Comments on: The Locals Love War

By: Gamlore

Gamlore — Sun, 25 Sep 2011 21:56:39 +0000

I just recieved my letter from Stations Casinos im glad somebody is thinking about the players i play at the Fiesta Henderson everytime im in vegas and sometimes at the Green Valley Ranch also i just saw you and Brad on the travel channel Getting Rich in Las Vegas its it true Dan Rather called you The Coupon Queen?

By: jack potts

jack potts — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 17:23:27 +0000

Points are important but winning and full play is more important. Since this big conversion started VP machines have been tighter. U may get more pts but u also pay more pts for meals. Speaking of Restaurants San Lorenzo of Texas Station is closing Sept 26 and a new Pasta restaurant is opening. I used to like San Lorenzo. Use your PTS wisely.

By: David M

David M — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 23:10:59 +0000

In case it wasn’t clear, I’d love a summary of how the tier status benefits such as President and Chairman have been reduced. Thanks!

By: big loser

big loser — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 22:56:44 +0000

I know that when I went to the buffet this weekend at a stations casino, I no longer received 75% off the meal when I used my points but 50% now. Having lost an unbelievable amount of money, I would advise to you that gambling is entertainment and you will lose. The casino estimates your expected loss amount- its called your win/loss theoretical. Keep playing but only for fun. And only spend what you are willing to give to the casino because they will be fine. Especially the owners since we made them millionaires and even billionaires.

By: ClyDenna Hehman

ClyDenna Hehman — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 04:36:14 +0000

Jean, You mentioned you found some information on an, “Internet video poker forum.” I read your column and a couple of others religiously, but sometime could you do an article on the different forums and chat boards you find helpful? Thanks for your time, and please keep the info comming.

By: Theresa Clift

Theresa Clift — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 02:36:29 +0000

What is an Optimum video poker machine and how does one know if they are playing on one? Is it identified somewhere on the machine? Continued thanks for sharing all your knowledge!

By: Carol E

Carol E — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 01:10:41 +0000

Had a ton of accumulated Fiesta points. Will they all transfer to the new card?

By: Kevin Lewis

Kevin Lewis — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 19:03:43 +0000

The only valid consideration is what the total payback percentage on the best machines is:

M: 9/6 JOB is the best game, with 0.3% CB/FP it’s 99.84%, so you need multipliers to get above breakeven.

South Point: NSUD, w/0.3%, gets you just above breakeven at 100.03%.

Silverton: Only a few 8/5 BP, and everything else is garbage. You can get up to 99.47% with the 0.3%.

Stations: FPDW, with 0.075% comps, resulting in 100.835% return. (BTW the Optimums zoomed up from a former 0.04% to this astronomical 0.075–Stations “LOVES” +EV VP players.)

So the best play, for ANYONE, is still FPDW at Stations (among those four casinos). Mailers are never going to make up for the difference, especially since they’ve gotten so much worse everywhere. Locals casinos are now targeting for benefit reductions not just those who play +EV games, but those who play the best games a given casino offers. Silverton, for example, has cut people down just for playing crappy 8/5 BP.

I’ve criticized Stations in the past, but at least they’ve kept a few scattered fullpay machines (albeit with essentially zero slot club points, and no mailers for the scum who play them); they haven’t hunted down and exterminated all decent VP–yet. (I would NOT be surprised to see all the Optimums go *poof* some day soon.)

By: David M

David M — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 18:05:56 +0000

I’m a local and I don’t love war!! haha just kidding… OK, so thanks for the article Jean, but could you please expand upon the part where you say that the benefits have been reduced? How have they been reduced? Thanks!

By: Bill Clark

Bill Clark — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 13:14:30 +0000

Thanks for the information about Station Casinos. It look like they are trying to bring up the attendance in their casinos and making the polayers happier.