Looks like Cosmopolitan has gone to paid parking also...

Quote: onenickelmiracle

This must be what they call psychological warfare. I've never understood it before, but they're trying to get into heads. This parking thing is a joke at a casino. I never believe politicians that say there are too many regulations because of things like this and resort fees. There are not enough.

Quote: Zcore13

What makes it a joke? It's their business. If you don't like it, don't go there. If enough people don't go there, they will change it back. When it comes to business customers vote with their wallet. Many a business has made a fatal mistake and paid dearly for it.


ZCore13

Quote: onenickelmiracle

Ah, but this isn't a Subway restaurant, it's a regulated casino held to higher standards. The casino really doesn't have a need to charge, they're trying to screw with people's emotions I think and divert money that should be taxed. They're not allowed to charge people to enter the property, shouldn't be allowed to charge for parking. It wasn't part of the deal when the casino was granted a license, having the license ensures limited competion for business which is supposed to be shared with the state through taxes. Parking fees and resort fees skirt the taxes. I also dont like it intimidates people into playing and playing carded to get these fees waived, plus they're defacto charging for using free play redemption which must not require play. Just build the cost of parking into the spending that already occurs(as it really is already).

I look at it as a private bureaucracy, get off my back. It's like Dr. Evil runs these places and I don't like companies having that much power over people. We're supposed to have inalienable rights, the majority of people don't like these things, government should respond if the democratic process was working right. Having people park in the casino lot is supposed to be a good thing, not a bad thing they need to recoup, they're there to spend money, if they don't, eat the cost. Governmental agencies have negotiating power over the casinos and it should be used to control them, not forfeited so we're controlled. As we see this, we see the people are the enemy of both, I dont like that.

It's the same thing with automatic exclusions when people are on self-exclusion lists, the casinos don't do it to protect the people, they do it to intimidate people from getting on lists too close to home, by taking away casinos far away they can control because of the traveling hassle.

Quote: onenickelmiracle

Ah, but this isn't a Subway restaurant, it's a regulated casino held to higher standards. The casino really doesn't have a need to charge...

Quote:

the majority of people don't like these things, government should respond if the democratic process was working right.

Quote:

Governmental agencies have negotiating power over the casinos and it should be used to control them

Quote: billryan

Every dollar a casino can wring out the sheeple for parking and resorts fees is a dollar they don't need to try and take from us.

Quote: billryan

Every dollar a casino can wring out the sheeple for parking and resorts fees is a dollar they don't need to try and take from us.

Quote: onenickelmiracle

Casinos are regulated because the gambling industry cannot and has never been trusted.

Quote:

We don't need all these fees, they're unnecessary. It's in the regulators best interest to stop the fleecing, dont understand why they do nothing. If the resort fees were a part of the room rate, which they are in reality, Nevada would pull more in, in taxes. If these parking fees were not there, Nevada would pull in more money in gaming taxes. Plus, isn't that Nevada's dirty secret, many pedestrians are hit by cars, and these policies are just going to put more people walking in the streets. The casinos will still get plenty of money, doesn't have to be this way. Expenses are deductible, costs of doing business, charge for your services to include these expenses unless impossible.

Quote:

I know the USA is not a democracy, it's a democratic republic, I said democratic process. It's the constitution that was designed so the few would not be so powerful that they would control the many so unfairly. Basically to stop majority powers from controlling minority powers so severely. I think we've failed letting money be so powerful in politics. They're real aps, they don't play losing games, and all the money they make, they reinvest in politics to gain more power, at our expense. I want balance.

Quote:

I'm not sure Id pay for parking if I ever went to Vegas. I'd either not get a car, walk or use other means. I might just tell them I have no money, the car doesn't go in reverse, until they give in and let me out or maybe I'd just drive out through the gate and be on my way. Can I borrow your car? I don't think the police will bother showing up looking for it, but I might be wrong. I'm not doing that.

How does this system work btw? Do they charge going in or do they charge going out? How do they handle it when people don't have money to pay when they leave? Can they really hold you hostage for not being able to pay? If you don't pay, people cant leave, so how do they keep others inside?

Quote: onenickelmiracle

Casinos are regulated because the gambling industry cannot and has never been trusted. We don't need all these fees, they're unnecessary. It's in the regulators best interest to stop the fleecing, dont understand why they do nothing. If the resort fees were a part of the room rate, which they are in reality, Nevada would pull more in, in taxes. If these parking fees were not there, Nevada would pull in more money in gaming taxes. Plus, isn't that Nevada's dirty secret, many pedestrians are hit by cars, and these policies are just going to put more people walking in the streets. The casinos will still get plenty of money, doesn't have to be this way. Expenses are deductible, costs of doing business, charge for your services to include these expenses unless impossible.

I pay 10c for plastic bags at Aldi and glad to do it, they're awesome strong bags, bigger to hold more than a gallon of milk.

I know the USA is not a democracy, it's a democratic republic, I said democratic process. It's the constitution that was designed so the few would not be so powerful that they would control the many so unfairly. Basically to stop majority powers from controlling minority powers so severely. I think we've failed letting money be so powerful in politics. They're real aps, they don't play losing games, and all the money they make, they reinvest in politics to gain more power, at our expense. I want balance.

I'm not sure Id pay for parking if I ever went to Vegas. I'd either not get a car, walk or use other means. I might just tell them I have no money, the car doesn't go in reverse, until they give in and let me out or maybe I'd just drive out through the gate and be on my way. Can I borrow your car? I don't think the police will bother showing up looking for it, but I might be wrong. I'm not doing that.

How does this system work btw? Do they charge going in or do they charge going out? How do they handle it when people don't have money to pay when they leave? Can they really hold you hostage for not being able to pay? If you don't pay, people cant leave, so how do they keep others inside?

Quote: ZenKinG

You pay when you are leaving, at least that has been my experience in two different casinos(one on the strip and one downtown). The downtown one didn't even have a person to collect it and took no cash, you were forced to pay with card, probably in case you lost everything that night.

I've wondered the same thing, what would casinos do if you tell them you lost everything? Surely they wouldn't hold up traffic behind you to get out. It makes no sense why casinos don't charge you upfront.

Quote: bodyforlife

Gentlemen,

Thanks for the replies and posting the lists of casinos still offering free parking. Rather than get into the politics of the issue, I will simply say the impact this has had on me.

I go to Vegas less. I personally feel this move is penny wise and pound foolish. How much it impacts the casino is still to be seen. Clearly if their business drops 20%+, they may reconsider. I thought the same might happen to the Wynn when they reduced their craps odds to double instead of 3-4-5. So far, no change (but every time I've gone in the Wynn since, it's noticeable how empty their craps tables are). And the Wynn recently sent me a one question survey asking why I was not taking advantage of their reduced offers, which I always found laughable as I often get free offers from the Venetian/Palazzo and feel their rooms are certainly comparable to the Wynn.

It used to be that rooms were cheap (or comped) and food was the same. They were loss leaders as the casino knew those costs were being subsidized by gambling. Those days appear to be over as even a buffet on the strip can run you $45 on a weekend night. I now rent a car when I go and drive to restaurants that are off strip or pick up some take out food to bring back to the hotel. It's usually only $50 for the rental and I figure it's only $15 more than a r/t Lyft ride from the airport (but I save significantly more by eating off strip). With $10+ a day on parking, I'll have to reconsider that.

I live in the SF Bay Area so the main thing this nickel and diming has done to me is get me to take more trips to Lake Tahoe and Reno which are much more generous than Las Vegas. I always get comped rooms and typically casino cash and food credit. Sure, it's not Vegas, but it's a much better value for the money.

Ultimately, I'm thinking the bean counters are banking on Millennials just being fast and loose with their money, and not caring about being gouged. If you're of that age range, please don't take offense to that comment (I've certainly seen some Millennials that were prudent with their money and were focused on home ownership and retirement savings). Unfortunately, I've seen many more that would rather piss away their money on night clubs and $400 bottles of Krystals (and these are the ones the bean counters are hoping to suck in)

Quote: ZenKinG

I guess I'm not your average millennial. By the way if you don't want to pay a $30 or as you mention a $45 buffet, check out Gold Coast buffet and MainSt station buffet, as well as the Palms buffet. They all run around $13-$15 for dinner depending on if you use a players card or not. Get the card and save $2. Lunch and breakfast are even cheaper. About same value you'll get at a strip property in terms of food quality for about 50% cheaper.

For everyone complaining about parking or this and that, if you want change, it all starts with hitting these casinos where it hurts them the most, THEIR WALLET. And how does change begin? It begins with you and you educating and helping others as much as you can about whatever the problem is at hand. Be the change you want to see in the world and the rest will take care of itself. Its the same with 6:5, if everyone just stopped playing and did their part by educating everyone they meet at the tables and the tables get emptier and emptier, watch how fast casinos change back to 3:2.

Quote: bodyforlife

Thanks for the tips on the food. Admittedly, I'm not much of a buffet guy anyway (just not a big eater), but did occasionally go when prices were reasonable. As for the rest of your post, isn't that exactly what I did (less trips to Vegas and posting info on a forum that I'm hoping people read)? I'm thinking no one is going to sit on a corner with a bullhorn and try to preach to the people walking the strip that they are being ripped off. It's their money. They'll have to figure out what priorities they want to put on things in their lives.

Quote: ZenKinG

I wasn't calling you out with my post actually. There were others on here complaining. Actually if a bull horn is what it takes, you got to do it. I was and still am pretty close about plastering 1000's of flyers all over the strip saying"SAY NO TO 6:5". I also try and educate all the players at the table when I can to never play 6:5. I even sat down at a 6:5 table once just to talk to advise the players. If everyone was like me, 3:2 would be gone within a year as nobody would play it. Casinos would cry wolf to get their profits back.

Quote: bodyforlife

I'm a little surprise you weren't asked to leave a casino if you were making a habit of doing that. I've been asked to zip it when I mentioned to a craps player the house advantage on certain bets he was making. I never saw the bullhorn technique used to educate players on the bad odds the Wynn was offering for craps. And yet, people figured it out pretty quick (I do think craps players are a different breed). Blackjack is simple enough that most recreational gamblers understand the rules. I'm guessing you could do all the educating you want and they probably won't much care. And I do think that game is played by many more of the casual gamblers that don't get so much into the casino advantage.

Quote: ZenKinG

Yeah you're right. The one guy I told at the 6:5 table simply stared at me with a blank face and didn't care what I was saying and continually kept placing his bets into the circle. Some people just don't care. I guess to their defense casual players don't play enough hands anyway to make a difference whether its 6:5 or not. Of course it still makes a small difference in the short run but nothing for them to notice unless they're betting 100+. The problem is most 6:5 players are red chippers because like you said these are CASUAL players just on vacation or passing time.

Quote: DRich

You need to understand that if you hope to be a professional gambler in casinos you should want to see lots of ploppies playing poor games. Without ploppies the casinos will go away.

Quote: Zcore13

What makes it a joke? It's their business. If you don't like it, don't go there. If enough people don't go there, they will change it back. When it comes to business customers vote with their wallet. Many a business has made a fatal mistake and paid dearly for it.

Quote: rxwine

Casino customers would wield a lot more power if they actually stopped complaining independently and actually worked together on some issues.

But whatever.

Quote: boymimbo

To be clear, most hotels in major cities charge for parking. and it is not included in the cost of the room. Chicago will charge 30 - 40/day. New York is close to $50. Niagara Falls charges you $20 - $30.

Quote: bodyforlife

But those rooms aren't subsidized from gambling. Therein lies the difference

Quote: lilredrooster

the last time i was in vegas i used the city bus and found it very efficient and comfortable. very little waiting time. the charge was $8 for the entire day. i only used it to go from freemont to downtown and to the strip, i don't know about elsewhere. i was very impressed with it. here are 2 links that give info on hotels in vegas that DO NOT charge resort fees:


/skip-resort-fees-at-these-four-downtown-las-vegas-hotels/

/las-vegas-resort-fees-2016-guide/

Quote: Erwan

About the resort fees ... (sorry can't post links properly)

Quote: billryan

Fewer and fewer rooms are subsidised by gambling. While not exactly an afterthought, many visitors don't come here to gamble.

Quote: FleaStiff

I don't quite understand your reasoning. Also, people who try to take money from you usually do not need to do it, they simply enjoy doing it.

Quote: billryan

Fewer and fewer rooms are subsidised by gambling. While not exactly an afterthought, many visitors don't come here to gamble.

Quote: onenickelmiracle

I disagree, gambling subsidizes everything, even if gambling isn't the main profit source. Gambling built everything and keeps the doors open. Maybe we are in agreement after all, maybe some pay full price uncomped, but the gambling provides the ambience, the architecture and the base.

Quote: MaxPen

Only about 10% of visitors come specifically to gamble and that percentage is dwindling. Roughly 40 million people come each year. Trade shows, conventions, and meetings are responsible for close to 1/4 of that visitation. Las Vegas is the number one trade show destination in the country. Approximately 60% of shows are held in Las Vegas. Most of these attendees and exhibitors are on corporate expense accounts.

Although only 10% come to gamble about 75% of people that visit do some sort of gambling. The average gambling budget in total brought by visitors is 500.00 in total. The average stay is 3.25 days. There is a large number of weekend warriors from California that come to party on the weekend. So you can see the casinos reason for caring less and less about the gambler.

Quote: MaxPen

Only about 10% of visitors come specifically to gamble and that percentage is dwindling. Roughly 40 million people come each year. Trade shows, conventions, and meetings are responsible for close to 1/4 of that visitation. Las Vegas is the number one trade show destination in the country. Approximately 60% of shows are held in Las Vegas. Most of these attendees and exhibitors are on corporate expense accounts.

Although only 10% come to gamble about 75% of people that visit do some sort of gambling. The average gambling budget in total brought by visitors is 500.00 in total. The average stay is 3.25 days. There is a large number of weekend warriors from California that come to party on the weekend. So you can see the casinos reason for caring less and less about the gambler.

Quote: boymimbo

These statistics are wrong. You can source this from Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority.

42.9 million came last year. 6,311,000 was for convention visits. The average gaming revenue per visitor is $226 as of 2016, down from a high of $277.28 in 2007. The average gambling budget is $619. The 5 year average visitor survey says that 47% come for pleasure, 10% to gamble, 9% for conventions/meetings, 12% for relatives/friends, 7% for other business, 7% for special events, 4% for weddings, and 4% for "passing through". About 47% come by car.

Now, last year $318/pp was spent on Food/Beverage, which has been trending up from $265 four years ago. They spend $157 on shopping, $68 on shows, and $36 on sightseeing.

The survey said that 69% of travelers gambled even though only 10% came to gamble. Of those who gambled, about 60% (5 years) of those spent 2 hours or less gambling (per day), 24% spent 3-4 hours per day, 16% spent more than that per day gambling.

Average spend on gambling per visitor has been flat so indeed casinos are courting non-gambling revenues to growth. This includes, as Max alludes to attempting to cater to younger people. Despite this the % of visitors by age has been flat with about 44% of visitors being in the under 40 crowd. Casinos are taking more out of people's pockets mainly via food and beverage.

Quote: MaxPen

Nope, there is no other city that can accommodate trade shows like Las Vegas. If you tried to host the Consumer Electronics Show anywhere else the host city would get crushed. ConAg ConExpo which happens only every 3 years due to the scale would not fit in any other venue. Sema an Apex the same. Las Vegas has built itself into the destination capital of the world strategically and gambling is becoming more and more irrelevant to its overall success. Gambling is what it is known for but has no influence as to whether or not a group of exhibitors chooses to have their trade show here.

Quote: bodyforlife

Completely untrue. In fact, Vegas is listed #10 in that respect. San Antonio being #1 with almost triple the hotel rooms of Vegas.