Updates on CZR News

A surprise for the lower tier level players:  Caesars Entertainment Corp. has announced that Gold tier rewards members can upgrade to the Platinum tier for a limited time “in celebration of the holiday season.” This upgrade includes free parking at all Caesars’ Las Vegas resorts, discounted rooms, the ability to transfer reward credits and other benefits.  You have to upgrade your Gold card by December 31, but your Platinum status and all the rewards it brings will be good through January 31, 2020.

I have found conflicting reports about this upgrade.  Some say it is just for Vegas locals and you have to appear in person at a Vegas Rewards Center to activate this upgrade.  I have not been able to find any information about this on an official CZR website. Perhaps someone from out of town has had personal experience with this promo and could give the details in the Comments below.

However, there is another short-term perk – verified – for all tier levels that IS limited to Nevada residents – a 2X Reward Credit Multiplier until December 31^st.  This is only available for Nevada residents that visit a Las Vegas Caesars Reward Center and present a valid NV driver’s license.

Note: There are a couple of on-going ways for some players to upgrade from Gold to Platinum (and score the free-parking benefit) without the necessary play they would ordinarily need to reach the higher tier level.  Active military and veterans can get a Platinum card by showing official verification documents at the players club.  And signing up for a CZR credit card will get anyone a Platinum card.

One other CZR happening you might have missed:  In July 2018 Caesars Entertainment bought Centaur Holdings, adding the Hoosier Park Racing and Casino in Anderson, Indiana, and Indiana Grand Racing and Casino in Shelbyville, Indiana.  Neither of these properties have a hotel, but some Seven Star players have been able to take their annual retreat there, with comped accommodations at a nearby motel. The other retreat benefits may be limited.  You would definitely need to check in advance the current situation and be aware there might be a lot of changes here – as well as elsewhere – when the Eldorado take-over is complete.

A New Way to Learn How to Gamble

The best way to attract new players to table games? Take away the gambling.  That’s the theory behind Casino Quest, a casino game education space set to open at the Fashion Show mall. Run by Casino Education Group, which operates the CEG Dealer School in Las Vegas, the space would allow guests to rent a table by the hour to compete against friends or learn how to play.

“There will be no money. You pay to access the space,” said Casino Quest CEO David Noll. “It’s going to be (for) people who are risk-averse. It’s going to be (for) people who want to learn the game.”

The space is set to have a mix of table games — one craps, one roulette, one baccarat and four blackjack — and will give students from the casino school Noll manages a chance to practice dealing to players in a real-world setting.

For the players, Casino Quest offers a casual venue where they can take their time learning a game without being under the watchful eyes of pit bosses or more experienced players. The student dealers will be able to ease new players into the game, teaching them rules and helping them along as they play.

This new experience is set to open tomorrow – Black Friday.  Who knew that you could go to the mall and learn how to play casino table games!

Holiday Giving Ideas

The Las Vegas Advisor Holiday Gift Catalogue is now online, chock-full of ideas for the casino lovers and gamblers on your gift list.  My contribution to this was spending a couple of hours autographing umpteen copies of my latest book.  If you want to order an autographed copy of The Frugal Gambler Casino Guide, click here.  Or, if you want to be more frugal, order it in your favorite eBook reader format.

Searching for Words

Am I impressed by this most expensive hotel room in the world?

I would be more impressed by the introduction of some 9/6 JoB VP in the casino downstairs from that room.

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Hope you all took the time to count the many blessings you have on this Thanksgiving Day – before you go out tomorrow and make your own personal Friday black by buying more than you can afford!

VETERANS DAY – Monday, November 11

Boyd Gaming is offering a 11x multiplier for all players with a Sapphire tier card and above.

Silverton is offering 10x on reels and 2x on VP.  They are also advertising a BOGO buffet that day for all players club members.

Many casinos will offer a free buffet for military members and veterans on this day. Most require a players card and verification of their status to be shown at the cashier, with military ID, VA ID, or a DD-214.    This includes the Rampart, South Point, Silverton and Boyd Gaming properties.

The Station casinos also offer a free military buffet, but the procedure is a bit different. You have to swipe your military Boarding Pass at any kiosk to redeem voucher.  If you don’t have the military flag on your card, you can take your official documents to verify your active or veteran status to the players club and get that military card.  (That will also qualify you for extra benefits for the on-going Military Mondays promotions.)

South Point’s offer is the plum one since the buffet freebie is not only for the qualified person but he/she can bring a guest who can also eat free.  The lines are long at all the casinos offering this free meal, even at those who have separate VIP lines, but you might find the wait at South Point excruciatingly long all day long – there doesn’t seem to be any “off time.”

There is another plum offer for all active or retired military personnel with verifying credentials but it involves a bit of a drive for Las Vegas residents, about 90 miles.  The Virgin River and Casa Blanca casinos in Mesquite are offering free buffets all day for both the qualified person and guest.

No free buffet at the El Cortez but you might not have to waste time waiting in line that day to eat – free White Castle hamburgers will be passed out to the active players on the casino floor, both at the tables and the machines.  And you don’t have to even be military or a veteran!

THANKSGIVING DAY – November 28

Boyd Gaming is running their 11x multiplier all day – and as usual only Sapphire tier and above can take advantage of this bonus.  So sorry, Ruby players.

South Point is running a Hot Seat promotion from 8 a.m. until midnight Nov. 28.

And almost every casino restaurant is serving a special Thanksgiving menu.  The lines may be long everywhere – I think very few in Las Vegas cook a holiday dinner at home!

MONTH-LONG PROMOTIONS

Here is a newly-released promotion, one which was not mentioned in the monthly mailer but which I first learned about from an ad in the R-J.  The Gold Coast is continuing their mid-week multipliers for all of November:  11x all day Monday through Thursday.  Check Scot’s player club bonus list for the varying multiple-point days for other Boyd properties – they are not all the same!   The same warning for Station Casinos:  The Fiestas and the Palms often march to different orders!

South Point is running their popular 1/2 -price player club point “sale,” this month for Amazon gift cards.

Tuscany is having a “Play and Win” promotion:

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An important note for all players who are looking for extra value: Always check out possibilities for double-dipping, combining monthly and holiday promotions.

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And finally, a hint for getting around during the Las Vegas Marathon coming up later this month:

Once again, the Las Vegas Monorail will be the only Strip transportation option available during the 2019 Humana Rock ‘n’ Roll Las Vegas Marathon & ½ Marathon. The Humana Rock ‘n’ Roll Las Vegas Marathon & ½ Marathon event gives participants a one-of-a-kind nighttime running experience as the only private event to close Las Vegas Boulevard at night. The largest event on the Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon Series tour will take place on the Las Vegas Strip at night on Saturday-Sunday, Nov. 16 – 17, 2019. Year after year, thousands of runners and spectators attend the Humana Rock ‘n’ Roll Las Vegas Marathon & ½ Marathon and its four days of events, relying upon the Monorail for getting to and from the start and finish lines of the weekend’s races. The Monorail also has a station at the Las Vegas Convention Center, which is the site of the events three-day Health & Fitness Expo, held on Thursday – Saturday, Nov. 14 – 16.

I recently read a comment on the Internet from someone who stated, after reading about all the hoops one had to jump through to take advantage of one casino promotion, that this was too much “bother.” Several successful gamblers chimed in immediately with their mantra, one that has guided Brad’s and my casino journey for over 35 years: “Bothering” with the details is an absolute necessity in order for a gambler to achieve financial success.

Back some 22 years ago, before I had ever thought about writing a book about gambling, friends were hearing us tell about our trips to Vegas and how we were able to make these vacations a low-cost – even free – recreational choice by choosing good games to play and using the comp system.  And of course, they wanted to know how they could do that.  The problem is they wanted the “secret” in 25 words or less.  I tried to explain that there was no “silver bullet” – it was hundreds of little things you had to do.

22 years later, it has taken multiple editions of 5 books to talk about the hundreds of thousands of little things one can – must? – do to be successful.  And it amazes me that there is rarely a time when I am writing a blog that I don’t have some “little” idea to share – either a new one or a reminder of one that is easy to forget.

Although I have been visiting casinos for over 35 years – and try to keep track in my head all the things I have learned over the years – I sometimes forget something important.  For example, Brad and I recently visited the Gold Coast and planned to play because it was a 11x-points day.  I usually visit the kiosk the very first thing and swipe both my card and Brad’s while he is parking the car.  But this day I was distracted because I had to go to the cashier to solve a big-money problem.  That took a long time so I immediately hurried to meet Brad at our favorite machines in the non-smoking area and forgot I hadn’t swiped our cards.

We played about an hour or so when my brain woke up to this distressing thought that we would not get credited with bonus points before we swiped in.  Long story shortened.  I talked to a players club supervisor and asked if there was any way we could get these bonus points put on manually.  She was nice but pointed out that this had happened to me back when this new system was first put in many years ago and they had “fixed” it for me– but they could not do it the second time.  The loss was not huge, but it was a reminder that one has to keep up with those “little things.”  Some properties – like South Point – give multiple points automatically while you play with no players club swipe needed.   Some properties – like the Stations – do require that you swipe but it can be any time that day, before or after you play.  Be sure you know the system, especially if you play at a casino you haven’t visited before.

For this month, as it has been for quite a while, it is important to stay aware of other little details connected with casino bonus points.  This is especially important when dealing with large casino companies that have multiple properties. This is confusing many players, especially with Boyd Gaming and the Stations.  Don’t assume multiple-point days are the same company wide.  And be aware with Boyd that sometimes there are bonus point days ONLY for those that get the monthly mailer promoting those days.  You need to check Scot’s Bonus Point List since his list includes only those that are open to everyone.

And this warning goes for all promotions at these casinos.  You have to read the newspaper ads and monthly mailers carefully to be sure you don’t make a special trip to take advantage of a promotion and find out you are at the wrong casino or there on the wrong day. As I have mentioned before, the Palms seems to be in a Stations category of its own.  That nice fat summer coupon book from the Stations is a perfect example of the need to carefully read the “little” details.  Some of those coupons are good at several properties but many are for only one specific casino.  Same with the list of promotions on the Stations website.  You must check the logo or casino name under each on there – and also in newspaper ads.

Have a great 4th of July!  There will be some gambling promotions but maybe you can fit in some non-gambling fun activities too!

An important detail I didn’t realize about the “Play & Earn” gift card promotion December 14-25 at the Gold Coast that I mentioned in my last blog.  I just found out this was not open to everyone but just to those who received the local mailer.  So sorry if some of you made a special trip in vain.  I know that some multiplier days are only for those who receive a mailer but I hadn’t come across a major promotion before where this policy was in effect.

CAESARS

Total Rewards players club is changing its name to Caesars Rewards. You’ll be able to pick up your new Caesars Rewards card beginning February 1 at any Caesars Rewards Center. Click here to find out all the details, including some new benefits.

In other Caesars news, I have just found out a new way – at least to me – to use your Seven Star annual retreat benefit, if you don’t want to fly to a casino outside your local base.  I have that benefit to use before the end of January but right now Brad is not feeling strong enough for a long trip.  So I talked to a host and found out we could stay at a Caesars property here in Vegas for up to four nights, have my choice between $900 in free play or 1200 in Reward Credits, and have my $500 folio available.  I was also told that this folio credit could be used not just for the usual food and drink charges, but in the spas and in any gift shop that would accept room charges.

This confirmed some of the reports on the gambling forums that Vegas properties were expanding this folio benefit.  However, it pays to check in advance because the information is not always readily available as to which outlets do or do not qualify under this benefit.

SEASON’S GREETINGS

We MUST get a new Christmas greeting pic!  But the message is still the same in 2018.  Happy holidays to all!

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!

The Growing Frugal Family

I haven’t been blogging for the last week or so – for many reasons.  First, Brad and I haven’t been in Las Vegas or even near a casino.  And gambling has been the last thing on my mind – although I did have a dream about it last night.  I dreamed that I found a video poker machine, with a deuces game on it, and when you had one deuce in the #1 position, you could do something that would make 3 more deuces come up.  The problem is that I don’t remember what I had to do to make that happen.  I don’t suppose I ever will remember either!!!

Anyway, we have been in Columbus, GA, and our time has been filled with Christmas activities with our family, including the newest addition pictured below.

Great-grandson Asher, 4 months old.

We are back home now – and I plan to get back to blogging just as soon as I get back into a routine.  In the meantime, I wish you all a blessed holiday season that will go right into a wonderful new year.

This was  the photo taken at the recent Great Gift Wrap-Up at Caesars Palace.  A photo freebie is one of the perks they do every year during this event and we like this.  We  can look back at all these photos and see how we are aging!  This year we have titled the picture “The Year of the Canes.”

For a long time we never counted holiday shopping benefits when we figured in advance the EV of a play we were considering.  Because  these shopping benefits were “things,” we considered them comps and we counted comps as “gravy.”  A good play for us had to be well over a 100% EV when you added just the basic game return and the cash or cash equivalent benefits.  We loved the comps, of course, but we considered them just the vehicle to a more luxurious life style than we could have normally afforded.

It was fun, for awhile, spending time in a big ballroom full of all sorts of merchandise and deciding what we could buy for ourselves or for our relatives with our shopping points.  But after a few years, it started becoming a chore.  We were in our downsizing years, not our accumulating ones.  We couldn’t find gifts for others that we thought they really needed or would even be what they really wanted.

So we were very happy when a few years ago Caesars, and some other casinos, like MGM, started giving the option of using your holiday gift points for free play instead of “things.”  We found that, in general, we could take the money that we ended up with after playing through the free play and go out and buy any item we wanted.  We could look for bargain prices, much lower than the high full retail prices of the ballroom selections.

Others have their good reasons for wanting to shop in the casino’s ballroom “store,” and I don’t fault them for that.  But for us, holiday shopping benefits have become a welcome addition to the EV of our video poker play, something we are grateful for in this time of decreasing good opportunities.

I am thankful that there are still some casinos that don’t consider video poker players the enemy.  They understand that almost all of them are not a danger to their bottom line.  And for the few players that are, they often bring along spouses, relatives, and friends who will more than make up the difference.

I am thankful that casino buffets are offering more healthy choices.

I am thankful that casinos give out free play.  It may not be as much as it used to be or as much as I want, but whatever I get I count it as an appreciated extra.

I am thankful for gambling Internet forums, which have helped me become a more successful gambler.

I am thankful for multiple-point days, a favorite casino promotion of mine.

I am thankful for caring and efficient casino hosts, many who have smoothed our casino path for years and become good friends.

I am thankful for all the non-gambling entertainment options casinos provide when I want a change from the machines and the tables.

I am thankful for my gaming writer colleagues, who continually quench my thirst for more information about my chosen avocation.  No matter how long you have been gambling, there is always something new you can learn.

I am thankful for the abundance of friends I have made through gambling associations, both in bricks-and-mortar casinos and online.

I am SO thankful for Brad – for millions of reasons, but an important one is that we can share our love of gambling – and we are on the same page in this area.

And, last, but not least by any means, I am thankful that YOU are reading this blog.  I threaten to retire from writing all the time.  But when you write in the Comments, or send a personal e-mail, or meet me in a casino – and say how much you love this blog and how the information here is helping make your casino visits more enjoyable and successful – well, that makes me feel useful.  I am thankful for your appreciation.

A blessed Thanksgiving to all of you!

Christmas 2013 – click on this link or on pic to enlarge.

Here’s Brad holiday greeting, clowning around while picking up some comps!