I appreciate all the comments on my last blog entry. Thanks to all of you who “get it” and help explain things to those who don’t “get it.” But don’t get discouraged if you can’t convince the doubters. This old saying comes to mind: “None are so blind than those who refuse to see.”
However, perhaps I wasn’t really as clear as I could have been in my last blog entry. No, we don’t play at Caesars properties in Las Vegas. Yes, we still do travel to some Caesars properties, often in conjunction with family visits. We make more trips to those places where we can reach by car, i.e., Laughlin. I listed many properties only to give you information about where many skilled players often find good plays. We don’t visit all of them since we are cutting down on out-of-town travel that involves long flights.
Yes, getting to Seven Stars, for most people – including ourselves, involves playing at higher denominations. It takes a million dollars of coin-in each year to maintain that tier, a feat that would be an almost full-time “job” at the lower denominations. And for someone who wants to play the highest EV games, there is the problem that these games often are offered only at the higher denominations.
No, I am not going to tell you exactly where and when we play and why we choose a particular casino. One casino that offered good plays last year may have cut down on their offers this year and we don’t play there anymore. Or, one casino has downgraded their paytables. There is no Caesars property where we play on a regular schedule. We just look at the offers we get and see how many we can work into our schedule without it being more effort than we want to exert. One of the hardest things we have to do these days is turn down an extremely good offer because it involves too much travel time and more energy than we think we might have!
We aren’t strongly committed to continuing Seven Star status every year. If the good plays dry up – and/or if our energy levels fall even further – we will happily drop down to Diamond level, which is a tier that has plenty of benefits and is probably the best goal for most players to attain with just their usual amount of play. I never recommend that anyone play beyond their bankroll to reach higher tiers.
Thanks Canadian Guy. I just got back to this post. Are you saying (or the article) that all I have to do is make sure I declare anything over $9,900.00? and they won’t take it from me, or if I win bigger, I have to sign papers. Does that mean that the border patrol will send those papers to the Internal Revenue Service? If so, will taxes be imposed, even though it’s non-taxable in Canada? I really would like to know, if you get back to this post. Thanks much.
Marilyn
It is tax free – American customs took it all since he lied to them and did not declare it. Here is the link to the story – http://news.nationalpost.com/2010/11/04/20k-of-windsor-casino-winnings-confiscated-at-the-border/
Here is a quote from the article to answer your question. “There’s no fine or penalty for carrying that much money across the border. Actually, it’s not illegal at all to bring money across the border.”
No friggin way! How could they? It’s tax free (as long as it stays in Canada?) I would have opened a checking account in Canada, so it wouldn’t have been traced by the IRS and just taken what I needed as I needed it. Would that have worked. I knew someone who did that and got away with it. hmmm
MarilynAnn: Nope, I find Greektown tight but do like their cheap buffet (the frozen custard is amazing!) and free downtown parking. I find that the money I lose at Greektown I make up at MGM Detroit. I should head there first!
P.S. Did you hear about the guy from Michigan who won $20000 at Ceasars Windsor? He did not declare it (not sure why as winnings are tax free in Canada) and American customs took it all!
Thanks Canadian_Guy,I appreciate your input. Do you think Greektown is better than MGM. I found I couldn’t win there at all, but heard someone on the elevator say that they had just come from MGM and Greektown is soooo much better. hmmmmmm lol
MarilynAnn – I gamble in the Detroit area as well. I finally reached Diamond status at Caesars Windsor. The best part is going to Vegas and using my status there. I find they are pretty cheap at Caeasars Windsor as the Diamond lounge is VIP lounge and you need 50000+ point to enter! (instead of 11000 for Diamond lounges) I talked to a host as I found my offers (free rooms, free slot play etc) were not any better than Platinum and was told they are based on your average play for the month and not your status.
That is interesting you were told Detroit casinos pay better. I find them tighter then Caesars Windsor but I do like they always have the newest slots. Greektown now has “The Godfather” slots and “The Great and Powerful Oz” community slots.
I was the one who posed the question originally on LVA. No I am not a newbie. I have read this blog since its inception. My original question was how was it possible in LV with the terrible pay’s. You now have answered that question and I appreciate the answer. Thank you.
I, too, have questioned what I get for what I spend, particularly at Ceasar’s Windsor, Canada. It’s a nice casino, but was told by a slot host that it’s payback is only 85%. Detroit’s casino’s are around the 92-93% she said. So, that said, I no longer worry about ‘making my status’. Casual, carefully calculated play is best for me now. It took a rude awakening to get me here, but I’m happier for not worrying whether I have the money to build my tier status at these casinos. They don’t give that much back!
Dear Jean,
Today I got 24 of the same e-mail from you over a two plus hour period. I think something might have gone wrong with your computer.
Thanks for any help with this.
Yours for good VP,
John