymore. Sure, they are in business to make money and maximize shareholder value but the way they are attempting to increase shareholder value through a non-transparent program for formerly loyal patrons is not an ideal way to increase revenue/operating margin, etc. On top of it, Boyd is essentially taking points away from patrons who can not visit at least every six months and the answer to this issue by staff … zero out your points during your last day of your visit. A lot of good that does a patron who is not planning to be in the area of a Boyd casino in the next six months from today’s date. Although this was probably never the case, Boyd at least gave off the vibe that they cared about the mid tier player and they appreciated what a low to mid-tier player brought to the table. That went a long way with my when deciding where I was going to stay and gamble.
Lastly, I know some may disagree but a lot of the Boyd patrons were loyal to the point of sticking with their properties despite a better deal existing at another property group. As has been stated, their staff were polite, they cared about their customers, etc. It was worth it to give up a few tenths of a percent on a video poker game if it meant staying where you felt appreciated and having a pleasant experience. I looked at them as an alternative to the strip corporate mentality. However, over time, Boyd took on more a strip-like mentality and cemented that with this loyalty program. Boyd … you are not the strip and your properties are not strip quality. At least in regards to the Las Vegas market, Boyd built their company up by offering a very good product to people who did not prefer the strip casinos for various reasons. At least that is how I switched over to them. They seem to be leaving the market/patron behind that made them successful.
I saw the writing on the wall with Boyd this year when for a smaller amount of play, I started getting rooms cheaper or for free at Mandalay Bay or the Mirage compared to Orleans/Gold Coast. The Caesars group also offers free rooms at their mid tier resorts for less coin in than seemingly required at Boyd (for the same time period/dates of travel).
In short, as expressed by others, time to move on from Boyd. Will try out the D and Plaza on my next trip. Will keep going to El Cortez as it is an enjoyable place and has a good loyalty program. Four Queens has a very good program/machines and still is sticking with no resort fees.
I wonder, Lynn, if it’s because Boyd doesn’t really want you to know how few points you are actually accruing?
Ive now noticed that at Orleans and Gold Coast when playing slots or vp they no longer show you your daily point total in that little box. They now simply say “good luck” I wonder why they no longer want you to know that?
Thanks for letting me know about the point sharing at Stations.
Thank you Jean Scott for all the energy you are expending on the Boyd issue. Your perseverance and willingness to share your knowledge is greatly appreciated. We are almost exclusively Boyd Gaming players and we want to know how we are adversely impacted.
Aloha,
John M. Tamashiro