Level up!

So this past weekend I had a goal to level up both of my players cards - get to Platinum on TR and Pearl on MLife while in Vegas for a bachelor party from Friday night-Monday morning. Based on my previous experience and what I know about accruing Tier Credits, I was pretty sure I had an outside shout but it would be tough. When the weekend started I had about 3K TR TCs (need 4K), and about 17K MLife TCs (need 25K). I brought $8500 to gamble with.

I checked my TR account on my phone Sunday night and it said I was at 3.5K, and I was completely wiped out, so there was no chance of gambling through the night - but one of my paper rating cards must not have gone into the system yet, because after I landed I saw that I had 4819 TCs and had gotten to Platinum! Wooo! I also made it on MLife, although I have no idea how many TCs because their website has been broken for weeks. Thankfully I know I'm still earning them at least, because it says I'm Pearl.

Sadly I didn't even have a chance to hit a kiosk and upgrade either of the cards. So I have the status but but not the actual cards, blast!

Oh and I guess also an important aspect - I didn't lose any money either. My current cash count is $9000 and I spent quite a few big bills on non-gambling related activities, so I'm probably up about a grand. Need to check the notes I have in my phone, but there are a few sessions that get a little blurry. I was drunk pretty much the whole weekend (bachelor party) so I didn't do any advantage plays, just craps and a tiny bit of blackjack. And holy cow my feet hurt.

Sorry if this post feels like nothing more than self-aggrandizement, but I wanted to share with the board. It feels good...now I just have to go back before the credits and my statuses expire :)

Congratulations on that! It's very good to share your winnings. Keep going!

All the world loves a winner. Unless you are counting, then remove Dan Lubin from that list. LOL

So now that I've detoxed a little bit and rested up, a couple quick stories from my trip.

Playing craps at Bill's, I tried to lay down my Total Rewards card about 3 times, convinced the dealers were giving me the run-around when they said they didn't take it. I pointed out that the "Bill" in Bill's is William Harrah but they were insistent. I know they used to have their own player's card, and I even have one at home, but I didn't bring it to Vegas because I thought they had finally converted over. Anyway, I finally just tossed them my license and had them look up my Bill's account and rate me. I was a little bummed though because I like playing there but it wasn't going to help me on my TR tier credits.

Also at Bill's, I was playing pass/come with full odds (as I was doing at most places) and leaving my come bet odds working on the come-out, so they had the little "on" lammers on one of my bets. Several times, I think 3 times during one session at Bill's, that number came on the come-out roll, and while paying out my come bet and odds, the dealer accidentally included the "on" lammer with my stack of chips. After I returned it the first 2 times, I decided that it would be fun to get one of those as a souvenir, so I tried to pocket it the 3rd time, but the box woman saw me and asked for it back. I returned it, of course, and we all gave the dealer some good ribbing. For the rest of my trip I was trying to get this to happen again at a bunch of other casinos, but it never did. I guess that one dealer at Bill's was just not paying very much attention.

Nice job Aces! Yes, Bill's still has it's own card. What Harrah's did to BJ at Bill's after purchasing the property is a shame. I don't spend much time there anymore.

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Quote: Ibeatyouraces

While in Vegas, I went right from the sapphire M Life card right passed pearl and hit gold. After getting the card I thought about how fast I got that high considering I spent most of the time playing the better DD games. As for the TR card, I didnt give Caesars/Harrahs a dime of action. They dont deserve it.

While I understand and respect the sentiment, on this trip I was only playing craps and since I don't make field bets, there's no difference between the two chains (well outside of some prop bet payouts and exotic side bets, which again I don't make). Also TR gives much looser room comps. I stayed free at Bally's this past weekend and as I noted I was only a gold member previously. One of the dealers at an EE property (I don't recall where) was amazed that I was staying free for a Fri-Sat-Sun stay, especially since it was the final four weekend.

The one session of blackjack I did play was at the Flamingo, and it was actually a decent game, really an amazing game considering it was in an EE property. 8 decks and $25 min, but it was 3:2 with LS, so I didn't feel too bad playing it. DAS, DA2, and I doubt RSA but I didn't ask and never got 2 aces anyway. I tried to count it down a few times but I was too mentally exhausted. The pen was pretty good though, about 1-1.5 decks cut off. Now if I were jumping my bet up and down all over the place, who knows how the pen would have changed :).

What does platinum really get you? I know most of the comps really aren't worth it until the diamond level...

It depends. Vegas gives a lot more significance to platinum than say Atlantic City. Vegas has seperate lines for buffets and restaurants and other various smaller perks that don't really exist in Atlantic City. In Atlantic city, it seems you get very little if anything for being platinum. I also think the TR program gives more credence to recent level of play. I know gold members who can get free weekends in Vegas.

Quote: Triplell

What does platinum really get you? I know most of the comps really aren't worth it until the diamond level...

As stated, Platinum is hit or miss. In most properties outside of Vegas, Platinum doesn't mean diddly. It may help you secure slightly better offers, and casino employees are supposed to thank you for being a Platinum member. You do get a better discount at gift shops and restaurants, but other than Vegas, you don't get a dedicated line like Diamond.

Mark my words though... a new level will be coming soon... Ruby, I'm calling it. It will be between Diamond and Seven Star, set at 25,000 Credits, and Diamond will become Platinum Plus. Diamond Lounges will become Ruby lounges, etc.

Quote: Tiltpoul

Mark my words though... a new level will be coming soon... Ruby, I'm calling it. It will be between Diamond and Seven Star, set at 25,000 Credits, and Diamond will become Platinum Plus. Diamond Lounges will become Ruby lounges, etc.

I agree about the level, but I bet it goes the other way. "Diamond" moves to 25,000 points, and "Ruby" slots in at 10,000. That saves the hassle of re-naming everything.

Quote: Triplell

What does platinum really get you? I know most of the comps really aren't worth it until the diamond level...

This is a great question and to be honest, I don't know as much about the different tiers as a lot of other forum members. I know the bigger stuff really starts to kick in at Diamond, which I probably won't attain any time soon. In retrospect it was kind of a silly goal, but I'm glad I got there without losing any money and had some fun along the way.

One thing to note is that different hotels give different significance to the tiers. For example, at Flamingo, the special check-in lounge is available to Diamond and Platinum members, whereas most hotels don't differentiate between Gold and Platinum for check in lines. Also, the last time I checked in at Flamingo (which was a Sunday night a few weeks ago), they had a special line just for Gold members! I did a bit of a double-take when I saw the sign, given that the normal check in line was incredibly long and it saved me probably 20 or 30 minutes. I asked the check-in lady WTF was going on...don't all these people standing in the regular line know you don't have to do anything to get a Gold card? Apparently not. I was pretty happy about that. But yeah like I said...not typical. The Flamingo is cheap and old.

I thought about becoming an AP. hmmm... but after Aces story maybe I should just follow him around when hes drinking and wait for him to drop a chip. Could be lucrative.

I'm a gold member who is lucky to get out maybe once a year, and haven't gotten any offers off of my last trip yet. I was thinking about tossing a buddy 20 bucks to throw into a machine at a Caesar's property just so my points don't expire. At what point does a gold member get a low level room comp?

Sounds like a fun weekend, we're hoping to get back out in December for a bachelor party as well....just have to talk the bachelor into getting married.

Quote: kneelb4zod

I'm a gold member who is lucky to get out maybe once a year, and haven't gotten any offers off of my last trip yet. I was thinking about tossing a buddy 20 bucks to throw into a machine at a Caesar's property just so my points don't expire. At what point does a gold member get a low level room comp?

It's USUALLY based on semi-recent play (1-3 months ago). It usually takes that long for the offers to update. If you give enough play during that time (something in the vicinity of 500-1000 Tier Credits), you should get a Sun-Thurs room offer at IP or Rio. December seems to be a better time for offers, and you might even get a show deal too. Sign into Total Rewards website to check you offers.

Definitely get your points current though. You don't want to lose any RC's you earned.

Quote: Triplell

What does platinum really get you? I know most of the comps really aren't worth it until the diamond level...

You don't have to wait in line at the buffet. Which actually, is pretty awesome! Used it twice last weekend to skip monstrous lines, and impressed my easily impressed friends.

Quote: AcesAndEights

The Flamingo is cheap and old.

Agreed, but it's also pretty well kept. Of the cheap and old casino hotels, I would stay there and not mind a bit.

Quote:

Quote: AcesAndEights

The Flamingo is cheap and old.

Agreed, but it's also pretty well kept. Of the cheap and old casino hotels, I would stay there and not mind a bit.

I agree wholeheartedly, it's my go-to place to stay when it's my choice.

A couple more stories that I forgot I was going to tell here...

After I was getting ready to leave after a session at the Bellagio, one of the dealers asked me where I was staying and I replied Bally's, at which all of the dealers expressed quasi-mock looks of scorn. I explained that MLife will generally only give me me mediocre room offers, and only at the places where I actually play, whereas Total Rewards will give me decent enough room offers up and down the strip based on my play anywhere. To which the dealer responded "sure, but not at any place you actually want to STAY." Har har, we all had a good chuckle about that. I also had various conversations with dealers about how I own stock in MGM grand, so my overall strategy is to lose money at the tables but recoup my losses in the stock market (jokingly of course).

Other story was I saw one of those don't pass/don't come players at the Flamingo who will pick up the DP or call "no action" on the DC when the number is a 6 or an 8. I totally forgot about the conversation we had here a while back about buying these bets from the player. I think it was teddys who had some success with this strategy, following the same guy around to lots of places? Didn't even cross my mind, but the table would have been perfect for it. Not totally empty so we wouldn't be drawing attention to ourselves, but not so packed that I couldn't slide down next to him.

Quote: AcesAndEights

After I was getting ready to leave after a session at the Bellagio, one of the dealers asked me where I was staying and I replied Bally's, at which all of the dealers expressed quasi-mock looks of scorn. I explained that MLife will generally only give me me mediocre room offers, and only at the places where I actually play, whereas Total Rewards will give me decent enough room offers up and down the strip based on my play anywhere. To which the dealer responded "sure, but not at any place you actually want to STAY." Har har, we all had a good chuckle about that. I also had various conversations with dealers about how I own stock in MGM grand, so my overall strategy is to lose money at the tables but recoup my losses in the stock market (jokingly of course).

I cannot stand the Bellagio dealers. They have their heads so far up their A--... I would have been snarky and said something like "Are you offering to put me up here?" You aren't getting comped from Bellagio, and they know that. It's almost like they do it to rub it in your face...

Stupid A==holes...

Quote: Tiltpoul

I cannot stand the Bellagio dealers. They have their heads so far up their A--... I would have been snarky and said something like "Are you offering to put me up here?" You aren't getting comped from Bellagio, and they know that. It's almost like they do it to rub it in your face...

Stupid A==holes...

It's funny you say that - I've had nothing but good experiences with the dealers there. Maybe I have a higher tolerance for good-natured ribbing than you, but the above anecdote was meant to be a positive one. I chuckled, no offense taken. In general I find the Bellagio dealers to be professional and knowledgeable, and they will engage you in an appropriate amount of small talk if you want, or will shut up and just deal if you've indicated that you'd rather not make small talk.