Category: Advice for Players

A reader asked me to “show him the way” to easy play. Then he wouldn’t listen. I was frustrated, but kept on.
What brings me great satisfaction? Turning just one newbie away from the dark side of foolish wasteful gaming. This is a calling, my friends. We are but seekers of the truth, hunters of the mathematical epiphany manifesting as a royal flush.

That slim chance of deliverance is a 40,000-1 redemption. We soldier on, knowing it’s coming if we just learn to play the Good Game.

Really, it’s okay to just play. Heck, I have a profound desire — no, a need — to play, to dance and imbibe like any of us in this one-of-a-kind adult Disneyland, even at my advancing age and maybe even more so. It keeps me young and fresh and alert.

But as they say, “You can’t keep it if you don’t give it away,” so when I was corresponding with “Joe,” though frustrated, I kept insisting this neophyte do what for many these days seems a rare commodity: THINK!

Read “The Best Video Poker on the Strip,” learn the games, and walk away from anything under 99.5%. Avoid the siren call of the Strip — the bright lights enthralling you as your wallet is vacuumed clean — and your intense regret on the flight home, hungover and broke. “Why did I go to the (dark chapel of) ATM again, and again?”

It’s okay. You’ll get another chance at redemption. As long as you didn’t actually sign a marker for your home, car, and first born.

But even Joe, after pleading “I want to play at Caesars,” saw the light. “I didn’t realize even at quarter level I’d need a $1,000 bank and at $1/$5 many times more than that.”

Though he’d danced along the edge of the bad-gaming precipice, he turned away! That satisfaction, turning one player and toward the light of advantage play? Excellent.

This is not a game for everyone. It requires patience, skill, and dedication, while frivolity reigns and surrounds you like a waterfall. Witnessing people plied with free drinks, pouring dollar after dollar down the rat hole, hoping against hope, is downright tragic, especially knowing that if they just looked at the pay schedule and understood what they were seeing, their future would be nicely laid out for them and they could’ve avoided all the sucker traps. Maybe 3% do. Is that you?

Here’s the kicker. Once they see us coming, then observe us for a time, the Big Houses don’t like us at all.

“Don’t give that guy a room, a meal, free play, or a damn dime. He actually knows what he’s doing and we can’t have that!”

And like a lonely Dirty Harry (“Do I feel lucky?”), I ride on down the road. No worries, there are 100 more where Joe comes from.

And since he read the guides, is learning the good games, and will be on the search for the better way of advantage play, I, having converted one more soul, for that today I’m content.

Bulletin! Bulletin! Stop the presses. A Bobby Vegas emergency has been declared. Calling all able-minded swift-fingered patriots.

Developed in the last hours of Memorial Day, your mission, if you choose to accept it, is: Come to Vegas. Now.

To paraphrase Ed Harris’ quote from Apollo 13, “Failure is not an option. People, work the problem.”

People! Men, women, heck, bring your dogs if you have to, America needs you today, so step up.

My best bud Bobby Wilson alerted me that he was driving down the Strip (during the BTS K-Pop invasion at Allegiant, no less ) and said the street was as empty as COVID. He’d invited his son to town to take advantage of hotel rooms for $0. Zero? I had to check it out. Okay, I didn’t find any zero-dollar rooms, but I was stunned to find on Expedia Strip hotels for $8-$20 a night!

Here they are: Circus Circus, Harrah’s, Horseshoe, Linq all $8; Flamingo and Excalibur $9; Luxor and Sahara $12; Strat $15; Planet Hollywood $20. These are all before resort fees, so call it $60-$70 total per night. On the Strip! Find a hotel anywhere in the U.S. right now for less than $125 to $200.

“All we are asking is give Vegas a chance.”

Be an American. Gamble. Eat! (As Grandma used to say, “You’re just skin and bones!”) Party, dance, see shows, buy clothes, but come to VEGAS.

America needs you. More important, Vegas needs you. All you need to do is super easy. With literally tens of thousands of empty hotel rooms (especially if you’re flexible and can come Sunday to Thursday), grab a super-value Bobby Vegas vacay.

The Canadians abandoned us. The Mexicans. The Asians. While Americans are being socked with $4 and $5 gas, food inflation, rising utilities, the corporates are desperate, throwing deals out there you NEED to take advantage of. Smell blood? Pounce.

Frankly I’m tired of all the Vegas bashing. This is a value play of epic proportions. Don’t miss out. Grab it.

With any active casino play, they’ll roll out the red carpet and toss in free … well, everything. Free play, food credits, shows — you name it, you can probably get it. Just ask. Then tell us. Report back to us here @ LVA HQ.

Pining for the good ol’ days? They’re here. Again. I stayed at the Stardust for $14 a night with $10 free play back and a free buffet coupon or two.

I’ve been raving about the insane deal the Wynn’s been sending me that, when all the free play and food credits are subtracted, ends up costing $6.50 a night. For the Wynn.

People. Step up. Vegas needs you. Ask not … no, correct that. Do ask what Vegas can do for you and what you can do for Vegas. Easy peasy. Just show up.

We thank you. We salute you. Now go find the good machines and rock the house, baby. Patriotism never felt this good.

Life is chaos. Everyone’s “Kung Fu fighting.” Feeling assaulted by AI? $5 gas? $6?! Me too.

I did have a great birthday, though. Friends showed up, big time. Cards, letters, songs, CAKE! (by the ocean), meals, gifts — it’s really nice being appreciated.

And for a kid who was surprised to make it out of high school alive (remember the very unPC term “juvenile delinquent?” Yeah, honors in THAT class) and survived two years of hell recently (including five surgeries) seven-oh’s a big number for me. Okay, they haven’t named a street after me … yet.

Then there are all the fab birthday deals spanning days and nights of free food, play, and fun to tickle my scuffler fancy.

Unfortunately, I couldn’t make Vegas for this year’s birthday. I just wanted to play some VP and go dancing, but I broke my toe banging into a coffee table leg, so no
“breaking” for this dancer.

Even when I’m not IN Vegas, I monitor email offers, mailers, etc. and was happy to see all the deals going on at Four Queens (and elsewhere). However, the cost of their Silver Slots tourney seemed a LOT higher. Signing up for the $12K event was 360 smackolas. They do give a $75 one-ounce silver token, so call it $285. Still didn’t it used to be $99 or $149?

During December and again now, Wynn’s standard offer to me, $174 a night (includes the $55-per-night resort fee), $25 each free play and food credit got very good by adding two tickets to Awakening. Two nights minus all that is, as Anthony counts it, $28 a night at Wynn. Winner winner XS Nightclub for dinner.

Then I almost had a heart attack (bad joke; been there). My new Rainbow Emerald Island mailer came without their super points multiplier pay schedules. Noooo!!

Called in … still in place … phew! And being their top-notch “Rainbow is customer service,” she wanted to know, “Do you play at the bar? Different schedules.” And “Do you want me to READ the multiplier schedule over the PHONE?” Wow. Some casinos won’t even answer the phone. Oh, I can also “pick up the printed schedule at the cashiers booth.”

Besides amazing monthly food deals, you can now use your points for Lyft to and from the casino and at many nearby Water Street venues. Innovative.
There still is gold at the end of Water Street’s Rainbow.

Last question. Timeshares? Ever done the deed? In a fit of lunacy, I took the $200 offer.
Let Hilton try to close me — heck, why not? True story: Years ago, my ex and I went on a timeshare weekend on the Outer Banks. I just said, “Honey, in the presentation, I have THE LAST word.”

She chatted on and on about curtains and colors so much that the salesman was already spending his commission. Then he finished. I looked him in the eye and said one word. “No.” He got it.

Keep scuffling.

Once again, MGM is doing a tier-match promotion, this one through June 2026. These promos usually give you tier status for three months and you need to meet the actual tier requirements to continue at that tier level after the three-month period.

This one is different. At MGM, I had about 100,000 tier points when I applied for the tier match. 75,000 is Gold and 200,000 is Platinum. I used my Caesars Diamond Elite card and was given Platinum status. But on my card, it shows Platinum status for the entire year.

Here is a link to the status-match program.

Here are the challenge rules.

Here is a link to all the MGM Tier match offers by state.

You don’t get the really good benefits (airfare, cruises, etc.) until you actually get to the point level required for the given status.

So what does Platinum get me that Gold doesn’t? Lounge access (but only for one person). 30% slot point bonus (20% for Gold). $100 in cruise ship free play ($75 for Gold). There are also some gift shop bonuses, expedited valet and taxi service, etc., but these are minor benefits.

The rules say only one status match lifetime, but this is the third one I’ve done with MGM.

Is it worthwhile to do? You should consider the following factors.

• How much do I use MGM properties?
• What is free parking at MGM worth to me?
• If I am a current MGM player, does moving up a level really benefit me?
• Should I use it now or save it for next year?

Now, I don’t know what the lounges in Las Vegas are like. The lounge in Detroit is functional. The food is good, but the lounge is small and alcoholic drinks are about the same price as on the casino floor. I’ll be checking out the Las Vegas lounges at the beginning of June and will report back.

I’m using the match as a stopgap until I get full Platinum status. There is enough value in that for me and there is enough to play in Detroit. Your situation will vary greatly based on your state and situation.

Also see my Las Vegas Savings Tips page for more ideas.

“Vegas is dead! There’s no hope. I brought $1,500 and I’m going to party till it’s all gone!”

OMG. Go eat some worms

What’s your Vegas trip goal? Be a high roller? Tuck dollars in G-strings at Spearmint Rhino? Ecstasy at Sphere or Zouk? Hit the Deuces Wild royal? A legendary 30-minute craps roll? It’s all good.

For me it starts with the Six Ps: Proper Planning Prevents Piss-Poor Performance

Planning and preparing my Totally Free Vegas Trip start with Southwest and Chase points for flights. Then I search Priceline or Turo for my car hack. I’ve even rented $20-a-day U-Haul pickups. Of course, I take advantage of LVA’s no resort fee coupons and a great hotel rate.

Result? $500 out of pocket for a week in Vegas.

Then there’s a pretty good chance that with matchplay runs, positive-expectation video poker, and most food and entertainment comped, I’ll cover my nut. So rather than being $1,500-$2000 out, I’m ahead by $1,000, before I even land at Reid.

Good friends risk more and score more. $25 VP. Black-chip BJ. $50 craps. Have at it. This scuffler wants to have fun. Being 100% commission my whole life, I’m just not thrilled about losing money. Making money in Vegas is not my number one goal. Relaxing and having a good time for as little as possible are.

It’s okay. Choose your poison. That’s not one of the Six Ps, but perhaps it should be number seven.

Your goals, games, and wins may be different, but with planning and preparing, you’ll know your goals cold, so when opportunity knocks, you can grab it.

One of the lessons I’ve learned in Vegas is respecting my intuition. When to double down on a streak, when it’s time to walk away a winner. Hello Kenny Rogers.

Yeah, I quote Elvis, the Grateful Dead, Bruno Mars, AND Kenny. That’s why I call myself a Renaissance Neanderthal — well-read, well-rounded (in more ways than one) and occasionally, I even take a shower.

What are your goals? What are your successful techniques? Do you play at comp levels? My bud Carolina Mike rolls around town on comp nights and good VP. He knows his advantage games cold and winner winner free steaks for dinner. Ct Rob does it too and has a blast doing it.

What is winning for you? What do you do to win?

You may not get excited about coupon runs as I do. Fine. Maybe your highlight is a gourmet meal or buying your sweety or yourself something nice.

To quote Ed Harris from Apollo 13, “Failure is not an option. No on my watch, people. Work the problem.”

Knowing what winning is before you arrive, setting yourself up to win, even dealing with bad breaks and losing streaks will make for a better trip than the other 125 squares on the plane home. Plan to win you’ll have a good shot at it. Plan to lose and Vegas’ll be happy to accommodate you.