Vegas: What am I Missing?
As some people already know, I am going to Vegas from 12/19-12/23, this year.
During my time in Vegas, I will seek to exploit as many Free Play and Match Play opportunities as possible. In order to facilitate this, I am going to call all of the casinos in Vegas to determine what New Member Free Play offers they have at those times, as well as to use Match Play offers from the American Casino Guide, Free Play offers from same, and any such offers I may find elsewhere.
I plan to do this very methodically to maximize the Expected Value of the offers in a minimal amount of time.
The first thing I want to emphasize is that I am not asking you guys to divulge any advantage plays regarding deep deck penetration, dealer flashing or any other methods. However, and if people wish to PM me instead, by all means...I am wondering about Free Plays or Match Plays in Vegas that might exist in places other than casinos.
My understanding is that there are places similar to, "Parlors," in West Virginia. Parlors are places that are licensed to offer certain types of Video Gambling and are restricted to five machines. However, none of these, "Parlors," of which I am aware offer any kind of Free Play, Rebates, Match Play or anything of the sort. My main question is whether or not anyone is aware of any such parlors in Vegas offering one or more of these items.
I'd like to thank in advance anyone who responds to this query.
The purpose of my adventure is to try to write an article, the details of which will be discussed at a later time.
Thanks!
What would you recommend me to Google Search if I wanted to get a list of such places?
Thank you for the information, I'll just look up the numbers for the taverns on-line and call them in December, in that event. They could represent a very lucrative part of what I am doing.
Quote: JohnnyQ$ 100 loss rebate at Cosmo. Sometimes you have to ask for it, ie, they don't publicize it. Which is odd. But, this is a great play for new members, and you get the $ 100 back right away.
Thank you very much!
I may or may not do any loss rebates for my personal purposes. My purposes for this thread definitely involve EV and trying to make money, but the ultimate purpose of what I am doing involves taking little to no risk of losing any money at any point, so if I do loss rebates, they won't be included as part of what I am asking these questions for.
Here's a link to the list of the MRB's coupons: http://www.lasvegasadvisor.com/whyjoin-mrbdetails.cfm?CFID=83128218&CFTOKEN=61721719
You could start with the licensing issue. See if these Upscale Beer and Burger Bars in Las Vegas have their own licenses or simply lease out to a slot machine route operator. It is my understanding they are independently licensed as 15 machines or less.
Money Plays is a bar you should definitely contact for Free Play particularly since your visit coincides with Casino Dead Week and therefore offers should abound and all hosts should be on their knees to you at mere entry into a casino.
If you visit CasinoCity dot com or something you can see ALL the listings for the different taverns such as TJs or Aunt Dotties.. they give number and address but often show only a unified web site if any.
You may want to see what is happening with those grocery store slot machines that have grown in size and adopted a unified card.
Also those Aunt Dotty look alikes .
And dont forget the online listings for freebies in Vegas... usually lists only casinos but take a look since I've not visited those sites for a few years.
Quote: rdw4potusI see you've mentioned the American Casino Guide, but not the Las Vegas Advisor Member Reward Book. The MRB has some duplicated coupons, but it's worth it for the ones that are unique. The MRB has more food and lodging coupons than the ACG (but also some non-duplicated gaming coupons), and the coupon for 50% off any purchase up to $50 at the Palms pretty much pays for the book. OMG...I feel like MKL.
Here's a link to the list of the MRB's coupons: http://www.lasvegasadvisor.com/whyjoin-mrbdetails.cfm?CFID=83128218&CFTOKEN=61721719
Thanks!
I might get that, some of the slot Match Play offers are pretty strong in that one.
Quote: IbeatyouracesAt Circus Circus, Four Queens, Luxor and Mandalay Bay you can purchase what they call "Win Cards." They are small, but inaccurate strategy cards but more importantly, along with them come "win till you lose" promo chips. These are chips that stay in play as long as they win and when they do, you get cashable chips to keep. When they lose, you just lose those chips. At the two MGM locations these are $20 for $30 in promo chips, Four Queens is $10 for $20, and CC was $30 for $45. There maybe more places that I don't know about. You will find the forms near the cashier or players club booths.
That is beyond awesome, great for my purposes, not something everyone would know, but generally available all the same!!!
Thanks, IBeatYourAces!!!
Quote: FleaStiff
Money Plays is a bar you should definitely contact for Free Play particularly since your visit coincides with Casino Dead Week and therefore offers should abound and all hosts should be on their knees to you at mere entry into a casino.
If you visit CasinoCity dot com or something you can see ALL the listings for the different taverns such as TJs or Aunt Dotties.. they give number and address but often show only a unified web site if any.
You may want to see what is happening with those grocery store slot machines that have grown in size and adopted a unified card.
Also those Aunt Dotty look alikes .
And dont forget the online listings for freebies in Vegas... usually lists only casinos but take a look since I've not visited those sites for a few years.
That's definitely great information, those listings will also be especially important to my goal if the offers differ at each Dotty's location, if not, then I can still use them to find the closest one to The D.
They have slot machines in grocery stores!? What about hospitals? Could be an untapped market there!
I will look forward to your article. Please let us know where and when it is out.
Quote: GWAEMission, have you never been to Vegas before? Some of those coupon books are for new members only. Also, you may want to get a list of what casinos are now sharing their players clubs. If you have been to a casino in a different state that is owned by the same group then you may not be able to get certain rewards.
I will look forward to your article. Please let us know where and when it is out.
I have never been to Vegas before. If I'm not mistaken, the only casinos that will prove useless to me out there are any Harrah's Total Rewards Casinos, so I should be good with anything else.
I didn't want to directly spell it out, but the main goal of my article will be to demonstrate that an individual can go to Vegas, as a first-timer, and essentially have a trip that, "Pays for itself," which is the very reason any rebate-type situations would be excluded from the article...though I may do them personally.
I will now be arriving in Vegas on Wednesday, December 18th, and leaving on Monday December 23rd!
There are four reasons why I am going to Vegas one day earlier:
1.) It's Vegas, baby!
2.) The flight out was actually cheaper to such an extent that the difference in price more than covers the cost of my hotel room on Wednesday.
3.) I prefer the Deaprture time on Wednesday compared to Thursday, though the Arrival time is the same. The Departure time is mid-afternoon Wednesday with an extremely short layover (One hour, five minutes) so this had less time in the air of any of the options. My return trip sucks, but it would have sucked anyway, so what can you do?
4.) Because, Vegas!
I understand that #1 and #4 are technically the same reason, but I feel as though I can get away with that in this case.
Vegas!
Quote: Mission146Greetings!
I will now be arriving in Vegas on Wednesday, December 18th, and leaving on Monday December 23rd!
There are four reasons why I am going to Vegas one day earlier:
1.) It's Vegas, baby!
2.) The flight out was actually cheaper to such an extent that the difference in price more than covers the cost of my hotel room on Wednesday.
3.) I prefer the Deaprture time on Wednesday compared to Thursday, though the Arrival time is the same. The Departure time is mid-afternoon Wednesday with an extremely short layover (One hour, five minutes) so this had less time in the air of any of the options. My return trip sucks, but it would have sucked anyway, so what can you do?
4.) Because, Vegas!
I understand that #1 and #4 are technically the same reason, but I feel as though I can get away with that in this case.
Vegas!
Yay Vegas! Now you'll have an extra day to go couponing, too. You'll want to pay very close attention to route design and players club hours as you set this up.
I know you don't want to risk your own money for rebates...are match-plays and play $20/get $20 slot offers also out, then?
Quote: rdw4potus
Yay Vegas! Now you'll have an extra day to go couponing, too. You'll want to pay very close attention to route design and players club hours as you set this up.
I know you don't want to risk your own money for rebates...are match-plays and play $20/get $20 slot offers also out, then?
I'm definitely going to pay attention to those two items, in fact, I intend to get almost all of this out of the way on Thursday, if possible. I want my wife to have some time for some of the stuff she wants to do, as well, which does not involve gambling in any way whatsoever. I want to try to do Downtown/Taverns on Wednesday and do Strip on the early part of Thursday, or maybe all casinos Wednesday and Taverns on Thursday.
Either way, I plan on scheduling this optimally to take the least amount of time. I can save the early part of Monday (before flying) to tie up any lose ends, if I must.
Match Plays and Play $20 Get $20 slot offers are most definitely in, especially the latter! The latter offers have an Expected Value just slightly less than $20 Free Play, straight up, so those are definitely doable. It's basically equivalent to having $20 Free Play, but you must run it through twice, in terms of ER.
Quote: Mission146I'm definitely going to pay attention to those two items, in fact, I intend to get almost all of this out of the way on Thursday, if possible. I want my wife to have some time for some of the stuff she wants to do, as well, which does not involve gambling in any way whatsoever. I want to try to do Downtown/Taverns on Wednesday and do Strip on the early part of Thursday, or maybe all casinos Wednesday and Taverns on Thursday.
Either way, I plan on scheduling this optimally to take the least amount of time. I can save the early part of Monday (before flying) to tie up any lose ends, if I must.
Match Plays and Play $20 Get $20 slot offers are most definitely in, especially the latter! The latter offers have an Expected Value just slightly less than $20 Free Play, straight up, so those are definitely doable. It's basically equivalent to having $20 Free Play, but you must run it through twice, in terms of ER.
Well hey, loss rebates are also hugely +EV there, sir:-)
I don't want to say you can't do this in 1 day, but it's going to be VERY hard. It took me 4 days (noon to midnight) to collect my chips from southern NV. I know that included areas you won't go to (Mesquite, Primm, Pahrump, Laughlin...), and included table play you won't be making, but if your goal is to use as many coupons and offers as possible it'll take a LONG time.
It sounds like your wife doesn't gamble, but is she willing to participate in the coupon game?
There are no local members who are willing to offer our esteemed moderator a hotel room comp for him and his s.o. while he makes his first Vegas visit? For shame, WoV! ;)Quote: Mission146
2.) The flight out was actually cheaper to such an extent that the difference in price more than covers the cost of my hotel room on Wednesday.
I'm sorry, I accidentally Edited EvenBob's post when I was trying to quote him.
-Mission146
Quote: teddyswhile he makes his first Vegas visit? For shame, WoV! ;)
If this is the first visit, I wonder what he'll
think of the lack of people. He has nothing
to compare it to. It's kinda funny, actually.
I can stay at the Plaza that week for $250.
Hmmmm...
Quote: rdw4potusWell hey, loss rebates are also hugely +EV there, sir:-)
I don't want to say you can't do this in 1 day, but it's going to be VERY hard. It took me 4 days (noon to midnight) to collect my chips from southern NV. I know that included areas you won't go to (Mesquite, Primm, Pahrump, Laughlin...), and included table play you won't be making, but if your goal is to use as many coupons and offers as possible it'll take a LONG time.
It sounds like your wife doesn't gamble, but is she willing to participate in the coupon game?
I understand about the loss rebates, but the thing is, you have to lose first! Once you have lost, you will probably not see 100%+ return on that particular loss rebate. The other thing is that Loss Rebates can be very time-consuming, because you either have to hit Point A or Point B, then you have to run it through, if Point B. I would personally play them, but they're just not good for my purposes. I might even still play them, but only after this is done.
My wife does not really gamble, except she'll come with me on my birthday, which this can technically count because my birthday is only a few days after we get back. Furthermore, she doesn't want to be left in the room by herself the whole time or otherwise left to her own devices. As a result, she'd rather run around with me, (even if it involves gambling) than be alone. I'd rather have her with me, anyway. Not only is it increased ER, but most importantly, it has been a long time since just the two of us got to do anything together for more than one night.
Quote: teddysThere are no local members who are willing to offer our esteemed moderator a hotel room comp for him and his s.o. while he makes his first Vegas visit? For shame, WoV! ;)Quote: Mission146
2.) The flight out was actually cheaper to such an extent that the difference in price more than covers the cost of my hotel room on Wednesday.
Thank you, TeddyS, but my hotel stay has been fully taken care of for this trip, with the exception to Wednesday. I can't disclose anymore than that. Technically, it's actually also taken care of for Wednesday...now that I think about it.
When I was in Nevada the slow period leading up to Christmas was great for promotions, and Christmas through New Year's was good for the advantage slots because of all the novice gambler's in town. Of course, all the advantage slots are just about gone now.
Quote: mickeycrimmMission the town will definitely be deader than a door nail when you are there. Which means you won't have to fight though the crowds to get your plays in. The people start coming back in on Christmas Day....and Christmas through New Years is the busiest week of the year in Las Vegas.
When I was in Nevada the slow period leading up to Christmas was great for promotions, and Christmas through New Year's was good for the advantage slots because of all the novice gambler's in town.
That is awesome! Thanks, MickeyCrimm!
I think I should be able to hit all casinos, day one. I've looked at it. If not, then I'll do Downtown/Taverns and save The Strip for a different day.
Quote: Mission146That is awesome! Thanks, MickeyCrimm!
I think I should be able to hit all casinos, day one. .
All what casinos? You're joking, right?
Quote: EvenBobAll what casinos? You're joking, right?
I'm not there for sightseeing, at least, not until this is done.
Quote: EvenBobEvenBob et al,
I'm sorry, I accidentally Edited EvenBob's post when I was trying to quote him.
-Mission146
HEY! Was that the post from the Advisor?
Quote: Mission146That is awesome! Thanks, MickeyCrimm!
I think I should be able to hit all casinos, day one. I've looked at it. If not, then I'll do Downtown/Taverns and save The Strip for a different day.
Even though I am sure you have read many times on this forum about the distance between casinos I think you have a very unrealistic schedule for the strip. To travel the full strip, get a card and make you play will average a minimum of 1/2 hr / casino and probably more like 1 hr. It will get even longer if you try to take in any of the casinos that are just a block or two off of the strip.
Hope everything works out but doing your 'secret thing', actually trying to enjoy your first trip to Vegas, and keeping the non gambling princess happy sounds impossible to me.
Quote: EvenBobHEY! Was that the post from the Advisor?
Yes, and I'm very sorry.
Quote: kenarmanEven though I am sure you have read many times on this forum about the distance between casinos I think you have a very unrealistic schedule for the strip.e.
I see a bet coming here. What casinos do you plan on
hitting in one day, Pierce? Easy Downtown, not the
Strip. These places aren't exactly right next to each other
you know.
Quote: kenarmanEven though I am sure you have read many times on this forum about the distance between casinos I think you have a very unrealistic schedule for the strip. To travel the full strip, get a card and make you play will average a minimum of 1/2 hr / casino and probably more like 1 hr. It will get even longer if you try to take in any of the casinos that are just a block or two off of the strip.
Hope everything works out but doing your 'secret thing', actually trying to enjoy your first trip to Vegas, and keeping the non gambling princess happy sounds impossible to me.
All I can do is try!
The thing that you have to understand about The Strip is, if the Free Play offers remain the same, most of the Strip is absolutely useless to me. I'm not going to go to the majority of the Strip casinos. I'm not going to be going to any Total Rewards property at all, with apologies to Horseshoe Cleveland...thanks for the huge Free Play, sorry I never came back after that!!!
I'm going to enjoy my trip to Vegas because I will enjoy doing my secret thing. If anything, it might take two full days, and then we have The Event on Saturday and hanging out at Main Street Station after that, which is our, "Party night," that my wife will enjoy. Even if it takes two full days, my wife will still have a full day (Sunday), Wednesday Evening, Monday during the day, and Saturday during the day for us to do whatever she wishes to do. It ends up essentially being a 50/50 split, ultimately, and I'm sure we'll have some time to hang out with Wizard in there, which she is also sure to enjoy.
It's going to be a fantastic time, I have no worries. As my wife put it, "Nearly a week away from the kids for the first time in our lives, I really don't care what we do," but I definitely want her to get to pick what we do for half of our time there. Sleep will be minimal, neither of us sleep much, anyway.
Quote: EvenBobI see a bet coming here. What casinos do you plan on
hitting in one day, Pierce? Easy Downtown, not the
Strip. These places aren't exactly right next to each other
you know.
I don't recall the exact ones, based on information gathered from here and this month's Free Play offers, I'd only be hitting five or six of them. Most of the MLife casinos are also useless.
Quote: Mission146
It's going to be a fantastic time, I have no worries.
"If you want to hear god laugh, announce you plans." Al Swearengen
You'll have a good time no matter what you do
because you'll be be away from the kids. Having
a good time is a given.
Edit: if your wife is "in" for the coupons, don't forget to get two of every book. I wish I'd have done that when my girlfriend joined me when I did this. She ended up tagging along but not taking advantage of the offers that actually required coupons.
Quote: Mission146That is awesome! Thanks, MickeyCrimm!
I think I should be able to hit all casinos, day one. I've looked at it. .
Wow, are you sure you know what you are getting into. Prepare for a ton of walking. Each of these casino resorts on the strip are massive. Its a hike just walking from entrance to deep inside where the players club is. Its doable, just a lot of walking. I personally enjoy it to a certain extent. Great exercise. I've walked from MGM to Hilton Grand Vacations next to Circus Circus once.
Quote: rdw4potusI think the definition of "all" in the sentence "all the casinos" is going to be extremely important. Doing the strip and downtown in the same day is doable. Your feet (and, possibly, your wife) will hate you, but it's possible. The giant time-suck is the large group of very generous casinos that are neither downtown or on the strip, but are instead spread throughout the surrounding areas. It's a really, really long way from Santa Fe Station to the M to Hacienda to the Cannery. Google Maps tells me that's 64 miles of driving to hit those 4 properties. Of course you could avoid Santa Fe Station and go to another Stations property instead, or you could decide that Boulder City isn't "Las Vegas" and cut out the Hacienda. But getting between casinos is where all the time gets sucked away on these trips (believe me, I KNOW...).
That's definitely something to look at, and it might even give me something else to still save for a second day. I'm not going to be too firm on my plans in terms of exactly what must be done on the first day, just looking to do this in such a way that it is the most efficient way we can muster. I'm definitely going to eliminate some of the casinos that are on the extreme outskirts of Vegas, how close is, "The Valley," in general, to Downtown, by the way?
Quote:Edit: if your wife is "in" for the coupons, don't forget to get two of every book. I wish I'd have done that when my girlfriend joined me when I did this. She ended up tagging along but not taking advantage of the offers that actually required coupons.
I still have to talk to her about that, she's certainly going to do the Free Play. I have to see if she wants to do the Tables Match Play, she may not, then I only need one ACG. I decided not to get the other thing, just ACG, but I might order a second ACG. Wal-Mart claims it will arrive next week.
Quote: terapinedWow, are you sure you know what you are getting into. Prepare for a ton of walking. Each of these casino resorts on the strip are massive. Its a hike just walking from entrance to deep inside where the players club is. Its doable, just a lot of walking. I personally enjoy it to a certain extent. Great exercise. I've walked from MGM to Hilton Grand Vacations next to Circus Circus once.
I don't know what I am getting into, that's where all the fun comes in!!!
Quote: Mission146how close is, "The Valley," in general, to Downtown, by the way?
That's the thing - "the valley" is Vegasese for "the suburbs." It's basically all areas that are not downtown or the strip. There ARE some clusters of casinos, like along Boulder Highway or in North Las Vegas, but there are also lots of places that are spread throughout the area.
Quote: rdw4potusThat's the thing - "the valley" is Vegasese for "the suburbs." It's basically all areas that are not downtown or the strip. There ARE some clusters of casinos, like along Boulder Highway or in North Las Vegas, but there are also lots of places that are spread throughout the area.
I see that now, it appears I will rent a car one day.
You do need to walk both aggressively and defensively though. Nearly all of the people on the strip and inside the strip casinos engage in one or more of the following activities:
1) Walking slowly
2) Walking in one direction (usually towards you) while looking in the complete opposite direction
3) Walking in front of you in the same direction as you but suddenly stop for no reason, causing you to walk into them
These types of people are always found in casinos, but the effect is magnified on the strip, so brace yourself for them. I give a free pass to old people who are only guilty of #1, but I have little patience for anyone else.
Quote: JBI agree with what others are saying about the size of the strip casinos. As you arrive by plane they look like little toy buildings, but when you're right in front of them, some of them are truly massive. However, if you walk fast, take advantage of free and/or public transportation, and don't spend too long at any one casino, you'll be able to see most if not all of the strip casinos in a single day.
You do need to walk both aggressively and defensively though. Nearly all of the people on the strip and inside the strip casinos engage in one or more of the following activities:
1) Walking slowly
2) Walking in one direction (usually towards you) while looking in the complete opposite direction
3) Walking in front of you in the same direction as you but suddenly stop for no reason, causing you to walk into them
These types of people are always found in casinos, but the effect is magnified on the strip, so brace yourself for them. I give a free pass to old people who are only guilty of #1, but I have little patience for anyone else.
I'm definitely going to keep those tips in mind for the way that people are walking. I'm also going to do my best to get to and from each of these strip casinos as quickly as possible.
The truth is that I am strictly only going to The Strip to capitalize on the Free Play. I want to be in-and-out of the Strip casinos as fast as humanly possible. I'm afraid that nothing about the Strip impresses me, I just find it supremely annoying. All of the opulence and extravagance is simply not what a casino should be, those are casinos for people who don't like casinos. I don't mind things being neat, clean and tidy...and I don't mind casinos having a certain theme or motif, but having looked at pictures, much of what comprises the Strip seems completely unnecessary.
Definitely in and out of the Strip casinos, take, "As soon as possible," and cut that time in half!
Quote: Mission146I don't know what I am getting into, that's where all the fun comes in!!!
Be honest about you're first reactions. I took somebody there
for his first visit about 8 years ago. He was very cool, thought
he had it handled. On our first drive down the Strip he kept
repeating over and over "Are they f__king INSANE?" He said
it dozens of times, he was having an almost out of body
experience. It's so in your face BIG that it effects everybody
differently. Your 5 days will go by in 20min, be ready for that.
And walking is a huge part of Vegas, most of it walking you'd
rather not do. Waste of time walking. Just from your table to
the cage, or to a restroom, or back to your room, or from the
elevator to your room. At the Plaza this time I requested a
room next to the elevator because I wear earplugs and headgear.
It was great.
Quote: EvenBobBe honest about you're first reactions. I took somebody there
for his first visit about 8 years ago. He was very cool, thought
he had it handled. On our first drive down the Strip he kept
repeating over and over "Are they f__king INSANE?" He said
it dozens of times, he was having an almost out of body
experience. It's so in your face BIG that it effects everybody
differently. Your 5 days will go by in 20min, be ready for that.
And walking is a huge part of Vegas, most of it walking you'd
rather not do. Waste of time walking. Just from your table to
the cage, or to a restroom, or back to your room, or from the
elevator to your room. At the Plaza this time I requested a
room next to the elevator because I wear earplugs and headgear.
It was greart.
Mr. EB, why do your posts only take up half the screen. Are you doing that on purpose.
Mission, When I first came to vegas about 10 years ago from the plane I was like OH is that all. About an hour later when I arrived on the strip I had the same reaction as EB mentioned above. I could not believe what I was seeing.
As mentioned before, I think you are underestimating how long it will take to get through some of the casinos. However, you never really posted exactly which ones you are going to do so you may not have as much walking. For example, The MGM is about as large as 4 normal city blocks. I once went out an exit on the opposite side of the strip and figured I would just walk around the block to go to the M&M store. I think it took me about 40 min to walk around the building.
Another thing you may want to consider since you are doing an article about cheap vegas is time shares. There is a stand outside of TI that I have gone too a few times. At first they offer a time share tour for dinner. After you say no about 10 times you will get much better offers. The last one we did we ended up with 2 tickets to blue man group (kinda crappy seats), dinner for 2 at a nice restaurant (pre set menu), and $100 free slot play. It took about half a day but it was an experience and we received about $400 worth of stuff.
One last thing to look into. There are a few places that will advertise $100 or $200 worth of slot play. When you go there, they are actually giving you vouchers that can only be used on special machines. There is a place on mid strip but I can't remember the name of it that does this. These machines are real slot machines but there is only 1 winning line. You either win a large amount of money or you win nothing. It may be worth playing just for a shot but they seem like a waste of time to me.
