After dealing with casinos for 36 years – and coping with the constant changes, especially the last five or so years of major downgrades – you would think I wouldn’t be surprised when I’m faced with a new negative casino wrinkle. However, I must confess that when I checked my e-mail in the car on the 4 ½-hour drive to Cherokee and read that the casino had just done some major downgrading – blackjack under $15 gone to 6/5 and tier requirements seriously bumped up for play on their best VP games – I was a bit jolted for the moment. But then I quickly came back to reality – this had been perhaps the best advantage play in the whole Caesars Empire for quite a few years; it was really surprising it had lasted as long as it did.
So…as I have done hundreds of times over the years when one casino advantage opportunity disappeared, I sat down when we arrived at the casino and starting figuring what our next best move could be. Fortunately, this would not be a hard decision for Brad and me this time. We had already decided, especially after Brad’s recent medical problems, that we were going to phase ourselves out of CZR after this Cherokee trip. So, we would just call it quits a little earlier.
However, since we were already in Cherokee, we would keep this Seven Star retreat reservation, a benefit we had already earned. In the past, we had always been careful not to “burn our bridges,” giving at least a little play whenever we were taking advantage of a casino benefit. However, this time we weren’t going to worry about our “reputation,” having decided we weren’t interested in having any future offers anyway. We were not going to play at all!
It was relaxing – Steve and Angela and we just using our $500 folio for lots of good food and in the retail shops looking for educational toys for our three great-grandchildren. We had a nice balance of accumulated Reward Credits that we could turn into cash, something we couldn’t do at other CZR properties.
We all four had a bunch of coupons good for free play, including $40 for taking advantage of their no-housekeeping program, those from monthly mailers, and about $1100 in airfare reimbursement. Angela and Steve got lucky on the slots and hit a jackpot that almost doubled their free play amount. Brad and I used ours on electronic blackjack and felt lucky that we got back the full free play amount. None of us were interested in doing recreational (non-advantage) play after we had run our free play through the required one time. We all decided we would rather use our money later for other entertainment choices. It was going to be so much more fun to come home from a casino with a fatter wallet!
This Cherokee experience also did something really important for Brad and me – and it may explain to some who have questioned why we are retiring within the next few months. I’ve already detailed the health reason, which is very important. But there is another – one about which Brad and I weren’t yet 100% sure. Was this something we really wanted to do?
But when we got the news about the Cherokee downgrades, instead of feeling sad and disappointed as we have reacted in the past, we both felt…. well… RELIEVED. We have 36 years of gloriously happy casino memories – but smart gambling is “work” as well as fun. We are ready to stop working!
Al, we were visiting family in Columbus, GA, which is about a 4.5-hour drive from Cherokee. We do plan to move to Columbus around the end of the year.
OK, I confess, I am confused by something. I had never heard of Cherokee Casino, so I was curious as to where it was. Jean’s writing that it was a 4.5-hour drive made me think it had to be in Central Nevada. But the Web says that it’s in North Carolina!! So did Jean move to the East Coast?
Just for the record: The Wizard of Odds is Michael Shackleford
Best wishes on your retirement. You’ve helped many people with your tips and common sense approach to gaming and comps
Jean, thank you for all the help on these blogs and in your books. I have been as Frugal as possible through the years of my first aquaintance with you through LVA (thanks to you, too, Anthony), beginning in 2000, and then “The Frugal Gambler.”
I think you and Michael Weatherford, “The Wizard of Odds,” have been my two most important “mentors” in gaming.
I am far from Seven Stars, but I think I saw you once in that line at Harrah’s New Orleans several years ago. I should have walked up and said “hello” to you, then, but…regrets are one of the saddest things in the universe.
Best wishes to you and your entire family of Frugals, human and literary, no matter which decade, or century, their “Frugality” began.
JEAN AND BRAD,
WE LOVE YOUR STORIES….
Congrats on your’s and Brad’s impeding “retirement” and thank you so much for the bevy of info on how to live large being a “frugal gambler”. We never pay for rooms in Vegas and rarely pay for food at the casinos with all the comps and coupons we use. It’s been a pleasure reading your books as well as your blog all these years. It is with much appreciation that I send this little note, and suffice it to say that I will continue to look for the best deals and games whenever I go to Vegas, and enjoy the ride as I do.
Jean – Years ago you said you would probably draw the line at pulling coupons out of the trash cans. At the Hilton showroom they put match-plays on the reverse of tickets. My spouse and I would collect left behind tickets from tables after the show. I found myself with my hand in the trash can at the exit… Whoops. Then we would hit roulette and play black and red opposite each other. Fun times.
It was you who prompted me to get my first host at the Palms just after it opened. Thus started my trek to get the best deal, most comps, and hunt for full-pay video poker.
Thanks for getting me started and helping me keep on track; I may not be a perfect AP, but I have certainly saved a lot by following you!
Congratulations on your retirement, Jean! Both my wife and I recently retired and it’s great. Living here in Las Vegas is an added plus.
I just wanted to let you know that you have been an inspiration for my wife and I over the years- my wife especially. She has always been thrifty, but after reading your books she doesn’t do anything without some sort of coupon or discount.( We were married in Las Vegas in 2002 – she had a 20% off coupon for the ceremony!) I don’t know how many times when headed out to play video poker she says, “Well Jeans says….” We’re not high rollers but listening to your advice has made us much “smart”er players. (yuk yuk)
I hope this is not your last posting. I think I will not be visiting the Las Vegas Advisor website as often if I know you are not going to be there. Take care to Brad and you!
Dear Jean,
I know I speak for so many when I say thank you for all you have done for us “frugal gamblers”. I know we will miss your articles, advice and stories. One of the great thrills of my many visits to Vegas was when you and Brad sat down next to me late last year at Palace Station. Jean, I never, ever, ask celebrities to take a selfie with me. But I did with you. It was such a delight talking to you. I hope you and Brad enjoy a wonderful retirement.
I have learned a lot from you over the years. I really hope that you enjoy retirement. I think the casino marketing departments and the casino owners need someone to get smart and decide to change the game. Bring back no resort fees, free parking, reasonable comps, 3/2 blackjack. Oh, they will lose money. NO, the casinos will actually make more money.
Congratulations on your “retirement”. You may have just given a tool to the kickback against the corporate juggernauts. If a significant minority of their tiered members were to do as you did and play out their benefits and leave, my guess is that they would quickly notice. Quite an interesting idea-a passive/aggressive rebellion.
Enjoy your retirement, hope Brad is doing well….
Good for you…..I am proud of you….for sticking to your guns……Take time to smell the flowers….enjoy your lives together…….This so important….Life is so special ….we are only here for a short time……Enjoy!!!…Happiness always…….!
Congratulations on your upcoming retirement. For the last 25 years, I have been coming to Las Vegas to enjoy myself. It did not matter if I won or lost ( Naturally if given a choice, I preferred to win ) but I was okay as long as a I enjoyed myself because I knew I was smart enough to only gamble what I could afford to lose. I took the time to purchase and use software that showed me the proper video poker play on any number of video poker games. Above all, I had fun, but now it is almost impossible to find games that give you a chance to basically break even if you get lucky. My wife, God love her, only plays the slots, but she too only plays what she can afford. Years ago she was a high roller in Blackjack and received many, many comps, but circumstances changed as did her bankroll. Now she too just plays for fun! For 20 years we received free room offers from Station Casinos, Caesars, Wynn, Encore, Silverton, Stratosphere, The M Resort and several others, but for the last 7 or 8 years we have pretty much relied on Boyd Casinos providing us our free rooms and other associated comps. Not anymore! Now that we only get to Las Vegas twice a year, we are no longer offered much of anything. We will be going to Las Vegas in October and by playing ” MY VEGAS ” on line, we scored several nights at the Mirage, as well as tickets to LOVE, Shark Reef, and assorted lunches and dinners at MGM properties. Needless to say, I will no longer be doing business with Boyd and their disappointing new club program. To be honest, I never liked staying on the ” STRIP “. I am getting up there in age and not able to walk as much as I did in the past, so I would prefer to stay elsewhere, but heck, I will put up with being on the strip in order to take advantage of MGM promotions and I will play at their properties in return for their giving me some freebies. But one thing is for sure. Win or lose, if I do not have fun, my days in Las Vegas are over. Thanks for all the great information you have provided for me and many others in the past!