And speaking of ATM withdrawls...
Thread Rating:
Quote: kewljThe El Cortez ATM promotion is back. You receive 5% of all ATM withdrawals in the form of free play, up to a max free play of $50 per month ($1000 worth of withdrawls). Of course you do have to pay their ATM fee of $3.50 or $3.99, I forget which it is. You can only withdrawal $400 at a time, so basically, $400 withdraw with get you $20 free play, EV: $19+, less ATM fee = net profit of $15. Do that twice during the month, and it's a free $30 bucks, double if you have a playing partner or wife, etc. Not saying it's worth it to go out of your way, but if you are playing downtown anyway, free money is free money, and making a profit withdrawling your own money sure beats paying a fee. :-)
Thanks for the info Kewl. I am staying at the Golden Nugget on this week through next. I was planning on playing at El Cortez anyways, now I will withdraw my cash from there too. Plus since I work for a bank they credit my ATM fees back. So its all free money for me.
Quote: djatcI remember they changed the promo so you had earn 1500 points to cash in, is this gone? Time to hit up El Cortez again.
First time is a gimme. Then you have point requirements.
One other change since I last saw this promotion in the spring. The first month that you do this promotion, there is no play requirement, but if you do it a second month, you must have accumulated 1500 points ($1500 coin in).
Quote: kewljUpdates and corrections. My partner and I did this promo today, while downtown. The maximum daily withdrawal at El cortez is $500, so you have to do it two separate days to get the maximum free play bonus of $50 on your $1000 withdraw. The El cortex ATM fee is $3.50
One other change since I last saw this promotion in the spring. The first month that you do this promotion, there is no play requirement, but if you do it a second month, you must have accumulated 1500 points ($1500 coin in).
Thanks for the update Kewl. I will be using this promo this week. How exactly do they issue the free play? If I did 500, would I get a $25 free play I would have to use at one time? Or could I do say 5 $5 bets?
Now, I admit... a rebate is nice. If it works out. Keep alert as to changes in the fine print though.
Quote: AcesAndEightsAccording to the ElCo promotions page the ATM bonus is still going, up to $50 free play ($1000 withdrawal) per month. Can anyone confirm? Kewlj?
I did it last month.
You may need to earn 1,500 points in the previous month to participate. However, someone in the cage told me this isn't true if you live out of state. But last year, this 1,500 point requirement prevented me from taking advantage of the promo. I guess it depends on who is working at the time?
It's a great promo. The ATM charges a fee of $3.50, but my account with Schwab Bank automatically refunds all ATM fees.
Quote: HowManyQuote: AcesAndEightsAccording to the ElCo promotions page the ATM bonus is still going, up to $50 free play ($1000 withdrawal) per month. Can anyone confirm? Kewlj?
I did it last month.
You may need to earn 1,500 points in the previous month to participate. However, someone in the cage told me this isn't true if you live out of state. But last year, this 1,500 point requirement prevented me from taking advantage of the promo. I guess it depends on who is working at the time?
It's a great promo. The ATM charges a fee of $3.50, but my account with Schwab Bank automatically refunds all ATM fees.
Cool, thanks. I hope that restriction is only for locals.
And when you take your ATM withdrawal receipt to the cage they will check it against your photo ID and player's card to make sure that the account holder is the person withdrawing the funds (so no hanky panky!). Then the cage will give you a form that you take to the player's club who will then load the 5% onto your player's card. The $50, or whatever amount you get, has to be played through.
For those that are new to playing through free play I'll give the following scenario: Let's say you have $50 in free play and you are playing vp at 1.25 a play (25 cent game), and all you want to do is play through the free play. Instead of counting 40 plays, you can approximate. If you feel that you're getting close to 40 plays on a TITO machine, cash out. If the credits say "0" then you've played through the $50. If the credits say, for instance, $5, then you still have 4 plays that must be made. You can simply reinsert your TITO ticket, make 4 plays, and then cash out. This way you only have one TITO ticket to redeem. (Always check that the machine has "0" credits when you leave a machine.)
Quote: GreasyjohnI was told by the El Cortez that only one withdrawal per month would be honored (you couldn't withdraw $500 on one day and $500 the next to get 5% of $1,000). The El Cortez ATM fee is $3.50 and my bank charges an additional $2.
And when you take your ATM withdrawal receipt to the cage they will check it against your photo ID and player's card to make sure that the account holder is the person withdrawing the funds (so no hanky panky!). Then the cage will give you a form that you take to the player's club who will then load the 5% onto your player's card. The $50, or whatever amount you get, has to be played through.
For those that are new to playing through free play I'll give the following scenario: Let's say you have $50 in free play and you are playing vp at 1.25 a play (25 cent game), and all you want to do is play through the free play. Instead of counting 40 plays, you can approximate. If you feel that you're getting close to 40 plays on a TITO machine, cash out. If the credits say "0" then you've played through the $50. If the credits say, for instance, $5, then you still have 4 plays that must be made. You can simply reinsert your TITO ticket, make 4 plays, and then cash out. This way you only have one TITO ticket to redeem. (Always check that the machine has "0" credits when you leave a machine.)
I heard their ATM has a limit of $400, is that correct? If so, a tourist in town for a couple of days would only be able to get $20 free play out of this deal. Which is less than I was hoping for :/.
Quote: AcesAndEightsI heard their ATM has a limit of $400, is that correct? If so, a tourist in town for a couple of days would only be able to get $20 free play out of this deal. Which is less than I was hoping for :/.
Their ATMs allow1k withdrawals.
Call your bank and ask to raise your debit amount to 1k. I did, and it was no problem. It's your money.
Quote: GreasyjohnTheir ATMs allow1k withdrawals.
Call your bank and ask to raise your debit amount to 1k. I did, and it was no problem. It's your money.
Quote: HowManyI did a $1,000 ATM withdrawal last month at El Cortez.
Thanks for the info, guys. I already raised my limit to $1K with my bank, but I just realized the 2 fees (ElCo ATM fee, my bank's ATM fee) might push it over. They did say $1000 was the max they would allow. I'll ask them, but worst case I just withdraw $990 and get $49.50 in free play instead of $50.
Quote: AcesAndEightsThanks for the info, guys. I already raised my limit to $1K with my bank, but I just realized the 2 fees (ElCo ATM fee, my bank's ATM fee) might push it over. They did say $1000 was the max they would allow. I'll ask them, but worst case I just withdraw $990 and get $49.50 in free play instead of $50.
No, it doesn't work that way. Withdraw 1k. They don't deduct the fees from the amount withdrawn. The fees will show up as a debit on your bank statement. $3.50 from El Cortez and whatever your bank charges. My bank dinged me $2 but I got them to reverse it (some banks don't charge anything).
Quote: GreasyjohnNo, it doesn't work that way. Withdraw 1k. They don't deduct the fees from the amount withdrawn. The fees will show up as a debit on your bank statement. $3.50 from El Cortez and whatever your bank charges. My bank dinged me $2 but I got them to reverse it (some banks don't charge anything).
Hmmm, I asked a teller at a local branch of my bank just today, and he said the fees would count toward the limit. But, frankly, bank tellers aren't always the most authoritative experts on the minutia of bank policies...
I would just try it, but sometimes you get hit with one of the fees even if your withdrawal isn't successful. I dunno. We'll see.
Quote: AcesAndEightsHmmm, I asked a teller at a local branch of my bank just today, and he said the fees would count toward the limit. But, frankly, bank tellers aren't always the most authoritative experts on the minutia of bank policies...
I would just try it, but sometimes you get hit with one of the fees even if your withdrawal isn't successful. I dunno. We'll see.
I have a 1k limit and it definitely includes the ATM fee. Withdraw 1K - rejected. Withdraw 980 + ATM fee: accepted.
Quote: beachbumbabsI have a 1k limit and it definitely includes the ATM fee. Withdraw 1K - rejected. Withdraw 980 + ATM fee: accepted.
Well, I didn't know that. I hardly ever use an ATM to withdraw money. My bank is Chase. They gave me a 1K limit and that's what I withdrew. They didn't deduct the fees from the withdrawal amount.
Quote: GreasyjohnWell, I didn't know that. I hardly ever use an ATM to withdraw money. My bank is Chase. They gave me a 1K limit and that's what I withdrew. They didn't deduct the fees from the withdrawal amount.
I think it's bogus that it works that way, myself. Perhaps different banks are coded differently and Chase, not having its own fee, approved the 3.50 overage at the terminal you were using. My bank is a federal credit union, and they have their own rules.
Quote: GreasyjohnDo you really think if you try to withdraw 1k the ATM is going to deny the transaction and still charge you a fee? Ain't gonna happen.
I'm pretty sure this has happened to me, although it may just be faulty memory. If it did happen, it was probably in an establishment know for high ATM fees and shady ATM practices.
Quote: AcesAndEightsI'm pretty sure this has happened to me, although it may just be faulty memory. If it did happen, it was probably in an establishment know for high ATM fees and shady ATM practices.
It's happened to me, but only once, it's pretty rare that it happens.
I was at Disneyland, took out money and the transaction automatically ended without asking me. I put my card back in to check my remaining balance and I later found that Disneyland and my bank charged me twice.
Quote: beachbumbabsI have a 1k limit and it definitely includes the ATM fee. Withdraw 1K - rejected. Withdraw 980 + ATM fee: accepted.
It must depend on the bank. I use Wells Fargo and they let me withdraw the max and then tack the ATM fees on after.
Quote: deedubbsCan anyone confirm that the 1,500 points restriction is only for in-state people? My girlfriend and I love this promo and are heading out in 2 weeks. Thanks!
I did a $1,000 withdrawal (March), and received $50 free play even though I earned ZERO points in February. I live outside Nevada.
They said they will give it to you UNLESS they see evidence that you're only there to pick up free play. Just be sure to give them some play when you're in town, other than the free play, and you'll be fine.
Quote: HowManyI did a $1,000 withdrawal (March), and received $50 free play even though I earned ZERO points in February. I live outside Nevada.
They said they will give it to you UNLESS they see evidence that you're only there to pick up free play. Just be sure to give them some play when you're in town, other than the free play, and you'll be fine.
I also did this promo recently and there was no points restriction. I did not hear this same warning. I did not give them any machine action beyond running free play, but I was staying there and gave them plenty of action on the craps table to earn my free room. So I'm assuming they were fine with me running just the promo on the machines.
Oh well, thanks for the free $$$ while it lasted ElCo.
Quote: deedubbsI was actually advised that I could NOT do this promo. I was staying at ElCo and had play some craps the night before. The afternoon cage manager simply said "No, you are not eligible" and referred to me by name. I went back the following morning to discuss with the morning manager and again was denied. The last three years, I had gone to ElCo with my tax refund check and withdrew the max. It wasn't clear that they had a record of that, but they must have. I have given them action in the past, but only craps with odds and the single deck BJ. I'm look very typical AP, which doesn't help.
Oh well, thanks for the free $$$ while it lasted ElCo.
Should have asked "why not".
