Expanding Gambling Knowledge

Posted on February 27, 2022 by queen of comps

I recently read three books about blackjack. You may wonder if I’m thinking about switching my core casino game away from video poker. I know some players are doing that. Not me.

So, you might ask, “Then why would you waste your time reading books about blackjack?”

Down through the years, I’ve read a lot about many other casino games besides video poker and never considered it a waste of time. I almost always find at least a kernel of usable information from the writings of a successful gambler who plays another game, something I can use to improve my video poker play. In fact, I’m often surprised by how much successful gamblers are alike no matter what game they play.

I was once again reminded of that as I read these three recent blackjack titles:  The Blackjack Insiders, The 21st Century Card Counter, and Radical Blackjack. Three very different personalities, three extremely dissimilar storytelling styles, three widely diverse casino experiences – yet I found so many common threads running through all three books.

I’ll begin by discussing The Blackjack Insiders, by Andrew Uyal, then tackle the other two books in future posts. I chose this book first because it is the easiest to read, with almost no complicated math details that keep many people from even starting to look for possible valuable information.

Two groups of casino gamblers will enjoy reading this book. The first is made up of readers who just love a good gambling story, whatever the game. And this is a good story, as the cover says, about “how two pit bosses beat the casinos at their own game.” You might not have thought much about whether casino employees gamble in their off time, but in my 39 years of spending a lot of time in casinos, I’ve come across many who do. In fact, many have approached me and told me that they’ve read my books and followed my blogs so they can gamble smarter; even some hosts have asked for details about what I do. But I’ve never been acquainted with a pit boss who worked both sides of the table and it was interesting to see how Andrew’s casino job experience helped him have more gambling success.

The second group of casino gamblers who may want to read this book consists of those who mostly play another game, but have dabbled a bit with blackjack and wonder if they could be more successful in making this their new option. Or a casual recreational BJ player might be wondering if he should set a goal to play it on a more serious level.

For this second group, I need to emphasize that this is not a BJ how-to manual. I mentioned earlier that there are not a lot of math details in this book. The general concept of counting cards is discussed, but you would need a nuts-and-bolts book that gives you the math information you need to learn this game well even on the beginner’s level. And at the beginning of the book, Andrew emphasizes that this is not a book that gives any advanced advantage-play techniques. What The Blackjack Insiders will give you is the emotional and psychological side of playing this game. And that’s why this book will be a valuable read even for a gambler who plans never to play blackjack. The struggle to improve your game, the agony of losing streaks, the stress of balancing family responsibilities, the constant research and practice – these are issues that players of any game will face.

This book discusses some techniques that I’ve recommended for years when talking mainly to video poker players. But these same ones worked well for Andrew in his blackjack journey. He used the comp system. He had a mentor to help him start on the road to success and then they became partners. This mutual support system not only helped with the technical details, like scheduling and bankroll management, but the emotional rollercoaster.

Most gambling books are written during the latter years of a skilled player’s life. Although they often begin with how-I-got-started stories – that’s how I started most of mine – the bulk of their books is usually a discussion and summary of all the things they learned through many years of casino experience. And these are valuable resources. However, The Blackjack Insiders is different. Andrew writes about his blackjack journey that lasts for only two years, an “experiment” to see if a completely unknowledgeable novice could become a successful – that is, winning – gambler during that time.

Yes, he had to learn the mechanics of card-counting, but more important, he had to learn to cope with the emotional ride. With vivid details, he takes readers on this trip with him.  We rejoice during the glorious mountaintop moments when he returns from the casino and covers his motel bed with the day’s winnings. But he doesn’t skip the many many bad moments, when the pain of long losing streaks is almost unbearable. If you’re an experienced player, you can sympathize with Andrew as he had to learn how to cope with these ups and downs. If you’re a new player-to-be, this book might help you be cautious with future gambling decisions!

Posted in Advantage Play, Blackjack, Book Recommendation, Comps, Gaming Writing, Good Reads, Video Poker | 3 Comments

News and Views

Posted on January 21, 2022 by queen of comps

The mantra of the casino player is “the only constant is change.”

I found this quote online and it sums up the theme of my writings for the last 23 years. In fact, if all casinos had the same policies and never tinkered with them, if they always kept the same owners and management teams, and if they never never revamped their players clubs, I’m not sure I would have seen the need to write those first blogs in April 2000. For sure I wouldn’t still be writing one in January 2022. Change is the driver that has kept me on the gaming-writing road.

By the way, when I clicked on that 2000 archive link above just before I started writing this blog, I felt like I was in a time machine going backward. I hadn’t read many of these old blogs for years. A reader who just recently started casino gambling would probably think they were back in the Dark Ages. But if you’re a long-term gambler, it might bring back some happy memories, though tempered by a deep sadness as you’re reminded how good casino gambling used to be.

However, I did smile when I read some of the general advice I gave back then to help players gamble smarter. Yes, I’ve been pounding the same drums for over 20 years. Consider this excerpt from April 14, 2000:  Words I hate to read in a letter from a casino: “We’re improving our slot club.” I have NEVER, in 17 years of casino gambling, known the changes in a slot club to benefit me!  I could write and have written that recently, just changing the number to 39!

Okay, we must not dwell on the past so much that it keeps us from coping with the present as best we can. Here are some current news items readers have shared with me or I’ve read online.

Tuscany has changed its players club point system. Video poker now requires $2 coin-in to earn one point. Previously it was $1 per point. I could find no information about the players club on the website. On their page about promotions, they mention the DaVinci Rewards Players Club, but I could find no details about it. I finally found some info on vpFREE2, a valuable resource I go to frequently.

I don’t know whether Tuscany put the new information out on communications to players club members. It seems that this change took place at the beginning of the year. Good advice for players is to check casino websites at the beginning of each year. Sometimes casinos don’t notify their players club members when changes are made; they just put new rules up on the website. This may have happened with CZR. I wasn’t tracking this, but one of my readers said they reduced the number of tier credits you earned when paying for a hotel room. Seemed to me that I’d seen that they jumped it to 5 tier credits per dollar last year. Now I see it’s down to 1 tier credit.

It would be helpful if readers would post casino-change information. You can do it here in the comment section. And it would be great if more would post these sorts of details on vpFREE. This used to be such a great resource. but now there aren’t many members who post there. I’m not sure whether so many didn’t make the transfer when it had to find a new home  or whether so many have reduced their casino visits or completely abandoned VP since the pandemic struck. I do encourage players to post changes or other casino news they know about. Of course, we don’t expect “secret good plays,” but much helpful information can be shared.

Amidst all the bad news these days, occasionally there is some good news that many players will be happy to hear. The tribal leaders have voted to permanently ban smoking in both Harrah’s casinos in North Carolina, Cherokee and Murphy. For you smokers, the news is not all bad, since they did leave open the opportunity for Harrah’s to add dedicated smoking sections that employees could volunteer to staff.

Happy News: We all celebrated Brad’s 90th birthday on January 18.

Thinking about good casino news, I’m cautiously optimistic that after the pandemic effect is gone, casinos may have to start thinking that perhaps they will need to be more player-friendly to strengthen their bottom line. More promotions? More comps? More free play?

And perhaps some new owners will have some old-fashioned ideas about how to make their customers feel appreciated. I may not get to Vegas soon or ever, but I’m super excited — and hopeful —  about the reopening of the Palms.

I’m going to “steal” a great optimistic quote from my fellow blogger David McKee. If you want to read no-holds-barred casino news from all over the country, you need to read “Stiffs and Georges.” I love his tell-it-like-it-is attitude!

Quote of the Day: “Native American casino operators will undoubtedly bring their unique operating model, which focuses more on the long-term benefit of tribal citizens than quarterly results. I think they will give the big, corporate, publicly held companies a run for their money.”—Industry analyst Josh Swissman on the arrival of tribal-gaming operators on the Las Vegas Strip.

Posted in Caesars, Casino Player Benefits, Casino Policy, Casino Promotions, Cherokee Casino, Comments, Coronavirus, Frugal Fridays, Gambling Resources, Gaming Writing, Memories, Non-Vegas Casinos, Online, Palms, Quotes, Slot Clubs, Video Poker, Web Sites | 10 Comments

New Year, New Updates

Posted on January 7, 2022 by queen of comps

I did plan to take a blog break over the holiday season, but I didn’t think it would end up being so long.

In the photo below of our family’s Buffalo-plaid Christmas celebration, you won’t see the intruder that disrupted our lives the following two weeks. It’s invisible!

Yes, unbeknownst to us, COVID was there and it attacked every adult who hadn’t been infected previously, despite all of us being fully vaccinated. Brad and I are just finishing our 10-day isolation period. He had no symptoms, but I got hit pretty hard and am still battling residue upper respiratory infections and bronchitis.

But no matter how bad I feel, I still “rest” a lot at my desk chair. And my computer keeps me connected to the outside world, including important casino news that may affect many of readers here.

TAXES

First, a lot of you are beginning to work on your 2021 tax returns and wondering if the 4th edition (eBook) of Tax Help for Gamblers will still be a good resource. There was no major federal legislation last year that required updates. The IRS clarified some cybercurrency regulations, so anyone with concerns about crypto should check with a tax professional. A change in one state’s law will make some taxpayers happy: Michigan residents can now claim a state-income-tax deduction for gambling losses they claim on their federal tax return. The law is effective for the 2021 tax year and beyond.

RESOURCES

Sadly, with the death of Darryl McEwen, we’ve lost “Seven Stars Insider,” the valuable resource for CZR players. However, I’m hoping that more VP players will join or re-join and participate more at vpFREE, which had to move to another site. (Subscribe at their new home.) We all need to help our fellow players by sharing information about VP conditions wherever we play. And vpFREE2 is still actively providing information about where the most generous games can be found, players club data, and other details from casinos all over the country.

Scot Krause still maintains the valuable Players Club Bonus Points list here on this website. He also continues to provide information on good casino promotions in “Vegas Values” on the American Casino Guide website, but now with a new once-a-month format on the second Sunday of each month beginning on January 9. The ongoing promotions page will be updated throughout the year.

Mark’s Las Vegas covers Vegas news and sometimes gives updated information about the MGM players club. Recently he posted that they were extending the Tier Credit-earning period for 2022 status by 31 days. They will count any Tier Credits earned in January 2022 toward both 2022 and 2023 status.

MGM

Speaking of MGM, I’m seeing a lot of online chatter about major changes in the players club at MGM properties and there seems to be utter confusion about what’s new and when and where the changes will come. Evidently, some changes started in November and some will be coming February 1. I haven’t played at a MGM property for many years, so I don’t have the experience to know the impact of these changes, and unfortunately, their website gives conflicting and often incomplete information.

Here are some of the details I’ve heard from experienced MGM players and internet sources, with some good news, but more disappointing downgrades. The new player loyalty system, now called MGM Rewards, will be universal at all properties instead of differing from those in Las Vegas and other regional areas. The five tier levels remain the same: Sapphire, Pearl, Gold, Platinum and NOIR, with only the threshold for reaching Pearl reduced.  Tier credits for non-gaming spend (food, lodging, etc.) have been drastically reduced. Players in the company’s sports betting and igaming system, BetMGM, can now earn rewards and tier credits.

There are too many changes for me to cover here, so I’ll give you several links that will keep you busy for many hours of study. Don’t forget to check the Q+A’s sections, which sometimes explain things more in detail.

The change that will hit video poker players the hardest is this phrase that appears over and over again: “Adjusting the way we calculate, basing it on your time played, average bet amount, and GAME TYPE.  (Caps are my emphasis!)

https://www.mgmresorts.com/en/mgm-rewards-is-coming-countdown.html

https://www.mgmresorts.com/en/mlife-rewards-program/point-calculation-change.html

https://www.mgmresorts.com/en/mlife-rewards-program/loyalty-program-changes.html

For those who coordinate with the Hyatt loyalty program, you’ll find more change info here.

FINAL GROAN

Whenever I see a casino wax eloquent about their new players club:

When we set out to reimagine our rewards program, we listened to your feedback and we did it to give you more …

To reward you appropriately we are adjusting …

We’ve completely reinvented the opportunities to reward you by …

I’m never excited … just sad!

Posted in Advantage Play, Caesars, Casino Player Benefits, Casino Promotions, Coronavirus, Gambling Resources, Health, Holiday Greetings, MGM, Online, Slot Clubs, Sports, Taxes, Video Poker, Web Sites | 5 Comments

Odds and Ends from the Frugal File

Posted on November 19, 2021 by queen of comps

It’s the Thanksgiving season and I want to tell all of my readers here and on my Jean Scott Facebook page how thankful I am for the constant stream of encouraging words so many of you have written to me while I care for Brad. Some of you I’ve met in person, but it’s amazing how well I know many of you just through the magic of online friendship.

Many have asked how Brad is doing. He’s very frail physically and losing weight since he doesn’t want to eat much. He sleeps 18-20 hours a day, but is still able to walk short distances with his walker.  Mentally, he seems to be happy in his own little silent world. I’m sometimes able to coax him out into my world, but he struggles to find words to communicate with. However, everyone here at Legacy loves him and his smiles when he can’t respond with conversation. And when there’s music, he sometimes still remembers how to dance.

3-year old great gran Cooper loving the Cat in the Hat Halloween dance.

CZR Notes

Some have asked for more information we found when we were at Harrah’s Cherokee in October. Like most businesses of any kind anywhere these days, the casino is having a terrible time getting enough help. They have billboards up all around the area, saying they need 700 new employees for both this casino (which just opened a new hotel tower) and their smaller sister, Harrah’s Cherokee Valley River Hotel & Casino in Murphy, NC.  Therefore, that factor and pandemic restrictions are a double whammy causing a decrease in service. There’s no routine room service during your stay, although you can request supplies you need. We still find the employees very friendly, even though they have to bustle around to cover more duties. Masks were required when we were there, but I have read that this restriction has now been lifted.

The biggest problem we had was in the food area. Of course, the buffet we loved is still closed and sadly not to be opened; the area is already being remodeled for the two-story Guy Fieri’s Cherokee Kitchen and Bar. When we were there, the Food Court options had been cut, with sometimes an hour’s wait to even enter, then long lines at the few choices. All the other restaurants had hours-long waits or were closed because of a lack of help.  Selu Garden Café is still our favorite, with the breakfast buffet back, and it wasn’t as crowded. But once you leave the hotel side, there just aren’t enough dining options in the casino, especially casual ones for players who are anxious to get back to the games.

Those specific issues about Cherokee are probably part of the reason why I’m seeing so much criticism of CZR properties in general. I understand player discontent with this new era of benefit cutting and service decline. However, I’m seeing the latter not just in casinos but at all kinds of other businesses. The pandemic is still wreaking havoc everywhere.  Hopefully, some good business practices will eventually come back, even in casinos.

I think a lot of casino visitors who have been playing for a number of years just can’t cope with change. However, wise veteran gamblers know that casino conditions have always been in a state of constant change and they have to be quick to adapt in order to stay successful.  They have to leave thoughts of what-used-to-be and look for what-can-I-do-now.

That has been the theme of most of my blogs for over a year, giving hints on what you might be able to do now.

I know I play at a higher level than many wish to, but there are many things I do to get more value in a casino that others can do, whether video poker or slot players, whether serious advantage hunters or recreational fun-seekers. I’ve been getting extremely good offers since my three trips to Cherokee this year, especially free charter flights to various CZR properties around the country. However, I’m hearing from many who are playing at a much lower level who are also getting these same free offers, especially slot players or those that mix in some slot play with their VP. And some at the very bottom levels of play will get these offers for a very frugal package price considering the convenience: straight-through flights, free rooms, and baggage handling and transfers from airport to hotel.  Especially helpful for seniors! Check out the website to see what is available in your area.

And for all those who used to check the “Seven Stars Insider” website for detailed information about CZR properties and wonder why it’s no longer available, here’s the sad news about the passing of its author, Darryl McEwen.  You can read a good tribute here.  I will miss his very helpful detailed writing. And to someone who suggested I do something similar, that is a big NO.  A site like that takes an unbelievable amount of time-consuming research.

I’m still taking your questions, so continue to fire away in the comments, on Facebook, or with a personal email.

Have a blessed Thanksgiving.

Posted in Advantage Play, Caesars, Casino Player Benefits, Cherokee Casino, Holiday Greetings, It's Personal, Non-Vegas Casinos, Q+A, Slots, Travel, Video Poker, Web Sites | 5 Comments

A Good-News Trip Report

Posted on October 30, 2021 by queen of comps

I’m always glad when I can write a cheerful and positive casino trip report. And I’m very happy to be able to do just that for a recent trip to Harrah’s Cherokee Casino.

“Oh, you hit a big jackpot!”

Actually, no, we lost this trip.

“Well, you enjoyed the leaf change at its gorgeous peak in this mid-October drive to the Smoky Mountains?”

No, it was pretty scenic on the drive north with some color change, but the peak was predicted for two weeks later.

“Then why can you write an upbeat optimistic report?”

For 37 years, we’ve never entered a casino expecting a guaranteed win, not even when we had the biggest edge. Sure, the more of an advantage we had on a particular play, the more winning sessions we’d pull out over the long term, but short-term results can never be predicted. Of course, we’re human and we want to win every time. But the more casino experience you have, the more you find out that the next best thing to winning is not losing more than you planned for or could afford.

Therefore, Brad and I always went into a casino with a plan: Play until we got xxx number of points; or play until we were going to meet someone for dinner; or just play until one of us was tired and wanted to go home or to our hotel room. We always had more than enough bankroll for any of our plans, whether in cash in our pockets or with a check or credit line. I don’t even really know how to use an ATM – I’m allergic to fees!

So my goal for this trip (our third one this year to Cherokee, a CZR property) was to reach the Diamond Elite tier, which I was happy to achieve with a reasonable loss, considering it was a slightly negative play. It would have been an increasingly positive play IF I’d been able to pick up all the extremely generous free play in the mailers that were filling my physical and virtual mailboxes. However, that would have meant visiting once or twice a week. This is one of the big mistakes many casinos make and is a major frustration for non-local players. This casino has my zip code and could have figured no one will drive upwards of 10 hours round-trip to visit that often.

However, although we haven’t been able to pick up most of the free play this year that would get us to positive territory, I’m already looking ahead and seeing some benefits we’ll have next year that might make up most of the loss in our negative play this year. I’ll share them in later blogs as those plans develop.

But now, I want to return to the reason I call this a “winning” trip. On our previous two trips to Cherokee earlier in the year, Brad showed very little interest in playing in the casino, spending just a couple of short periods of playing VP beside me.  Then he wanted to go back to the hotel room, heading straight for bed where he fell asleep the minute his head hit the pillow. Not a surprise, since he regularly sleeps 18-20 a day.

I figured this visit would be the same as before, especially the first day after the 5-hour road trip. And when we first got to the room, he did hit the bed immediately. Two hours later at 7:30 p.m., he woke up. I thought that he’d go right back to sleep for the night, as he usually does. I said I was going back down to the casino and casually asked whether he wanted to go with me, expecting a negative reply. Instead, he sat up with a surprised look on his face and exclaimed, “Of course I want to go!”

And go we did. The dementia has greatly reduced his range of emotions and he usually stays in everything-is-just-okay mode. But now he really looked excited, eager to find our favorite bank of  VP machines. We sat down side by side, just as we’ve liked to do for over 30 years. He was anxious to start playing, so I took the watch-for-accuracy job on the other machine. From his brief plays on the two earlier visits, I knew he remembered NSUD strategy fairly well, but playing $25 a hand, I wasn’t taking any chances!

I assumed he’d tire easily and we’d have to switch the play-and-watch jobs, but he was fully absorbed for long periods before he needed a rest.  I hadn’t seen him so engaged in one activity for months. We groaned together when we just missed getting a good hand and laughed together when we unexpectedly made a good hand out of nothing. For two hours we were together again, just like we had been for the first 35 years of our casino life.

The second day the magic lasted an hour. The third day it was gone. But the joy of that first night is a memory of a “winning” session that will last forever.

Thumbs up!!

Posted in Advantage Play, Bankroll, Brad Stories, Caesars, Casino Player Benefits, Casino Policy, Cherokee Casino, Health, It's Personal, Memories, Non-Vegas Casinos, Travel, Video Poker | 21 Comments

Comments and responses, questions and answers, fall colors and jackpots

Posted on October 8, 2021 by queen of comps

The Comment Folder

I love your comments here on my blog, whether they add valuable information, ask a question, express your feelings, or even disagree with my viewpoint. I never change their main ideas, although I do edit them a bit sometimes, especially spelling, punctuation, verbosity. I can’t control my inner English teacher; I’m afraid she’ll never retire!

Here are some samples (in italics) and my responses to them:

 It’s a time for advantage players to show the patience and discipline that led them to that designation in the first place. Use your feet – they’re the only leverage you have. Hustle around to look for something decent and if you can’t find anything decent, do not succumb to the powerful urge to just play a lousy game. The casinos will come back to us; they do need us, just not right now. Learn from this; it’s a big challenge; they are trying to get us to forget what we learned over time and sweat.

Tired of scrambling for a good play? That is one player’s advice. I hope the casinos will come back to us, but I’m not optimistic for a big move. Hopefully, maybe just a few small ones?

The interesting thing I’ve now noticed is if you have a nice winning month, do not expect a mailer the next month. Last year, I had a great month at Green Valley Ranch. Hit a nice royal and won almost every day that month. No more mailers for 3 months after that.

I used to write that it didn’t matter whether you won or lost, that the casino would reward you on a scale that tracked how much play you gave them. That time is long gone!

Don’t be afraid to use strategy cards in the casino.

I would have to add this warning: Be discreet if you do. Don’t set up the card (or an 8½ by 11 printed-out strategy sheet, which I’ve also seen) on the machine. Casinos may not be as paranoid about smart gamblers as they used to be, but it’s always best to stay below their radar.

I don’t always choose my casino game for its math EV (expected value). I have another EV I look for – “enjoyment value.”

Nothing wrong with either of those definitions!

When I lose in a casino, I just sing the Dire Straits song that goes, “Sometimes you’re the windshield, sometimes you’re the bug.”

😊

The Q+A Folder

I get a lot of questions about comps, which I’m always glad to answer. But sometimes a question has already been asked – and answered – in the Question of the Day section of this website. Here’s one example. And yes, sometimes that QOD guy (Deke) shoots me a question to answer!

Q:  What resources do you like for finding out about all the new technology we see popping up all the time in casinos, like cashless options and everything computerized, even comps.

A:  My favorite is “Frank Floor Talk.” These two Franks, Buddy Frank and Frank Legato, are super knowledgeable and write in a clear way to help players understand the new complex high-tech stuff you are seeing in today’s casinos.  You can check out their archives for a wealth of information they have covered over the years.  It’s fascinating stuff, some that amazes an old-timer gambler like me!

Q:  What is going on with the “Seven Star Insider”? No newsletter or website updates since July.

A:  I haven’t been able to contact Darryl McEwen to see if this is a temporary or permanent situation. This was my first go-to place when I wanted to learn details about CZR properties and benefits. It still has some good usable info, but be aware some will be quickly outdated. I really miss it.

And speaking of good resources, because of the pandemic, many are disappearing or changing their form. Here is the latest word about The American Casino Guide: 

 Due to the COVID-19 crisis, we were not able to publish a 2021 edition of our book. We were hoping to come back with a 2022 edition, but due to the uncertainty of the COVID-19 situation, we will be unable to do so. Therefore, after 29 years of continuously publishing our book, we have made the decision to discontinue the printed version. We will be transitioning all of the detailed casino information from our printed book into a digital format that will only be available on our website, or on our FREE iOS and Android apps. Using these platforms, we will also have the ability to offer coupons to our customers and we anticipate that those coupons could be either printed out, or displayed on a mobile device, for redemption at the casinos. We look forward to offering these coupons in the future, however, we don’t see that happening until the COVID-19 situation is less severe.

Now for a personal note. I’m sorry to share the sad news of the passing of one of our dear friends, Hedy Valledolmo. She and her husband Tom (CoachVee) were enthusiastic members of the large group of VP players who over many years became friends as we met in casinos all over the country – at the machines, at the casino parties and tournaments, and on the cruises. Our sympathies are with a grieving husband – Hedy and Tom were a real team! Here is her obituary and a place to leave memories and condolences.

Another note: Angela and Steve are taking us to Harrah’s Cherokee October 14-17 if Brad’s health stays stable. We are hoping to hit the prime beautiful leaves-changing period outdoors and maybe a jackpot indoors too. Also, always looking forward to seeing some frugalites. Email me and we can set up a time to meet: [email protected]

Posted in Caesars, Cherokee Casino, Comments, Comps, Family News, Gambling Resources, It's Personal, Non-gambling Activities, Non-Vegas Casinos, Online, Public Appearances, Q+A, Technology, Travel, Video Poker, Web Sites | 10 Comments

The Flexible Gambler

Posted on October 1, 2021 by queen of comps

I’ve been reading over some of the blogs I’ve been writing recently, in which I’ve been trying to give practical hints for players coping with the difficult casino environment we’re up against these days. And it occurred to me that one word can sum up all that information: “flexibility.”

The most successful gamblers are flexible. Flexibility is so important, I’m moving it way up on my list of descriptions of an effective gambler, right up there with “self-disciplined” and “hardworking.”

Someone looking for the best plays rarely sticks exclusively with a “favorite” casino. When I’m asked the most frequent question by people who know we came from Vegas — “What’s your favorite casino?” — my stock answer is, “Wherever there’s a good game or juicy promotion!”

Back in my early writings, I recommended having a “core” casino before branching out to others. That was good advice 20 years ago. And it can still be a good start or a firm foundation on which to build. But a good gambler these days is always a searcher, looking across the street, down the road, in the next city. And those whose personal lives give them wider freedom, you may find in casinos anywhere across the country looking for good-value plays.

A flexible gambler is not just looking for value in various venues, but also exploring games other than their usual ones. Many live poker players add video poker to earn more comps. Brad and I gave up blackjack in our early casino days because we were getting more abundant rewards from the players clubs from video poker. And today there are game possibilities you might have never considered in the past.

Bonus slots is a recent major opportunity. I had just a taste of that way back when with Piggy Banking, one of the first slot machines that you could watch in order to step in for the bonus when the bank was almost full. These new bonus slots require some fairly complicated math to figure out when they’re playable with an advantage. The problem, which I can’t help you with, is knowing which machines to play and when to jump in and play them. There’s some help on the Internet, but not all of it is math-trustworthy. Most players find these opportunities by talking to their math-proficient friends, many of whom are in skilled-gambler groups who share such information with one another, but not with the general public.

Another new possible game opportunity (though like bonus slots, with an advanced-math requirement) comprises the new electronic table games, particularly craps and blackjack. If, like me, you aren’t a math expert, you need one as a friend! Recently, I ‘ve stressed how important it is to cultivate relationships with other players. In my conversations with skilled players over the years, I find that they almost always mention getting valuable information from a friend or acquaintance.

Another technique many players use to find good plays, more accessible to more players without being an Einstein, is watching for things that change in a casino. I won’t disagree that many casino changes aren’t good for the player. But it’s a little like panning for gold; sometimes, when you shake out all the dirt and debris, you’ll find something of value. Look for a change of marketing executives; a new one just might be more player friendly and loosen up the mailers, at least for a while. Look at a newly revised players club system. Some changes might work in your favor, even if others do not. Watch for a change of owners; don’t assume everything will be downhill. New owners sometimes run we-are-now-better promotions. (Thousands of us are hoping this for the Palms in Las Vegas!)

When a new casino opens, it’s a given that a flock of savvy players will be there, checking out the machines, the table games, the players club. There is always a chance that in the hustle and bustle of getting the casino open quickly, the casino will make mistakes that will provide a good player opportunity. But these players don’t limit themselves just to the big Vegas openings. They travel anywhere to look for new opportunities, big or small. In fact, sometimes gems will be found in the smallest and/or out-of-the-way gambling locations. They might not even be bona fide “casinos,” but instead, small slot parlors, or a few slots in a truck stop or convenience store, or games in a local bar. (The Las Vegas Advisor, for example, tracks the local-bar scene day in and day out.)

And not surprisingly in this digital age, many players are checking out online casinos. Obviously, you have to live in or visit a state that has legalized them. But if you do, you can explore them for possible advantage plays. Some have generous bonus programs – I call them “players clubs in space” – that can give you good value for online play on various games. I’ve never played online, so I can’t give you specific details. But I’ve had reports from readers. One was about some good VP games on a CZR-branded online casino where you can build up tier and reward points. On another, some are earning points to add to their M life players club account at MGM. The Wynn Rewards program is being integrated with its online platforms, so you can earn rewards both through mobile and desktop platforms, in addition to in-person play at the brick-and-mortar casinos.

A gambler committed to finding good plays is flexible in where or what he or she plays, but also when. A promotion starts at midnight? It doesn’t matter. A flexible gambler never expects a 9-to-5 schedule. He doesn’t set his hours; the opportunities dictate his timetable.
And when one opportunity goes away, you don’t find the successful gambler sitting around and crying about “greedy casinos.” He knows no good play lasts forever. He’s learned to stay flexible, so he can adjust to change.

The most successful gamblers are scramblers!

Posted in Advantage Play, Blackjack, Caesars, Casino Promotions, Craps, MGM, Non-Vegas Casinos, Online, Palms, Slot Clubs, Slots, Video Poker, Wynn | 6 Comments

The More Resources the Better

Posted on September 17, 2021 by queen of comps

“How do you find out all that up-to-date casino information you put in your blog?” I’m getting this question frequently these days, since many players know I can’t now visit casinos very often.

There is a simple answer, really. I’m doing just about the same things I’ve done for the last 20+ years of writing. Yes, back when I visited a casino somewhere most days of the week, I collected general information I could share in my books and blog. However, specific details were mostly to guide Brad and me in our personal play at that specific casino. I always tried to remember that not every player is alike. Not everyone is a Vegas local or even plays much in Las Vegas. I have always written for players all over the country and for those who had differing goals and bankrolls. That is what I’m still doing. But these days, I need a lot more than just personal visits to a few scattered casinos.  I need other resources to find information. And especially in this new tough casino environment, I need them more than I ever did before.

The basic information source for me has always been – and still is – anything I can read. It used to be hard-copy books and magazines. And books about gambling are still being published that give new ideas and inspiration. You can check out the LVA shop for recent titles. And while you’re there, you can find some of the older books that contain valuable gambling advice that’s still usable and most of these books sell for very frugal prices. I used to say that I could find at least one hint in almost any gambling book that would make me more money in a casino than the cost of the book!

Nowadays, much of my reading is done online. I spend many hours a week searching for information from other gaming writers. Of course, I faithfully read the Las Vegas Advisor, but also all the blogs and other content on this LVA site. And here’s a hint I have found most valuable. I not only read the blogs, but also the comments on the blogs, going back a week or so. Not everyone reads and comments on a blog the same day it’s posted. I’m often amazed by the bits and pieces of helpful information I find in these comments, including those on my own blog.

I also check out industry news. The CDC site is a good place for this. Also David McKee gives some good details in his Stiffs and Georges blog.

If you google specific casino companies and search for their press releases, you’ll be astounded how forthright they sometimes are in revealing their “secrets.” In recent months, I’ve read quite a few quotes from casino executives who specifically say that they’re looking for “higher-value” players (translation: those who lose more and don’t need rewards to keep them coming), while they won’t cater to “lower-value” players (low-rollers, especially those who win). That might help you understand why your mailers are going downhill.

For other industry inside information, you can look for casino analysts reports. I recently read one that talked about new software coming out that will make things harder for players looking for an advantage. This one is particularly scary! “Acres Manufacturing envisions casino operators being able to increase offers to high-margin (or casual) players,  while reducing offers to low-margin or advantage players.”

I also regularly check into gambling forums. One of my favorites is vpFREE. Subscribe at their new home.  Although it’s video poker-centric, there’s often players club news that any machine player might find helpful. This long-term forum no longer has as many participants as in the past, partly because it had to change its location, but mainly because so many video poker players have dropped out of action during the pandemic. But even in this current rebuilding stage, I’ve found some useful information on video poker and players clubs.

An example is a warning one vpFREE member posted about the Rampart Casino in Las Vegas. Maybe some of you had been excited about this casino starting to have more multi-point days. Better carefully read the casino explanation of the new change in their players club:

We’ve also received feedback that our point multipliers are not competitive with other area casinos. Our goal is to offer the best promotional line-up for our players, and offering a competitive multiplier is very important to us. Therefore, as of September 1, 2021, we are rolling out an all-new Rampart Rewards Program.

Earning points will remain the same and there will be no change to the way players earn points in the system. You will continue to earn $1 of slot coin-in = 1 point and $2 of video poker coin-in = 1 point.

Our redemptions will change in the following way: Current redemption: 200 points = $1 in cash back, free slot play, or comps. New redemption: 1,000 points = $1 cash, free slot play, or comps – this will begin September 1. With this new change to our point multipliers, you will be earning points faster than ever at Rampart Casino!

The poster isn’t tricked and you shouldn’t be either. He says: “To try to sugar coat an 80% reduction in comps/cashback by saying it is being done to accommodate customer feedback asking for better multipliers takes a lot of guts. So far, only Labor Day had a multiplier, and for VP it was 5X, meaning that even on a multiplier day, the new program is FAR worse than the old program every day of the week!”

Some of you may think this forum doesn’t give you any helpful information about the outside-of-Vegas casinos where you play. You yourself can change that pretty fast. Just post a question about a specific casino anywhere and you will usually get input from other members. I have gotten a lot of help this way recently with our visits to Harrah’s Cherokee. And being on this forum can have an added bonus: You may have the opportunity to make new friends that share your enthusiasm for video poker and it will perhaps lead to private communication and the sharing of information about the casinos where you play. I have learned a lot of casino “secrets” this way!

Above, I’ve described some of the main resources I use, but I’m sure there are many more. I’m interested in learning how you get valuable casino info. Please feel free to share your experiences in the comments.

 

Posted in Advantage Play, Casino Player Benefits, Cherokee Casino, Comments, Gambling Resources, Gaming Writing, Non-Vegas Casinos, Slot Clubs, Video Poker | 4 Comments

Casino Rewards – Part 2

Posted on September 4, 2021 by queen of comps

Before continuing on the subject of casino rewards, I need to repeat what I have emphasized many times before: Any suggestions and examples I give in my writings do not apply to all casinos at all times. With any casino information, there are so many nuances and exceptions, so few universal considerations. I grow weary of having to so frequently use “most,” “sometimes,” “usually,” “occasionally.”

Furthermore, not all information I share will be of interest or usable to all casino visitors. When people write to me and say that they don’t see how anyone could patronize X or Y casino company, they’re overlooking the differences in players: their goals, skills, experience, bankroll, and location. If that company has casinos all over the country, you can bet some players are finding good plays for themselves in some of them.

With that emphasized, I’ll continue to discuss some of the techniques players can use today that will generate more rewards, even in this time of challenging casino conditions.

One of the most common ways to score better casino mailers, including the higher free play you treasure, is to take notice of a common casino marketing practice that looks at a customer’s daily average and sends out rewards based on that number, with the more you play the better your mailer. Some casinos call it trip average for those who stay overnight.

In either case, one of the pieces of information that goes into figuring that “average” is from the tracking data gathered during the time you have played a game using your players card on a machine or at a table game. If that sounds simple enough to understand, just wait for the variations I need to warn you about.  Many casinos turn this into a complex system, not just counting the days you actually played, but adding in days you showed your players card to do anything: check in/out of the hotel, enter a VIP lounge, use a coupon or comp, or merely check your point balance at a club kiosk. I used to tease my friends: Hide your players card when you go into the restroom or you might be “tripped.”

I can give you only a brief general look at this valuable reward-boosting technique here, but I spent several pages in More Frugal Gambling discussing “averages,” listing the many ways you can ruin them and the best ways to maximize them. In the book, I touched on  tips for those who are staying on a several-night visit in a hotel-casino, such as avoiding short-time play on the days you check in and out and bunching up your play on the other days. Some couples keep one of their cards for short-term play and use the other only on days when they can play longer, keep up a higher average, and thus get better mailers. I also discussed a related method to use to establish yourself at a new casino: No walk-through play on your first visit, but make it the biggest daily play your bankroll will allow. Then sit back and wait and often you might be pleasantly surprised at the juicy mailers that start coming your way.

[Editor’s Note: Jean is notoriously modest about touting her own products, but when it comes to More Frugal Gambling, even though it was published in 2003 and some of the details and examples in the book are out of date, most of the basics not only still apply, but also provide valuable guidance. And the 84-page section on comps is still the best single resource to help players navigate the maze of the casino reward system. Best of all, the hefty 408-page book sells for a ridiculously low $6.99.]

I can’t leave the subject of daily average without talking about “theo.” You may have heard a player or even a casino host talk about the ADT (average daily theoretical). Too many players believe – and I must confess that I didn’t understand or appreciate this concept for a long time – that this meant the casino would reward you by looking at your theoretical win/loss figure based on the expected value (EV) of the game. For example, if you play a 99.7% game, your long-term theoretical loss would be .3% of your coin-in and you assumed that the casino would reward you in your mailer, with free play and other goodies, by returning a percentage of that figure.

This is not the way the system works. The casino sets its own theo, the percentage it uses for the expected player loss. For no reason that I have ever been able to figure out, the casino may set its theo higher or lower than the EV would dictate. Sometimes it’s close to the EV math. For example, in many casinos, it’s well known that the theo for 8/5 Bonus Poker is higher than for 9/6 Jacks or Better. (Don’t be confused – you want the casino theo higher, so the rewards will be higher; you want your theoretical EV loss to be lower, so you won’t lose so much.)

I hear your next question – if you aren’t too confused now to even know what to ask.  😊 How do I find games that have a significantly higher theo than the EV of the game? I’m sorry that I can’t give you an easy answer to this. It’s an advanced technique that only a small number of skilled players readily use – and they are not talking, except perhaps to a few trusted fellow players. Occasionally, a friendly host will reveal the theo of a game you play, but most players wouldn’t ask one about this; it might target them as knowledgeable and the casino might reduce their rewards.

This brings me to another very important way many players find information about casinos with better reward systems: They talk to other players. I can’t emphasize this enough.

Some information will never be found online. You may get hints of possible opportunities when you follow discussions on the gambling forums, but the more valuable those opportunities are, the more protective of that information players in the know will be. Obviously, you shouldn’t go up to strangers playing a certain game in the casino and ask them why they think it’s a good game, especially if you recognize them as a skilled player. But if you’ve been friendly to other players and casual chatting has made you acquaintances and eventually perhaps even friends, it will open up many avenues to share information.

I first met many of my precious long-time friends 30+ years ago as we were sitting beside each other at a video poker machine and struck up a conversation about strategy. I often talk to newer skilled players today and ask them how they got interested in advantage play and how they already have learned so much. No one has ever said that they just look up things on the Internet. It’s almost always “I met this player who became a friend and …”

Posted in Advantage Play, Bankroll, Book Recommendation, Casino Hosts, Casino Player Benefits, Gambling Resources, Slot Clubs, Video Poker | 4 Comments

Casino Rewards – Part 1

Posted on August 21, 2021 by queen of comps

How can I get more casino rewards?

I’ve been fielding this question for a long time. Actually, I’ve been trying to give helpful answers since I wrote the first Frugal book in 1999 and started my blog soon after. However, I recently came across a post I wrote back in October 2012 and I realized these questions had been turning to pleas for a long time.

Do I have any better answers today than I had nine years ago? The best I can do is review for you that old advice, much of which is still useful, then throw in additional details that might be helpful in today’s more challenging casino environment.

I must emphasize that not every gambler can use every value-adding technique I discuss. Some are more doable for the high-roller; others are more helpful at lower denominations. Some can be used by players of all games; others are specific to video poker. Some are of interest to recreational gamblers, others to advantage players. And long-time gamblers may find this merely a refresher resource, while newbies will need to slowly digest small bites of this information as they gradually climb the steps to more successful gambling.

I won’t spend a lot of time giving the details of the basics that are commonly known. Casinos want to encourage customers who add to their bottom line, that is, the ones that lose more. So the more you play, the more rewards you receive and slot players, who (in general) lose more, earn more rewards than video poker players.

For many years, the two main casino reward categories for machine players were cash and comps. You joined the slot club, earned points, and redeemed them for cash or comps. Then came what I called the “golden years,” with monthly mailers stuffed full of casino rewards – dining and hotel offers and best of all, cash coupons. The cash-coupon era didn’t last too long before it was replaced with free-play coupons. This turned out to be even better for the players; the casinos engaged in “free-play wars,” progressively upping the amounts to get a bigger share of the customer market. It was indeed a glorious time for the casino gambler.

Sometime during this period, casinos started to organize their customers into groups, based on the amount of their play; that’s how the tier system, separate from the players club, came into being, with benefits increasing as the player climbed up to higher levels. Most of the tier benefits were privileges and comps that varied in perceived value and often were considered as just nice “extras” to add to the more valuable mailers full of free play.

Today much of that same thinking prevails. Typically, we speak of tier “benefits” and players club/mailer “offers.” Players often value the latter more, because they often include free play, of which they can determine, exactly, the monetary value. They look at it as “cash” that they can go into the casino and “spend.” They don’t think as much about “benefits” being a possible valuable category to look at, because there’s no set monetary value. And that thinking can cause players to miss big opportunities to increase their casino rewards.

Comps are probably the most available rewards for most players these days. The trend in the last few years is toward giving players less cash or cash-equivalent benefits. Many casinos are downgrading their players club programs, with more play needed to earn points that are worth less. And free play is disappearing, or diminishing to the point of insult. It’s not surprising that many players today, trying to increase their advantage, are taking a more serious look at comps.

Here are some examples.

A regular senior quarter VP player at Local Casino X receives a very small weekly free-play offer in his monthly mailer, but also receives a weekly buffet offer for him and a guest, an invitation to a no-fee senior tournament once a month, and a special bonus-point day each week that’s not available to the general public. In addition, he can see a host occasionally and probably qualifies to get a comped or discounted room for a relative coming into town. He adds up the value of these benefits and figures they’re worth more than if his free play amount was doubled.

Another player, who runs a lot of money through slot machines, likes to fly across the country once a year to Casino Y, a casino in the same company as the one where he plays locally. He’s in one of their higher tiers and has been getting mailers from that out-of-town property that include nice amounts of free play. The problem, like with so many casinos, they’re geared to players who visit more often. He’s frustrated, because he’s leaving so much free play on the table. However, he has comps from his current monthly mailer that he can combine with tier benefits. From the mailer, he can get a comped room for three nights, worth hundreds of dollars at today’s rapidly rising room rates, along with dining credits for some of his meals. Tier benefits provide a gourmet dinner and travel credits that pay for most of his airfare. For this casino customer, the value of the comps is similar – or even higher – than the free play he’s missing.

My personal experience recently has been limited to CZR properties, although I get reports from friends and correspondents who play in other casinos. I’m finding that there is now a blur between tier and players club rewards. In the past, Brad and I usually played pretty much the same on each of our CZR cards and were in the same tier by the end of the year. So our offers were generally similar. Now only I’m playing. We put few points on Brad’s card for the last 2 years, but because we stopped playing at CZR mid-year, he ended up on a higher tier level. This became a valuable way for me to keep track of rewards and ascertain whether marketing mailers or tier level dictated them.

My mailers were predictable. I received a nice free play amount soon after my first visit to Cherokee with fairly heavy coin-in, what I call a “welcome-back” offer. But subsequent monthly mailers were skimpy, with minimal free play, a couple of one-night hotel-room comps, and $5 or $10 in monthly food credit. This wasn’t a surprise, since I was playing “good” VP.

In the meantime, although we’d played on Brad’s card just a couple of very short sessions on our first visit, for several months he received better Cherokee mailers than I did, with larger amounts of free play and better room and food offers. Was that because he was in the higher Diamond Elite tier? Our question was soon answered when, after two years of almost no play, our mailbox was being flooded with valuable travel offers for Brad – free charter flights, free rooms, even sometimes free play, going to Laughlin, Atlantic City, Tunica, and Tahoe. And once I moved up to Diamond Extra, I began to receive the same ones. This seemed to definitely come from our higher tier levels, showing that tier status can generate “offers” as well as give “benefits.”

I ‘ve always valued comps highly. Over the 35 years we’ve been going to casinos, comps have saved us hundreds of thousands of dollars. Our grocery bill was always smaller. We spent less of our own money on gas and car washes, beauty-shop services, gifts and vacations for our families, travel and cruises, entertainment activities like movies and shows. The list is endless. The bottom line for us was that comps allowed us to save, rather than spend, a good part of our non-gambling income down through the years, and now we’re enjoying the rewards of a financially secure retirement. What you don’t spend has the same monetary value as money earned!

Many players have asked me if I think it’s a good idea to work to get to higher casino tiers. As usual, there’s no one-size-fits-all answer. It largely depends on your gambling bankroll and your interests. Comps can be good casino rewards to add to your other benefits. And comps do have monetary value. However, it’s a personal valuation. Not every player finds every comp valuable.

And a final strong warning. Not everyone can afford the more valuable comps they would love. You must be sure the potential gambling loss is not larger than the value of the comp. That means you should first concentrate on your game. With a smaller bankroll, you’ll be playing at a lower denomination and the comps will be small. If you can pump up your bankroll and go up in denomination, you’ll earn more valuable comps. It’s always dangerous to “play for comps.” Play smarter, grow your bankroll, and then the higher tier status and more valuable comps will come to you.

Stay tuned for more hints on how to get more casino rewards.

Posted in Advantage Play, Bankroll, Caesars, Casino Player Benefits, Cherokee Casino, Comps, Non-Vegas Casinos, Senior Promotion, Slot Clubs, Slots, Travel, Video Poker | 5 Comments