Question of the Day - 24 October 2011

Back in September, we ran a Reader Poll asking for feedback on whether you feel the quality and quantity of the comps you're being offered has improved, deteriorated, or stayed the same lately. While there were all kinds of interesting observations and points made in the information that you provided, what struck us in particular was how we'd receive emails almost simultaneously from different people, citing diametrically opposite experiences with the same casinos/players clubs. We'll leave you to draw your own conclusions, but presumably there are several factors at work.

• "I'm Diamond in Caesar's group of casinos, staying and playing mainly at Harrah's. I've not only seen no drop in the offers I get, but I now receive every three months a mailing for $300 in play for either slots or table games for the trips I take, with many dates inclusive. I've taken advantage of this twice already during the past three months and will do so again in October and December. This is an offer I never received in the past. Should add, however, the the food/beverage in the Diamond clubs are nothing close to what they used to be - now snack foods only and hardly any top shelf liquors."

• "Food comp at the Orleans is down 5 bucks but everything else seems the same."

• While there are the few good offers of free play that are still pulling me to Vegas, try getting anything comped beyond a room. Gone are the days of free meals, limo rides or spa treatments (unless I want to PAY for them). Actually though, I love the freedom. Before I felt obligated to stay and play at one place. Now I can take advantage of the free play or whatever, then play or dine elsewhere (using LVA coupons of course!).

• "The Venetian/Palazzo has gotten a bad rap for cutting out all comps. NONSENSE! This could not be further from the truth! Admittedly, they made a horrible PR blunder by pulling out of booked comp offers a while ago, but that only lasted for a few weeks. They then revamped their comp system to reward only players who actually gambled there. That was the major failing of the previous system - everyone who got a card seemed to get free rooms. That simply doesn't work, when those people don't spend anything where they are staying, and many didn't. They simply took advantage of the comps but played elsewhere. Now, if you stay AND play there you get reasonable comps for doing so. Not as generous to everyone as they were before, but they treat their regulars well.

  "I'll be arriving for my 4th comp stay this year in a couple weeks, and I've had no issues with any of my stays since the "crackdown" - no comps pulled out from under me, no surprise charges, nothing!! And no, I am not a "whale" as some have suggested you need to be to get these offers. I barely made gold status last year, probably won't this year, and I don't fnd any difference in the way I am treated! I love the place and will continue to support them!"

• "I’m at Platinum level in MLife and used to get frequent offers of over $1,000 in FreePlay, suites, meals, shows, limo transportation, etc. Now the offers come a lot less often and some of the FreePlay has dwindled to laughable amounts ($75), although they still usually include a suite and limited meals. I live in Florida so those kinds of offers aren’t worth the cost of the trip. Therefore, I’m staying home and spending my gambling dollars at our local tribal casino where I’m treated very, very well. Now that MGM Resorts has put a one-year expiration on MLife points, I figure that means I’ll be axed from their system. But considering the poor quality of their offers, who cares?"

• "I play in AC and sure have noticed a drop in everything. I'll be in Vegas December so I'll see what's going on there."

• I have received unbelievably good comps at Aria and Monte Carlo. The comps at the Harrah’s properties, which I prefer, have not been as good. The locals and downtown have been the same as usual for me, but nothing compares to the comps I have received at the Aria and Monte Carlo. I am a low roller, and thought that Aria would never comp me. I got an offer for 2 nights, 100 dollars in slot play, and two for one tickets to any show at an MGM property. I had never set foot on the property. I used the comp, and told my friends that Aria would never invite me back. I hadn’t gambled much. Well, I got the same offer two months later."

• "Overall, my comps are at about the same level as in previous years, with one exception. Since the introduction of the new "MLife" players club, my comps from MRI have increased dramatically. Specifically, the offers I get from the individual properties are about the same as before, but now in addition to those I also receive better corporate offers based on my combined play at all of the MRI properties. (Example: I’ll get an offer from the Bellagio for discounted rooms and $50 food, versus a corporate offer for free rooms, $200 freeplay and $100 food good at any property). I guess MRI has finally learned something from Harrah’s Total Rewards system."

• "Receive just as many comp offers, but not the value of days past. Going to Harrah’s website, it now takes both my wife and I registering in order to receive a room comp that one of us could obtain before. Both still Diamond."

• "Interestingly, about three years ago I suddenly started getting free rooms at (then) Harrah's properties. My play hadn't gotten any stronger but i sure didn't complain. Took advantage of several free rooms on various trips over two years. I actually increased my play since I was staying on site. Then, suddenly, nothing! Seemingly overnight, the freebies were gone...and the discounts were nothing if I compared them to packaging rooms with my flight. Since i really don't like playing at the (now) Caesars properties, I'm no longer feeling 'conflicted' about 'earning' my free rooms."

• "I am a member of Total Rewards and MLife. I noticed a distinct drop in my comps with MLife even though I am Gold status. For example, I used to get a 3-night comp with $100-$200 free play; now I only get 2 nights comped with $50-$75 in free play. I make the same amount of trips annually as I did before with the same amount of bankroll. I haven’t noticed a change in my Total Rewards."