From Martin, a helpful Palms hint:
Even as an out-of-towner, I always go down that little hallway on the right side of the Club Palm booth and on the wall there are usually all the current promotions listed. Also there are “hard stock” flyers with detailed rules (covering their butts) on all such promos.
Thanks, Martin, for reminding me to publicize this. The Palms has many good promotions but they are also often VERY complicated. I make it a point to pick up these flyers and read them VERY carefully. It’s a job because there isn’t just a little fine print – the complete flyer rules and regulations are in fine print!
Derek caught an omission in my August 1st blog entry about “Taxing Changes.”
I just read your blog about states that do not allow deductions to offset your W2G winnings. Please add Massachusetts to your list. We have to claim the winnings but cannot deduct any gambling losses. That's why we call it "Taxachusetts."
Oops, I missed this naughty state when I copied that list from Chapter 9 of Tax Help for Gamblers: “How All 50 States Handle Gambling Wins/Losses.
From a reader who wants to stay anonymous, about my “beef” with Station casinos:
If you try to make an argument for sending the same mailer to two players with the same coin–in, one who plays only Optimums and one who plays penny slots, not only are you wrong, you will never move Station management on anything. You need to see their side of it – they are a business and they need to make a profit.
This raises a valid point. Actually I have never said that skilled players should get the same from a casino as unskilled players. I understand and accept the difference. My main concern in the August 14th blog entry was that in a Stations promotion that seemed to be for all 50+ seniors it was not clearly stated that you were excluded if you didn’t get the monthly mailer.
I notice that I am not the only one who is bothered about many casino promotions and advertising. A recent article in the Las Vegas Sun says that “some casino customers are taking their complaints about ambiguous or deceptive promotions to the Gaming Control Board” and that the Board is taking them seriously.
Thanks, Westie, for pointing out that Sun artcle and another one that talks about the theft of slot club points. A warning for all of us to monitor our slot club accounts closely and frequently.