Well, I have more leisure time now.  And for a couple of nights I have been staying up half the night to catch up on this new-to-me writing.  I am blown away by it.  Perhaps partly because I am so familiar with the subject material – I have been to or heard about or even written about most of the subjects.  But most of all I am in awe about a writing style that grabs the reader by the neck – and never lets go.

I long to write like that.  But my work will never be described as edgy.  For over 20 years I deliberately tried to avoid as much as possible pointing out the negative aspects of Las Vegas and casinos, concentrating on giving positive advice on how to cope with the reality.  I took the little-Miss-Sunshine role.  And to be absolutely frank, at times I didn’t name names because I wanted to protect my own hunting grounds!

In the last couple years or so, I did begin to point out areas where I thought casinos were being unwise.  I never blamed the casinos for not wanting people like me who were negatively affecting their profitability (even though I thought they were overreacting to an extremely small issue) but I saw and wrote about those draconian actions that were negatively affecting all their customers.

I thought about the comparison between “VitalVegas” and this blog.  Probably the most common adjective readers – even my most loyal fans – would use to describe “Frugal Vegas” might be “sensible” (like sensible shoes – not very fashion-forward but more comfortable).  I wondered if I could make this blog a little more edgy, a little more in-your-face.  I could try – maybe?

But I did think of one possibly more forward-thing I could do – I could start taking and posting selfies.  I have always considered them in the realm of anxious middle-school girls who lack self-confidence – and, not surprising, many of their male counterparts (most who have temporarily dropped out of the human race to become monkeys who are fixated on their private parts). However, sadly, also the adult realm seemed to be crowded with narcissism. So I tried to stay out of that realm.

But yesterday Brad and I was sitting on the beach at our apartment complex lake, not near anyone else so we were observing proper social distancing, and a new thought popped into my head. Time to try something new – and besides I wanted to show how a faux palm tree, with colorful coconuts, could lift one’s spirits – at least temporary – in this dark time.  Here is my first selfie:

NOTE: I will unfriend or de-friend anyone who comments that I am looking good. I don’t look particularly good at all. I haven’t put on makeup or curled my naturally straight straggly hair for weeks – and I don’t plan to do so for at least a month – and maybe longer.

Here is my second selfie:

You may comment on the second selfie if you don’t gush – the longer I don’t cut Tom’s hair, the curlier and thicker it looks, which seems a little unfair to me.

I’m not sure if I will ever take another selfie.  It didn’t seem to inspire me to write edgy words and I don’t feel like addressing anyone right in their face.

I may just have to continue writing sensibly until I can find a new and comfortable style.  Hang on, readers, who knows what the future holds here.

The Heart Attack Grill in the Neonopolis building was full of diners dressed in hospital gowns.  Although the couple had passed it before in former visits, it still amused but didn’t attract their business.  The old man commented, “I’ve had one heart attack – don’t need another! And that goes for riding the zipline too.”

However, close by, a new food outlet since their last downtown visit did attract their attention, a memory jolt-back to their days living in Indianapolis where they would often head to a White Castle restaurant for a late-night fast-food snack favorite.  Although there had been some food at the cocktail party, one can always eat a couple of these little sandwiches anytime, so they stopped in.  The man parked his walker beside a tall stool to enjoy a rest, while the lady stood in the long line to order.  When she got to the cashier, she ordered just like she had done for decades – “burgers,” – refusing to call them the fancy new name of “sliders.”  A White Castle is not a slider!

On they went down the street, stopping to enjoy some of the sidewalk entertainers performing in their assigned “circles.”  They were pleasantly surprised that they were, on the whole, in good taste, not the crude or skimpily dressed presentations they had had seen in past years – at least those they saw on their brief walk on just part of the street. The couples energy level was going down fast – and progress had come almost to a stand-still because they were running into a packed-in raucous crowd in front of the 3^rd Street stage where a very loud band performance was going on.  The man was muttering, “They call that noise music?”

“Should we duck into the D Casino and discuss what we want to do next?” asked the woman.

The man quickly agreed, “Anything to get out of this pandemonium.”

Resting at slot machine seats, the lady pulled out from her purse their LVA coupon books and found the D coupons:  “Two $25 matchplays.  Should we do these?”  It would involve finding a ramp for the man’s walker to get up to the raised players club to activate the offer, but he was re-gaining a little strength and said he was up to it.

Back down on the casino floor walking amongst the table games, they discussed whether to use the matchplays on roulette, where their loss on this one-shot play would be limited to $50.  If they chose blackjack, they could lose $50 if they lost both coupons – and even more if they had to double-down and/or split.  But as they were discussing this, they passed by a blackjack table where a jovial lone player noticed their indecision and gave a loud invitation as he pointed to sloppily scattered piles of green and black chips in front of him, “Come sit with me.  This is a lucky table.”

Now this couple had been looking for an uncrowded table.  When using a coupon for a one-time play, you don’t want a bunch of players ready to complain about your “holding up a game.”  But here was just one player and he wanted  company.  And you never know, a cheery inebriated player was just as apt to give you a lucky tip as a stone-cold sober grouch.  So, the couple sat down, each putting out $25 with the phantom $25 chip given to them at the players club.  Each was dealt a “9” and a “2” and the dealer turned up a “6” – that added risk they had discussed.   But there was no way they wouldn’t double down!

The woman whispered to the man, who had the bankroll in his pocket, “Get out a $100 bill.”  When the dealer gave him four green chips, the woman quickly grabbed them and added $50 to each hand.  Sometimes when you do this fast, the dealer will then give you a card right away.  Sad to say, this time it didn’t work. “Sorry, you can double only on your own money.”  Well, it never hurts to try when you don’t know the casino policy on this.

The disappointment didn’t last long, however.  She slapped a face card on each of the couple’s hands, and then pulled a face card and another “6” on her hand.  She smiled as she paid off, and the intoxicated cheerleader fellow player gave them both high-fives, laughing boisterously.

The couple didn’t really like this kind of hit and run, but while they were coloring up explained that they had to get back to their machines, that they really weren’t good at table games – perhaps only a partial truth.  But this excuse was good enough for a smile from the dealer after the man slid her a $5 tip as they were leaving.

Now it was time to proceed down Fremont, pressing through that concert mob – a pretty slow process with a walker although much of the friendly crowd was thoughtful to step aside and make way for the oldsters.  They wanted to get to the Four Queens, their old stomping grounds so many year ago.  Actually, back then the woman had been memorized with other VIP players with her name on the cement sidewalk in the front of the casino.  But fame is fleeting – and all those sidewalks have now been torn up for new more modern renovations.

Did the couple want to go in and look around, maybe use their two $10 free-play coupons? They looked at each other’s tired eyes. They were thinking about protecting that $150 profit from the D and $5 from the El Cortez.  Their muscles and bones were making a strong bid for a major rest.  And a nearby security guide was ready with directions for the nearby share-ride pickup area, in front of the entrance to the Binion’s garage, just a half a block up Casino Center Boulevard.  Some things never change – a few pedestrians were still taking their lives in their hands and crossing this traffic-heavy street against the light.

It was time for the ending of a perfect evening.  An unexpected $155 in their pocket.  And a big bright full Harvest Moon lighting the Uber ride back home as they snuggled in the back seat thinking of how they were still making happy Las Vegas memories.

Now I’m not saying the casinos are going back to those glory days of generous free play, easy comps, and good games. But I am seeing some positive moves.  Wynn/Encore have dropped all parking fees, even for valet.  It hasn’t happened yet but there is now talk that perhaps high and too “hidden” resort fees should be adjusted to attract those that are cutting down – or completely cutting off – their trips to Vegas casinos. And although it doesn’t seem that Boyd is thinking about getting rid of some of the onerous parts of their new players club – like Ruby players not earning points or being eligible for most promotions that are based on point earnings – there are some signs that they are trying to win back some of the customers that have fled.  Must have been a lot of them at the Gold Coast because they have been adding extra bonus-point days for the last few months – in October this runs for four days each week, 11x Monday through Thursday. (Remember, this is like 5.5X for VP players since it now takes $2 VP play to earn one point instead of $1 like under the old club program.)

However, the most common positive note for many casinos is that they are upping food comps. Every free or discounted meal you get, leaves you more money in your pocket.  Now not every casino is doing this increased food comp quite right. This has been a pet peeve of mine for 35 years.  A casino sends out a free-buffet coupon to – it seems – everyone who has ever been a player club member, some who haven’t played there for years and even some who can’t participate because they are dead!

Are you listening, Palms?  Does anyone from the ivory-tower offices in the sky ever come down to the casino floor and see the lines (both VIP as well as the regular one) snaked an unbelievable distance all over the place.  Do you see the tired, disappointed, and often angry looks on the faces of people in those lines who know they are looking at probably more than an hour of boring wait time?  When they finally do get seated and then finish their meal, how many are so mad by that time that the last thing they want to do is go to a machine or a table to gamble.  A food comp is supposed to be something that makes a player happy and glad to be in the casino – not something that makes them mad at a company that doesn’t use good sense in their marketing tactics.  Why can’t they spread out the dates for these coupons?  We no longer even try to use all those free buffet coupons we are getting in the mail; Brad, like many other seniors, just isn’t able to endure such a long wait.

Related to this food gripe, is the gift-giveaways.  These seem to be on the increase and I guess this is a popular perk for many players.  Not my favorite and probably not for many of my fellow seniors – we are trying to size down, not collect stuff.  It would be nice if there was an alternative free play choice.  For years in some casinos we would schedule our time to pick up gifts for late in the give-away period, knowing that if they ran out of the advertised gift, we would be given a gift card or extra free play.

There is also the same long-line problem during gift-giveaways I discussed earlier.  These often take place in cramped crowded areas and the lines have to snake through crowded slot machine aisles.  This should only happen once in a casino.  Someone in authority would see the problem and the next time it would be moved to a less crowded part of the casino and there would be enough staffing that long lines would not develop.  And a personal wish: They would train the employees to smile and act friendly when they are checking in the players and/or giving out the gifts.  So often we feel like these employees actually hate that we have shown up to ruin their day!

End of rant and a last technical note:  Some people have told me that they can’t subscribe to this blog.  We did have some problems with this earlier, but they have been resolved.  So, you might try again.  If it still does not work for you, drop a note to promotions@huntingtonpress.com  and we will subscribe you manually.

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! 

This is what I have found out for the Gold Coast, first by actually being in the casino and seeing promo signage and then reading a big ad section in today’s Sunday R-J newspaper.  It is now also on their website – not sure how long it has appeared there. They are offering 11x for both reels and video poker EVERY Sunday through Thursday in May.  I verified that this was available for players whether they got monthly mailers or not.

However, there is one huge group of players who can not take advantage of this promotion – or ANY OTHER bonus multiplier promo – and this goes for ANY Boyd property.  Many places put this little detail in a fine-print warning: “For Sapphire Tier and above.”  But some do not; I did not see this on the large signage in the Gold Coast, just a generic “See B Connected for details.” In this Sunday paper ad for all Boyd Vegas properties, that fine-print tier restriction for Ruby players is also included in the details for the Young at Heart promo.

Speaking of that YAH senior program, there are new benefits that began May 1.  Check the new and changed details for the 3 downtown properties here.   For the other 6 properties, go here.

One note for those looking online for information about Boyd properties.  Here is one link that might be helpful.   However, you need to check each property website, and not depend just on the one for your home base where you go to check your individual account.  For example, I thought the royal bonus that runs every day, mentioned in my Gold Coast mailer and on the Gold Coast website where I check our accounts, was only offered at the Gold Coast.  But when I googled “Orleans casino promotions,” I found it was also going on at the Orleans.  I also found that googling each casino like I just described, adding the word “promotions,” seemed to take me to a better promotional page than just putting in the casino name and trying to search all over that website.

JUST MY OPINION

I’ve talked to a lot of Boyd property players since the company radically changed their players club last year to one that caters more to the “upscale” gambler – and received tons of e-mail expressing their dismay. Hordes of base-level Ruby players, many who have been loyal Boyd visitors for many years, are feeling betrayed and many are moving their business to other casinos.  I am still in amazement that casino executives would set up a system that gave nothing to a large segment of their customer base.  (I know of no casino that has that type of tier system.)   And at the same time Boyd has dropped benefits for the lowest tier, they have alienated many of those in the higher tiers by making benefits many times harder to earn.

They trumpeted the new luxury benefits of the newly-add higher tiers, those that the majority of their player base did not even want.  Those few gamblers that played enough to reach those lofty tiers could have – perhaps would have – come to the conclusion that they could go to the Vegas Strip casinos and for that same amount of play could score much better luxury benefits that most mid-level Boyd properties could  provide.

I found this recent Forbes article that interviewed 87-year-old Bill Boyd, the company’s cofounder and executive chairman, who talked about how his casinos were different than those fancy resorts on the Strip.  After his company’s entrance into more luxurious plans – the Borgato and the Echelon – and their failure – this article summed it up by saying “Boyd returned to what had made his company successful in the first place: cheap casinos serving low-stakes gamblers.”

I wonder, “Did the casino executives that thought up that new players club that I have never heard a Boyd player say a good word about – did they talk to Bill Boyd about it and he thought that was a good idea?”

• The current list of Diamond and Seven Star free and discounted show benefits can be found here.
• The “automatic” guaranteed comped room benefit for Seven Stars was discontinued last year because of wide-spread abuse. People would earn the high-tier status early in the year and then not play any when they got comped rooms  the rest of the year. However, 7 Stars who play regularly at their usual levels are generally not having any problem with a host giving them comped rooms.
• Read the rules carefully for any offer, especially the fine print. Here are the rules for the Atlantis, Paradise vacation offer:

 Offer is valid 1/16/19 to 10/31/19. Blackout dates: 3/8/19-3/23/19, 4/15/19-4/27/19 & 7/1/19-7/5/19. Complimentary offers are based on your previous level of casino play. If you redeem this complimentary offer, you are expected to play to the same level of casino play or greater. If you do not play or show reduced casino play, you may be charged for some or all of your upfront complimentaries including rooms, food & beverage, limos, etc.

Voucher holder is responsible for hotel resort fee and maid gratuities, approximately $65-$75 per night.

At least they mention play requirements, albeit without specific numbers.  You should check with a host to learn about your personal “level of play.”  You always have to be careful about any “pre-comped” cruises or vacations.  Some don’t mention play requirements, but many players have been blindsided by big bills at the end of the trip because “they didn’t play enough.”

• I read a report of one CZR property charging high fees for cashing a check or withdrawing money electronically, even for high-tier players who in the past had this done free as one of their benefits. One needs to verify every casino benefit, especially at the beginning of the year. Cuts are coming in all area!
• You will find that the alternate benefits have been changed greatly if you can not use your Seven Star retreat benefit. Brad and I found we would be unable to travel out of town before my retreat benefit expired this month. We found out too late that if we had stayed in a Las Vegas CZR property in December we would have been given $900 in free play as an alternative – a short-term special for a slow period, I guess.   New rules (which change frequently I was told), beginning this January, will simply give us 50,000 in Reward Credits, put on my account, and doesn’t require a hotel stay. Since we don’t need any comps, the final alternate benefit for us will be $250 in free play.

If you find yourself in this situation, you need to talk to a host and see what he/she can offer you.  There might be good short-term  offers, and there may be different options at different properties.

I also heard – but can’t verify – that the program which gave you free play instead of airfare if you wanted to drive to your destination casino or stay locally is no longer available.  And I’m not sure if there is a property-wide policy about using the retreat benefit at a local or your “home” casino.  Again, you need to get specific and up-to-date information from a host.

• A personal note: After many many years of both of us being Seven Stars, Brad and I are in the process of dropping out of CZR.  Brad is no longer Seven Stars as of January 1.  I am Seven Star for 2019 but will not play for that level after that.  It had gradually become a marginal play for several years, but we found good value using the comp system to the max, letting us host wonderful vacations and providing unending meals and entertainment for family and friends.  However, health issues  are now limiting our casino and travel activity. Combine that with the unending downhill march of benefit cuts and sadly we have to scratch off another name on our personal list of “Good Casinos.”

However, although the text is now done, the project has come to an abrupt stop – and you can blame the government for this delay.  The multitude of tax forms that needed to be changed after new legislation passed by Congress at the end of December 2017, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) informally called Tax Reform 2018, is proving to be impossible for government bureaucracy to handle in a timely manner.  We can’t bring out the book until we have the much-changed new sample forms to include, as we have done in past editions – and it seems these forms won’t be available until after the first of the year at the earliest.

Sooo…. we can’t promise a firm date when the 4^th edition (2019) of the eBook Tax Help for Gamblers will be available for download, but I will keep you informed of the progress.  Hopefully it will be soon enough to give you much-needed help well before the April 15^th deadline.

There is another reason for this blog delay.  I am getting news here and there that Boyd Gaming may have heard the roar of customer complaints about their new “not-improved” and “not-amazing” players club.  Many players are reporting that suddenly their tier score is going up – often citing big numbers – and they have no idea what they did – or didn’t do – to make this happen.  So, I was waiting to see if I could find out some positive facts about all this before I wrote about it.  I hate writing about something I don’t know anything about! 

However, all I have is anecdotal info players have given me, with no explanation or understanding of the why and certainly no how others might get this benefit.    I have no personal data on this phenomenon – Brad’s and my tier score is still pretty much in the casino basement since it was slashed during the changeover.  Our occasional play scoots it up at a snail pace. So, all I can say here is that I will try to do more research and when I find out more, I will certainly write about it in a future blog.

In the meantime, here are a few promotional changes or possible future changes I have come across.

• South Point still has 50+ Prime Time Mondays, but they have discontinued the senior tournament.  They still offer $4 movies that day – and 50+ seniors also get that $4 price on Wednesday movies.
• Palms temporarily had a small-wheel check-cashing promotion with limited benefits but now they have discontinued that, offering you only a 2-for-1 buffet or a drink coupon. All the other Station casinos have a check-cashing wheel with a variety of benefits, some quite substantial.
• Still no senior benefit program at the Palms like at all the other Station properties.  VP inventory is better at any other company property and at nearby competitors.   With all the construction going on that will keep some visitors away, you would think that they would add promotions to keep up the visitor count, not downgrade right and left. I hate to be critical, but I just can’t understand the Palms policies these days.
• There seems to be a new comp policy at Station casinos.  I think this has varied in the past, depending on the particular property.  But I was informed by a casino executive that there is now a policy company-wide that a host can not issue a “discretionary” comp if you have available comp dollars in your account.  It was suggested that you first redeem points (for cash or free play) before you ask a host for any comp.  (This seems to be patterned after the policy most Strip properties have.)
• Watch for changes in players clubs, especially if a casino changes owners. The M casino has announced a new club coming the first of the year.  Hard Rock will be introducing a new club.

I hope I can write a more positive blog next week!

1. That read-the-fine-print drum I have been pounding on for a thousand years must be mentioned again here to be sure you didn’t miss this recent downgrade. Station’s MyGeneration program has long time offered 10x/6x points for senior Wednesdays. Now that 6x for video poker is “up-to 6x.” This has been changed on their website, a reason that I have encouraged you in the past to check the benefits each month as the details can change. If you get the monthly Station mailer and check the calendar, you will see that change, but get out your magnifying glass to see that tiny “up to.”  Actually, many of you recently missed this same “up to” in their newspaper ads telling about special multiplier days.  And did you notice that the Palms logo is missing on many of these promotions described in the newspaper ads?   And remember that the Palms does not participate in the MyGeneration program that is in place at all the other Station properties.  No special benefits for us oldsters there!

2.  Here’s a policy at Station casinos I didn’t know about – one that isn’t widespread, I don’t think – but might be wise for some players, especially elderly ones who want to be sure that benefits aren’t lost if one member passes away.

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.

3. Palace Station’s new buffet is very similar to the new one at the Palms. Although the prices at the Palms are reasonable compared to other more-upscale buffets in town, the prices at Palace Station are even lower. Check them out here.  And if you are at one of the top two tiers, President and Chairman and paying with your points, you get that hefty 50% discount on top of these low prices for a party up to four.  Platinum tier gets a 25% discount for party of two.  (These discounts are in place for buffets at all Station properties.)

4. At Harrah’s Laughlin, if you have a Las Vegas address, you are considered a “local” and can get their half-off local discount on the breakfast/lunch (brunch) buffet. I didn’t ask how far “local” goes but perhaps it goes wider in NV and/or includes Bull Head City and wider areas in Arizona. Just ask!

5. More and more food coupons require careful reading. Here are some fine-print restrictions I have recently run across:

•  “One coupon per table” rather than the more usual “One coupon per person.”
• “Not valid on holidays.”
• “Offer Monday through Friday only.”
• “Not valid for Specialty or Seafood dinner”

You might be asking now why I am not adding new details and explanations about the new Boyd Gaming players club here.

I will tell you why not!  I am exhausted trying to find verified answers to the many questions this drastic downgrade has raised.  I have read everything from official company sources I can find and so much is not spelled out clearly. I have talked to numerous employees, many in management positions, but I am getting extremely conflicting explanations.  If the employees don’t know what is going on, how do we players have a chance of understanding? (Be careful reporting a “fact” because you heard it from a host or someone in management – most employees mean well, but it seems corporate has put out a “line” that the employees are to parrot, but it often seems just like hype, and doesn’t always make math sense!)

I will keep up my research, and just as soon as I find out some definitive information I will post it here.  In the meantime, the discussion is still raging on vpFREE.  You can check out resources I gave in my last blog.  I do have one more to add – the Young at Heart rules for the downtown Boyd properties. One of the differences from the others uptown is that they still have a cap on the number of bonus multiplier points.

The huge number of comments on my last blog will be helpful reading for many of you, suggesting ways to cope with this major change, including new casinos to which to move their play.  More discussion is encouraged following this blog, by using the “Comments” feature.

However, the casino business – just like many other businesses we deal with in our everyday life, like banks, grocery stores, drug stores, restaurants, airlines – sometimes make changes that we just can’t understand.  And that describes many players reactions to the brand new players club being introduced by Boyd Gaming.

Let’s think about what we need if a business changes its rules, regulations, or policy.  First, we need a clear explanation of all the changes, especially the basic ones.  This is where so many players are feeling frustrated about the new Boyd players club. I looked everywhere this last week to find the two basic facts someone needs to initially analyze any player club system:     How much coin-in does it take to earn a point and then how much is a point worth for whatever benefits this casino offers – cash, free play, or comps. I went to the kick-off party and absolutely no specific facts were given.  I checked online and looked for brochures and signs in the casino.  Nothing!

I finally did find the facts of the second point on their website:  You can redeem for FastPlay,  for dining, shopping, or hotel stays. Save 40% on the dollar value of your B Connected Points when you redeem for food at 600 B Connected Points = $1.00. FastPlay and retail purchases are 1,000 B Connected Points = $1.00.

However, nowhere could I find in writing how much you had to play to earn a point, the other piece of information we needed. Finally, just yesterday I went to the players club at the Gold Coast and asked this question and I was given a little credit-card-size cardboard with a point-earning chart:

$1 of coin-in Reel, Video Reel, and Keno (must be all Keno box) = 1 Base B Connected Point

$2 of coin-in Poker and Multi-Games = 1 Base B Connected Point

Bonus B Connected Points are now earned based on type of game, average bet, and length of play

Table Games – B Connected Points are earned based on the type of game, average bet and length of play (Table Game Points are not earned in Las Vegas or Diamond Jo Worth)

For Race, Sports, and Bingo please see B Connected.

Although some of the details above aren’t very clear or complete, why wasn’t this basic information  put somewhere in writing online so anyone could access it?   Not everyone will be able to visit one of their casinos right away, and many won’t think about asking.  I am wondering if this information I got was for Las Vegas only – and it will be different for properties in other areas of the country???  This means each player probably needs to research information for each specific casino where they plan to play.  Although this club is supposed to be company-wide, I am thinking there might be individual property-specific details.

After I found  the basic-point facts, I began to analyze the tier system. This has been an area of confusion for many, but it helps if you understand there are two different separate systems.  The first system is the “point” system I discussed above. The other system is the tier one in which you earn “credits.”  There are different earning charts for each of these systems with much different benefits!  However, the two systems do “mix” with each other at times.  For example, players in the lowest tier, Ruby, do not earn the above-mentioned points and thus earn no benefits.  That chart does not kick in until you reach Sapphire.

Boyd was much more forthright in talking about the new tier system and the new luxury benefits they were offering to the top tiers – they talked about nothing but that at the launch party and they put a lot of hyped-up information about it on their website and in other written sources.   On that same little credit-size cardboard I referred to above they gave this information about how to earn tier credits: Reel, video reel, and keno players would earn 1 tier credit for each $5 coin-in, Bingo players needed $6 buy-in for 1 tier credit.   For video poker players it was to be “based on the game played, average bet, and time played.”

In this blog I have just touched on some of the basics of this new players club so far, but this information may have brought up more questions than answers for readers here.  I will be  talking about this subject in my blog probably for weeks, even months, tackling some of the problems these changes are causing.  In the meantime, here are some online resources for you to check that will give more information although they  certainly will not answer every question you might have since the details of many parts of the program are either missing or very confusing.

• An overall view of the program
• The rules and regulations:
• The details of the Vegas Young at Heart program

You can get more insight into these new major changes by reading posts in the forum at vpFREE.  (Subscribe at vpfree-subscribe@yahoogroups.com if you are not already a member).  There has been a very lively – even fiery – discussion there for the last week or so, which could help both slot and video players decide what kind of a relationship – if any – they might have with Boyd properties in the future in light of all these new changes.

I have not yet been able to confirm every future ramification for Brad’s and my own play decisions.  I know we are going to play at the Gold Coast tomorrow – Labor Day – because we can still play our favorite good-EV video poker machine at 11x points – a fairly okay play for us.  That’s about as far we can plan right now.

Stayed tuned!

Many readers visit the Internet, including this blog, to get information about good promotions that will be suitable for their circumstances, including their location, travel plans, and their gambling goals.  But I know by the comments here and e-mails and personal conversation with gamblers from all over the country, many are facing the growing problem of not being able to take advantage of all the promotions they find that would definitely be attractive to them.

In this blog I am going list some of the reasons why all players can’t take advantage of all promotions.  This list will just skim the surface of this subject, with few details, since situations differ from one casino to another and from month to month in the same casino.  Some will affect a lot of casino customers; some just a few.  Some will necessitate major changes for a gambler; some will have only minor effects.  Remember, I have often said that the only constant in our casino life is “change.”

1. Some gamblers can not take advantage of a promotion because of their address.  Although this can affect players who live anywhere, it is a common problem for out-of-towners who want to play at a Vegas locals casino. Many of these locals casinos restrict their promotions, like multiple-point days, to those who get their monthly mailer.  And these mailers only go out to those players with local addresses.  (It also affects locals who haven’t played enough at that casino to get to the minimum mailer level.)   Less often, but a problem for Vegas locals, is a property that sends out offers geared only to out-of-town visitors.
2. Some gamblers have ended up on a casino promotion-exclusion list because of “breaking the rules.” Usually the casino will inform the customer of the reason, i.e., playing on someone else’s card, picking up free play for someone else, cheating.   This sometimes might be part of 86ing the customer completely – banishment from the property –  or just taking away their players card so they wouldn’t be able to participate in any promotion or earn any extra benefits although they could still play the games. A related situation , with similar results, has occurred when a player has not technically broken any written casino rule, but has “made an issue”  of a matter in a gray area.  Casinos will often rule in favor of a customer to solve a “technical” difference of opinion, but then ban them from any future opportunity for benefits.  It sometimes pays to surrender in one small disagreement, so you can keep in the game!

3. More frequently than the situation in #2 – and a problem that is becoming more and more widespread – is finding yourself on that dreaded casino “no-mail” list. What this means varies greatly from one property to another. You for sure will face the problem I described in #1 above, the inability to participate in mailer-only promos.  You also will miss out on any free play that is offered in the mailer.  Some casinos will also “deactivate” your players card at the same time so earning extra benefits will be gone.  If you are lucky enough to be able to keep your players card, there may be promos open to the public that will still be available to you.

Don’t ask me why you get on a casino’s “no-mail” list or how you can stay off one. Casinos might tell you – but they usually won’t.  Actually, most of the casino employees don’t know the answers unless they work in that big mystery department of Casino Marketing where “big data” is king.

4. Even if you don’t end up on the “no mail” list I described above, you will soon find out that you can’t depend on any casino to keep the same promotions and benefits you enjoyed in the past.  The good promotion you played at Casino X last month might have been changed and it is no longer a “good” one for you this month.  Also, you can’t depend on sharing promotion information with other players like we used to do in the old days.  An example that highlighted this problem for me:  Brad and I regularly play about the same amount and the same games.  We have friends who play in a similar manner in the same casino.  We compared our June mailers.  Now we know that very likely this casino takes into consideration whether we won or lost and what games we play but we don’t know what other “big data” factors enter in here. We have no clue as to why many of us got the same amount of free play, but on different schedules.  The multiple-point promotion amounts were all over the place, not seemingly coordinating with the direction of free play – some got 5x, some got 6x, and some got none at all.  One person said the casino explained to him that this last situation was “because he played too much.”

That made me throw up my hands and give up trying to figure all this out – at least for the moment.  Maybe I can get back on a more positive path next week!