First, a happy birthday to Brad, who turned 87 today – and is still loving and enjoying this casino gig we do!
Stations
Wonder if business is down for Vegas casinos? Full-page Stations ad in the R-J for “Bonus Multiplier Days!” Friday (today), Saturday, Sunday, and Monday (MLK holiday). 10x on slots (with no “up to”) and 6x WITH “up to” on VP.
Silverton
Silverton wants to attract customers but only those that play slots, according to their newspaper ad. They title it “New Silverton Rewards Club” and list $1=1 point on reels, more multipliers, and less points required on promotions. But there is no mention that it now takes FOUR times more coin-in for a VP player to earn a point: $4 = 1 point. They do offer 2x points for VP on MLK day, but that is still a double cut from their previous rate.
One bright spot if you like their buffet is that they are offering BOGO for it for all card tier levels on January 21. And if you play slots, you can enjoy 10x points that day.
Palms
The weirdness continues here. I guess I’m just not artistically cultured enough to appreciate the finer things of life. A dead fish cut in three pieces hanging from the ceiling costing I forget how many million. Now they paid $14 million for a 60-foot-tall bronze sculpture of a naked, headless ogre who will grace their new pool. I just wonder how much they will make on visitors who come to see these oddities and possibly will drop a few dollars in the slot machines but will never visit the Palms again.
What if they used these millions to put back in 9/6 Jacks of Better video poker machines – and floods of previously-loyal locals would come back to regularly play. Maybe the casino wouldn’t make a lot of profit on their play, but it would be steady – and they would bring their friends and relatives who often play the games that are more profitable for the casino. And they would eat in the restaurants and drink at their bars.
And many are seniors so they would fill the casinos in the daytime when the millennials are sleeping in or maybe some are working. They would leave before dark – they don’t like to drive at night – so would not crowd out the younger kids who actually might leave the Strip to see a dead fish cut in three pieces or a naked monster and then stay to buy overpriced drinks and party down.
Maybe turning 80 has softened my brain – but I am just not understanding casinos these days.
It was my pleasure to meet you and Brad for the first time @ Palace Station playing at the 99% machines. You and Brad are very open and nice people. I hope Brad had a wonderful birthday. Hope to see you again.
Clark
Happy Birthday to Brad!
Jean, it is not the age of your brain, it is the state of the spending by different demographics.
I recently returned from Vegas during the Rodeo in December. Even on the senior day, the casino was not as crowded as usual, BUT when 7 -12 midnight came. the place was packed.
The question is how much money is a casino making on evenings, and weekends from patrons who are willing to send $$ big bucks to drink, eat and gamble for a fun short trip to Vegas?? (If they can make more on Friday-Sunday WHO cares what they make on Wednesday) If those $ figures are published somewhere I am sure they are much higher than any totals seniors and regulars could spend.
PS I also found that the same was true at live poker. Just keep throwing your $ in and MAYBE you”ll be lucky on the RIVER…. No skill involved..
MO
The ridiculously priced artwork looks like a money laundering scheme.
So if senior and locals are not playing at the stations or boyd
were are they playing?
Happy birthday Brad! You look great.
Stations has clearly shown that they don’t care about VP players and no longer welcome seniors’ business.
Silverton has clearly shown that they don’t care about VP players and no longer welcome seniors’ business.
Palms has clearly shown that they don’t care about VP players and no longer welcome seniors’ business.
Boyd has clearly shown that they hate everybody.
We value-conscious, frugal types have to sadly acknowledge that the ideal casino customer is a drunken, slot-playing Millennial, and that we have changed from being tolerated to being actively discouraged from setting foot in a Vegas casino. They don’t want our non-losing butts in there.
There was–and maybe still is–another large headless statue, this one supposedly of Lenin, at the Mandalay Bay wine cellar. Wonder if they’re related….
Just my 2 cents but the Palms used to be our go to casino when we visited your “fair” city a couple times a year. We still get some decent offers in the mail from them but have no intentions of every going back. I used to be able to find a full pay DW, albeit at a $.25 max machine as well as a $.50 NSUD and a 10/7 DDB row of 6 machines but I’m afraid those appear to have been replaced with the spendy and ridiculous “decorations” you have described. I sincerely believe that we Seniors are not their target clientele any longer and could care less about us. There was and still is much to like about the Palms but if I can’t find a decent game to play then I’m out for good! Happy Birthday Brad, hope your special day is a wonderful one and with many more to come! God Bless, Terry Haile, Post Falls, Id
About the Palms reboot. We made a visit in Sep. 2018. We went into the new VIP reception lounge to meet our host like we had done for years. We were politely told we could not come here any more. We left and met our host at the check in counter. She was nice and told us new rules would no longer allow her to help us.
We had made over 50 trips to the Palms from the day they opened to Sep. 2018.
We will miss the Palms. I am sure some other casino will put seniors with a fat 401K.
Great you and Brad have located the Fountain of youth.
Keep your Blog going. We need you!
Oh you are so right! The casinos need to consider the needs of quiet loving daytime seniors!!
10 times in a row, I received 4x multiplier on VP at Stations. So much for “up to 6x.” They are clearly intentionally reducing their multiplier but yet advertise 6x with “up to” in very small font. It just irritates the heck out of me so I’m back to Boyd who at least offers 11x (really 5.5x) without trying to bait and switch you. Don’t you get tired of casino sleight of hand?
Jean, I agree with your assessment of what going on at the Palms. I used to play there 2-3 times a week, but when they removed all the NSU and 9/6 JOB machines I “retired” from playing there. I haven’t played there once since July 2018. The Palms did do a good job remodeling their buffet, but why did they make a separate entry register for Chairman and President players and let ANYONE, no matter their status, enter there. I walked away from the buffet many times because the Chairman and President’s line was long as the regular entry line. Also, I “retired” from playing at the Gold Coast on Sept 1, 2018 because of the changes they made. Now I see all the same familiar faces I used to see playing at the Palms and Gold Coast playing at South Point and Station casinos.
$14 million for a 60 foot tall bronze sculpture? Really?
Jean,
Loved your blog. Especially the commentary regarding Palms. Guess I too must be artistically challenged. A dead fish cut into three pieces ranks right up there with a rusty slab of iron, which proudly greets visitors entering St.Louis, Mo., at least did when I lived in the area.
I often stay at Red Rock Resort, using comps that I have been receiving for years. This past year I have gone almost exclusively to VP, and the comps that I am receiving these days have drastically changed. Although I do not live in LV, I have always received very good offers from Station. This year I did not receive an invitation to their New Year’s Eve party ringing in 2019, which I have received for the past six years or more. I guess that’s not such a big since I would probably be asleep by then anyway!.
Thank you. I have been enjoying your blogs and books for years.
Happy Birthday Brad!
Sharon Walker
Jean, I have thought for many years ago that when a casino does a renovation that cost many gazillion dollars, that it is a pay back to someone or a laundering. For the Palms, it seems it takes forever to finish a project at a big cost. I have not seen the items you mentioned but I can imagine the cost overload.
Always enjoy your thoughts.
Just left Vegas & things like amount of money in for a point has greatly changed. B-Connect takes forever to get one tier credit. Might have to change my thinking on where to stay. We never stay on the strip(to expensive). I have not calculated $ in for a point but if anyone has please let me know. Chasing comps doesn’t seem worth it anymore.
Happy b-day Brad. I saw you at Jean’s 80th, you did not look even close to 87. How do you do it ? I guess the secret must be to keep going to casinos and enjoying life.
George