Q: I was wondering what ever happened to the Station Casinos plans to start an online gaming site similar to that of MGM’s My Vegas. If memory serves me correctly, you wrote about it several months ago, but I have yet to see any information on this project. Can you enlighten me with regards to their progress?
A: You must have missed reading my May 30th blog, “”June Casino Promotion.” There I announced the launch of this program and gave the link where you could sign up and get all the details. https://play.sclv.com/ They offer a signup bonus and run frequent promotions.
A related note: For those who don’t want to miss any of my blogs, it is easy to sign up to receive an email each time I post. Go to any previous blog page and you will see a “Subscribe” feature. There has been a bit of an issue recently with this, but it is now working well.
Q: Could you explain progressive video poker and the point that the game goes positive?
A: This is a complicated subject that needs much explanation to be really helpful to a video poker player. You can Google the subject and find many resources, including my book Frugal Video Poker, which has a whole chapter on the subject. And for those who like to play progressives, perhaps the most essential tool needed is my handy checkbook-size spiral-bound booklet, The Frugal Video Poker Scouting Guide. Not only does it contain 184 paytables for 37 of the most popular VP games in U.S. casinos and their expected return, something that will make your scouting easier for non-progressive games, but it gives the break-even progressive point for over 150 games, both for quarter and dollar machines. You can order both of these here on this site at SHOPLVA.
Q: In your last blog, you steered us to an article by John Grochowski on the 888casino.com site. Looking around the site I realized it offered online gambling but I could not access that feature. Why not?
A: I should have given more details about that site. The 888 live casino is a popular online casino site in Europe that enables users to play against live dealers just like a land casino, but it is only available and legal for US real-money play in New Jersey, where you have to be physically present within the boundaries of that state. People in other states will not be able to gain access to that section of the site, but there is much helpful information in the sections open to everyone anywhere.
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And now for a rhetorical question Brad and I discussed recently, while shopping for a special light bulb in the electrical aisle of Home Depot: Should we buy a “regular” one or pay a lot extra for the LED one that is marked as lasting for 22 years. What is the frugal answer for a couple who is 78 and 85?
I don’t like LED lighting in homes. Outside… flashlight..cars ok. Buy the light you like. It’s not worth being frugal over. Remember you’re the Frugal Gambler not the Frugal Light Bulb lady..HA HA
A bit late but if replacing the light bulb will become more difficult in the future, replace now with the LED bulb. If not, consider the other factors brought up by the other respondents.
1. LEDs are more environmentally friendly. This includes not just the lesser power consumption but also the materials used to make them (fluorescent bulbs contain mercury; incandescent lamps use tungsten, which requires extensive mining to produce).
2. Incandescents radiate heat; in fact, over 95% of the energy consumed by the bulb is radiated as heat, not light. Good for Minnesota. For Vegas, not so much.
3. Fluorescents, aside from casting a pretty ugly light, can be migraine triggers for some people.
4. Anything that lasts longer than its counterparts, pretty much whatever it may be, is a socially responsible choice to make in a purchase decision.
5. Who says you’re not going to live to be 100 and 107???
My wife and I will be staying Down Town on Aug. 28, her 79 birthday. I will be 79 on Dec. 19. Do you know any casinos that have a special on your birthday.? This will be our 53 visit to Las Vegas since we went for the first time on our 25 anniversary in 1984. It will be our last tripe to Las Vegas. We have had a great run but the 5 and a half hour flight from New York seems longer every time. We have stayed at almost every casino on the strip and every one down town any some that are no longer. Thank You for all your help through the years.
I don’t about Nevada but in Colorado Costco offers a great buy on LED bulbs due to an instant rebate by the local power company.
I just looked at the STN Play web site and the only benefit I was able to find is the intrinsic joy of playing online slots for no money (although you can spend money to play the online casino longer, without any chance of winning), and you cannot earn any kind of credit or freebie at the station casinos for playing. Linking your STN card will give you more bonus points in the online casino, but playing the online casino will not get you anything with your STN card. Is that accurate?
I am in California and maybe it is different if you are playing in Nevada.
Try a store called Batteries Plus Bulbs; they frequently have excellent sales on LED bulbs. We were able to get a packs of 3 bulbs (equivalent of 60 watt indoor/outdoor) for $5 a couple of months ago.
Here in SO CAL, there are often instant rebates so check store ads or online before shopping. For example, ceiling can light LED bulbs can be purchased for $8 or so, or LED replacement fixtures (looks more modern) for about the same. As stated in another post, it is more about cutting energy cost and it doesn’t take long to save $8 thus you are being frugal.
It used to be when I went to buy a light bulb the decision was 25 /40/60 or 100 watt and you could get 4 for a dollar , even today for not much more. Today Walmart , Home Depot etc have whole aisles filled with dozens perhaps hundreds of different LED light bulbs in different sizes and lumens at prices that blow you away. For the cost of one LED bulb I could purchase enough 40 watt bulbs to last me more than 22 yrs. And by the way, good luck in getting your money back if it fails after 21 yrs and that’s providing you still have a receipt. I have already had some of those long life LEDs burn out while I am still alive so I don’t know how good their long life claims are.This pretty much sums up of what I think of LEDs.
You might try one in between those. The spiral fluorescent.
We have the LEDs and fluorescent.
Another number in the mix, Heat factor. The fluorescent generates less heat than standard while LEDs are less than those. Las Vegas is much like where we live when it comes to hot summers. Oh, we also buy the bright white or daylight.
Regarding your question about the LED bulbs: your age isn’t the issue. The reduction in electricity use is the issue. LEDs use less, last longer. Unless you drop one, then you’re screwed. I don’t know if there is gas in these? We have several neons lights and I know there is gas in those.
Be an optimist. Buy the LED bulb!