Question of the Day - 18 December 2020

You can't really draw the conclusion that because visitor volume is down 50% and gaming win is only down 30% that people must be gambling more. I suspect that it is that since gambling is the entertainment available, the gamblers are still showing up. The 50% that are still showing up are the ones that would be gambling anyway. They may indeed gamble more than most, which probably is the case all the time. So, average amount wagered might be higher, but becasue the non-gambler isn't showing up at all. 

This probably doesn't pertain to most but my answer would be:'I've cut my casino visits out completely and don't play online, so I now spend nothing on gambling', however I'm playing more on the non-gambling site videopoker.com to get my fix. There's an optional yearly membership fee, otherwise no additional money is spent.

 

Every time I leave the house and mingle with my infectious fellow human beings. I wear a mask, social distance, etc., but there's still a risk. Much more exciting than casino gambling, where all you can lose is your money.

Since the pandemic began...I have cut casino visits completely and don't play online for money BUT I am practicing my STRATEGY online on games, like Ultimate Texas Hold'em, .  I intend to be ready to go after the vaccine is available. 

The buffets were the big attraction for us, with gambling as a thing we did afterward. With the buffets not reopening, with the exception of the South Point and one other, there just hasn't been much reason to visit the casinos. We have gone to the South Point a couple of times, and did visit MGM Park when they reopened to see what a non-smoking casino looked like, but that's it. Station Casinos were always one of our favorites, and we keep hoping the buffets will open, but they don't seem inclined to do so. 

I have been to a casino only twice in 2020–once in February before the pandemic begin and once in October.  The wife and I are 98% table game 2% VP.  In October with only 3 spots for players at a table and 3 spots on each end of a craps table the wait to get on a table was terrible.  Saw a couple of waiting players argue who was next in line.  Will not be going back any where anytime soon.  

1. The instruction should be "start each ANSWER", not "start each question".
2. For many of us, we simply didn't go to Vegas for a long time because Vegas was shut down for a long time, not because we "cut back". This reality should be reflected in at least one answer option.

I've been to Reno and South Lake Tahoe just once this year, and the minimum bet at Reno was 10 dollars and 15 dollars for the craps tables at Tahoe, so we all have no choice if we want to play our favorite games, I only played blackjack at the Hard Rock in Tahoe and that was 10 bucks a hand. I've heard minimum bets at some strip casinos are 25 bucks, ouch :(

I'm gambling more, but only at a local casino. I miss travelling to Vegas, but that won't happen until many of the restrictions can be lifted.  Hopefully, that's soon (3-6 months), with the vaccines coming out.

I've cut my casino visits out completely and don't play online, so I now spend nothing on gambling.  My life and health are worth much more to me that a few minutes' entertainment.

The first question is two separate ideas (maybe four).  Either toss the second half of the question, or make it into two separate ones:

"Since the pandemic began I've spent more money on casino gambling than usual and probably will continue to do so once the other amenities open up again." [REALLY?]

"Since the pandemic began I've spent more money on casino gambling than usual but will probably not continue to do so once the other amenities open up again."

"Since the pandemic began I have fewer/no funds to spend on gambling." 

"Since the pandemic began I have done less casino gambling due to fear of Covid-19 transmission."

Candy

A little more than 40 years ago, I dropped my first nickel into a slot machine in a tiny, dim, dusty casino on the border between Utah and Nevada.  I got 3 nickels back and that did it.  I've loved casinos and all the fun they offer ever since.  So with great regret, I report that this is the first year since that first nickel that I haven't stepped foot into a casino.  I hope to compensate next year. 

As Scot pointed out, the gambling shifted from Vegas gambling to local (other state) gambling. Travel is one of the main reasons for this, so I might reply with an answer that says "less Vegas gambling because it's harder to get there". And with various shutdowns/restrictions there are less local options, too. Personally, I am gambling more on horseraces and most of that is online due to attendance restrictions, so I've cut back on casino visits, one of your choices, but my online increases aren't of the same games I play at the casinos. So cut back on casinos/ more online would sort of fit, but that's not one of the choices.  There just seems to be so many parameters that it's hard to quantify and specify our 2020 habits. 

I have one suggestion for your new poll since the choices offered don’t reflect my reality. It is:

Since the pandemic began I’ve cut my casino visits out completely and I don’t gamble online, but I am spending more than I used to on my state’s scratchoff tickets and other lottery options.

As part of the explanation (I don’t know if you need this, but it might help you phrase other options) I’m spending a lot less overall on gambling since I used to visit casinos approximately twenty-four times a year and I’m not visiting casinos at all since the pandemic began. I live in Virginia which doesn’t have online gambling except for games in the state lottery which don’t really interest me. I used to buy scratchoffs once a week, but now I’m buying them two or three times a week. I’m spending way less than I did when I visited casinos, but approximately 2.5 times what I used to spend on scratchoffs. I also occasionally indulge in some of the other lottery games.

I hope that helps!

I'd say to separate out the second part of the survey answers. I have been coming to Vegas more since the start of the pandemic, mostly because of inexpensive airfare and the ability to get onto a table wherever I want. I have been gambling more money, but mostly because I've been winning and have more to put out there. It will continue as long as I have it, and has no relation to the pandemic or my frequency of trips. As an aside, I have seen lots of lower minimum bet tables, the next question should be to dispel the myth that all the tables are high minimums now, as lots of people comment on. I will note that they tend to always be 6-5, so not worth playing anyway. That's why I try to find a high limit area that's open as they tend to give better odds, but a lot are closed during the week.

I agree with Candy that the first two options should be trimmed, and like her suggestions:
"Since the pandemic began I've spent more money on casino gambling than usual and probably will continue to do so once the other amenities open up again." 

"Since the pandemic began I've spent more money on casino gambling than usual but will probably not continue to do so once the other amenities open up again."

I would suggest totally staying away from the 'why' on these, as you can't get to all the reasons for all the options (I play more because the stock market is making me rich, or because Covid19 has taught me that life is too short not to play all I can, etc.).

No suggestions, just a comment.  I don’t live near any casinos but I have a small condo in Atlantic City.  Also, I have spent the last three winters in Las Vegas.  While there, I played video poker almost every day and poker a few times a week 
Since the shutdowns in the Spring, I have found that I have completely lost the VP “bug.”  I have been to AC casinos only three times to meet friends for dinner.  Played vp only briefly each time.  Came out a bit ahead each time; took the money and ran. 🙂
I play poker for fake money online with friends. A great chance to practice and to learn new games. 
I’ll be going to AC in a couple of weeks.  Before I can return to PA, I have to be tested for Covid or quarantine for two weeks.  I am unable to do the latter because I am a first responder and I volunteer at our food bank. 
In short, I no longer have the urge to gamble or go to casinos.  However, I will return to LV for the poker events in which I play and to escape PA winters. 

Since the pandemic began I have not visited any casino. I don't gamble on-line. When things return to normal, I will return to southern California casinos and maybe an occasional LV trip. I no longer enjoy the Vegas gouge and refuse to play 6:5 blackjack. Suggestion for new city slogan: "Vegas, where the gouge reigns supreme!" 

I am a Diamond with CET but I am not gambling there. My last stay at Harrahs, I had security take my temp, checked in, went to the cashier and Caesars rewards, back to check in with no issues wearing a face shield.. Later a manager approached me and told me masks were required by Nevada Law. I told him he was mistaken. If you don't want face shields that is your right  but  don't let me check in and then change the rules. The clientele has also changed and not for the better. I am gambling  more money with less visits, but changed where I spend my gambling dollars.

How about I've cut out my casino visits completely, and gamble the same as before on-line.