To answer a couple of questions in some recent Comments: We have gambled some in Primm and Mesquite, but not for a number of years. Never in Pahrump.
Whether a Harrah’s property (or any casino anywhere) is a good choice for you depends on your goals, the denomination you play, what offers you get, and many other factors. You need to check the vpFREE2 database for each property and talk to other knowledgeable players you might see in a particular casino. Often the best games are at the higher denominations and you still need to get a lot of good offers to make the play positive.
Many players, especially at the lower-denominations, value highly the free rooms they can get all over the country with Harrah’s generous room offers so they will be satisfied to play lower video poker paytables. It all depends on what you want out of a casino visit. Goals, goals, goals!
I know many “advantage players” who make Seven Stars, although most, if not all, play at quite high denominations and/or for long hours all year long. There are many ways to get extra value above the EV of a negative game: multiple-point days, turning Reward Credits into free play, good cash and/or free play mailed offers. Of course not all Harrah’s offer all or even some of these benefits, particularly not in Vegas. Most of us have to make an effort to travel where there are the best games coupled with the best extra benefits.
Given all that has been written about the lack of positive pay video poker at Harrah’s properties, I am surprised that you & Brad play there enough to achieve Seven Stars. Are there games that are positive when the cash back is included?
Jean, great advice. Personally as a Diamond player I don’t mind the lower pay levels so much as I normally get almost a $1,000 in various types of comps when I visit Harrah’s LV, including choice of rooms at any of the H’s properties. At Harrah’s I get a suite so that’s where I usually stay. With various coupon offers, the free suite, free shows, Diamond lounge (poor these days), etc., I can afford to play three or four times a year at the lower VP schedules…IF I watch what I’m doing!
At Harrah’s New Orleans, they also give me reel rewards, pay all or part of my air fare, and even add in $100-150 for a fine dining at one of their partner restaurants.
So, as you say, it’s a matter of what your goals are.