Anthony and Andrew go live for BEER FRIDAY. Plus, in this episode 2 special guests join in on the fun.
LAS VEGAS ADVISOR – YOUTUBE BEER FRIDAY
Codfather
This fish & chips joint (a.k.a. “chippy”) opened in July 2020 out in Henderson during the dark days of the pandemic. It flew beneath our radar until it made a little news by closing last July due to problems with the building it was leasing, then reopening in October in a larger space in the same shopping center.
Our go-to spot for fish & chips is, of course, Crown & Anchor, so we thought we’d compare the Codfather’s with our tried and true.
Owned and operated by a native of Sheffield (in the north of England around 40 miles south of Leeds), the Codfather serves a limited menu of Brit faves that are nothing if not authentic. You have your choice of breaded (gluten-free available) and deep-fried cod, catfish, and vegan ($14.95) or haddock ($16.50) with hand-cut chips (fries). These are big fat juicy and tasty pieces of white fish. Get a side of gravy for your chips or curry sauce for your fish, along with cole slaw and the classic British side dish, mushy peas ($2.75). Codfather also offers clam chowder ($4.95/$6.95), mushy pea fritters ($4.95), poutine, cod butty (sandwich), and the Kevin (vegetarian pot pie), all around $10.
We sampled the cod and chips and mushy pea fritters and all we can say is, “In Cod We Trust!” Everything, including the fries, was as good as we’d hoped. We thought one of the individual condiment packages that came with it was ketchup, but it turned out to be malt vinegar and that was even better. The Codfather’s wares definitely stack right up there with Crown & Anchor’s.
Our bill came to $21.57 with tax and that fed two of us for lunch. Though it’s a trek out to the location on Green Valley Parkway near Sunset, we weren’t sorry we made the effort.
Fearless Oscar forecast
If you feared an Emilia Perez sweep after its staggering 13 Academy Award nominations, fret not. This year’s Oscars looks like it’s going to be one of those years where there’s a little something for everybody, unlike last year’s Oppenheimer juggernaut. Indeed, Emilia Perez has gone into a spectacular odds eclipse and will be hard-pressed to take home more than one or two little gold men. Instead, in a moment of head-shaking WTF, the odds-on favorite for Best Picture is …
Continue reading Fearless Oscar forecastAtlantic City warms up
OK, so sports betting got walloped. Other than that, Atlantic City had nothing to complain about last month. January casino revenues hit $210 million, 2% better than the year before and 18.5% higher than in 2019. Evidently Covid-19 sharpened gamblers’ appreciation for the Boardwalk. iGaming actually outstripped brick-and-mortar casinos with $221.5 million. Are we starting to see a day when iGaming will be so ubiquitous and prosperous that land-based casinos become glorious (expensive) anachronisms? We sure hope not … but take nothing for granted.
Continue reading Atlantic City warms upHockey Knights In Vegas Episode 99: What Would YOU Do With 11.2 million in Cap Space?
The 4 Nations Tournament is down to the final the NHL wanted to see, USA vs. Canada. If the final matches or exceeds the intensity of the preliminary round game, the finale will be must-see TV.
Change in Point Structure
The ROW casinos, the Caesars Rewards properties in Reno, recently changed their point structure. For some of the machines that contain the loosest video poker, Tier Credits (TCs) and Reward Credits (RCs) are now earned at one point per $20 coin-in versus the former $10 coin-in. Although the ROW consists of the Eldorado, Silver Legacy, and Circus Circus equally, for practical purposes this new rule only affects the Eldorado because that’s where the loosest video poker machines are.
They did a similar change about two years ago. Many players boycotted these casinos because of the change and after two or three months, the former $10-per-RC system was reinstated. It’s possible this will happen again, I suppose. We’ll see. These casinos seem to struggle to attract players. Tightening the slot club can’t possibly be the way to attract more players.
Although this specific change only affects one property, and most of my readers are not players at this particular location, similar downgrades happen at other casinos all the time. The question becomes: How does a player evaluate whether to continue playing there or not?
The Caesars Rewards system is complicated — and each property has slightly different rules than its sister properties. The difference between RCs and TCs is not quickly grasped by many players. In many cases they are earned at the same rate, but they aren’t the same. RCs may be redeemed for comps, sports bets, or, at a two-for-one rate, free play. TCs can’t be redeemed, but determine whether you are Platinum, Seven Stars, or any of the other tier levels.
The old $10-per-point system made RCs earned by playing video poker worth 0.1% in comps. Cutting that in half means that they are now worth 0.05% in comps. That’s not a big change. If you normally play $20,000 in coin-in in a day, the $20 in comps you previously earned now becomes worth $10. If you redeemed the RCs for free play, the $10 in free play you used to get now becomes worth $5. Other than being ticked off that it’s not as big as before, that’s not enough of a difference to cause most players to quit playing.
But what about if they had 5x or 10x points? Well, that could be different. This casino used to have Mystery RC multipliers every Monday, with a limit of 30,000 RCs. Whatever multiplier you receive, it will now take twice as much play to earn that limit. Time will tell if that is going to be cut back on this promotion or not.
There are TC multiplier promotions as well. In addition, there are daily TC bonuses. Players earning 1,000 TCs in a day get a 1,000 TC bonus. Players earning 5,000 TCs in a day get a 10,000 TC bonus. That’s the biggest daily bonus offered. Whereas it used to take $50,000 coin-in in video poker to earn the maximum daily bonus, it now takes $100,000. For most players, this is out of the question.
If you play enough to earn a lot of TCs, for every 250,000 you earn, you receive one Seven Stars Experience Credit. There are a number of things you can redeem these for. The most attractive to me is $450 in free play at properties in Las Vegas or Cherokee. For the same play, Reno video poker players will end up with fewer Seven Stars Experience Credits in 2025 than they earned in 2024.
The basic Seven Stars target of 150,000 is harder to get. I find it valuable. The major benefits are five $100 food credits, one $1,200 travel to any other Caesars property including $500 in resort credit, and a highly discounted 7-day cruise for two on Norwegian Cruise Lines. Most properties have some sort of a daily benefit if you have Seven Stars status.
These properties all have monthly mailers giving you free play, rooms, and resort credits (which are not the same as Reward Credits.) These are generally based on your average daily theoretical. If $1,000 worth of play gives you the same ADT as it did before (even though it gives you half as many RCs and TCs), then the mailers shouldn’t change. We’ll see.
The bottom line, for me anyway, is not the number of dollars coin-in required to get a RC. It’s the promotions and the mailers. If the promotions and mailers stay the same, I’ll continue to play at the ROW, at least sometimes. If they get slashed as well, I won’t.
The change in the rate of RC and TC being earned is a much smaller change than reducing the pay schedule by one unit. I’ll put up with NSU Deuces Wild with the lesser rate, but if they cut that game by 0.8% to the pNSU game, I’ll likely stop playing there.
It’s the package of benefits (the game, the slot club, the promotions, the mailers) that matters to me, not the individual components of it. Any reduction in benefits is unwelcome, but small reductions are not necessarily showstoppers.
LAS VEGAS ADVISOR – JACKPOT SHOW EP 1
This week Anthony and Andrew talk jackpots, jackpots, and more jackpots!
A January thaw
Inclement weather notwithstanding, Americans turned out to gamble last month. A late-2024 softening in casino takings firmed up with the new year, as play continued at levels so elevated they are sometimes hard to credit. For instance, Illinois had the first gains we could believe in quite a long time. Casinos won 10% more than early last year and even 1% more than in 2019, on a same-store basis. When new, hit Wind Creek Southland was factored in, winnings shot up 21% year/year and an astounding 52% from 2019.
Continue reading A January thawBuoyant Boyd, solid Station
Today, something non-controversial AND quantifiable. Boyd Gaming was the first major casino company to report 4Q24 earnings and no wonder why: The numbers impressed Wall Street. Even before the earnings call, Jefferies Equity Research analyst David Katz opined that “the breadth of development projects in its pipeline, which we anticipate will generate growth over time, and focus on capital returns should provide a catalyst for shares.” As the value of Boyd’s 5% stake in FanDuel continues to accrue, he wrote, and year/year comparisons in Las Vegas ease, Boyd will continue to outperform its rivals, especially with its project pipeline in Virginia and Sin City.
Continue reading Buoyant Boyd, solid StationThe Secret To Maximizing Las Vegas Birthday Deals
You do have a birthday, right? And an ID? (No AIs need apply.)
Plan wisely and you’ll get several complete days of free fun, free play, three meals every day, and more drinks, desserts, and coffee than you can shake a chocolate-dipped stick at. The best deals give you a week, two weeks, and even a month to cash in, so get ready to run around your whole birthday month collecting freebies. Damn. Tough job, eh?
Be sure to sign up for every e-club online in advance. You almost always need to be a member to qualify for the birthday freebies and discounts. Even if it takes a few hours, there’s nothing like walking into all these places, getting your birthday specials, and walking out with no money changing hands. And there are enough free play ($85 to $1,500) deals, plus and several hundred dollars in free food, to pay for your LVA subscription 10 times over. How cool is that?
As for technique, one word: stacking. Use more than one coupon where they’re available. Some places (Excalibur?!) have five deals. Fashion Show Mall has four. Many have three meals a day. Stack a great view (Eiffel Tower) and a great meal with another great view (Bellagio Fountains).
Consider doing a Fremont run by stacking your LVA MRB matchplay and free play offers and go crazy. Free food and double free play — all day long!
I’m abbreviating free play with FP.
No, it’s not worth going to Morton’s and spending a Franklin or two to get a free dessert. But walk in to Cheesecake Factory and leave with a free slice? Yes.
I’m space limited in this blog, but you can go to BobbyVegas.com for an even more complete and detailed list and several dozen more places. Also, these freebies can change at any time, so definitely check online or call ahead to be sure the promo is still active.
And Happy Birthday!
Why start with Starbucks? You’re gonna need caffeine, people.
Starbucks– Free coffee or food item, need active Starbucks card within 30 days of birthday.
Eureka Casino – (595 E. Sahara Ave.) – Player’s club members $25 birthday FP
(MRBs too and signup bonuses)
Ellis Island – $10 FP Passport Club members (MRBs too and signup FP)
SAHARA – Join Infinity Rewards, swipe at kiosk during birthday month, win up to $500 FP. (plus MRBs and signup FP)
Wynn — Wynn Rewards up to 48 hours before or after birthday get $10 in free play. Higher tiers get birthday month annual dining credit $150, Platinum, $300 Black.
Palms – Swipe Club Serrano Card at kiosk during birthday month, receive up to $1,000 in FP (plus MRB)
Earl of Sandwich (Planet Hollywood, Palms, Fashion Show) Join eclub for free sandwich, wrap, or salad + birthday month free cookie or brownie.
Hooters (OYO +) – Hooters eClub email certificate $10 free birthday wings. Good for 2 weeks, 7 days before or after. Nice $10 for $10 signup and $10 match play, plus signup FP.
Steak ‘n Shake (OYO + ) – Free specialty milkshake and another for birthday. Join Steak ‘n Shake Rewards Club.
Del Taco (near MGM Grand +) – Free birthday regular premium milkshake, plus 2 free tacos for joining Raving Fan eClub.
Krispy Kreme (Excalibur, Circus Circus + ) – Free donut and coffee eClub.
Dairy Queen – (Excalibur + ) Free Blizzard.
Buca di Beppo FANTASTIC $50 DEAL! (Excalibur + ) for Buca eClub members, $10 off for signing up, plus $20 off $40 and a Colossal Brownie Ice Cream Sundae ($18 value) on your birthday month.
Cinnabon – (Excalibur + more) – Free iced coffee within 1 week of birthday for members of Club Cinnabon.
Orange Julius (Excalibur + more) – Join Orange Julius’ Julius League for free birthday Premium Fruit Smoothie or Julius Original.
Diablo’s Cantina (Luxor) Special occasions wheel spin (including birthday) for free shots +.
Eiffel Tower Observation Deck – Free birthday admission, check in advance, as freebie is seasonal.
Lettuce Entertain You (Paris, Fashion Show, Forum Shops) – $15 account credit on birthday, does not expire, good at Eiffel Tower Restaurant, Mon Ami Gabi, and Joe’s Stone Crab.
P.F. Chang’s (Planet Hollywood + ) – Club members free appetizer or dessert during birthday month.
Cheesecake Factory (Forum Shops, North Premium Outlet Mall) – Free birthday dessert.
Grimaldi’s Pizzeria (Palazzo + ) – Free birthday pizza and free appetizer on signup
Fashion Show Mall
RA Sushi, Bar & Restaurant – $20 RA gift certificate every year during birthday and half-birthday month. Signup / The Hook Up.
The Capital Grille – Free birthday dessert, no signup required.
Maggiano’s Little Italy – Join e-club for $10 certificate and free birthday dessert.
Dunkin’ – (LINQ, Fashion Show Las Vegas, South Premium Outlets, Fremont Hotel) – DDPerks Club members free drink within one week of birthday.
Lettuce Entertain You (Fashion Show Las Vegas, Caesars Forum Shops) – $15 account credit
Downtown/Fremont
Denny’s (Fremont and Strip) – Denny’s Rewards free birthday Grand Value Slam Breakfast
Pinkbox Doughnuts – ( Plaza / other locations ) “It’s Ya Birthday” – birthday special doughnut Join Perks club.
Plaza – 25% off rooms, free dessert at Oscar’s Steakhouse, free bingo card. (plus MRB)
Hash House a Go Go (Plaza, LINQ, Rio Casino + ) – Free birthday dessert via Twisted Farm Club.
Hennessey’s Tavern (Fremont Street) birthday week free dinner entree.
Tony Roma’s – (Fremont) – Rib Expert Club signup receive free birthday entree. Check current offer at (702) 385-3232. (plus MRB)
Landry’s (Golden Nugget + ) – $25 membership fee, get $25 welcome reward + free $25 birthday reward during birthday month. In Las Vegas: Bubba Gump Shrimp Co., Chart House, Claim Jumper, Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steakhouse, Grotto Ristorante, Red Sushi, Morton’s, Rainforet Cafe, Strip House, The Palm, and Anthony’s Steakhouse.
South and off Strip
Baskin Robbins (Orleans +) – Free scoop of ice cream.
Bonefish Grill (Town Square + ) – free birthday Jamaican coconut pie or bang bang shrimp.
Sickies Garage Burger (Town Square) – Sickies Rewards program free burger during birthday month
King’s Fish House (Green Valley Ranch) – Free birthday key lime pie / homemade whipped cream