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.

———

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!

So, the only help I can give all of us CZR players is what seems to be fairly solid information that has been put out there in the news.  The name of the new merged company will be Caesars, and the players club will be Caesars Rewards (the recently-changed new name for the old Total Rewards club).   Eldorado players will be transferred over to the Caesars Reward players club.  The new company will be managed by Eldorado, and that worries many CZR players since the word around is that they are “tighter” with player benefits.

However, right now it seems, according to all the emails and snail-mail offers I am getting, that the club is operating pretty much in a business-as-usual fashion, with many of the same type of benefits we have been getting for years, albeit reducing in value like has been happening in casinos in general the last few years.  So, who knows what the future benefits will look like after the merger.

But there are some bright spots at the moment.  The daily tier-credit bonuses will continue as usual in 2020:

• Earn 500 tier credits and receive a 125 tier-credit bonus
• Earn 1,000 tier credits and receive a 1,000 tier-credit bonus
• Earn 2,500 tier credits and receive a 5,000 tier-credit bonus
• Earn 5,000 tier credits and receive a 10,000 tier-credit bonus

And here is a bonus tier benefit promotion that is going on the rest of 2019:

Earn Tier Credits® for 2020

Get ahead of the game and start earning towards your 2020 status! Register now and for every 500 Tier Credits earned between October 1 and December 31, 2019, we’ll award you a 100 Tier Credit bonus for 2020. (Maximum 20,000 bonus tier credits)

But remember you must go online to your account to register for this promotion.

To my surprise – and probably to many other players – they have added some new levels of Diamond status, with new benefits, above the basic Diamond tier level which you reach after earning 15,000 tier credits.

Diamond Plus:  If you reach 25,000 tier credits, you get unlimited complimentary access to Laurel Lounges.

Diamond Elite: If you reach 75,000 tier credits, you have a $600 airfare credit to fly to a  Las Vegas CZR casino.

This new positive upgrade to the tier system was just recently announced and the details are a bit sketchy on their website.  (Watch for the fine-print exceptions at the bottom of the page.)  But although those benefits kick in February 1, 2020, some are based on your 2019 play so there is time for you to accumulate more tier credits this year if you want to work to reach one of those new Diamond upper levels.

And finally, here is a continuing valuable CZR perk I want to talk about because it is not heavily advertised or promoted:  the monthly Tier Benefit Shows for Caesars Rewards players in Las Vegas.  Diamond and Seven Stars players get 2 free tickets per calendar month. The shows are buy 1, get 1 free for Platinum players. Brooklyn Bowl shows are Diamond / Seven Star only.  The list of eligible shows varies slightly from month to month, and the best place to find the current offerings is either in person at any CZR players club desk in Vegas or online at Mark’s Las Vegas valuable site.  He updates the list at the first of each month, giving many details about this benefit, including how singles can get added value.  I especially recommend the show “Wow!” at the Rio.  Not as large as some, but a very well-done production.

The problem with this party that they both wanted to attend was that it was in downtown Vegas – a bit of a drive from their home. The man, at 87, finally had recently turned in his keys – so the woman would have to drive.  She had driven her whole adult life until the man’s retirement 30+ years ago.  Then they were always together and she had taken the wheel only a few times – mainly like when he was having a heart attack or was in the hospital.  She was now afraid that she had perhaps lost some of her safe-driving skills.  She could cope with the chaotic scary Vegas traffic when the destination was on a familiar route near their home, but she just didn’t want to tackle the downtown maze of constant construction and unknown parking possibilities. At one time they had known every nook-and-cranny of the area and every detail of every casino, but this hadn’t been their gambling stomping ground for many years, and they knew things had been changing.

But then they remember their handy friend, Uber!  They had used share-rides to and from the airport in the past, but decided that this could be the way that they could still enjoy going out even when driving themselves sometimes was not a good option.  The woman hesitated, as usual thinking of the cost.  The woman’s daughter finally convinced her that at age 80 she could let up a little on the extreme frugal concept.  And the man, who had never joined in 100% to the “crazy frugal” concept, reminded the woman that this was the “old age” that they had been saving for all these many years.

So… their beautifully warm autumn evening jaunt began with a jolly Uber driver picking them up at their condo and cheerfully loading the man’s walker into the trunk.  With no concern about the traffic, the couple could enjoy sight-seeing out the windows as the driver took a route they hadn’t been on for several years, noticing all the many changes in the city that had been their frequent vacation destination and then their home for almost 36 years.

The experienced Uber driver knew all the shortcuts and the trip was over quickly, the couple and their walker dropped off conveniently right at the back entrance to the El Cortez, where the party was happening.  They were about a half-hour early so they did what they had been doing for 36 years when they visited a new casino or one that they hadn’t been in for a long time: the woman pulled out coupon books from her purse and found two joining-bonus coupons.  They didn’t know how many years it had been since they last played at the El Cortez.  Would their names still be in the players club database and they wouldn’t qualify as a new member for this bonus?  They knew some casino databases seem to stretch back forever.

The man reminded the woman that he clearly remembers playing a $1 Triple Deuces VP machine here and hitting 4 deuces for $3000.  He doesn’t remember when it was – probably almost 20 years ago – but he said he would never forget the stir it caused as all the “little” players crowded around him, marveling at someone who hit a jackpot on a dollar machine – and at “full-coin” to boot!

Anyway, there was no record of either of their names so the players club clerk processed the coupons for them.  They would each have $10 of free play.

What machine to choose?  This was no time, they agreed, to look for “good” video poker machines; they would go for something fun.  They came across a nickel Triple Play Ultimate X, which was often their “just-for-fun” short-time choice – who cares what the paytable is! They played 5 minutes and then had to quit to head for the party.  Turned the $20 into $5 – cash out – okay – that covers the tip for the Uber driver one-way.

Although the couple had been on the El Cortez casino floor many times, they had never had a room there – and they certainly had never been up in the penthouse suite, which is where the long-time owner, Jackie Gaughan, lived for 25 years, until his death in 2014.  The suite has remained unoccupied by a permanent resident since then although it may be rented out – at a high price, of course, by someone who wants to enjoy the throw-back luxury of the 50’s-60’s.  It is also available for group functions, such as this party the couple was attending. They not only enjoyed chatting with old friends and making new acquaintances, but the 15^th floor patio view at dusk gave a beautiful picture of downtown, with both the familiar old sights they remembered and the new buildup beyond the Fremont Street Experience.

The couple left the party, happy that they had made the effort to get out of the house that evening.  It had been an interesting and entertaining get-together.  Should they order up an Uber and go straight home from the El Cortez?

Or, should they continue down Fremont Street and revive some more memories?  There were still lots of coupons in the lady’s purse.

Tune in next week for the answer.

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! 

GOLDEN ENTERTAINMENT

Golden Entertainment has been gradually introducing their new property-wide players club – True Rewards – into their many properties, taking the place of previous club names and structures. This is – or has been – taking place in the Strat Hotel and Casino and both Arizona Charlie’s in Vegas, and at their casinos in Pahrump, Laughlin, and in the Rocky Gap Casino in Maryland. It has also been rolled out to the 60 neighborhood pubs and taverns in the PT’s Entertainment Group and in the gaming  sections in CVS and the Albertsons and Smiths grocery stores.  This is what the company said about their new club:

It’s a hub-and-spoke model. Golden Entertainment is the hub, and our casinos, taverns, and gaming operations make up the spokes. True Rewards is what connects them all, allowing members to earn and use rewards at almost all Golden Entertainment properties.

I give them an A+ for originality in naming their tiers:  True, Loyal, Solid, Legit, and Epic.  No overused jewel or precious metal names!

I don’t play at any of these properties so I don’t have any personal details to add.  But I read that there is different earning requirement details for the casinos and the bars.  And I read this report from a player online: “We can redeem our True Rewards points from the Strat, Arizona Charlie’s, Aquarius, etc. for grocery gift cards to Smith’s and Albertson’s. But the rules I got from the players club say that the redemption rate is 1000 points =$1 with a $5 minimum. I’m going to keep redeeming points for free play since it has the better rate of 500 points = $1.”

So even though this is a company-wide program, like so many other umbrella companies, you need to check carefully specific details for each property.  Programs like Senior Days may not be the same.  The two Arizona Charlie’s have launched a new “50+ Perks Senior Day” on Mondays.  Some sketchy details are given on their websites, but I would suggest an in-person visit to get more details.  It seems that perhaps it is a slowly-evolving program.

BOYD GAMING

Today’s newspaper has 3 inserts for Boyd casinos.  One is exclusively for the Eastside Cannery, including a promotions calendar and a couple food coupons. One is a full sheet for 2-4-1 buffet coupons good for various July dates at the Orleans and Gold Coast.  The largest one – 2 ½ pages – prominently features details of the property-wide “Freedom to Roam” all-month promotion, the gift giveaway details, and the Monday “ALL-YOU-CAN-EAT BBQ dinner buffet.”  (Isn’t a buffet always all-you-can-eat?)  There is also a coupon for a Monday “All-You-Can-Bowl” special for those casinos that have bowling alleys.

This big section also has a ½ page description of July Point Multipliers.  Notably absent is any mention of any for the Orleans or Gold Coast.  Guess you have to get the local mailer to score point multipliers in those 2 casinos.  And one detail to remember:  Wherever multiple points are mentioned for July – in the newspaper or in our local mailers, for some unknown reason – at least to me – there will be no multiple points anywhere on Tuesday, July 23, even if there are on other Tuesdays.  And one more note:  Cannery and East Cannery have not yet been folded into the B Connected players club, so their multiple points are still at the value of their original C.A.N. Club.  Watch for the * in all promotional announcements!

Many former and present Boyd players received an e-mail recently asking them to fill out a survey, specifically asking about their opinions of the new players club.  I wonder how many gave it a big thumbs-up!!    But most of all I wonder what they will do with all the negative comments, especially with so many saying they are looking for greener casino pastures.  Will it lead to customer improvements?  I’m not feeling optimistic here!

A COUPON WATCH-IT

A good trend: I notice many 2-4-1 food coupons these days state that they can be used as a 50%-off for a single diner.  But not all do.  Many state they are not valid on holidays.  And most say that they cannot be used with other offers.   Read the details carefully.

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?”

Now for February casino talk.  Watch for promotions for the 14^th, Valentines Day, and for the 18^th, Presidents’ Day.  And a reminder that you need to check casino websites EVERY month.  Some casinos regularly change out their promotions each month, but often “on-going” promotions are changed or even completely stopped.  Here are some changes I found:

STRATOSPHERE (and other Golden Entertainment properties)

A major change, from a press release:

On Sunday, Feb. 3, the Stratosphere, Casino, Hotel & Tower will begin its transition to The STRAT Hotel, Casino and SkyPod, a rebrand that embodies the revolution of the iconic property since Golden Entertainment, Inc. took ownership in late 2017. Two commercials will air during the Super Bowl: “Strat Rising,” announcing the rebrand, and “Take the World for a Spin,” showcasing the property’s award-winning Top of the World restaurant.

The STRAT will be the first of Golden Entertainment’s properties to introduce True Rewards, a comprehensive gaming rewards program that will soon be available at 130+ locations, including: Arizona Charlie’s Decatur and Arizona Charlie’s Boulder in Las Vegas; Aquarius Casino Resort, Colorado Belle Hotel & Casino Resort and Edgewater Hotel & Casino Resort in Laughlin, Nev.; Rocky Gap Casino Resort in Flintstone, Md.; Pahrump Nugget Hotel & Casino, Gold Town Casino and Lakeside Casino & RV Park in Pahrump, Nev. True Rewards will also replace the current rewards program at all of PT’s Entertainment Group’s 60+ taverns, including PT’s Pub, PT’s Gold, PT’s Ranch, PT’s Brewing Company, Sean Patrick’s, Sierra Gold and SG Bar; as well as at all Smith’s and Albertson’s in Nevada, which are operated by Golden Route Operations, Golden Entertainment’s distributed gaming division.

CAESARS ENTERTAINMENT

On February 1 Caesars changed the name of its players club from Total Rewards to Caesars Rewards.  They did not change the basic structure of the program.  You keep your same account number, the tier system stays unchanged, and you can earn the same daily tier bonuses.

They have added a couple of new benefits: Diamond and Seven Stars members will receive 2 free nights at the new Caesars Palace Dubai destination. And after many years of automatic comped rooms for Seven Stars and then last year with no specific comped room benefit at any level, players receive 1 free night in Las Vegas or Atlantic City for every 5,000 Tier Credits earned in 2019, up to 7 nights.

The CET website is very hard to navigate and find details of all their programs – a real game of “follow the links.” For benefits go here  and read every word, including those tiny-print notes at the bottom of the page. For current and on-going promotions go here  So many special requirements and restrictions.  Many times you will need to click on the many “Learn more” to find out the necessary details.

PALMS

Palms players are in a major state of confusion.  Their February mailers have ZERO bonus multiplier days. When they check the Stations website for February promotions, they find that the Palms is almost completely left off the list where each promotion is going on.    No Military Mondays or My Generation.  Is this a first – a casino that doesn’t want any kind of gamblers?

The Palms is even left off the list in the full-page Stations ad in today’s paper, promoting the Monopoly Mania Kiosk Game.  That ad is very tricky since it is describing TWO Monopoly promos.  The bottom of the ad (the smaller part) is promoting the Monopoly Big Time Bonus, that jackpot that hits every once in awhile at each of the 10 properties.  The Palms IS listed there.  However, the biggest part of the ad is for the Monopoly Kiosk game and at the end of the details for that there are only 9 properties listed.  Which one is missing?  The Palms, of course.

Have I said this before – I just don’t understand casino marketing these days.

SILVERTON

I should have known better!

When my January Silverton  mailer arrived the last week or so in December, I saw lots of dates with January 2x points on VP.  This from a casino that had excluded VP from multiple points for ages.   I thought, “Maybe a casino finally looked around and saw other casinos cutting benefits for VP players and decided to try a promotional grab for this large segment of local gamblers.”

Silly me!

I did have suspicions – I’ve been around the block enough times to watch for casino “tricks.”  But I had no letter promoting a “wonderful new players club,” I saw no changes on their website, and I heard no scuttlebutt on the gambling internet forums.  So I was looking forward to this new benefit.

But early in January the rumors started up and finally Silverton posted the scorched new data on their website:

$1 = 1 point on all video reels and slots

$4 = 1 point on video poker

$8 = 1 point on optimum play video poker

333 points = $1

Unless you were alert, you might have missed the change for VP players, since the point redemption rate hadn’t changed – you still get $3 free play or comps for every 1000 points.  However, now playing most VP games would take FOUR times the coin-in as in the past to get those 1000 points, dropping the VP earning rate from.30% to .075% (even lower for the few games they call optimum play).

This casino had already become a marginal option for many knowledgeable VP players.  Even though playing the best paytables, you would need to make several trips there a week and take advantage of every extra benefit/promotion/offer.  We had already crossed it off our play list since we don’t have the energy to chase extras like we used to.  I imagine more VP players may do so now since the downgrade may be too severe for even just recreational players.

They have also changed their FAB 50+ Senior Mondays program, details here.  I’m not sure if this is an upgrade or downgrade.  I would welcome any reader personal experiences to be described in the “Comments” section.

By the way, there does not seem to be multipliers – for slots or VP – for the general public.  Fine print on the mailer specifies multipliers are for “invited guests only.”

M RESORT

Change of owners brings a change in players clubs. Penn Gaming is phasing out Marquee Rewards at M and going to Pinnacle’s My Choice program.

We don’t play there so I don’t have personal experience about this changeover, but you need to check the website carefully because it seems to be a very complex and gradual 6-month process.  Some of your questions might be answered here.

Both programs will have the same tier point earning and benefits beginning January, 2019. All guests in Marquee Rewards and mychoice will also receive the same great benefits and all play at both Marquee Rewards and mychoice properties will count towards your 2020 mychoice status.

BOYD PROPERTIES

Check here for the new 2019 Young at Heart (YAH) rules for 6 non-downtown properties (now including Aliante and Eastside Cannery).  Most are the same – including that notorious “advantage player” one, but there is now a shorter time to collect your free play if you pick the right color in the Celebration Spin.

Check here for YAH rules for Boyd downtown properties.

A personal note: For the first time in I can’t remember how long – 20 years or more, Brad and I are no longer Emerald tier.  This is true for many of our former fellow Emeralds.  However, we have others, many who hadn’t played as much or as long, who were simply given extra tier credits the last few months – even as many as 10,000+ – and they are now Emerald for all of 2019.  Don’t ask me to explain this.  Actually, I know one person who had been designated as one of those notorious “advantage players” and had been no-mailed for the last year or so although he could continue to play and earn points and tier credits.  He was given around 10,000 points so he is Emerald for 2019 although he isn’t to get any mailed offers!!!!

Some Ruby’s have been given enough tier credits to put them to Sapphire – a welcome gift to them because they will start earning points on their play.  In all these upgrades, it was impossible to determine the reason why some got them and others didn’t.  There were some anecdotal details that perhaps these upgrades were for losers and not for winners, but even if that is valid information, no details whether this was determined for short-term or long-term look-back periods.

Like with so many of these recent drastic downgrades, not just at Boyd but at so many other casinos, people are starting to shake their heads and wonder if the powers-that-be have any idea how gamblers think. They might be surprised how many even avid casino players might decide that they can’t take all these cuts and start some cutting themselves, perhaps even looking for another entertainment option that doesn’t “cost so much.”

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!