Question of the Day - 30 December 2023

The casino cartel made a deliberate, coordinated decision to drive the older demographic out. They knew that the combination of the gouge, the stinkifying of the games, and the destruction of decent customer service would alienate many of their loyal customers. That not only was viewed as acceptable collateral damage--it was seen as a good thing. Those they drove away have been replaced by eager, drunken 25-year-olds with bulging wallets (this generation is the richest of their age in history) and brains the size of walnuts. Why would they want us any more?

So, loyal and valued Vegas customers, this middle finger is for you. Now get out of the way before that party bus runs you over.

Chasing free rolls of Nickles. if you played slow and methodical you could score a couple free drinks too! 

it is all about the money and not the people as it is called the bottom line

not surprising demo changed, a lot of us boomers have spent the last 4 years literally fighting for our lives.

Easy to get: Free tickets to Imperial Palace car collection.
Almost as easy: Free tickets to "Country Tonight" show at Aladdin;  Free tickets to Follies Bergere at Tropicana.  (I saw both shows 2 or 3 times.)
Who remembers when blackjack dealers would announce "Changing a 20"? Then he'd wait for the pit boss's OK to hand over 2 red and 10 white chips.

I always love these questions and the comments that follow.

So let me say it again: adjusted for inflation, Las Vegas costs today are generally comparable to what they have been historically.

It's not a straight one-to-one comparison. For the most part, hotels in 1968 couldn't hold a candle to most of the resorts in LV today. But lower-end and mid-priced rooms are the same price OR EVEN CHEAPER than they were in the "good old days." And, yes, I am including resort fees.

The one new variable is parking charges, which are relatively new for the Strip (but not Fremont Street). So if you want to complain about parking on the Strip (and you are staying at a place where parking isn't included in your resort fee), you have a decent point. Otherwise, you are just being blinded by nostalgia and poor math.

The only place "gouging" occurs is on the strip. Idiots complain about parking and resort fees, then play 000 Roulette, 6-5 Blackjack and the worst VP pay tables in the valley. Makes no sense to me...

Trying to compare costs today versus the past using inflation is not very precise. Although hotels costs may be comparable, $25  table minimums vs $5 minimums is not. Either is $1 beers versus $9 beers. Plus $8.99 buffets even with inflation do not compare to $42+ now. The food quality may be better but who goes to a buffet for "gourmet" fare. The scarcity of free drinks is somewhat odd as the costs are low and who doesn't press more after a cocktail or two. Shows at $20 plus a free drink is better than $150 stadium seating . But maybe I am just old and miss the excitement that is clearly missing.

I have spent more time than I care to admit looking for historical information about table minimums, and I have had no luck.

But, for discussion purposes, a $25 table minimum today would have been a $2.83 minimum in 1968. A $15 minimum today (which I see more frequently than a $25 minimum, even on the Strip) would have been a $1.70 minimum in 1968. A $10 minimum (still pretty easy to find on Fremont Street) would have been $1.30 in 1968. And a $5 minimum (still available in at least 3 LV casinos that I visit regularly) would have been $.57 in 1968.

As far as buffets go, I literally don't know anyone under the age of 70 who wants to go to one anywhere.

Vegas has changed, and so have you. The key is just enjoying it for what it is, not what you think it should be.
If you're looking for things to complain about, you'll find 'em. 
But iIf you're looking to just get away and have a good time, you'll find that, too.

I believe in 1968 minimum wage was about $1.25/hour versus most businesses starting employees out at around $15/hour, and salaries also increasing.  So $0.57 for $5 BJ isn't that cheap.

over 60 , stay downtown , easy in and out of ALL casinos there .The GRAND  has a $5 craps table , opens at 11 am.     rf 

The US median household income in 1968 was $7,700, which is $67,112 in 2023 dollars. The median household income in 2023 is...wait for it...$67,521.

But that's not the whole story. Most households in 1968 were single income, while most in 2023 are dual-income. Also, income levels at the extremes are much farther apart in 2023. 

There is a lot to complain about in 2023 about income disparity, cost of living, and standard of living. But those are complaints about Las Vegas specifically.

As far as your BJ comment, I don't understand your meaning. I can definitely still find $5 BJ in Vegas (I was playing some just a week ago). Are you saying that a $.57 minimum for BJ would have been high in 1968?

It isn't just the gouging which is real and getting worse every year, it's the cold, corporate, atmosphere.  

Gone are the days of warm welcome, the willingness to anticipate the guest's needs, the desire to show the guest that their play and spend are appreciated. 

The dead, corporate frigid atmosphere starts from the top and trickles down through the ranks until it gets to the visitor. Laughable VP pay tables, that is, if you can find VP at all these days on Strip properties.  They keep removing them.  

Is it any wonder that the older crowd, the demographic of well mannered, critical thinkers, the ethical and the financially established are finding Las Vegas (the Strip anyway) a less attractive place to spend their money? Let the corporate suits have today's 20 to 40 yr old crowd with their entitled attitudes.  Let's see how long it will take for the Suits to figure out which demographic has the most value. Like Kevin Lewis. I flip the bird as I make my way to Green-er Valley-s.  

That's my group (75 yrs young in 2024) and I have experienced a bit of the good ol' days in Vegas but I don't spend time thinking  about it. I still travel from Michigan to my favorite vacation spot, accepting that it has changed. Everything everywhere has changed. I'm happy I can still take that occasional trip to LV and when I get there, I don't let the current state of LV get my blood pressure up. Whining about and bemoaning the changes just isn't worth it.

Pointing out what's wrong with Vegas now can be labeled as "whining and bemoaning," or it can be recognized for what it actually is--pointing out what's wrong. And if you're "accepting" of all of it, well...you're a sucker. They screw you big time and you smile, bend over and say, "Please, sir, can I have another?"

Not I!

People. Don’t like the changes from days gone by, don’t visit. Yes there were some better things in the past. But on DDB Vp, quad aces with kicker still pays 2K. And it feels just as good as it did 20 years ago. 

@Kevin Lewis - No, it's just that nobody likes to hear whining and bemoaning. Life is short, enjoy it.

Except for the Costco chicken loss leaders don't remain the same for 30+ years.  Prices don't seem much different to me downtown vs the strip. However I hit my breaking point yesterday. I've pretaty much ignored Las Vegas pizza being a pizza snob from NYC but after a recommendataion from an Uber driver I went to get pizza from pinup pizza outside PH and saw the menu showing $12 a slice. I couldn't believe it. This is nothing to do with inflation. You can get good pizza anywhere in NYC for maybe $3/slice and places in times square are $1.50 (recently increased from $1).

I may be tipping drivers too much if they think $12/slice pizza is a good deal.