Our trip back to Vegas for the BJ Ball seems like it was in a different lifetime, although it was just a little over a month ago.  It will go down in our memories as the last big good thing before the virus war began.

It was a wonderful experience.  We knew it would very likely be the last time we would be in our favorite city, a place which had provided for us an amazing almost-fairy-tale life for almost 36 years.   We could once again experience the excitement of the bright lights that always beckoned with their message of countless possibilities.

Most of all, we felt honored that we were invited as special guests at this get-together of distinguished gamblers. It was like the cherry-on-the-top as we were retiring at the end of our long frugal casino journey.

It had been many years since we attended one of these gatherings, in fact not since back at the very beginning of the BJ Ball in the late ‘90s.  And being at this one became especially memorable since this year my “boss,” Anthony Curtis, was voted into the Blackjack Hall of Fame.  Brad and I and Anthony had all three been at those early get-togethers, and now here we were together again, celebrating Anthony’s high honor.

For those who want more details about this year’s Blackjack Ball and perhaps learn more of its interesting history, I am giving below some links to articles about this event, some of which are extremely detailed.  And just to answer one question I often get, “No, although it is called a Ball, it is not a dance.”  I find most professional gamblers are the last persons you would find on a dance floor! (Although Brad and I were avid ballroom dancers for many years!)

https://www.blackjackreview.com/wp/2020/02/28/the-24th-blackjack-ball-2020/

https://www.reviewjournal.com/sports/betting/blackjack-ball-brings-worlds-greatest-gamblers-to-las-vegas-1969539/

https://www.lasvegasadvisor.com/gambling-with-an-edge/the-24th-annual-blackjack-ball/

https://www.888casino.com/blog/tags/blackjack-ball  – 4 articles detailing 2018 and 2019 Balls

For years I have talked about balance in one’s life, particularly for regular casino gamblers, which we were for many years before we recently retired.  I always reminded people that there is a danger if your gambling negatively affects the other parts of your life or makes you self-centered and uncaring for those around you.  I wrote how Brad and I down through the years, until we had to deal with failing health concerns, were active in volunteer activities.  And maybe some of you got tired of hearing me talk about our children, and grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.  But our family was always our first priority – and we wrapped family activities into our casino activities constantly.

So now, I was wondering what I should write in this blog.  Some would say that with the seriousness of this pandemic people shouldn’t be thinking about gambling at all, that they should be concerned about serious medical subjects.  But I go back to my belief in balance in life.  You are heeding the advice to stay at home, but that does not mean you need to just sit around worrying.  That is not good for your mental health.  The TV is sending out tons of information about how to keep yourself and your family occupied.

Each person has special interests that can keep them from dwelling on the negative.  For some of you, reading about gambling subjects can be your way of coping with this crisis.  So that is why I will try to keep writing this blog.

We need to keep the faith that life will eventually go back to “normal,” although it may be a “new normal.”  If you were a VP player and casino visits were an important part of your life before, then I see no problem with you doing things that will help you be a smarter gambler when they re-open – whenever in the near or distant future that will be.

We have no idea what casinos will be like for the VP player when they re-open.  Some of the extreme tactics they used during the last recession seemed to hang on, like downgrading VP paytables and cutting comps.  That may happen again – but on the other hand, they may need to make some positive changes to get players back.

I predict that they will need to run more and stronger promotions.  With that in mind, now might be a good time to expand your skills.  Learn a new VP game.  Maybe you said you were sticking to Jacks or Better because that was the only game for which you knew the strategy.  Get a software training program and learn NSUD (Not-So-Ugly-Deuces) which was probably the most common “good game” when the casinos closed.

Here are some of the other ideas you might consider:  You may get out those gambling books you have in your personal library – some you never read or some you may decide to re-read to refresh your memory.  You may want to order some new titles.  Here on this website many of them are available at a discounted price.  If you are a newbie VP player, you might want to go back and read some of my blogs of the last couple of years since I have been covering the changing VP scene.

There is another resource I want to suggest, for all skill levels and all games – “Casino City Times.”  They have a ton of information on their site, much from old files, but there is also up-to-date writing, by many of the experts in the gambling field.  I especially recommend the writings of John Robison, who covers both slots and VP as he relates many of his own gambling experiences.   A very good up-to-the-minute article, covering some of the same things I am discussing in this blog for gamblers to do, is by Gary Trask.

Social distancing doesn’t mean social isolation.  We can still reach out to each other virtually if not physically.  Feel free to use the “Comments” below to share:  your fears, your hopes, your desire to stay connected.

I am sometimes asked if we ever play blackjack or any other casino game besides VP these days. We rarely do, but you might see us at a blackjack table for just some recreational play on a cruise ship that has no good VP.   We occasionally hit some slots when we are entertaining our family in a casino.   And, no surprise, we might play any other casino game if we have a coupon for it.   (This is why I put a chapter called “The Casino-Game Buffet” in my recent book The Frugal Gambler Casino Guide. I cover most any table game you might find, giving you suggestions on how to play it with a better chance for financial success.)

I do read a lot about gambling, especially online, since I like to keep up on all the changes in the casino world, not just those that affect our video poker play.

A Resource for Vegas Table Players

Recently I came across what might be helpful to players of blackjack and other table games. I don’t follow online betting opportunities so I don’t know which of these websites are legit or the best, but this survey of Vegas blackjack and other table games seems very thorough and up to date and looks like a valuable resource for casino table game players.

“2019 Blackjack Ball: The Inside Scoop”

Here are some links if you have heard of the “Blackjack Ball” and would like more information about it.  Henry Tamburin has written a two-part article summarizing its history and giving a very detailed description of the 2019 event.  Part 1 lists the 21 difficult test questions that face everyone and Part 2 gives the answers. You might want to take the test to see how you stack up to the experts!

The Frugal Gambler Audio Book

If you have been roaming around the Internet, particularly checking out gambling websites, you may have seen a Google ad with a picture of the cover of my recent book The Frugal Gambler Casino Guide.  However, if you click on that ad, you will be taken to information about getting an audio version of one of my books, but it is not this recent title but the 2nd edition of my first book, The Frugal Gambler. Fortunately, the page to which this ad takes you has the correct (green) cover and there is no charge to listen to a sample of this book.  Be aware this is the book that came out in 2005; although a lot of the basics of gambling haven’t changed, the casino conditions have drastically changed.

Most of the free buffets for military members and veterans will be on Monday, November 12^th, but some Boyd properties and South Point are running their promotions on Sunday, the 11^th.  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!

The Westin

Max Casino at this casino is closing June 30.  Scot Krause’s article in “Gaming Today” gives all the details.

TUSCANY

The 20% senior discount moves to the Pub e65 for the whole month of July.

RAMPART

They are advertising that their newly-named senior “50 Plus PARTY Tuesdays” is “new and improved, offering more benefits.” See the details here.

SOUTH POINT

From a press release: Beginning Monday, July 3, South Point Hotel will introduce “Prime Time Mondays” for our Casino Club Card holders age 50 and older. Prime Time Mondays will offer a $5,000 Free Slot Tournament from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The tournament’s first place winner will receive a $1,000 cash prize and additional places will be rewarded with free play.  In addition, guests who pay with their points will receive half point dining all day at all restaurants (Primarily Prime Rib & Baja Miguel’s are closed on Monday) and half point bingo all day. Movies will also be offered at a discounted rate of just $4 all day (additional fee for 3D & XD). This promotion is not valid on holidays or during special bingo events.

PALMS

The last day for their buffet before they close it for major changes is July 30. The new 24-hour coffee shop, the Lucky Penny, will open to the public on Saturday morning, July 1. I saw it today as it was practicing a soft opening with invited guests. Fancy-dancy!

Watch for machines to disappear or be moved around as they continue to replace carpeting. Hopefully our favorite ones will re-appear and intact.

New parking passes are available at the players club. The old ones expired on June 30.

No plans to put in the check-cashing program available at other Station casinos until after the cage area is renovated. Proposed time for that to start is late summer.

———–

If you get to missing my gambling chatter here while we are on vacation, you can listen to me talk about gambling and casinos in a couple recent interviews:

1. A podcast from the “House of Cards” radio show

2. An American Casino Guide YouTube video

And if you want to read a funny little story about Brad, it is buried in the middle of a recent long Review-Journal article about casino chairs.  

Now for some reads I found interesting.

The geography of gambling:  http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/govbeat/wp/2014/08/14/how-close-everywhere-in-america-is-to-a-casino/

A gambler’s brain:  http://time.com/3518071/gamblers-get-less-of-a-buzz-from-pleasure-study-finds/

Can casinos help a gambler control his gambling? http://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2014/10/23/innovative-program-limit-gambling-proposed-for-mass/jgMmffATGbZBsH3RAvIu2I/story.html

A book recommendation:  I rarely read a novel any more – mostly non-fiction – but a publisher sent me a book recently that he thought I might like since part of it is set in Las Vegas. I did like Deadly Odds, not only for the Vegas connection, but it was a good suspense story.  As when I am watching movies that have a Vegas locale, I was looking in this book for mistakes that show the author had never spent much time there.   I could not find any false or unlikely descriptions .  Obviously, the author, Allen Wyler, had spent quite a bit of time here even though he lived elsewhere. I recommend this book to those who like fast-moving thriller crime stories, full of espionage, terrorists, and computer hackers.

White Castle is coming to the Las Vegas Strip!   See details here:  http://vegas.eater.com/archives/2014/07/29/confirmed-white-castle-is-coming-to-the-las-vegas-strip.php

And while I am talking about personal likes – I like reading about quirky promotions – here is one that was interesting – to me – to read about.

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/07/28/nyregion/saratoga-turnstile-spinners-seek-gifts-not-bets.html?ref=nyregion&_r=0

http://www.mcall.com/news/local/bethlehem/mc-sands-bethlehem-asian-bus-20140329,0,4289753,full.story.

And then how the casino took counter-measures:

http://www.mcall.com/news/local/mc-sands-bethlehem-asian-bus-changes-20140412,0,1618845.story

Two sad stories about very sad lottery winners:

http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2012-12-13/lottery-winner-jack-whittakers-losing-ticket  (This is a long article, requiring clicking ahead to see all the segments.)

http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2012-03-15/with-any-luck-you-wont-win-the-lottery

One of the comments mentioned “… and looked into trash cans for discarded coupons. [Ed: Dumpster diving for coupons? Wow, not even Jean Scott does that – LOL. Hardcore!]”

Thank you, Editor, for trying to make me look good, but actually I HAVE done that – much to my daughter’s dismay and embarrassment.  Twenty-five years ago the old Westward Ho wastebaskets always had a treasure trove of free mini-breakfast coupons.  True some you had to scrap off some mustard from half-eaten free hot dogs but back in those days I WAS hardcore frugal – and Brad says I am still “crazy frugal.”  But some of that craziness rubbed off on him –  up until a couple of years ago when his bad back and hip restricted his agility, Brad agreed to scour the dumpsters in our condo complex when a casino was flooding the mails with really valuable coupon books.

Speaking of the “Editor,” I won’t out her name, but this Brit is one of my favorite writers.  I love her humorously quirky – and I mean that in a very positive sense – writing style as she churns out most of the Questions-of-the-Day answers and the “Today’s News” items.

Maybe everyone doesn’t like to know every little bit of what’s happening in Vegas like the news junkie that I am.  But I check the LVA homepage every morning to read those two features.  Even if you aren’t a LVA subscriber, you can always read the news section and you can read the QOD the first 24 hours it is up.  (You have to be a LVA subscriber to check back in the Archives.)

If you want to be reminded about QOD you can sign up for e-mails to give you a link whenever a new one comes up:  http://lasvegasadvisor.us1.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=77cc727b256b94e506a0cf041&id=ff37d36f67.   At that same link you can subscribe to other LVA notifications you might be interested in.   On the homepage you can also sign up for LVA Gold, a valuable notification of bargain hotel deals and other current Vegas news.

If you haven’t been to the LVA homepage for a while, check it out – so much good information to make your time in Las Vegas more entertaining and less expensive.  http://www.lasvegasadvisor.com/index.cfm

1 – A unique login ID and password that lets you read all of the great articles in every monthly issue of Blackjack Insider. The FREE membership will last for three months from the date you first sign up.

2- Access to over 900 articles that have been published in previous issues of the BJI (including the members-only articles). You can search the BJI newsletter archives to find information on any gambling topic that interests you