Stingy with Energy Drinks?

Summary of Vegas Energy Drink policies:

Sam's Town: Red Bull in a can available -- no approval necessary
Arizona Charlies Boulder Strip: 8oz monster in a can no approval necessary -- gift shop has 16 oz $2.99 Blue and Green Monster and Monster Loca Moca and Mean Bean -- no tax
Jerry's Nugget: no approval for Red Bull in a can. Rockstar also available in a glass no approval necessary
Stratosphere: Monster Energy available - large glass no can - no approval necessary - no ice can be requested for more beverage content (about 12 oz)
Cosmopolitan: Red Bull available - no approval necessary -- served in a glass
Bellagio: Red Bull available - no approval necessary - served in a 8 oz served in a 12 oz glass - no ice may be requested
Palazzo: Red Bull available - verbal approval necessary - no paperwork - served in an 8 oz glass - no ice may be requested full 8oz
Red Rock: Sobe Energy Drink available - no approval necessary
Green Valley Ranch: Sobe Energy Drink available - no approval necessary
Palace Station: Sobe Energy Drink available - no approval necessary
Joker's Wild: 8oz Rockstar available in a can for $3 plus tip -- but cocktail waitress will bring it to you with separate glass of ice -- was formerly 16 oz can for $3 at one time
The Grand: Red Bull in can available but approval required -- no paperwork
Silverton: $5 of "discretionary comp" from pit is required for Red Bull Energy Drink. No other energy drinks available. Gift shop has Red Bull for $3.
Ellis Island: NO ENERGY DRINKS

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I don't drink alcohol while gambling, and recently, I've noticed a couple of casinos changing policies on energy drinks.

Most places will give you a Red Bull instead of an alcoholic beverage. Some places have Monster (Stratosphere) or Sobe (Station Casinos) but there are two places that won't give you an energy drink for free.

The first place is Joker's Wild. They charge you $3 for an 8 oz can of Rockstar. I always tip, and it costs $4 total, and I'm fine with that.

But a few weeks ago, the Silverton decided to change their policy on Red Bull.

They used to give you a Red Bull in a can. The new policy is:

1) If you get a Red Bull, it is in a glass, they will no longer serve a can. The reason is explained so that nobody ELSE asks for a Red Bull
2) BEFORE you get a Red Bull, the box has to approve the Red Bull for you -- they have to be given a slip from the cocktail waitress, they have to sign the slip and it gets charged to the pit as a comp (just like a meal comp) in the amount of $5
3) If you don't have enough action (not for the year, but for the session) they refuse you the comp.

I just got refused a comp for a Red Bull at the Silverton becuase the box man didn't see my $80 in action WHEN I asked for the Red Bull and he said "are you going to bet, I can't rate you without a bet."

I responded with, "the approval is dependent on me having a bet right this second? I played this afternoon for more than an hour with a $50 average bet." I didn't explain that I just had $80 in action in the first 30 seconds of my play just now as I really wanted to know more about how they determine things.

He said, "I can't approve it without an average bet and you don't have a bet."

I then said, "Color up." Put my chips in the come (I had just won over 30% of my buy-in already while the box man wasn't there in about 1 minute and 30 seconds, so I had no problem leaving).

He went on to try to explain the policy, and I interrupted him and said, "I got no problem with your policies, I'm just going somewhere where they will give me a Red Bull. They give me Red Bull at Jerry's Nugget in a can."

There was some more desire to discuss the policies, and I just reiterated, "no it's fine, I don't have a problem, I'm just leaving, that's all."

And I left.

No can sounds fishy. If they're giving a knock off, I hope Red Bull sues them.

I have run into this in a couple places as well. The Grand, energy drinks are a comp approved by the pit, they have never told me no. Last trip to Boulder Station, the pit asked me how many and actually had me sign for two red bulls for me and my wife (I thought I was telling them how many I wanted each time I ordered.

Quote: onenickelmiracle

No can sounds fishy. If they're giving a knock off, I hope Red Bull sues them.

I think when I was at Bellagio, they gave me Red Bull and also was in a glass. I asked for "no ice" and the cocktail waitress was very polite and remembered what I wanted the next time.

I almost ALWAYS can get a $10 table at the Bellagio. I'm just weighing my options at this point. Even when I beat them for a year, the amount I beat them wasn't that much more than I would tip and/or that much more than the value of the drinks I ordered. The value of the free drinks is a pretty major thing that I'm looking for and I can find it other places. It may just be the primary motivator for where I go now that they have made it a point that they are all worried about giving away too much Red Bull.

The other weird thing is that the Silverton has Red Bull for $3 in the gift shop. So the only benefit I'm getting (myself) is $1 or $2 and having to leave and go to the gift shop and buy the thing and come back. It just really irks me.

The pit boss has been complaining that the table is dumping lately too. He said "you're the only one losing money, this table has been dumping for months now."

The nickel and dime trend for stupid shit has recently begun here in the midwest and I expect more to come.

Here is a question, kind of off topic but just about as interesting. Why, when the box is sitting box did he not notice your action? Was he a floor man who pretends to sit box with bigger action (like MGM) or is it a dedicated spot where the guy sits box anytime there is action on the game?

Seems to me it has to be quite hard to miss $80 in action when you are supposed to watch the game?

Quote: Tomspur

Here is a question, kind of off topic but just about as interesting. Why, when the box is sitting box did he not notice your action? Was he a floor man who pretends to sit box with bigger action (like MGM) or is it a dedicated spot where the guy sits box anytime there is action on the game?

Seems to me it has to be quite hard to miss $80 in action when you are supposed to watch the game?

If I wanted to be an ass, I would have pointed that out. But, and I don't mind telling you, like at many places, these places that are running low limit games and nickel-and-diming everywhere they have the box running around not constantly watching the game. I walked up to this game, and four people were on one side of the table, and none on the other. A big guy named, "Nick" started dealing to me. The first thing he said was "THANKS BUD" since he was lucky enough to buy $500 of NTEK at under four cents, he was telling me he doubled his investment in a couple of days. He wanted to know if it was a good time to buy, and all I told him was that I had over a million shares myself, but besides disclosing that I have no idea what to expect and it's a gamble. This all happened while he was on blackjack back when the stock was trading under $0.04.

The cocktail waitress immediately came up and asked what I wanted, and I said "Red Bull" and she sort of grimaced and looked at the box man who was walking away to see if he gave his approval and he shook his head no, and I laughed, and then he nodded yes. We made a joke about it and we went on, I hit the place bet on the six for $30 and celebrated, and then several other bets came back to me before the seven out and I only had a $7 come bet on the four with no odds that I didn't win.

Right after the seven out I started talking to the dealer and stopped betting when the box man came back and started writing up my sheet.

The way the whole thing came across wasn't personal. He was just doing his job. I have a problem with the policy, not with the people doing their job to enforce it.

The policy is just stupid. And whoever made up the policy is even more stupid.

I will just be gambling more often other places for this reason which I have already been doing. My host at the Silverton when he ran into me yesterday asked if I had started to take my action other places, and he wanted to know the details.

I gave him some details about who has been getting my money instead of the Silverton.

They can keep running their "no expensive non-alcoholic drinks" for patrons to push me away if they want. That's fine by me. I'll just go other places.

But I do think it's stupid of them. Penny wise and pound foolish to be precise.

FWIW I do also expect the cocktail waitress (who I tipped ahead of time by the way) brought the Red Bull drink out wondering where I was because he ALREADY nodded yes for approval to her.

In the grand scheme of things, all the more evidence that their whole system is screwed up.

She was bringing an open Red Bull and a slip for him to sign for $5 after I already left with 30% profit and wasn't going to drink it because he was threatening me to either bet or get no drink and I decided to leave.

Cocktail waitress: taken care of with tip (Donna)
Approval for drink: made with no rating
Customer: unhappy for how I am treated for approval for drink and stops gambling

The dealers got no tip from me for my minute and a half of action either, though. I do expect the dealers to represent my wondering "WTF?!"

Here's my energy drink summary. I will list only specific places and experiences that I have had myself:

Silverton: $5 of "discretionary comp" from pit is required for Red Bull Energy Drink. No other energy drinks available. Gift shop has Red Bull for $3.
Jerry's Nugget: no approval for Red Bull in a can. Rockstar also available in a glass no approval necessary
Red Rock: Sobe Energy Drink available - no approval necessary
Palace Station: Sobe Energy Drink available - no approval necessary
Stratosphere: Monster Energy available - large glass no can - no approval necessary - no ice can be requested for more beverage content (about 12 oz)
Cosmopolitan: Red Bull available - no approval necessary -- served in a glass
Bellagio: Red Bull available - no approval necessary - served in a 8 oz served in a 12 oz glass - no ice may be requested
Palazzo: Red Bull available - verbal approval necessary - no paperwork - served in an 8 oz glass - no ice may be requested full 8oz
Joker's Wild: 8oz Rockstar available in a can for $3 plus tip -- but cocktail waitress will bring it to you with separate glass of ice -- was formerly 16 oz can for $3 at one time
The Grand: Red Bull in can available but approval required -- no paperwork
Ellis Island: NO ENERGY DRINKS

I will update this as I find out other casino's policies on energy drinks. If you compared the refridgerated section of a terribles gas station today with one from fifteen years ago, there's a difference. I think the casinos are sort of out of touch with the fact that a lot of people like energy drinks and they keep people gambling. I'm just pissed that I feel like just because I don't drink alcohol, my drinks aren't covered at some places, so I'm taking my business where it's welcome.

The policies have been changing enough that I expect them to continue to change. I will keep this thread updated with the changes. If casinos are smart, they will happily give out energy drinks, ESPECIALLY in the late night hours when I might get too sleepy and go HOME!

The only comparable story I have on Energy drinks was in 2008 during my bachelor's party a bunch of mates and I were headed to the Coldplay concert at the Garden Arena. After the condert we decided to play craps at Paris. We asked for Jaeger and Red Bull and the waitress never even hesitated. We had about 2 each and nobody said a word or batted an eyelid even though we were only each buying in for $100 maximum.

Some joints sweat this, some don't. The problem is that some management teams look for quick ways to show an improved bottom line in their departments so that the bosses are happy. Unfortunately very rarely do they understand what effects their policy changes has on their customer base.

Sometimes I weep for my industry :(

The Silverton is starting to sweat. That's for sure. The dealers are actually feeling it and I do think they are running off players by how they are being treated. They even had a couple of days of a "no dice setting policy" at the Silverton IIRC a week or so ago. I don't think it lasted more than two days. They had a week or two of that a few years ago. But the signs are all there. The dealers aren't getting tipped, the pit is starting to worry about craps revenue, and everyone is paying the price getting pinched.

But whatever. Not my problem, I guess. No red bull no game! I think that'll be my new catch phrase. I need a red bull before I make my first bet or I'm out.

A guy named Mark, who started the web site "nextshooter.com" (and since sold it) has taken a bunch of money from them. I think that's the biggest problem. I watched him haul away a $12,000 win on blackjack one day, and I heard the pit lamenting that a bit a while later.

I expected he would give it all back, but who knows.

I've been feeding him info on compound edges on buying the four and ten and pressing like mad. He presses hard.

Maybe they're punishing me for talking math to Mark. Nah..... :-)

Some sucker will fix everything at the Silverton soon I'm sure.

I can get Red Bull and Rockstar for free at many places, but yes at Silverton I've been denied the bull but was given a generic energy drink.

I"m still waiting for the first casino to give out free 5 hour energy drinks. With FPDW $1 5 play. Also topless cocktail waitresses. And 5% cash back at the slot club. Also 50% rebate on my table games action. With a topless host as well, blonde preferably.

Is it seriously worth a big to-do about a energy drink? Are you really playing for drinks(that don't even get you drunk)? You are already high profile. No matter what you think, they think of you or your action. You really never know.

Can you imagine getting tossed out over a Redbull confrontation? Yes its doubtful they will toss you for just this but, perhaps this could be the straw that broke the camels back.

Something similar happen to me, the straw was in fact over comped drinks(obviously not the real reason , I was milking them on the machines but it added up), The comped drinks in question was the tipping point that finally got me the boot. Lesson learned(kind of),

A different situation arguing over a promotion detail and a few hundred dollars cost me and 5 others small but good casino. I'm sure it was going to happen anyways however I will never know, instead of making a knee jerk reaction and calling gaming, I should have let it go. LESSON LEARNED. PICK YOUR BATTLES.

The time you are taking out for this, is not worth Ahigh's time. I get it, its the point of the matter. I may be in a similar situation that is a bit more complicated however, I think this may be worth my time. I hope I'm picking my battle correctly in this situation, I see very little downside.

I also don't drink alcohol, I primarily drink cokes and energy drinks while gambling.
I generally play a lot downtown. 4 Queens is my place for video poker. No comp energy drinks at 4Q.
Freemont will give you a knockoff energy drink in a glass.
The D will give you red bull but in a glass.
I'm a regular downtown player so I am aware of all this.
Kind of sucks no comp energy drinks at 4Q and they get most of my action.
I actually sent an email to a 4Q casino host about this, no response.

Quote: Ahigh

A guy named Mark, who started the web site "nextshooter.com" (and since sold it) has taken a bunch of money from them.

Is he still driving a great big convertible? I had heard he sold the website to his daughter. Does his daughter still shoot dice?

Quote: djatc

I"m still waiting for the first casino to give out free 5 hour energy drinks. With FPDW $1 5 play. Also topless cocktail waitresses. And 5% cash back at the slot club. Also 50% rebate on my table games action. With a topless host as well, blonde preferably.

Was about to PM you ... till you added the host must be topless and blonde.

You should all try coffee. That's mostly what I order when playing VP (sometimes Baley's coffee). It will be a very vold day in Hell when a casino requires anything special to hand out free coffee. It's about the cheapest drink you can have. Ever. Anywhere.

Besides it's low on sugar, low on fat and rich in antioxidants. What more could you want?

Quote: Nareed

You should all try coffee. That's mostly what I order when playing VP (sometimes Baley's coffee)...What more could you want?

A teatotaller, I order either coffee or water.

Just curious: will the casino provide a gambler a comped pack of cigarettes, assuming the player has the necessary comp points / otherwise warrants receiving a comp of that value?

I don't smoke so I never asked, but I don't recall seeing anyone ask a cocktail server for a comped pack of smokes while shooting craps.

Or food: will a cocktail server bring a player a comped donut or other pastry?

Funny thread.

I too pick my craps games by the quality of the coffee. Most house coffee is pretty bad and usually luke warm by the time I get it. The taste then makes me wonder if they use second hand sink water and the cheapest grounds available?

Sometimes I will even walk in with a cup of decent brew. As much as I dislike having to go give Starbucks or somebody 3-5 dollars for a cup of joe, I do. I can't help but think this nickel and diming the the players will show up somewhere on the balance sheet. Someday somewhere someone will try going back to what was once called customer service.

I used to drink Red Bull in the poker games in Wendover. Then one day they started serving it in a glass with ice. I thought they were buying in bulk and serving it through a gun. But in hindsight maybe they didn't want the cans to be shown at the table so others wouldn't get a clue about it.

Quote: onenickelmiracle

The nickel and dime trend for stupid shit has recently begun here in the midwest and I expect more to come.

State law here in Ohio forbids comping alcohol. My casino seems to take that as "charge for everything that doesn't come out of a fountain." Water and soda are free - Red Bull? Costs $5. At least they give you a can - and a bottle for beer. But that's Ohio for you, especially Columbus, where there isn't a blackjack table within 90 minutes' drive.

Quote: petroglyph

The taste then makes me wonder if they use second hand sink water and the cheapest grounds available?

Cheapest grounds, absolutely. The water seems like regular clean water.

But I've given up expecting good coffee in Vegas outside of places like Starbucks or the Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf. That's one reason I'll often have Baleys coffee rather than regular coffee.

Nickle and dime focus only brings you customers with nothing more than nickles and dimes.

Its strange to think that MBAs have such sway over the casino. I can understand ABC regulations of some sort, but never management making it so difficult.

Coffee: Waitresses get drinks from a service bar. The bartender, as any other bartender, has speed as his primary focus. He has various brands in his ready rack and he has various top shelf brands. He will do what he can. If he has a good bar back, he has all the various condiments that are common and ordinary. Yes, he has coffee. In the mornings, its good coffee. The next time he makes a pot its good coffee too, but after awhile "the coffee rush" is over and fewer and fewer people order coffee. So don't expect a good cup of coffee when he is busy and no one else has been ordering coffee. All tray lizards want is to get the darned drinks, keep them straight in her mind and get the tray back without spilling anything before the customers all wander away in anger. She will brew fresh coffee if she has the time but she rarely has the time. She has to split her tips with the barback, but he is rarely around and his primary duty is the ice and the limes and fresh glassware. I only order coffee in the mornings when I know it will be fresh and I need it. Why set myself up for disappointment if its not breakfast time?

Yes, bartenders will tell you. One person orders something in a distinctive container and suddenly there is a rush of on it. Its as if the waitress was fully dressed or something and people are actually looking at the tray. Someone sees a Red Bull can and wow... the orders start flooding in. Well alot of casinos feel its safer in plastic if anyone gets too angry and that may be a consideration. Australia and the UK have the term "glassed" so maybe its best that Las Vegas uses plastic containers.

Quote: hwccdealer

State law here in Ohio forbids comping alcohol. My casino seems to take that as "charge for everything that doesn't come out of a fountain." Water and soda are free - Red Bull? Costs $5. At least they give you a can - and a bottle for beer. But that's Ohio for you, especially Columbus, where there isn't a blackjack table within 90 minutes' drive.

I don't drink normally and don't play in Ohio. They all seem like they're being guarded by storm troopers anyways and it puts me off.

It's been food comp rules and promotions being diluted so far. Rivers has added stipulations basically eliminating people from getting free food with $5 food coupons and making them good for one day. I used to save the bus coupons because they can't be used with any other offer or food comp. Half the time I saved them and didn't eat, but I won't do that now they expire.

Meadows won't let you get chocolate bars which are over priced and supposed to be sold for charity anyways.

Mountaineer stopped free buffets on Wednesday being worth $15 for dinner and, now $10 all day. Their promotion swipe and wins have gone up by 2.5 times and heavily weakened any benefits from winning. I hardly bother going there and hate being there now.

Any nicety will be in danger anywhere now I believe.

Quote: hwccdealer

State law here in Ohio forbids comping alcohol.

And many other places forbid comping drinks as well, especially California. That's all well and fine. My question is, why do they have to charge so much for the drinks? They can't comp them but, do they really need to charge $7.50 a shot? why not $2, Its all BS. The casinos probably love the fact they can charge for drinks and balm it on a state law. Most people who go to the casino are not going to stop drinking just because there is a charge for drinks.

Are any of the California casinos struggling? They always seem to be ramming and jamming with gamblers to me.

Quote: AxelWolf

And many other places forbid comping drinks as well, especially California. That's all well and fine. My question is, why do they have to charge so much for the drinks? They can't comp them but, do they really need to charge $7.50 a shot? why not $2, Its all BS. The casinos probably love the fact they can charge for drinks and balm it on a state law. Most people who go to the casino are not going to stop drinking just because there is a charge for drinks.

Are any of the California casinos struggling? They always seem to be ramming and jamming with gamblers to me.

Not that there are even any casinos here in VA to worry about, but there are strict laws about even discounting alcohol. I imagine they could offer a $2 shot, but then everybody would have to be charged that price and not only those who are gambling.

Quote: AxelWolf

And many other places forbid comping drinks as well, especially California. That's all well and fine. My question is, why do they have to charge so much for the drinks? They can't comp them but, do they really need to charge $7.50 a shot? why not $2

Exactly! I have never understood this. Either giving free/cheap drinks is good for a casino, or it isn't. If it is bad, why do any of them do it? If it is good, why don't they all comp, or for those whose state laws forbid comping, sell the drinks at cost?

I guess I am in the minority. I'll drink if it's comped, but not if I have to pay. However, the casinos I have been to that don't comp alcoholic drinks have had self-serve fountain drinks, which I applaud.

I will not pay for alcohol in a casino, but will drink it if it's available for free. For me, it's the principle of the matter, I feel like I deserve it.

Vodka red bulls all night long.

Anyone got a 5 hour energy for free anywhere? I love those things and they can't cost more than red bulls. Why the casino doesn't equate energy drinks to longer gambling sessions I will never know.....

Quote: djatc

Anyone got a 5 hour energy for free anywhere? I love those things and they can't cost more than red bulls. Why the casino doesn't equate energy drinks to longer gambling sessions I will never know.....

I got them free, not in casino, on the street.
A few years ago, guys drove vans loaded those things and gave away to anyone passing by.

Quote: FleaStiff

Nickle and dime focus only brings you customers with nothing more than nickles and dimes.

Its strange to think that MBAs have such sway over the casino. I can understand ABC regulations of some sort, but never management making it so difficult.

Coffee: Waitresses get drinks from a service bar. The bartender, as any other bartender, has speed as his primary focus. He has various brands in his ready rack and he has various top shelf brands. He will do what he can. If he has a good bar back, he has all the various condiments that are common and ordinary. Yes, he has coffee. In the mornings, its good coffee. The next time he makes a pot its good coffee too, but after awhile "the coffee rush" is over and fewer and fewer people order coffee. So don't expect a good cup of coffee when he is busy and no one else has been ordering coffee. All tray lizards want is to get the darned drinks, keep them straight in her mind and get the tray back without spilling anything before the customers all wander away in anger. She will brew fresh coffee if she has the time but she rarely has the time. She has to split her tips with the barback, but he is rarely around and his primary duty is the ice and the limes and fresh glassware. I only order coffee in the mornings when I know it will be fresh and I need it. Why set myself up for disappointment if its not breakfast time?

Yes, bartenders will tell you. One person orders something in a distinctive container and suddenly there is a rush of on it. Its as if the waitress was fully dressed or something and people are actually looking at the tray. Someone sees a Red Bull can and wow... the orders start flooding in. Well alot of casinos feel its safer in plastic if anyone gets too angry and that may be a consideration. Australia and the UK have the term "glassed" so maybe its best that Las Vegas uses plastic containers.

Great post Fleastiff.

I agree completely about the coffee, time of day etc. The truth be told I've been treated as well as possible by the wait staff, I know they try and I don't believe I have ever stiffed them on a tip intentionally. I respect someone who works that hard for their money, that is a tough job. The cocktail waitress part of it anyway.

I thought I would throw my daily whine out there. I'm not supposed to ingest any sugar. That is more difficult than it seems until you start reading labels. Sugar even has a multitude of names it goes under, like maltodextrin, sucrose, glucose, hfcs, dried cane, rice syrup, molasses and many more.

So, no alcohol, no well drinks and no soft drinks I'm aware of. I usually just drink water, but when I want to spice it up a bit I go with coffee. If I sit at the bar for a bit and do a little vp, the tarbenders all ask if I want fresh made and try to accomadate. Being an ex professional drinker I still have the rhythm and find myself consuming 3-4 and hour when around others putting them down, mine are just non al. I should probably cut back on the caffeine as well.

Quote: djatc

Anyone got a 5 hour energy for free anywhere? I love those things and they can't cost more than red bulls. Why the casino doesn't equate energy drinks to longer gambling sessions I will never know.....

We have cases and cases of these in our break room at the office, but I have never seen them in a casino.

Quote: DRich

We have cases and cases of these in our break room at the office, but I have never seen them in a casino.

Do lawyers really work that hard??? LOL

Quote: djatc

Why the casino doesn't equate energy drinks to longer gambling sessions I will never know.....

My last few trips, that I remember, have gone as such:

- Arrive late at night, 9pm in Vegas is midnight for me.
- Can't sleep, go in for a two hour craps session. During said craps session I down vodka red bulls (the Sobe isn't -that- bad) like a madman.
- Lay in bed for two hours, turn on the TV, and decide I better just go gamble.
- Gamble the first 24 hours there until I sleep the next night.

Frankly, they should be bringing me another red bull (vodka) constantly...

Quote: Tomspur

Do lawyers really work that hard??? LOL

I'm not a lawyer, you have me confused with Rich Newman I assume.

Quote: DRich

I'm not a lawyer, you have me confused with Rich Newman I assume.

My fault, I absolutely have you mixed up with him yes.

DRich - RichN

Kinda similar :)

I was just reading your posts lately and couldn't quite figure out much about you considering I thought you were RichN :)

My apologies :)

Quote: Ahigh

He went on to try to explain the policy, and I interrupted him and said, "I got no problem with your policies, I'm just going somewhere where they will give me a Red Bull. They give me Red Bull at Jerry's Nugget in a can."

And I left.

Last night, I went to Jerry's, got my Red Bull, and started a negative progression on the don't pass while a player had a lucky roll.

Last bet was $300 don't pass with $450 lay odds. The stick man said it was the first time he saw a max bet at that casino. Upon pressing he said he had seen a $300 field but, also added, "I don't consider that a 'real' craps bet." They only have double odds at Jerry's, but informed me later I could have laid $1,200 as they allow laying to win 10 for every three since it's a $3 table. The win put me at +$200 for the session and I left.

I didn't say the Red Bull policy is what brought the action to the table, but maybe I should have.

The dealers said, "we don't ever see action like that on this table."

The negative progression wasn't that far in, I started at about $25 with a little profit and by the end was figuring I would make a little more than $25 profit.

My goal was just to get a lot of money on the felt really just to let off steam for my emotions about their stupid Red Bull policy at the Silverton. It did feel good to walk away there getting lucky doing stupid stuff with bigger money.




Kudos to Jerry's nugget for not sweating the cost of Energy drinks on a $3 table!!!!

I also talked to Wayne, the pit boss at the Silverton, at lunch time yesterday for about 20 minutes on many subjects about this issue.

Wayne said, "I want to change this table to a double odds table, I'm getting killed with my 10x odds players."

I don't know if the table dumping is the primary cause of all this belt-tightening at the Silverton, but I hope not as it'd be stupid to see them run off the nice group of players I have watched them build up over the last four years.

Here's my report from downtown from yesterday:

El Cortez, no approval necessary, Monster Energy in a plastic cup (no ice fine -- served cold)
Binions offers Sobe - no comp necessary
Main Street Station offers Sobe - no comp necessary
Golden Gate -- I forgot what they gave me (Red Bull or Sobe) but no comp necessary
Slots of Fun -- $4 Red Bull available at the sit-down bar (I don't play slots, but just curious so I went in)

I think that these places are possibly competitive in this area since you can get Energy Drinks for reasonable prices at the ABC and other stores for a good deal. Since there is a new "no can or bottle" policy in effect here, the casinos may actually get more requests for Energy Drinks from people who can't just buy a can and drink straight from the can at the ABC and other stores, it will be a pain for customers compared to before to just buy their drinks from a convenient store and not gamble at all.

I woke up with a massive caffeine withdrawal headache this morning and lost track of how much energy drinks I had. But I won every session in my quest for energy drink knowledge. I had a Red Bull in a can at Jerry's Nugget as well.

I don't drink these "energy drinks" you are talking about: I don't care for the taste.

Maybe I am just old school, as I prefer the Original Energy Drink: coffee .

I'd find useful a thread on the best tasting comped coffee available in Las Vegas casinos.

Quote: MrV

I don't drink these "energy drinks" you are talking about: I don't care for the taste.

Maybe I am just old school, as I prefer the Original Energy Drink: coffee .

I'd find useful a thread on the best tasting comped coffee available in Las Vegas casinos.

I agree with you on the flavor btw. I read an article comparing them and I believe monster was the healthiest. If anyone cares read the ingredients. Most are either Guarana, caffeine, or b-12 powered. Sublingual B-12 is cheap w/o side effects, non fattening, generally better for you all around.

If you get down to Laughlin IMO the best comped coffee comes from the Tropicana followed by the Aquarious then Harrah's, the rest is un-good.

Good idea for a thread MrV.

Here have been my experiences at MGM Grand:

Energy drink: No problem

Pack of Cigarettes: No problem if you are playing high enough

Cigar: No problem if you are playing high enough. I was told that I could get anything in her tray. They probably sold the cigar that I chose for about $30 but a fair price would probably be $10 or $15.

Booze: No problem, but nothing that they sell for over $40. This was in "Whiskey Down", their new high limit / bar / lounge area. I was told that if I wanted anything more expensive I would have to charge it to my room. I strongly suspect that this is dependent on how much you are betting; I probably had an average bet somewhere in the $300 range at the time.

For the cigarettes and cigars they have to fill out a comp slip and give it to the cigar girl, but it doesn't come out of your express comps. I'm not sure if it comes out of the total that your host can comp you at the end of the trip. I can't remember if they needed a comp slip for my $35 glass of scotch :) (which is probably closer to $20 at a normal bar)

Oh, I forgot about water.

If you ask for "water" they bring you a little bottle of water with the m-life logo on it.

If you ask for "Fiji water" they will bring you Fiji. But, they are apparently not allowed to tell you that you can get Fiji. So they will bring it to you if you ask, but they won't advertise it. This rule applies to everyone -- waitresses, dealers, pit staff. (I'm not sure if this no-advertising rule is still in place; this was a while ago)

After you check in, if you are there on an offer through a host, they will often (but not always) deliver an "amenity" which 4 chocolate-covered strawberries and two 1-litre bottles of Fiji water.

In the VIP lounge, they have the crappy m-life water. And it's warm. If you ask, they will bring you cold ones. They also have bottled sodas and cans of fruit juice, as well as carafes of coffee and hot water for tea. No energy drinks. They do have snacks though. And it's all self-serve so no tipping expected (or even really possible)

As for the VIP lounge, you are not supposed to use it unless you have access to it (they will give you a room key that says VIP on it when you check in). But, they never check. If you are dressed like a bum when you go in there they will give you dirty looks. You can tell that they don't really believe that you are supposed to be there but they don't want to seem rude by asking. If you are wearing nice clothes and expensive shoes they will greet you warmly with a smile, and call you "sir".

I thought this was very funny. I have recently upgraded my wardrobe, and it's amazing how differently people treat you.

I have totally gone off topic here...

Does anybody know what the energy drink situation at the SoCal casinos are like?

Quote: AxiomOfChoice

Oh, I forgot about water.

If you ask for "water" they bring you a little bottle of water with the m-life logo on it.

If you ask for "Fiji water" they will bring you Fiji. But, they are apparently not allowed to tell you that you can get Fiji. So they will bring it to you if you ask, but they won't advertise it. This rule applies to everyone -- waitresses, dealers, pit staff. (I'm not sure if this no-advertising rule is still in place; this was a while ago)

After you check in, if you are there on an offer through a host, they will often (but not always) deliver an "amenity" which 4 chocolate-covered strawberries and two 1-litre bottles of Fiji water.

In the VIP lounge, they have the crappy m-life water. And it's warm. If you ask, they will bring you cold ones. They also have bottled sodas and cans of fruit juice, as well as carafes of coffee and hot water for tea. No energy drinks. They do have snacks though. And it's all self-serve so no tipping expected (or even really possible)

As for the VIP lounge, you are not supposed to use it unless you have access to it (they will give you a room key that says VIP on it when you check in). But, they never check. If you are dressed like a bum when you go in there they will give you dirty looks. You can tell that they don't really believe that you are supposed to be there but they don't want to seem rude by asking. If you are wearing nice clothes and expensive shoes they will greet you warmly with a smile, and call you "sir".

I thought this was very funny. I have recently upgraded my wardrobe, and it's amazing how differently people treat you.

I have totally gone off topic here...

Actually, one of your best posts. I think you're totally on topic.

Quote: Venthus

Does anybody know what the energy drink situation at the SoCal casinos are like?

At morongo energy drinks are comped for 20 min bet starbucks mocha fraps bottles for 25 min bet voss waters comped in vip for hosted players. All others get cancer water jiji

Rio: They will only give you Fiji if you are Diamond or above.

Update: Arizona Charlies -- no approval necessary, small monster in a can, no additional charge. $2.99 no tax 16 oz available in the gift shop in addition to $2.99 Monster "Loca Moca" and "Mean Bean."

Quote: Venthus

Does anybody know what the energy drink situation at the SoCal casinos are like?

At Barona, a few years ago (3?), I remember them having some weird policy. If I remember correctly, you generally have to pay for Red Bull. However, if it's 12am (or maybe 2am?) or later, it was free. I haven't been there in a few years and their policy definitely could have changed, or perhaps I misinterpreted it. I can only assume players in the HL pit would get free red bull any time....but then again, I'm not sure. The player at the DD game ($25 min) on the main floor was refused [free] Red Bull.


I have no experience regarding energy drinks at any other SoCal casinos.

Quote: AxiomOfChoice

Here have been my experiences at MGM Grand:

Energy drink: No problem

Pack of Cigarettes: No problem if you are playing high enough

Cigar: No problem if you are playing high enough. I was told that I could get anything in her tray. They probably sold the cigar that I chose for about $30 but a fair price would probably be $10 or $15.

Booze: No problem, but nothing that they sell for over $40. This was in "Whiskey Down", their new high limit / bar / lounge area. I was told that if I wanted anything more expensive I would have to charge it to my room. I strongly suspect that this is dependent on how much you are betting; I probably had an average bet somewhere in the $300 range at the time.

For the cigarettes and cigars they have to fill out a comp slip and give it to the cigar girl, but it doesn't come out of your express comps. I'm not sure if it comes out of the total that your host can comp you at the end of the trip. I can't remember if they needed a comp slip for my $35 glass of scotch :) (which is probably closer to $20 at a normal bar)

Dude, you are a baller :)

Quote: AxiomOfChoice

I thought this was very funny. I have recently upgraded my wardrobe, and it's amazing how differently people treat you.

I have totally gone off topic here...

Some day try an experiment: carrying a clipboard while wearing a suit jacket.

I haven't (yet) done this myself, but I know someone who was gathering some data on poker rooms to update information for a website he was associated with, and he was first startled then highly amused at all the pleasant unintentional effects he discovered.

Apparently better than picking up a used white Ford Crown Vic for your morning commute.

Yeah, thieves know that clipboard trick. Asserts authority. Nosy security guards even back away if someone walks in with a clipboard and starts giving orders.

Some tidbits of info:

Guarana is some South American pseudo caffeine that sends blood pressure skyward. Its in many of the energy drinks. I think Jolt was the one to originally advertise 'all the sugar and twice the caffeine' or something like that. These drinks and vapor products are all the rage now. You can also buy tiny little "concentrates" that you add to water or other beverages to give you an "energy boost". And hip flasks are now back in style, as are nifty little containers for the girls to wear on their wrists. Some contain amino acids. Nothing wrong with amino acids. That is what proteins are made of. But amino acids compete for crossing the blood brain barrier and massive amounts of some them skew what is getting into your brain from what would happen in normal concentrations, so be careful. Alertness will increase but so will blood pressure, often to alarming levels. And when you skew some acids, you exclude other amino acids that would normally get into the brain. Adding booze to the mix of course adds to the excitement of it all.

Water. I like VOSS water. Its Norwegian artesian water and its usually sold at three to four dollars a bottle retail. I don't know of any casino in Vegas or elsewhere that stocks it. CWs eyes just glaze over when I ask for it. The best thing to do is ask a CW for what you want but tell her 'if you can't find it, I'll settle for XXXXX' so as not to delay her too much. VOSS is sold in a distinctive and heavy glass container that waitresses would know it if they ever sold it. Several other brands of water seem quite good though. Now we all know that "if you can't find it" means "if my action doesn't rate it" or "if this place is too cheap to stock it" but by saying that you speed things along and often you will get your first choice and get it promptly.