I’m writing this as all Nevada casinos are closed for business. It feels weird. It’s the first time this has happened in my lifetime. Nevada was a few days behind several other states that have also closed casinos. More than one dozen Las Vegas casinos voluntarily closed before the governor’s order.
Since, because of the governor’s order, Nevada casinos won’t let you in these days, I began to list other ways a casino can kick out video poker players — although usually one at a time.
I’m limiting my comments today to those players who are restricted because of skill and/or success. Players who are restricted for criminal reasons are in a different category.
1. In the “good old days,” there were stories that winning players were beaten up or even killed. In no small part due to Bob Nersesian’s lawsuits, those days are essentially over. Occasionally, one or more zealous casino employees get carried away in this area, and large reparations are rewarded.
2. The player is trespassed. A trespass is when the casino tells you (using specific language) that if you ever step foot onto the property again you are subject to arrest. This is a fairly rare situation in video poker (it has happened to me at two properties) because other restrictions are usually effective at keeping players away.
3. Take away the players card. Players are still allowed to play, but most choose not to do so. If a video poker progressive is high enough, the absence of a card isn’t enough to keep these players away. But that doesn’t happen very often.
4. Take away mailers. A mailer can yield free play, extra multiple point days, invitations to special events, food comps, free show tickets, etc. It can be that so much of the value of the slot club is in the form of mailers, that if the mailer is taken away, a player will voluntarily stay away.
Not always, of course. If non-mailer players still receive most of the multiplier days that others receive and most of the other benefits, a player can still sometimes find opportunities without receiving the mailer.
5. Restrict from drawings or other promotions. Some players play so much that they dominate the drawings at certain casinos. When a few players dominate the drawings, other players complain. Casinos may react to complaints by removing those players from the drawings.
6. Not being eligible for cruises or other special awards. Some casinos have year-end benefits — including big prizes for big players. If a player is not eligible for such awards, often the player will stop playing at that casino.
7. Some combination of items 4-6 above. Each case is different, and casinos can come up with different sorts of restrictions depending on the specifics of their casino and its practices.
In addition to physical restrictions for individual players, casinos can make a variety of other changes (reducing pay tables, slot clubs, or other benefits) directed at all players. Of the casinos I live near, I avoid more of them for this reason than I do because I’ve been restricted in some fashion.
There are players who get fighting mad over casinos having the right to restrict players. Not me. While I certainly don’t like being restricted, it’s the environment in which I play, and I just need to find ways to prosper in spite of that. Spending time and energy tilting at windmills I can’t change hasn’t worked well for me in the past, and so I try to avoid doing it in the present.
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“There are players who get fighting mad over casinos having the right to restrict players. Not me. ”
Agreed. when casinos have the right to restrict players, they are more likely to offer better games and lucrative promos. This became obvious to blackjack players when they “won” the fight over barring in AC a few decades ago. In general, games in Las Vegas were far superior to games in AC, once the AC casinos could no longer bar skilled BJ players.
I’m sure the same is true for video poker.
the local climate in las vegas has been changing to 86… i am 86 from one major strip property and agua caliente california… Slot and vp play is all i did at both. And this is only in last 2 years that i have gambled at an advantage.
“tilting at windmills”
Good one!
I was walked out of Winstar by two burley security guards when I said I wanted to self exclude myself for 1 year. Now I’m an elite club member.
I have started to run into the mailer/marketing in CO. 2nd place right before the shut down for me. First place took from my wife and I plus my parents. “Guilty by association” they said. 2nd place still up in air if full player card or just marketing. Time will tell! Been in that mind set of changing to monthly trips to Vegas or keep digging around here….thanks for the post! Hit home for me!
Bob, the entire city of Las Vegas has to be on tilt. Especially the employees of the big Las Vegas casinos who’s lives have been absolutely ruined due to this shutdown of the economy. People are going thru savings, possibly cashing out depleted 401K’s, and wondering if they’ll make it to the next month without getting an eviction notice or their home foreclosed on. With all the uncertainty in the air in Las Vegas I’m sure the corporations are eagerly awaiting to welcome the players back and to get back to some type of normalcy. The entire city has to be on edge.
This shutdown of the economy shouldn’t stop poker however. People can gamble online and play online poker, did that stop? Let’s not forget home games either. Those are always fun. Home poker games will never be stopped no matter what happens. People are going to have to weather the storm and adapt and overcome.
Poker is immune to the casino industry. No casino governs poker! It WILL be played during a shutdown or lockdown of the overall economy. Poker has immunity over the laws of man or government!
Wait till they all open up again. It’s gonna be like the GOOD OLD DAYS AGAIN !. You watch, they will have to have all kinds of gimmicks, giveaways and free stuff to get you back. Betters odds on all games, Black Jack as well. Look for .99 Cent shrimp again. It will be worth the wait….Normal people will be afraid to come into a casino (real and wannabe real gamblers not included). I see big money in our futures…..