Bill's Gambling Hall Player's Club?
But that's about it.
Yeah, it has its own players card and reward program. But you can exchange them for Total Rewards points and vice-versa. But it can only be done in person, and you have to jump thru hoops to do it.
There is, if you look for it, a link from the Harrah's/Caesars website to Bill's website, but none in the other direction.
Harrah's purchased Barbary Coast (and renamed it) when the opportunity arose, so that when the time comes to tear it down, that step will already be done.
But it may take some doing. Behind Bill's is a small strip mall with a couple stores and a small slot casino. I think they are proud of the fact that they are going to be the stumbling block to any development plans for that area. Then again, they are on the OTHER side of the monorail....
In this photo, you can see Bally's to the left, the top of Belagio, the top of Caesars, Flamigo to the right, and the monorail behind the strip mall. In the space between this casino's roof and the monorail, in front of Caesars, you can see a slice of Bill's.
FYI: The photo is from Google's Street View on Audrie Street. Interestingly, the Street View from Flamingo Road shows the marquee stating 22 years...
It's still a nice place to play, though. The craps lessons there do not stress the worse bets, and the day I took one they were handing out $5 match play craps coupons. They're also the only casino with Rapid Craps, which I like better than regular craps. And the food at the cafe (Victoria? something like that) is quite good for the price.
Quote: aahighWhy do you like Rapid Craps better than regular craps, Nareed?
For one thing becasue you can play it sitting down. I'm not lazy, well not that lazy, but after all the walking one does in Vegas, sitting down for a game makes more sense. Also I learned craps playing Wincraps and online free games, so I'm more used to playing on a computer screen than at a table. And since the screen only displays my bets, I don't get them confused with someone else's. Not that this alst happens too foten, but sometimes. I'm easily confused when too much is going on.
Of course right now this limits me to 3,4,5X odds. And there's no fire bet (which might be just as well, come to think of it). And when the table's full and there are newbies, the action can slow down to a crawl. I aprpeciate the effect this has on my bankroll rpeservation, but it's boring to just sit there waiting.
It's not perfect, but I like it. My guess is it will be adopted here and there, but won't replace regular craps.
Quote: DJTeddyBearHarrah's purchased Barbary Coast (and renamed it) when the opportunity arose, so that when the time comes to tear it down, that step will already be done.
But it may take some doing. Behind Bill's is a small strip mall with a couple stores and a small slot casino. I think they are proud of the fact that they are going to be the stumbling block to any development plans for that area. Then again, they are on the OTHER side of the monorail....
It's not out of the question to build a hotel (or, more likely, a parking garage) around the monorail. If engineers can build the Chunnel, the Big Dig, or (more apropos) the Bridge Suite at the Atlantis, they can certainly make room for a monorail track. There's already a parking garage just on the other side of the tracks (behind Bills/Flamingo) but if they raze that whole area for a skinny, tall hotel tower, it'd work. Imagine being in a semi-circular room with floor-to-ceiling windows, right where the front door of Bills is now, but 20 stories up. That'd be a great view of the Strip in all directions.
I remember it well, because we stayed/played next door, at The Maxim. (formerly Playboy, later Westin Casuarina)
Quote: rxwineuse to be a McDondalds in the basement floor (turned into a nightclub I think)
Im guessing that would be the famous Drai's after hours club.
Quote: NareedBill's is part of the Evil Empire. But it does have its own player card. DJ explains the rest.
It's still a nice place to play, though. The craps lessons there do not stress the worse bets, and the day I took one they were handing out $5 match play craps coupons. They're also the only casino with Rapid Craps, which I like better than regular craps. And the food at the cafe (Victoria? something like that) is quite good for the price.
So is the rewards program the exact same as Harrah's? (i.e. $5 of coin-in = 1 point)
I don't know the details, except that it IS possible to get some stuff exchanged - but it's not simple to do or to understand.
Quote: rxwineI spent a lot of time (in the 90s) in the (Bills) Barbary Coast. I remember it having better VP pay tables compared to everything in that area. Not sure now.
From what I've read, all VP used to be better everywhere than it is now. Likewise 3CP pair+ pay tables. It makes me wish I'd taken up Vegas earlier <sigh>
Quote: IAchance5So is the rewards program the exact same as Harrah's? (i.e. $5 of coin-in = 1 point)
Gee, I don't know. At my low-rolling levels I never bother finding out. Sorry. I suppose it is. But you could check on the Bill's website.
Quote: NareedGee, I don't know. At my low-rolling levels I never bother finding out. Sorry. I suppose it is. But you could check on the Bill's website.
the Bills site is next to useless. All it tells you is comps can be exchanged for Total Rewards points, and to contact the Bills player card desk.
Quote: Croupierthe Bills site is next to useless. All it tells you is comps can be exchanged for Total Rewards points, and to contact the Bills player card desk.
My bad. I should know better by now.
anyway, VPfree2 offers this:
$10 coin in = 1 tier point (whatever that is)
Earned Comps: Comp dollars show up separately and are good at most Harrah's locations
11,000 tier points in a year = Diamond status good at Flamingo Diamond Lounge
FWIW.
Quote: DJTeddyBearHarrah's purchased Barbary Coast (and renamed it) when the opportunity arose,
In this photo, you can see Bally's to the left, the top of Belagio, the top of Caesars, Flamigo to the right, and the monorail behind the strip mall. In the space between this casino's roof and the monorail, in front of Caesars, you can see a slice of Bill's.
FYI: The photo is from Google's Street View on Audrie Street. Interestingly, the Street View from Flamingo Road shows the marquee stating 22 years...
That photo is old. Should be 19 years left on the lease now. Just sayin'.
And if you're driving east on Flamingo approaching the Strip, waiting at the light there, "Barbary Coast" is still plainly visible behind the new Bills logo where the sun has bleached the brown background paint.
Quote: NareedMy bad. I should know better by now.
anyway, VPfree2 offers this:
$10 coin in = 1 tier point (whatever that is)
Earned Comps: Comp dollars show up separately and are good at most Harrah's locations
11,000 tier points in a year = Diamond status good at Flamingo Diamond Lounge
FWIW.
Well that's how much coin-in is required at Harrah's properties for VP....so I'm assuming it's the same for slots ($5=1pt). Also, it takes 11,000 tier points to achieve "Diamond" status too, so it appears that the evil empire took over the rewards program there too.....
Quote: DJTeddyBearHarrah's purchased Barbary Coast (and renamed it) when the opportunity arose,
In this photo, you can see Bally's to the left, the top of Belagio, the top of Caesars, Flamigo to the right, and the monorail behind the strip mall. In the space between this casino's roof and the monorail, in front of Caesars, you can see a slice of Bill's.
The stores in the picture looked kind of familiar to me, and I finally realized that there is an Italian restaurant located just to the right out of view that I've eaten at a couple of times (2004 & 2007). It's called Battista's Hole in the Wall. I remember the food tasting pretty good when I was there.
Quote: IAchance5Well that's how much coin-in is required at Harrah's properties for VP....so I'm assuming it's the same for slots ($5=1pt). Also, it takes 11,000 tier points to achieve "Diamond" status too, so it appears that the evil empire took over the rewards program there too.....
Yes, and IIRC, Diamond at Bill's can get you a Diamond Total Rewards card (not 100% sure, though). The reverse, however, is not true (we tried).
Quote: rxwineI remember it having better VP pay tables compared to everything in that area. Not sure now.
Now it's worse than everything else in the area (about a step down from the other Caesars properties surrounding it).
Quote: zippyboyAnd if you're driving east on Flamingo approaching the Strip, waiting at the light there, "Barbary Coast" is still plainly visible behind the new Bills logo where the sun has bleached the brown background paint.
All the doors still have "BC" etched into their glass, too.
Quote: blount2000Quote: DJTeddyBearHarrah's purchased Barbary Coast (and renamed it) when the opportunity arose,
In this photo, you can see Bally's to the left, the top of Belagio, the top of Caesars, Flamigo to the right, and the monorail behind the strip mall. In the space between this casino's roof and the monorail, in front of Caesars, you can see a slice of Bill's.
The stores in the picture looked kind of familiar to me, and I finally realized that there is an Italian restaurant located just to the right out of view that I've eaten at a couple of times (2004 & 2007). It's called Battista's Hole in the Wall. I remember the food tasting pretty good when I was there.
Battista's somehow became a staple for Vegas trips among my buddies. I think it stemmed from the fact that, for the Vegas strip, it's a reasonable value, and we all started going there when we had no money. For less than $40 (less than $30 for some entrees, I believe) including tax and tip, you get soup/salad (great salad, imo), garlic bread, entree with pasta and creamed spinach, all you can drink house wine (tastes slightly better than vinegar...slightly), and a dessert "cappuccino" that tastes really sugary like the old 7-11 cappuccinos.
I've had a couple meals there that didn't impress me (Chicken Rio and Steak Pizzaiola come to mind, though my brother really liked this one when he went), so I generally stick with the Chicken Parmesan -- it's a giant 10 oz. piece and always tastes great. Everyone I have recommended to visit has enjoyed it and those who heeded my advice on the chick parm were pleased. My dad also said the eggplant parmesan was great. One other tip: ask for the spaghetti instead of the penne pasta, which is their default. The penne often seems under/overcooked and/or like it has been sitting out for a few minutes. I don't want to highjack this post, so if anyone has questions about the restaurant, they have a website or I'd be happy to answer them. And no, I am in no way affiliated with their restaurant.
A comment on another thread: the VP in Bill's is much worse than any Caesars property, so don't bother.
