Posts by: queen of comps

Resources + Gifting

I find the more I check Vegas/gambling informational sources, the more interesting activities I find and/or the more money I will save.  Here are some on my checklist:

Vegas4locals – one of the best places to find free and/or inexpensive things to do in Vegas, with tons of information for both frugal locals and visitors alike.

MarksLasVegas  –  Click on the tabs at the top of the website for both gambling and Las Vegas info, including interesting information under “Offbeat and Tidbits,” helpful info if you need medical help while staying on the Strip, and the Bellagio Fountain Show song list.

Thrillist.com recently posted an eclectic list of a whopping 45 free things to do in Las Vegas, including some offbeat possibilities I had never read about before.

And sometimes I just run across some articles on interesting subjects. Here’s one about Vegas opening a gambling court.     And here is one that describes one man’s quest to make money in minor casino games with unusual and mostly little-known techniques.

Holiday Gift Ideas

Speaking of resources, are you looking to buy a holiday gift for a gambling friend or relative who likes to visit casinos?  I recommend you check out the LVA holiday catalog.  There you can find books for the professional gambler as well as for those who just enjoy casino games as a recreational choice.  There are also selections for those who are looking for general information about Las Vegas, including a guide to restaurants all over town.

And for the frugal, check out the section of the LVA Shop highlighting products that are on sale.

There is also a special Jean Scott section. Some have asked me whether they should pick up my new book, The Frugal Gambler Casino Guide, if they already have read/studied my other books in the Frugal Gambler series. That depends.  Long-time experienced gamblers might not find much new but casual players might find it helpful for my discussions about the new changes in the casino world.  It is the perfect book for newbie gamblers and for those who are thinking about choosing new games.   I have expanded the book to cover all casino games, listing the casino edge for each one and giving techniques to reduce that edge. So although it is a good VP primer, the information on players club and comp systems would help most players in a casino make their gambling bankroll stretch for more casino fun time.

More Frugal Gambling is still the best place to start to learn about the complex casino comp system. This is still the only book that covers this subject in depth, and it will give you a solid base to understand better the updates in the more recent Guide book. The “Frugal Gambler Video Poker Scouting Guide” pocket-size booklet is a must-carry for VP players who are looking to play the best games.

I am feverishly working on bringing out the 4th edition of Tax Help for Gamblers, a necessary update with all the recent tax changes in 2018.  Russell Fox, a noted EA and tax preparer, has come on board to help me with all the major ramifications for gamblers.  We would have liked to have had this book out yesterday, but we are having to wait for the “beloved” IRS to bring out the 2018 tax return forms.  I will let everyone know when the new book is available but I figure now it won’t be out until after the first of the year.  Just hoping the government will see the need for the new forms VERY SOON.

 

 

 

 

 

More “What to Do?”

I have been getting questions right and left from players pleading with me to give them more information on how to cope with the increasing torrent of casino cutbacks. So, I was just preparing to write on this subject when Bob Dancer recently addressed these issues right here in the Gambling with an Edge section.  You need to read “What Now?”  He, as I have also often stressed, was not able to mention specific plays at specific casinos; there is no one-size-fits-all here.  But he gave some general ideas and options that can give some guidance to those who are looking to continue playing skilled VP.

Then, as I was thinking about what other ideas I could add to this subject, I decided to look at my past blogs to see what I had already written. I certainly don’t remember everything I write and I hate to be repetitious!  In my search I came across a 4-part series titled “When Casinos Cut VP Benefits.”  What surprised me was how long ago I wrote this.  Part 1 appeared on March 19, 2015, followed by the next three parts off and on into April.  No wonder we VP players are worn down; we have been suffering these gradual cuts for years now.

I thoroughly discussed the problems – and possible coping options – in this series that I would encourage  VP students to read – or re-read.  Sad to say I really don’t have any new ideas.  I try to stay positive as much as possible but sometimes it is hard to sugar-coat the bitter reality.

Although I find it difficult to write negatively, even when it is the truth, I am glad that sometimes my readers will use the “Comment” section to “tell it like it is,” at least from their point of view.  And I always encourage you to read that section which sometimes has as much helpful information as the blog itself. With that in mind, I am going to end this blog with a “comment” that appeared back during that series (2015), written by Kevin Lewis, a long-time reader.  I don’t always agree with Kevin and his oft “black outlook,” but here he has nailed a reality we all must take into consideration.

I knew dozens of wannabes back during the big VP explosion. They all went broke, with a single exception, even though Vegas was so full of 102%+ opportunities–many of them with very little risk–that the problem was not to find such plays; it was to choose the very best ones. At that time, you could play in a flawed fashion, in terms of game selection, precision of play, etc., and still realize a profit. Not so today–ONE hole in your play and all the money leaks out.

For that matter, it’s quite possible to get destroyed on the best plays available today. Rarely can you manage to get above 100.5%, so any significant royal drought and the ol’ bankroll takes a dive. That’s the crux of the problem with video poker in general–when your overall return, and your journey into positive territory, utterly depends on an event which should take over 40,000 bets to happen occurring as often as it is “supposed” to, you run a substantial risk of going broke, or at least losing. This would be true even if the game returned 102%.

Unfortunately, most of the (very) few remaining plays require forays into High Volatility Land, so a player who was comfortably ensconced with low risk of ruin and is forced to change, because of destruction of the games/plays he was used to, will often find himself out of his (bankroll) depth. That’s what is killing players, either “advantage” or “skilled,” today–they are taking double hits: lower EV AND higher volatility. It’s amazing how quickly you can get snuffed out when you’re moving 20K an hour through a machine with only an 0.5% edge (such as playing NSUD at Coasts on a 7x point day). For an all-too-brief period, this problem could have been addressed via comps, mailers, and promos making up for loss of EV–but recently, EVERY casino has tightened the screws. Now, you’re lucky if after running $500,000 through a machine, you get a complimentary T-shirt.

For the above reasons, I consider VP to be unplayable, particularly in Vegas, even though nominally positive plays still exist. I am reminded of a British politician’s comment comparing diplomacy to making love to an elephant: “There is no pleasure in it, you run the risk of being crushed to death, and it is years before you see any results!” He could have been talking about video poker in 2015.

And maybe even more true in 2018!

More November News and Promotions

VETERANS DAY

Most of the free buffets for military members and veterans will be on Monday, November 12th, but some Boyd properties and South Point are running their promotions on Sunday, the 11th.  South Point is one of the few that includes a free meal for a companion.  However, I must warn you that you will have a long, long wait in line no matter what time you go there.  This has always been the case in years past but it may be worse this year since at this time their buffet is limited both in menu and space due to on-going renovation.

And I just saw an ad in the newspaper that might interest you, if you want to take a short Sunday road trip to Mesquite.  The Virgin River and Casablanca Casinos are offering veterans and military personnel a free buffet on the 11th, all day long from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., plus a guest eats free also.  You must present military ID or DD214.

Don’t assume you are prepared because you have participated in a Veterans Day promotion in years past.  Before you go, be sure to check casino websites for details about dates, times, and what they require for identification to qualify.

HARD ROCK

The players club is in a transition period and most – all? – promotions and benefits have disappeared.  Look for a new club to be introduced after the first of the year as the new owner turns the Hard Rock into a Virgin property.

TUSCANY

Some new details about their senior program:

New Look, Same Club!

Free coffee every Thursday in November. $39/$65 Room rates for November & December. Pick-A-Gift Thursdays for 50/50 Club Members when you earn 250 points! Senior surprise scratch offs – earn 250 points, scratch up to $500 in Free Slot Play every Thursday in November. See Players Club for details.

CAESARS PALACE 

Perhaps this is old news because we don’t visit this casino very often anymore, but I just noticed they have the neatest system to help you find an empty parking space in their self-parking garage. There are little lights running above each parking space:  red, if the space is occupied, green if it is open, and blue if it is an open handicapped space.  So easy to scan and easily find your closest spot.

(Our more-recent experiences in this garage is an extremely small sample, and maybe we were there on a normally slow time or day, but we no longer have the problem we used to have in trying to find a parking space.  Hummmmmm…charging for parking just may be having a bigger negative effect than the casinos will admit to?)

TIRED OF HUNTING PROMOTIONS?

Here’s a neat list of places in Vegas you could visit to take your mind off disappearing casino benefits. One even has to do with sex, which is always a good subject to help you forget about life’s disappointments!

 

 

NOVEMBER PROMOTIONS

It’s getting harder and harder for me to write this monthly update here and stay positive.  Just so many downgrades and negative changes! ☹   But I will continue to hunt for new good opportunities and give helpful hints on how to navigate these stormy promotional waters.

 

SOUTH POINT

Here is one port where you can dock sometimes this month and take advantage of a good promotion, especially for VP players who are choosing the best paytables.  They are running one of their popular earn-and-redeem gift-card promotions, with the opportunity to use $25 in slot points for a $50 Walmart gift card.  As long as you are playing for this offer – up to a limit of 10 cards – that is the equivalent of 2x points (worth .6% instead of the regular .3%).  This is especially appealing because this casino has been cutting down on their 2x bonus days, running other types of promotions on holidays which in the past were usually multiple-point days.

 

STATION CASINOS

Lots of stormy weather here, with extremely cautious navigation needed  to avoid crashing on the rocky shores. You need to get out your magnifying glass to read your mailer and its calendar, the online information on the casino websites, and newspaper ads.  That tiny print “up to” is popping up all over the place, not just for VP multipliers but for slots also.  It makes those weekly Multiplier Mondays and Tuesdays not as attractive as they might look on first glance.  And keep the magnifier out for the gift offers and see which gift is available in what casino.  Then be aware that Palms is still the red-headed stepsister and does not have all the same offers as the other properties.  When you see an offer you like, check the casino logos; for example, Palms does not participate in the Wednesday senior day programs as at all the other properties.  I guess the Mother Station does not like us older siblings but I’m not sure why not – we have more money and more time to spend in their casinos!

 

BOYD PROPERTIES

I have covered the disaster of their new players club at length and will continue to do so in the future, but for the moment, I have little advice on how to navigate in this Category 5 hurricane.  Many players have just fled the area, looking for new seas to sail.  Some of us have put into dock only on 11x days, giving up any long-term plans to work for our usual higher tier status.

 

OTHER VEGAS PROPERTIES

Brad and I have cut down on our play, both on the number of days we want to go out and the length of the sessions when we do go out.  We also limit our driving range. Therefore, I have less personal experience to share, having to depend on reports from other players, either personal contacts or those who post on Internet forums, to learn about other possible “good” places to play VP.

But I still can give the best basic formula for a person who wants to find new VP opportunities.  This formula will work not only if you a Vegas local but for players who are locals in other casino venues and/or who are willing and able to do some traveling.   Go to vpFREE2 and do an extensive research on every casino you might be able to visit, especially those you may have never considered.

Then you look for the game inventory and see what good games you either already know or could learn and what their EV is.  And then you click on the slot club tab and see what that benefit is worth. (Players are always telling me that they can’t figure out the slot club value – you don’t have to be a math genius – you can just look it up!)  You add those two figures together for a base number.  I’ve told you how to do this in umpteen blogs over the years.  If you are a new reader or have forgotten this stuff, go to the 3-part series I wrote about “Using Math to Choose a VP Play.”

Although this is just a start, you need a firm base number.  Then you look for multiple-point promotions (see Scot’s bonus-point list).     Then you regularly go to the casino’s website to look for other promotions.  You read the VP forums where they may discuss comp policies and other valuable benefits. You can talk to other players who may share information.

Sailing a turbulent promotional sea is not an easy job.  You have to keep a strong grip on the ship’s wheel so you don’t end up shipwrecked on the rocks.

A Blast from the Halloween Past

Long-ago writings from Frugal Fridays that bring back happy memories:

10/28/2000

My favorite holiday — Halloween — is coming up and it’s especially fun to celebrate in Vegas. Many casino employees will be in costume, and casino Halloween parties abound. I will be dressed up for the occasion, but not attending any of the numerous parties to which we’ve been invited. Too many slot club bonuses on October 31 — it’ll be hard to pick. The Hard Rock, for example, will be giving 4X comp points. You can earn double points at all four Coast properties. (Note: Suncoast is awarding double, not triple, points, as was earlier reported in the LVA.) Look in the local newspaper for last-minute promotions. However, a word of caution: Make your costume as funny, as scary, as unique as you wish — but don’t wear a mask when you are in the casino. Masks make Security very nervous!

Speaking of costumes: A Discovery Channel TV crew was at Silverton last Friday night, filming all of us in our jammies. It was a “Graveyard Slot Tournament,” in which Silverton guaranteed to double any cash prize if the winner was wearing nightwear. Even Brad, who usually hates costumes, got into the spirit, although I had to go to the store to buy him a pair of PJs. Don’t worry — I shopped for them frugally at a local used-clothing store. And they’re now packed away carefully — in case he ever goes to the hospital and would need them.

And a way-way-back photo!

And I expect if you see us today, I’ll have on some Halloween orange but Brad probably won’t!

Jean’s Story – Part 6 – Adventure Down Under

After our long cruise-ship trip from Europe (described in Part 5), we arrived in the Australian harbor of Sydney and then traveled the 400+ miles to Melbourne where we quickly settled into our rented house in the suburb of Glenroy.  Son David started first grade, and husband Earl started teaching science at the government-assigned high school where a position had been waiting for his arrival.

My immediate project was to “finish our family” before I turned 30, and I missed that goal by just a little over a month.  Baby Angela arrived on February 2, our little Aussie (who would have dual citizenship until she was 21).

We loved living in Australia and adjusted quickly to driving on the left side of the road and celebrating Christmas in the hot summer of this down-under land with the reversed seasons.  Our love of travel took us on frequent sight-seeing road trips, short weekend camping trips around Melbourne and longer vacation outings to Sydney and up and down the coast.

Our biggest travel adventure was a 10-day expedition to the Outback, an all-expense-covered camping excursion provided by Earl’s school, chaperoning 20 teenagers on their annual field trip.  Not a luxury outing by any standards; we stayed in tents and most of our meals were provided outdoors by the accompanying cook.  But it was a trip to desert places you mostly read about in geography books, still fairly undeveloped during this late 60’s trip.

One of the most interesting places we visited was the small opal-mining town of Coober Pedy, where, because of the extremely hot weather, most of the residents living in underground houses.  We toured one which was just dug out of the soft rock and we were amazed by how comfortable and well-furnished it was.  If you needed a new shelf, you just dug it out of any of your walls.  When I was researching how this amazing town was like today, I found that there was now a hotel there – and it had dug out one room underground that was a casino!  I’d like to go back and see that!

We ran across many aboriginal people, living in shacks all over the desert.  This was before government programs were widespread to help indigenous Australians integrate into the general population with modern living conditions.

One of the high points of our outback adventure was a visit to one of the most outstanding nature features of the country, Ayers Rock, which our whole group climbed, a steep ½-mile hike that took an hour to get to the top.  Although climbing this beautiful huge red rock is still possible today, it is now discouraged by its aborigine owners, who consider it sacred territory.

Earl’s teaching contract with the Australian government was for two years and we would be heading back to the U.S.  However, this trip home provided another travel adventure.  We stopped in New Guinea to visit some missionaries I had known for many years.  I know this country has become modernized in the last 50 years, but back then we flew into the interior on a tiny plane that landed on a very short rough landing strip where we were met by locals in native dress – more like National Geographic undress!  Yes, they looked fierce with their spears and warrior makeup but they greeted us warmly.  However, at last I had a brief encounter with  “real natives” that I had heard about from the missionaries that stayed in our parsonage home when I was a little girl.

 

 

More Info from the “Frugal” File

Harrah’s Cherokee

First, a short report on our 7* visit to Harrah’s Cherokee.  Still our favorite location for a casino; you can’t beat the Smoky Mountains for a fall trip.  We were a little early for the full-blown leaf color change, but after living in the desert for the last 20 years, miles and miles of nature green is a welcome sight.

Although we love this casino, this might be our last trip there.  The main reason for us choosing it is the availability of NSUD machines, the only ones left in the Caesars kingdom.  But even with the high EV of 99.7% and the fact that we love deuces, we found playing them this time was “work” and not “fun.”  Bad maintenance with mostly sticky buttons that slowed down our play to a crawl, having to check every hand carefully that the machine was holding the cards we had chosen. One doesn’t want to make even one mistake when you are playing $25 a hand.  Fortunately, we hit one set of 5K deuces to pull out a nice win for our swan song.

For years Brad and I had both reached Harrah’s  7* status, but as the benefits have drastically been reduced, we decided this year to play just enough to keep me at this tier level and be able to have the one retreat trip for family visits.  Most of our play has been or will be in Harrah’s Tahoe, our 2nd favorite casino location, and hopefully it will keep the 9/6 JoB machines that are disappearing in so many places.

One perk we enjoyed in Cherokee was the ability to opt out of daily housekeeping and receive a $20 free-play voucher.  We teased the grandkids that they could clean up the three rooms we had and they could split the $120 in vouchers to add to their gambling bankroll!  This is becoming a more frequent casino policy but sometimes isn’t widely publicized.  So, if you are interested, be sure and ask when you check into a hotel if there is such a program in effect.

Caesars Palace Buffet

They are no longer serving a separate breakfast and lunch schedule. Instead they offer brunch 7 days a week. Most frugal option is to go on a weekday, just before brunch ends at 3 p.m.  You will pay the lowest price available at this venue, $39.99, and then can enjoy the expanded dinner selections that start at 3 p.m. – without paying the higher dinner price.  Prices go up on the weekends but you always save if you enter and pay before the changeover from brunch to dinner.

This is one of the best money-saving techniques all over town you can use when a buffet does not close between meal changeovers.  Related to that is the hint that when a restaurant serves both lunch and dinner, the lunch menu is almost always lower in price!  And sometimes there is a reduced early-bird budget dinner option.  It pays to check out restaurant time schedules if you want to save money!

Switching Games

My friend Henry Tamburin, a long-time BJ player, wrote an interesting article about how he made the switch to mostly VP in later years. He tells about how Lenny Frome, the pioneer VP guru, got him interested in this new game choice, but then he said, “But what pushed me over the edge was Jean Scott.”

Once in awhile I’ve had people say I’ve gone a little “far out” on some frugal gambling techniques, but I guess Henry was complimenting me here! 😊

Odds and Ends from my “Frugal Save” File

BUFFETS

Brad and I aren’t foodies, but thankfully we get some frugal food reports from friends, including from MissCraps on the vpFREE forum.  Here are some of her recent buffet recommendations:

AYCE buffet at Palms is now offering unlimited champagne and mimosas for $10 extra with any meal (lasts up to 2 hours). On Sunday it is served free with brunch. Tip – arrive around 3:30 pm, pay lunch price, and at 4 pm they put out a few changes including excellent French Onion soup.

Gold Coast Sunday buffet brunch is one of our favorites with free champagne, chocolate fountain, strawberries, delicious cupcakes, big desert selection (much better than AYCE), salmon, shrimp, great omelets, carved beef and turkey, etc. etc. Use your club card for a discount. (Keep an eye out for half-price coupons for Coast buffets in the Las Vegas Review Journal. Sometimes in the Friday Neon section. Check fine print for which days they are good for).

Adding to this buffet report, we also like the new AYCE buffet at Palace Station, which is much like the one at the Palms.  It is also open all night since the coffee shop is closed and that whole area is being remodeled.

The buffet at Silverton used to be one our favorites, but it seems to be going downhill.  But bring back your sauerkraut, mashed potatoes, and pulled pork – one of our favorite dishes – and I will forgive any other shortcomings!

STATION CASINOS

One good thing to report here:  If you have two (or more) mystery multiplier bonuses on the kiosk on one day – like a general public multiplier and a senior one – we have found that if you have two different numbers after you have swiped, you will get the larger of the two.  Nice to see a casino do a logical and “right” thing for their customers!

A new way to earn Boarding Pass points – use their newly-introduced myRewards Mastercard. Go to this website page to learn all about the earning and redeeming structure plus the bonus new cardholders can earn.

Recently I tried to take advantage of the following option for Brad and me, listed in the Station Casino players club rules:

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.

I found this was not an easy task.  Most employees at various club desks where I went had never heard of this, much less knew how to do it.  At one casino the employee said they didn’t like to do this because players “didn’t understand it and were confused with the details.”  I said I wasn’t the smartest person in the world, but I was sure if they explained it to me I probably would be able to understand it.  So, I finally found out what was linked and what was not.  Your tier status stays separated; each of you earn that separately. Your redeemable points are combined and either member can redeem that total.  That is important for us and other couples, especially those that are elderly. In case of illness, for example, and one is not able to go to the casino to cash in points, the other would be able to do so.

The Palms still does not have a senior program as does all the other Station properties.  Can’t figure out why not.  Sure they are trying to attract the millennials, but we perennials have more money and time to spend in casinos and I don’t think this younger group will stay away just because they see a lot of grey-headed players.  Doesn’t the Palms need our money?  Another mystery – their check-cashing program also doesn’t offer as good of prizes as in other Station properties.

——

I found this article, “The Story Behind the Most Famous Missing Apostrophe in Las Vegas,” interesting and perhaps many of you might also, even if you aren’t a former English teacher.

 

Quickie Local Promotion Report

As usual when we have been traveling – this time for 10 days – I return to a mountain of paperwork.  Takes me a long time to process all the casino mailers and figure out what might be put on our calendar schedule – and what I might need to share with you readers.

Just a preliminary observation from a quick look-over of our mailers from local casinos, it looks like there might be a “promotions war” brewing.   That is always good news for us players!   Maybe Boyd Gaming is trying to get customers to forget how they have gutted the basic players club program by offering a lot of multiple points for players who get the mailers.  That doesn’t help out-of-towners who don’t get mailers or anyone who is at the Ruby level since this latter group earns NO points until they can up their tier level to Sapphire.

On first look, it seems that Stations is trying to woo disgruntled Boyd players with lots of promotions, but you have to watch and not be fooled with all those multiple-point offers.  Many of them have the dreaded “up to” note – especially VP players who rarely get the top 6x but frequently 4x and occasionally 5x – this is for senior Wednesdays too.  Slot players who used to count on reducing their losses at least a little bit with 10x, sometimes now see that “up to 10x” and know that for those they will be getting a much lower multiplier most of the time.  Get out your magnifying glass and look at any bonus promotion and see if the fine print “up to” will getcha!

I will post any new revelations and dangers later when I recover from my vacation.  In the meantime, here are some photos from our family visit in Columbus and then the all-adult get-away at Harrah’s Cherokee.  Great-grandchildren Asher, 4, and Bowen, 18 months, are big TOY STORY fans and modeled their Halloween costumes for us, becoming Woody and Buzz Lightyear.  And the whole family is anxiously awaiting the November arrival of their little sister, Cooper Ruth.

B-Connected Summary – So Far! (Part 2)

This is going to have to be a very quickly-written blog since I am madly racing around trying to get ready to fly out of Vegas tomorrow morning for a much-needed vacation.  It will be our favorite kind of get-away, a visit to family in Georgia.  However as usual, for part of the time we will combine family and casino time when we will take all the adult children and grandchildren to help us use our Harrah’s 7* retreat in Cherokee.

Here is some information – very unorganized – I have in my notes about the new Boyd players club that I want to share before we leave.

  1. When talking about credits, the term is spelled “tier.”  However, “tear credits” is being used as a sarcastic reference to how sad so many players feel, crying “tears.”

2.  Many reliable VP players who are tracking their play are agreeing that this is the “best estimate” of how VP players are earning tier credits, since it depends on what game you are playing:

99.73% NSUD requires $185 coin-in to earn one tier credit.

99.17% BP requires $60 coin-in per tier credit.

I haven’t seen a figure for DDB and lower-EV games, but the lower the EV of the game the less coin-in it will require to earn one tier credit. What can’t be figured by most people is whether the theoretical loss while playing lower-EV can be made up by the benefits they can use at the higher tier levels they can attain.  The math-savvy might be able to put a dollar value on some of these benefits and see whether they are worth more than their game losses, and a few might be very high bankrolled to try this.   But most players would go broke long before they are able to reach the new extremely high tier requirements.

  1. Here is a warning for slot players and VP players:  Your journey to reach a certain tier level can be slowed down if you frequently pull your card or change machines or even change games within one machine.  The tier credit countdown stops whenever you do any one of those things, and then starts back at zero whenever you start back to play again.  This might not be such an important consideration for slot players since it takes only $5 in to earn one tier credit.  But as you can see from the above item, it would seriously affect the VP player.

4.  The double-tier credit multiplier for Ruby players is only good for September (unless they extend it but no word on that yet) and is limited to the first 100 tier credits you earn each day.  (Remember Ruby players can earn tier credits but NOT B-Connected points which are redeemable.  Since they earn no points, they can not earn multiple points, like the 11x on Young at Heart Wednesdays.)

5.  Some have commented that other Vegas local casinos probably are jumping for joy because they will get some – even a lot – of these disgusted Boyd players. I’m sure this is happening!    Rampart has wasted no time sticking it to the neighboring Suncoast.  Here is some text I read in their recent newspaper ad:

Don’t buy into all the buzz…we’re still the best player’s club on the Boulevard! Video poker players always know their point standings at our club.  At our club, 1 point =1 tier credit.  At the club down the street, 5 points = 1 tier credit.

  1. And finally -PLEASE – I can’t tell you what you personally should do about all this.  These new changes will affect each player differently. A few casual players tell me that they don’t play enough to worry about all the details.  But many regular customers are saying they are going to cut down on their play and/or play only on multiplier days. Many are leaving and hunting other casinos where the benefits are better.  If you read the comments on my last 4 blogs, you would find good specific suggestions for this option. Just always remember that a wise player will look at a combination of factors, trying to get the best total EV of good games AND benefits.

If you want to voice your complains to me in person, you can find Brad and me at Harrah’s Cherokee September 27-29!

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