My MGM Noir Experience

I would consider myself a low maintenance gambler. What that means is I go to casinos to gamble and maybe eat some good food and that's about it. I don't ask for much at all from hosts. So, have I taken full advantage of what Noir has to offer? Nope. Not at all. Like I've said before, the main reasons I wanted to get it was for the 40% bonus on points earned vs 30% bonus from Platinum (helps on promos and free play accumulation) and to see if I could actually get it.

I was told by some that getting to Noir playing only video poker was extremely hard. Fortunately (?) for me, when I did get Noir at the end of May 2019 I had lost more than 60% of the total money I would ultimately lose for all of 2019 at National Harbor. In fact I was hovering at that level of losses since March with continued heavy play. I'm sure that factored into my earning it.

Anyways, what have I done with it?

1. Faster point accumulation with less coin in to get bonus free play. Unfortuantely by the time I got Noir I only got one offer for bonus free play in 2019 due to cutting back my play. Earn so many points in a two week period get XXX amount of bonus free play. I didn't keep an exact breakdown of where my free play came from (weekly vs bonus offers). Just kept a running total. For all of 2019 at National Harbor I earned a total of $24,975 and converted it into $24,732.25, a 99.028 conversion rate. As a comparison, I earned $15,284 in 2018 converting it to $20,424, a 133.63% conversion rate ($4,000 4 aces helped.) As always, free play was played at the end of my gambling day so I would always be taking that with me. Of course that didn't mean I wouldn't lose it back next time I went. That has always been a mainstay of how I approach free play at National Harbor.

2. Invited to some fancy hors d'oevre gift giveaways for Noir members only. I went to one to see what it was like. The food was good. But it was way to fancy for my tastes. I shudder to think what they would charge for it in a restaurant there. I did not win anything. Seemed like most of National Harbor's Noir level members play Baccarat. 9 of the 10 winners were Asian.

Those are the only things I took advantage of as a Noir member. Of course I could get free concert tickets if I wanted but that really wouldn't be a Noir exclusive. I'm sure Platinum members who lose a lot would get those as well.

Main advantage I saw for Noir at Borgata was I started getting offers every month for a guaranteed $500 free play for one weekend a month. I have consistently gotten this offer every month since attaining Noir. When I was Platinum it was only $100.

Like I said, I'm not a demanding player. Could I have gotten more stuff? Most likely. Do I regret not asking? Not really. Every time I go gambling I have a plan of what I want to do or accomplish. I feel if I start concerning myself with what I can get for free that it might influence that game plan which I think would not be a good thing for my strategy implementation.

I liken my desire to attain Noir as why some people climb mountains. Because it's there and to see if I could do it.

Since you keep such detailed records, what did it cost you to reach Noir?

Quote: billryan

Since you keep such detailed records, what did it cost you to reach Noir?

I do not like to list specific numbers but I will say I had lost more in 2019 up to that point than I make at my full time job in a year. So, good thing I won way more the previous 2 years than I made at my job over the same time. It was substantial needless to say. I think part of why I got it was after I hit the 240k I went into overdrive for about 6 months. I finished 2018 slightly higher the last 3 months then crashed hard in 2019. I'm sure they liked that a lot.

From my experience, borgata is much more generous with offers.

Do you go during this pandemic when they offer the $500 Freeplay?

Quote: cmlotito

I think part of why I got it was after I hit the 240k I went into overdrive for about 6 months. I finished 2018 slightly higher the last 3 months then crashed hard in 2019. I'm sure they liked that a lot.

you lost around 6figures of that $240k in 2019 on a 99.7% machine (Dstp 8/5 bp)?

Quote: 100xOdds

From my experience, borgata is much more generous with offers.

Do you go during this pandemic when they offer the $500 Freeplay?

I was going to go the day after my birthday. But I couldn't because my license expired on my birthday and Virginia residents were put on a self quarantine list if I tried to go to New Jersey. Double whammy.

I might go once later this year. Drive time, gas and tolls are a nice deterrent to going. Although right now JoB Multistrike is now the best return game within driving distance since National Harbor nerfed their pay tables. Two nice things about that game is reduced number of jackpots and when you do hit on it it would either be an 8x SF or a RF on any line. And bankroll can last a long time on JoB.

Quote: 100xOdds

you lost around 6figures of that $240k in 2019 on a 99.7% machine (Dstp 8/5 bp)?

16 4awak with no multipliers was my downfall.

I switched away from DDB in August 2019. Losses were slowed a lot but still occurring. But most of my losses at National Harbor in 2019 occurred January thru August.