JUNE CASINO PROMOTION NEWS

Posted on May 30, 2017 by queen of comps

This will be an abbreviated promotions blog. This is partly the fault of casinos that don’t plan ahead; when there is a holiday near the first of the month we players often don’t get our mailers in a timely fashion. This has been a problem for me and other writers for many years!

However, the other “fault” is mine personally – but one that I wouldn’t want to change. Brad and I are taking a vacation trip back to Indianapolis for a big reunion with his family and co-workers from his former place of employment, Naval Avionics.

However, a few casinos do get their mailers out early and I do get some early news through casino press releases or personal e-mails. Here are a few I know about:

SOUTH POINT

The Pump & Pantry promotion running in June will be a popular one since it basically gives players a chance to earn the equivalent of 2x points on their play all month, up to the stated limit.

Here are the details from a press release Continue reading →

Posted in Casino Promotions, Online, Senior Promotion, Technology | Comments Off on JUNE CASINO PROMOTION NEWS

Players Club News for Non-Vegas Casinos

Posted on May 27, 2017 by queen of comps

First a note about the parking situation on the Las Vegas Strip that I covered in the last two blog entries. Thanks to input from readers I added later a couple of outlying casinos that have a free shuttle to the Strip. So the May 19th blog is now complete, as far as I know at this moment.

The following players club information came from press releases, thus some flowery language!  🙂

RENO

Eldorado’s new distinctive loyalty program ONE Club will reward guests with exclusive benefits nationwide. With ONE Club, guests can receive comps at over 50 restaurants and lounges, 4,500 hotel rooms, and dozens of entertainment options throughout the Eldorado Resorts portfolio. ONE Club debuted in August 2016 at Mountaineer Casino Racetrack & Resort, Presque Isle Downs & Casino, and Scioto Downs Racino. ONE Club is now available in Reno at Eldorado Reno, Silver Legacy Reno, and Circus Circus Reno, allowing guests to seamlessly earn and redeem at Eldorado Resort properties. ONE Club will come to Eldorado Shreveport later this year.

LAKE CHARLES

Golden Nugget – Lake Charles today announced that it now gives premium 24K Select Club Members the most luxurious amenities ever offered with the new Billionaire’s Club, the highest level of the casino’s 24K Select Club player rewards program. This Billionaire’s Club tier level is exclusive to the Golden Nugget Lake Charles and is an invitation-only level above the regular tiers of the 24K Select Club tier, which go up from 24 Karat to Premier, Chairman and Elite. The Billionaire’s Club players’ cards will work at the other Golden Nugget Casinos, in slot machines and at table games for Point, Tier Credit and Comp Dollar earning, and for Comp Dollar redemption. Members can also present their Billionaire’s Card at Landry’s, Inc. restaurants nationwide to redeem their earned Comp Dollars, just like they do now. Each Golden Nugget Casino location has a separate program, so check with each property’s 24K Select Club Booth for specific rules and details.

ATLANTIC CITY

Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa, part of MGM Resorts International, announced today that it will be launching the Company’s M life Rewards loyalty program, presenting members with personalized offers, exclusive benefits and special access across MGM Resorts’ portfolio. Beginning Wednesday, June 7, M life Rewards will supplant My Borgata Rewards loyalty program, allowing guests to play and earn at their favorite MGM Resorts destinations including Bellagio, ARIA, MGM Grand, Mandalay Bay and The Mirage in Las Vegas as well as resorts in Detroit, Mississippi and Maryland.

Posted in Atlantic City, Non-Vegas Casinos, Reno, Slot Clubs | 3 Comments

Strip Parking Update

Posted on May 19, 2017 by queen of comps

Following my last blog, on May 14, discussing Strip parking, the next day the R-J had an article on the same subject, including a color-coded map.   That gave me some more details although I’m not sure how up to date all of them are – they still have the Riviera on their map! 🙂   I did some more research including visiting casino websites but my experience with these in the past have proven many are not timely updated. Even when I talk to casino personnel, I can’t always depend on whether the information they give is current.

So here is my best effort at a Strip parking guide for the frugal although I make no guarantees. I encourage corrections – you won’t hurt my feelings!

Free Strip self-parking

Caesars Entertainment Properties – (free only for those with a Nevada driver’s license which they can swipe)

Treasure Island

SLS Las Vegas The Venetian / Palazzo

Tropicana

Circus Circus – (Valet charge only)

Stratosphere

Wynn/Encore – (Valet Charge only)

Trump Tower

Casino Royale

 

Free Parking Close to Strip (short walk)

Tuscany

Westin

Hooters

Hard Rock

Royal Resort

Ellis Island

 

Free Parking off-Strip (long walk)

Rio

Gold Coast

Palms

The Orleans

 

Outlying Casinos with Shuttles to the Strip

Palms ( for hotel guests only)

Rio

Gold Coast

Orleans

Sam’s Town

Silverton

M Casino – Shuttle to the Tropicana

J W Marriott (Rampart Casino)

 

Shopping centers with free parking in walking distance of casinos

The garage for the Miracle Mile shops provides just a short window-shopping jaunt into Planet Hollywood.

The Fashion Show Mall

The Shoppes at Mandalay Bay

The Shops at Crystals

 

NOTES

Check my last blog entry for details on casino credit card benefits that include free parking.

Check casino websites for players club high-tier parking benefits. Also look for casinos that give the first hour free to anyone for quickie errands into their property. Both MGM and Caesars CET) properties have this benefit.

As usual, and especially on this constantly-changing subject, put in the “Comments” or e-mail me any additional details or changes you personally come across.

And to close on a negative note: I just heard that some casinos in Reno are starting to charge for parking. I don’t know any details yet.

This disease has spread fast!

Posted in City News, Hotel Information, Transportation | 7 Comments

Parking on the Vegas Strip

Posted on May 14, 2017 by queen of comps

Of course a frugal person is going to look for ways to avoid parking fees when they visit a Vegas Strip casino.  But this is not only a very complex subject but a rapidly-moving information target.  I am typing fast right now to try to get this blog up online before some of the information goes out of date!

Free Self-Parking

First, here are the casinos that do not charge for self-parking – at the moment:

SLS Las Vegas

Treasure Island

The Venetian / Palazzo

Tropicana

Hooters (just off the Strip)

Circus Circus – (only MGM property that doesn’t charge for self-parking)

Stratosphere

Nearby Shopping Centers

Then, there are the shopping centers that  have free parking and are in walking distance of casinos: Continue reading →

Posted in City News, Slot Clubs, Transportation, Vegas Discounts | 6 Comments

This and That

Posted on May 7, 2017 by queen of comps

Limiting Bumping Opportunities

Are you an airline passenger who likes to reap financial benefits by volunteering to be bumped? This will not be an option after today if you fly only on Southwest. This airline has given notice that they will stop overselling starting May 8. They say they have been contemplating this policy change for two years, but expedited its implementation after the recent United Airlines PR disaster, with videos blanketing TV and the Internet of a customer being dragged from his seat because the flight was oversold.

This new SW policy will not affect us much now since we don’t fly as often as we used to and we don’t have the energy to cope with delays as much as when we were younger. More important at our age now is being able to cancel and/or change flight plans without a penalty fee.

Reaching for Higher CZR Tiers

Recent recommendation from a  savvy fellow gambler:  An excellent thread about “Best Ways to Seven Stars or Diamond in a Day” on Dan Druff’s  pokerfraudalert website.  He lists many CET properties around the country, their best games, the theoretical costs, and other extremely helpful information. I have been Seven Stars for years and done extensive research on this subject but I found some new details that will help me going forward.

New Book Online

The Frugal Gambler Casino Guide is now available as an eBook, a frugal option for many of you. And for those who want to have a little taste of the book before you decide whether to tackle the whole meal, go to this Kindle sample. There you will find a list of the chapter titles and some extensive text from the first chapters.

You might also be interested in this well-written review of the book, geared both toward gambling readers and casino executives.

A favorite dinner activity for Brad and me, plus anyone else joining us, is reading aloud round-robin the words of wisdom from our fortune cookies. Here’s one I had recently that the whole table decided was very appropriate for  my new book: It is a great piece of skill to know how to guide your luck, even while waiting for it!

Posted in Caesars, Gambling Resources, Slot Clubs, Travel | 5 Comments

MAY CASINO PROMOTION NEWS

Posted on April 29, 2017 by queen of comps

This month has two major holidays on which you might find some profitable promotions, Mother’s Day on the 14th and Memorial Day on the 29th. Sometimes this gives you an opportunity to scout out a casino which you perhaps haven’t considered before. Check out Scot’s Players Club Bonus Point page  and then refer to vpFREE2 for a list of good games and see if you can find a good-play combo.

And speaking of Mother’s Day, if you are having a hard time shopping for your mother and she is a recreational casino gambler, then perhaps The Frugal Gambler Casino Guide might be an appreciated gift. I wrote this new book to help players – no matter what game they choose – lose less so they can enjoy the fun casino atmosphere longer. I give money-saving tips for all the table games, slots, VP, keno, and bingo – and I have included updated information on players clubs, promotions, and the comp system. Continue reading →

Posted in Casino Promotions | 3 Comments

Resources for Slot Players

Posted on April 24, 2017 by queen of comps

I wrote in a recent blog about how even VP enthusiasts like Brad and me enjoy playing slots once in a while just for fun. And for many purely recreational players this is their primary game choice.  So since this blog is for gamblers who play many different casino games, I like to provide a variety of helpful resources.

I recently came across one for slot players that graphically explains how a slot machine works. Make sure you press the 360 degree button and move the graphic in and out with your mouse.  Maybe these pictures aren’t worth a thousand words but they are a great supplement to the long chapter in my new book, The Frugal Gambler Casino Guide, explaining all about playing slot machines.

Posted in Gambling Resources, Slots | 1 Comment

Bumped – or Dragged – From Airplanes

Posted on April 16, 2017 by queen of comps

Several people have asked my opinion about the current United Airlines debacle. I guess, because down through the years I have written much about the possible financial benefits of being bumped from an airline flight, they feel I am an “expert” on all airline subjects.

Actually I really have no opinion on the current controversy and certainly have no advice for United. I’m sure they have a multitude of lawyers and PR people working on the problem. And this issue is with the airlines “involuntary bumping” procedures, that is, denying people a seat when they already have a firm pre-paid reservation. Brad and I are experts in the total opposite procedure which is volunteering to give up our reserved seats. In fact, when Brad and I first saw the dragging video on TV, we looked at each other and immediately had the same thought. Too bad he and I weren’t on that flight; we could have saved United possibly millions of dollars they may have to be shelling out because of this incident – and scored a nice financial bonus ourselves!

We don’t earn “airline comps” – what we have called volunteer bump money – as much as we used to when 33 years ago we started flying from our home in Indianapolis to visit casinos in Las Vegas and all over the US and overseas. For one thing, Continue reading →

Posted in Non-gambling Activities, Transportation, Travel | 8 Comments

Free Fresh Air

Posted on April 9, 2017 by queen of comps

Yes, there is more in Nevada than casinos – some would say many healthier places to spend your time. And during the next two weekends these places are FREE to enjoy.

In celebration of National Park Week, the National Park Service will offer free admission to national parks all over the US on the weekends of April 15-16 and 22-23. National parks in Nevada include Great Basin, Lake Mead National Recreation Area, and Tule Springs Fossil Beds National Monument. Not terribly far away there are choices in Utah, California, and Arizona. Click here to find a list of national parks near you.

Red Rock Canyon, near Las Vegas, is not exactly a “national park” but a National Conservation Area. However sometimes there is free admission there in conjunction with national park promotions. I haven’t been able to find out if that is the case for the above-mentioned dates. I’ll let you know if I find out this information closer to the time.

Posted in Health, Non-gambling Activities | 3 Comments

Multiple Points for Night Owls

Posted on April 3, 2017 by queen of comps

“Moonlight Multipliers” all of April at the Palms, midnight-6 a.m., Monday-Thursday.  10x on slots and 6x on VP with no limit on the number of points you can earn.  Swipe at any kiosk to activate.  Not available on 100% payback machines.

Posted in Casino Promotions | Comments Off on Multiple Points for Night Owls