Question of the Day - 19 September 2023

Currently staying here.  They are doing a large renovation of rooms.  On the third floor, as you get off the elevators, the entire floor on the right is walled off.  About a third of the floor.

Boyd was are go to casino when we would come to Las Vegas. Always had free rooms and free play. They would have good promotions such as pick the pros free football contest and beer specials in the Red Zone plus lots of give a ways on Monday Night Football. I was there yesterday and the give a ways were a Raiders hat and a koozie and a couple of subway coupons.

Because they're assholes. The Boyd has flown.

Boyd messed with things long before COVID.  I used to get treated pretty well by them.  I used to get 4 nights, some free play and a booklet of coupons for free meals. About 5-6 years ago they pulled the free meal books.  Then they chiseled away at the free play.  To make matters worse, they really choked the ability to earn meaningful points for video poker players.  I made one brief visit to MSS after they reopened. They decimated their VP offerings.  That's the last time I've set foot in one of their properties.  They also shredded the Young at Heart weekly +50 promotion.  They used to have a drawing for 5 $100 prizes (won two out of 3 times that I participated) and a free lunch buffet or $5 off dinner.  Now it's just a 10x point multiplier (slots) day which is pretty much a nothing burger.  El Cortez does 10x slots points every Sunday-Tuesday for all.

Back in the day when Coast Casinos (Gold Coast, SunCoast, Barbary Coast, The Orleans) where managed by Michael Gaugahn, they where areal bargain, and the service was second to none. When they merged with Boyd Gaming, it all started to change, they started expanding they opened up the South Coast, but service in all casinos declined, promotions where scarce,seemed they didn't care any more. When Mr Gaugahn left Boyd Gaming, and got one of the hotels back (Now the South Point), he got back some of his key staff members and the south point was re-born with great service, and promotions, and the place grew!, now it's a great locals place. Many of the old clients of coast casinos go there for the nostalgia more than the service and value. I shure miss the old Orleans and it's great vibe!, sure hope they change for the better, but seems Boyd is content with them the way they are , too bad. 

We've been Boyd customers since last century, when we stayed at the Stardust every trip.  I know, what a way to put it, huh?  It sure does seems like a very long time ago.  We still stay at the Suncoast to take advantage of the room offers since we love the view and there is still machines to play.  They have been working on the old buffet area and I saw a FB post yesterday showing their new High Limit area.  So I guess that answers your QoD.  There's no need to worry about us quarter players.  On the SC website, it says the Bagel corner is only open for breakfast on the weekends.  Can anyone verify that?

Southpoint is our go to casino now.  

I always loved setting up my day in the Main Street buffet room. I'm not a huge fan of the brunch food there, but you can't beat the room. To be honest, I have not tried dinner in a while. When I have friends in town and we're staying downtown, I try to schedule at least one breakfast/brunch in that room.

And yeah, Boyd was my go-to in the past -- stayed there at least 10-20 nights year for ages. But not now.

Michael gaugahan has to go down in las vegas history as one of the greatest promoters of all time.

but both have declined over the years. 

With the rise of 6-5 Blackjack we've switched mostly to poker tournaments and what playable video poker remains. Orleans' poker room is first rate, or was last time we visited; and both have playable (for me) VP, a little better at GC. Even after the players' club "restructuring," it wasn't difficult to get comped; but then all my points evaporated in the pandemic and they didn't offer any extensions. We stayed away, and away from Vegas entirely, a long time.

Last March we returned to Gold Coast, paying full price and even the loathsome resort fees "Yes, Dear..." Played Poker at South Point, so can't report on Orleans. I played enough VP at GC to get about halfway to second level, and wasn't back home a week before 2-day Sun-Thu comp offers began arriving. Also getting similar offers from South Point.

Right now we plan to return in early October, well before F1, and probably to Orleans. if that comes to pass, I'll provide a full report.

Boyd still has some good deals at their other locations . If you want a good deal do not go to Las Vegas now.. Maybe in a few years it will be better 

I agree the Boyd slide predates the post-covid casino gouge.  They have been gutting their VP inventories for quite a while.  Main Street is the latest victim.  Their rewards program is anything but.  No points at all for the lowest tier, and meager points after that--particularly for VP, even if it's bad VP.  Bounce back cash?  They are the worst.  Beyond miserly.  

We have been loyal patrons of Boyd casinos for many years.  A while back they bought the Ameristar properties, including the one in KC.  Easily one of their worst properties, in every respect.

We will probably somehow make Emerald this year.  Likely our last time.  There are too many other more reasonable casino operators out there.  

Might the "Member Reward Book" eventually go by way of the five cent cup of coffee without Boyd and Coast?

Over the last 12 years we stayed at The Orleans for 8 5 night stays. 5-10 bj and .25 vp. We would get 4 nights comped and casino rates for last day. 50.00 to 75.00 net. We always felt welcomed and thought food value was excellent. Stayed in 21. Paid at 125.00 a night. No thanx. Just back from the DT Grand. Excellent property. Met Mr AC there for bj tourney. He is from the D as are we. Pretty cool chatting with one of best bj players  on earth...SKM

I have to agree, Boyd is jumping on the 'gouge train'. We have stayed @ the Fremont for years & prior to that @ Sam's Town. However we no longer feel welcome as we are not whales. When the 2nd Street Grill was still open @ the Fremont we made our reservation and were waiting to be seated when one of their casino hosts physically pushed us out of the way in order to get to an incoming whale. Had dinner, left never, went back. Boyd doesn't need us & we don't need Boyd

I stayed at Sam's Town several times and enjoyed it. The last time was awful. Every employee was only interested in arguing with me. Whatever I wanted the employee knew better and would not listen to me. This was over 10 years ago. I hope they are still arguing, but not with me. I think several of these people write into Las Vegas Advisor on a weekly or daily basis, or maybe their grumpy relatives.