We forwarded this one to the inimitable "Queen of Comps," who monitors such things assiduously. Here's Jean Scott's response:
I sympathize with you about the frustration of trying to figure out the details of many casino policies and promotions. I have had these frustrations throughout the last 30 years that I’ve been visiting casinos – and it has turned into a writing career that I just can’t stop! The locals-casino scene is especially confusing and so that is why I talk about this a lot in my Frugal Vegas blog, including about Boyd casinos.
First, some background information: Boyd Gaming has multiple properties in Las Vegas, but they are divided into two groups. The downtown ones are considered "destination" casinos, catering mostly to out-of-town visitors; the other group is made up of what are considered "local" casinos, obviously catering more to Vegas residents. This group includes:
Your question concerns this second group of casinos. Sometimes, the same promotion runs in all four of them, but most of the time each one runs its own programs and promotions. In the past, each of these four in the "locals" group ran their own "seniors promotion," with differing days and benefits. However, a few months ago, the senior "Young at Heart" 50+ program was launched in all four casinos. You can read the details on the Boyd Gaming website.
In your question, you specifically mention the "Mystery Multiplier," which is one of the benefits at each casino on Senior Wednesdays. Actually, you and your sister were really lucky to swipe at the Gold Coast and each get a 7x multiplier: From reports from friends and on Internet forums, the most common ones are just 4x and 5x.
When it comes to your experience at the Orleans, however, I am less certain about this. A couple of months ago these properties made a change in how you would get multipliers. In the past, if there was a multiplier time—property-wide or individually from a mailer—the computer "knew" this and gave you those bonus points automatically; now, however, the computer "hasn’t been told" this information, as it were: You must swipe before you start playing in order to activate that multiplier. The casinos have tried to inform everyone of this change, with numerous notices in mailings and signage in the casino, but not everyone got the message. And some just forget to swipe first (since they're used to it not being necessary at some casinos, where you can swipe anytime the day of play). I’m not sure how this was handled in every case, but I heard that some players weren't happy when they went to the players-club desk to try to get the multiplier, only after they'd already been playing for a while, and were given no adjustment.
If you read in the Young at Heart 50+ rules in the link I gave above, actually it does not state that you must swipe before you start playing. It merely says "participants must swipe." I don't know about the legality of this issue and whether the casino is just "assuming" that their new blanket rule about swiping first also covers this particular promotion, or if they're still obliged to specify in the small print. Either way, it would seem that in this instance you were also the victim of an employee who was mixing up this issue with the rules for the 4:30 p.m.-drawing benefit, for which you may—and must—swipe at the kiosk to activate those entries between the hours of 2 and 4:15 p.m. only.
If you want more information about Boyd’s promotions – plus other local promos and changes, I recommend you check out some of my old blog entries and watch for my regular "Vegas Promotions" entry around the first of each month, wherein I try to relieve some player frustration by keeping you informed about the latest happenings in the potentially confusing minefield of promos and comps.
