Comments on: When Casinos Cut VP Benefits – Part 1

By: Sam

Sam — Wed, 25 Mar 2015 14:18:17 +0000

Just getting CET Platinum in one year is a huge financial sacrifice. IDK about committing to that goal.

By: George Bauslaugh

George Bauslaugh — Tue, 24 Mar 2015 23:56:52 +0000

With the changes throughout total rewards properties, I have decided to only play at a low level Diamond level. I play both slots/VP and am happy with room offered: but I am not happy about how Harrah’s/CET have been sliding downhill for over 15 years, since Loveman took over.

Life is a balance, there is more to life than gambling and casinos. Next month, I am taking a 12 night Transatlantic cruise on the Allure of the Seas to Spain, then a week to explore the country. All this still costs less, than many bring to Vegas/Atlantic City for a few days of play!!

Jean, Thank You for all the years of advice on how to do better with casino based trips. When you started, it was the “Golden Era”, now that times have changed, in such a dramatic fashion; it is time for those of us, to move along to other pursuits!

By: Tom

Tom — Tue, 24 Mar 2015 02:56:28 +0000

Hello, I read your profile on Discover magazine over 15 years ago. I’ve finally come around to reading your “Frugal Gambler”. I’m now ordering two more your books. In a month or so, I’ll get the software. Hope I’m not too late. I live in San Diego. I wonder where there’s a good place to play.

By: Ron

Ron — Sun, 22 Mar 2015 19:16:05 +0000

If the Casinos think they are Hurting now? Just
wait till the IRS drops the recorded payout to
$600! That will do it for me, I’m already looking
for a different form of entrainment!

By: Kevin Lewis

Kevin Lewis — Sun, 22 Mar 2015 18:48:31 +0000

There is another factor you should take into account when deciding whether to play a given (presumably, new to you) game: volatility. A LOT of times, you might visit a casino only to find that your favorite games have been torched–but there are still good plays, albeit on games you’re unfamiliar with. You have to move from your favorite NSUD or JOB to something like TDB or DDB–can your bankroll stand the added swings? For instance, last year, Suncoast had 7X points on certain days. I happily played two pair joker (99.92%) until they took it out; I then switched to NSUD (99.73%) until they took it out; they still had TDB (99.58%), but I stopped playing anyway. Why? Because of the huge volatility of TDB, I would have needed three times the bankroll that I had needed for the other games, and I wasn’t comfortable with that–even though the game, with +0.7% plus mailers, etc., was still worth playing on an EV basis.
Another huge pitfall that a VPAP has to watch for is being “forced” into playing higher denominations. This happens a LOT when visiting CET properties, as their corporate strategy seems to be to treat quarter players like scum. So you’ve driven 100 miles to the nearest CET pleasure palace, with $1000 in your wallet, confident that that should be enough for a weekend of .25 VP play, only to find out that the best game in that denomination is 5/4 Super Gonzo Whizzo Spin Doctor Bonus Poker (92%) and that you’ll have to play dollars if you want a decent game. Well, do you do the smart thing, and either turn around and go home, or spend the entire weekend inhaling the buffet and lounging around the pool rather than playing VP, or do you play the dollar games and get destroyed before you even go to bed on Friday night?
Many players, especially those without easy access to Vegas, are finding that decent VP where they usually play has been slaughtered. The trap to avoid falling into is saying “what the hell, let’s play anyway.” You must decide whether you are happier with your money in your wallet or on CET’s balance sheet under “Cash.” There are other, and cheaper, forms of entertainment than playing lousy VP.

By: Rich

Rich — Sat, 21 Mar 2015 18:48:36 +0000

My dear Mrs Scott,
My wife, Nancy, and I have never been Advantage Players. I do, however, know the pay tables and strategy for the two games that I play (9/6 JoB & 8/5 Bonus). My wife, on the other hand, doesn’t play strategy or care about pay tables. She plays a lot of DDB and some Stupid (penny slots) games.
I hit my first royal playing a nickel (40 coins FP) VP machine in Laughlin 30 years ago. My wife gave me a roll of nickels because she wanted to play. I was doubling down and have no idea what the pay table was and had less than 500 hands total in my life when I drew that Ace of Spades. I have had far more than my share of royals over the past thirty years. My wife went over ten straight years without a royal or, for that matter, a winning trip. In our last six trips one or the other has been a winner and we’ve brought more back than we took. Just plain lucky!!! Which begs to question: What is the mathematical symbol for luck in all these EV equations? We play at Green Valley, Rampart, Gold Coast, Sam’s Town and Main Street and have been comped for all our food, drinks and rooms for the last twenty years. The first ten years we got free rooms, but didn’t know the comp system to take advantage of it.
Hope you and Brad find your good plays and hit many royals in the process….Rich & Nancy

By: Jim and Bev from Indiana

Jim and Bev from Indiana — Fri, 20 Mar 2015 01:31:38 +0000

Hello Jean,
We are looking forward to Part 2 of your article. While waiting we’ll be double checking our EV at both of the casinos we play at.
Thanks for all you do for us EV players.
Jim and Bev

By: Gayl

Gayl — Fri, 20 Mar 2015 01:10:28 +0000

Last night I walked into Harrahs So California, (Rincon),to find the last marginally playable game downgraded. That’s it for me. Jean it’s the multi-play game you probably play when visiting us in San Diego. I only played at Caesar’s for the comps. Now it’s totally not worth my action. Caesar’s has chased another gambler away. Buh-bye. Enjoy your bankruptcy, Caesar’s.