I have waited to write this report, hoping I would have more good details for players who are looking for better opportunities. But conditions remain pretty much the same – or worse.
DOWNTOWN GRAND
This former Lady Luck Casino seemed to be a suddenly surprisingly good play – full-pay deuces wild – for a short time in July, but alas, to no one’s surprise, it disappeared fairly quickly. If you are interested in all the details, go to Bob Dancer’s July 30 column. Take note: they no longer give any points for video poker play.
BOYD GAMING
Things here continue to be in a state of confusion. On July 23 a planned software update for all of the original Las Vegas casinos took place but since then the players club program has not been working properly. My experience was only with the Gold Coast, but I was told there were problems all over town. For a week or so no information came up on machine card readers. You could swipe your card at the kiosk and qualify for bonus points, but did not know if your points were accumulating properly as you played. (Employees said they were but I have trust issues on this!) Finally, this last Wednesday, the last time we played at the Gold Coast, the points were accumulating on the card reader but there was no information to be had at the kiosks, as to how many points or tier credits you earned or your account balances. In the last few days I finally could get that information online. Fortunately, the kiosks were working properly to give you benefits you earned, such as those senior Wednesdays perks.
Speaking of Young at Heart Wednesdays, I do have one little frugal hint that I only recently discovered. The coupon for a free breakfast or lunch (or $5 off another food outlet) that you can get after earning one tier credit has a generous 48-hour expiration time. So perhaps you don’t play until after 3 p.m. on that day so you think you have missed the 3 p.m. lunch closing deadline. Remember you could use it at those buffets on either Thursday or Friday!
There is some good news for some Boyd players, including myself (but not Brad). We are getting notice of a “loyalty gift,” a tier bonus that puts us into the next tier level – from Sapphire to Emerald in my case. Don’t ask me how you get this. No one knows. Some players who played little after the players club change got a bonus. Some who played a lot got it. But not everyone in either of those categories got it. Who knows???? Do you think the powers-that-be are trying to do a little something to woo back the hordes of players who have left?
Not sure if anyone in the Ruby tier got this bonus. But if you didn’t, you are still in that sad case of earning no points until you reach Sapphire. [Correction here: Ruby does earn tier credits, just not spendable points.] Do you think the powers-that-be might be thinking that this was a terrible part of that new “improved” players club? I try to be optimistic – but it isn’t easy here!
GENERAL NOTE
I have written in the past that some casinos (particularly Boyd properties) offer multiple-point days in their mailers that are only open to those who get the mailer, not the general public. This month I noticed that my Station mailer (from Palace Station) did not mention their usual Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday multiple-point days (it did mention their senior Wednesday multipliers). But then I noticed that those days did appear in Scot’s Bonus Point List. Was that just an oversight on the Palace mailer and perhaps on all Station mailers? Anyway, just another reason to always check Scot’s list. I am figuring there might also be an ad in Sunday’s paper about these multiple-point days. We’ll see.
MGM Properties
Just read in the vpFREE forum that MGM, which usually had a standardized comp schedule for most properties, is starting to change to one that varies the earning rate depending on the game you play. Oops – fewer comps for those playing the better-EV video poker games!
The downward trend continues! 🙁
Odd COMP room offers showed up in online B-connected account, good in Sept/October…no idea when they showed up or how we qualified. I had a retired friend in SoCal (was Sapphire, might be Ruby this yr) and myself (still currently Sapphire). Seemed to be free rooms at properties we mostly played at (Sam’s Town, Gold Coast, Orleans). Up to 2 free, Su-Th, and NO RESORT FEE on comp’d room offers. No dates listed, just had to book online. Plan to use on upcoming visits in Sept/Oct–mainly to use up what comps we had left. Very Odd. Add to this for my dad (doesn’t get to visit much anymore)- but he (as Ruby) still had one or two of those Sam’s Town Cash Grab offers (2 free nights, select dates when they give away up to $500 to invited guests). Avg ~ $35-40 with a small dessert reception- I didn’t even think Sam’s Town had those anymore…. One never knows. But truly they’ve still not offered much for vp-only players. Martin
Boyd continues to baffle me. I’ve come in from Arizona 4 times already this year, which is abnormally high for me. The first 3 times, Boyd gave me free room, which they’ve been doing for several years although my play probably doesn’t warrant it. Formal offers (mailers or emails) stopped coming a couple years ago, but any time I go to the the website and check my (personalized?) “Ruby player’s rate”, I can get 2 or 3 or 4 free weeknights at most of their LV properties, almost any time I want.
The fourth time I came in, I stayed with friends. However I went to a Boyd property and the Kiosk gave me a free breakfast or lunch buffet. And I hadn’t even played yet. (This was during the period where the kiosks weren’t showing points.)
Not being a local, I don’t really care about Tier Points or levels. But they are certainly keeping me happy. Even if they don’t formally tell me so.
Hi Jean: I agree this current posting of yours. The Boyd computer system has been wacky for the last few weeks, but now the tier point counts are being recorded and shown properly on the card readers, kiosks, and on the website. I also don’t think anyone has lost any tier points during the period of the computer glitch. However, I have some other things to share with you folks — Boyd recently went to a computerized “comp” system as well. Now casino hosts are supposed to give you comps and post them to your players card. When you go to the restaurant to redeem them, they swipe your player’s card and it should take the comp from your card — well, it doesn’t work well. This past weekend I was at a Boyd property and the while I supposedly was give comps for my family on 3 different occasions, I now find crazy and nonsensical charges again my B-Connected cash back points and my Visa credit card account. The worst part is that the erroneous charges have no relation to my comps or my actual charges from the restaurants. Boyd management doesn’t know what has happened and are trying to figure it out now.
Another thing: I am pissed off about the gift tier points given out randomly to players. My daughter got 3000 gift tier points. But she was already sapphire and the additional 3000 tier points took her nowhere. But I know of 2 Boyd players who received 30,000+ tier point gifts pushing them to the Onyx level. Me, I got nothing, despite being a 40+ year player, averaging in excess of $1,000,000 in bets each year! So you can see why I am pissed.
I would also like to share some info with your readers. If you ever have a problem with your tier point count, go directly to the general manager — at least at the downtown properties. The B-Connected Manager at the downtown property is customer-adverse and won’t even talk to you, and won’t return emails or phone calls. I have no guess as to why she is still in that position since that position needs to interact with the public, especially during these times of Boyd’s trials and tribulations associated with their B-Connected program and computer system.
Being a 40+ year customer of Boyd’s, I am so frustrated and disappointed with their recent changes. They have gone from a place of great hospitality and fun to a place of frustration and chinziness. Couple that with their computer systems failures, it probably is time to find another casino corporation to give my business to.
Jean,
We’re going to Palace Station on the 21st of the month. I changed it from the 19th because the only multiple point day is senior Wednesday. Scott needs to update his list. I called Palace Station and the slot club confirmed that their promotions listed on the web site are correct. They don’t show any multiple point days like they did in July and June.
Gern,
That site you list is, at best, misleading. The rules for bconnected clearly state:
9. Tier Credits are based on the following (each a “Tier Credit”)
a. Electronic Gaming Device (includes Slots of VLT’s): $5 coin-in = 1 Tier Credit
b. Video Poker: Based on game played, average bet, and time played(where applicable)
Meaning that VP players have no idea what a tier credit cost is. Why anyone, including slot players, would join that club is a total mystery to me! Stations “Boarding Pass” slot club is far and away the better choice in Las Vegas.
May the royals be with you….Rich
Here is some more Boyd strangeness. The last time I was in a Boyd casino was October 2018 at Diamond Jo in Iowa. I’ve been a BConnected member for a long time, over a decade, but I am not a big gambler by any means. My October 2018 card was Ruby level. I generally play $.25 VP with a good table, max bet.
In preparation for a Sept. 2019 Vegas trip, I recently logged into BConnected to shop for a downtown room at either MSS or the Cal. My account showed 5,772 BC points, and zero Tier points. When I looked at reserving a room, they were comping me two nights (Monday and Tuesday) at either place! I’m not sure why as I haven’t played in the last six months at all, so as I read things, my BC points should be zero as six months have gone by. Needless to say, I made that reservation and my points are still there as I type this.
Did Boyd hand out comped rooms to existing members because of the messy rollout and experience with the new BC system?
Also, I came across this site that says 1 Tier point=$5 spent. I haven’t seen that elsewhere. $3,750 to get to sapphire? Yikes. https://gambliance.com/breaking-down-boyd-gamings-new-b-connected-players-club/
Ruby can earn tier credits and only tier credits so they can participate
In everything, just not get points—think downtown grand.
I got 24,900 extra tier credits, but they are supposed to be for next year. That’s twice what I had done this year. My best guess is that next year, points in per game will be 1/3 what they are now. I think they’re trying to remedy a gross over reach. When I responded to the surveys I detailed the math of how a video poker player would have to live in the casino to move up the ranks.
Now I may have to fight to remain emerald until I actually make the next tier on my own so as not to miss out on promotions like july’s Emerald challenge.
Re Boyd Gaming Ruby cards.
Ruby cards do earn tier points, they don’t earn any spendable points.
Jean,
Last month Boyd offered a “free dinner” at the Ft Myers Country Club for local Florida
patrons. To announce, $49/one way fares to Biloxi on Sun Country and “free nites”
at the Biloxi Imperial Palace.
Since the dinner, I’ve not received any mail offers from Boyd’s Imperial Palace for
“free nites”.
Has Boyd Gaming promotion department changing people?
Jean. We play at Sam’s Town when we visit. My hubby is ruby and I’m sapphire. He only plays video poker. So this past weekend he got two 800 point bonuses. Not tier credits but points. Go figure. And yes the kiosks and such were a little wacky but I could always get my points and tier credits online. The comps and such were all working ok.