American Casino Guide - any problems?

I'm leaving later today for 3 days in LV. Just bought an ACG coupon book. It's a large book, too large to carry around. Can the coupons be removed in advance? (With the smaller LVA coupon book, you have to leave them in and remove them in front of a casino employee.) Any problems using these coupons?

ACG has forums on their site but they have little activity. So thanks for any tips.

Yes they can. You just need to make sure you have the card with you, just in case.

I would recommend going through the book and making sure the coupons are one you want to use. My experience was that while it is the Bible of casino resources (and truly wonderful for that), that many of the coupons are really only valuable if you're traveling with somebody.

I know that you must have both the coupon and book to receive the Palms funbook, for example. But most places I went just gave it to me without even mentioning the guide. There are a few good match plays, but double-check some restrictions. Some of them say "New card only, redeem at player's club."

Don't get me wrong: the book's coupons do have some good values, and the information presented is worth the cost. But since it is unwielding to lug around, just have a game plan. Have fun in Vegas.

I believe most places will not give you a problem - Ellis Island is the one place I know that seems to require the coupon to be in the book and may even require the actual card.

-B

I've been in Ellis Island twice over the years - both times with coupons that they refused to honor. ACG's forums did have a report from last year over the holidays that EI wasn't honoring any coupons. (I saw this myself with a LVA coupon.) ACG says that EI now requires out-of-state ID with coupons. It doesn't sound like good business for a locals casino to offend the locals, but I guess I am not surprised at anything this place does.

There are several coupons I plan to use in the area between Terrible's and the Strip (Tuscany, Terrible's, Hard Rock, Westin, Bill's), so I'll probably try the EI coupon too. Even though I'm sure they will find a reason not to take it.

I add up over $200 of matchplays and free machine play. And that's without going slumming into North LV. Yes, there are a lot of 2-for-1 food coupons that I won't use this trip, but I'll save them for later in the year. I've already removed all the coupons I can't or won't use. Some of the coupons are one-per-year, others are one-per-month. It's probably worthwhile for me to buy a new book every time I go.

i cut out all the gaming coupons and then organize them into locations that are near eachother. ill keep the rest of the book in the car and may browse through it again if im hungry looking for food coupons.

Quote: Melman

I add up over $200 of matchplays and free machine play. And that's without going slumming into North LV. Yes, there are a lot of 2-for-1 food coupons that I won't use this trip, but I'll save them for later in the year.

One thing to note - if you're counting the freeplay from Hooters - that amount is only allowed on dedicated machines. I believe you have to either play it completely to zero, or actually hit a jackpot to collect any money with that freeplay.

-B

Quote: toastcmu

One thing to note - if you're counting the freeplay from Hooters - that amount is only allowed on dedicated machines. I believe you have to either play it completely to zero, or actually hit a jackpot to collect any money with that freeplay.

-B

that Hooters advertisement has always pissed me off.

I would like to ask something of the people here and maybe the Admins. First off, if I have missed a huge explanation/talk of the ACG please direct me. But... How worthwhile is it? I mean, what are some of the best offers and how often do you have to go to Vegas to make it worthwhile assuming I don't gamble locally? For the admins, I'm not sure on the legality of it, but if there was a section for people to state some of the better deals in it that would be awesome.

If people can't legally post some of the deals, how about from previous years? I mean is it held to just match plays, or can you get something as neat as 2 for 1 at the Bellagio buffet?

as far as the gaming coupons go, the books really only worthwhile if you happen to live in las vegas.

Quote: rudeboyoi

as far as the gaming coupons go, the books really only worthwhile if you happen to live in las vegas.

Or have a car and a map and some time and desire to run around seeing new casinos. As I did on Monday and Tuesday. Everyone should get out and see places like the "Lucky Club" in North LV. (That's where I drew the line, however. The coupon to the Western went unused.)

The book cost me about $10. Using the Free Play coupons - playing just the free play and then cashing out - earned me about $90. On average, I was winning about 90% of the value of the coupons. (Video poker, trying to play correct VP strategy on good machines. But I don't play a lot of VP so I'm sure I didn't play very well.) The Venetian coupon alone was for $25 free play. The others were for $5 or $10. Some were "new members only", but many were also for existing members.

My results from the BJ matchplay coupons weren't very good. I tried to play at least a little bit everywhere and not just "hit-and-run" as I have done in the past.

I had no problems using the coupons. I wish Ellis Island had refused to take theirs again, since I dropped a good amount with them. Only one or two asked to see the card from the book. (Westin's pit ($25 MP) wasn't open at 3 PM on Memorial Day. Yikes!)

And yes, I cut out and sorted the coupons ahead of time. Thanks to all.

Quote: ahiromu

I would like to ask something of the people here and maybe the Admins. First off, if I have missed a huge explanation/talk of the ACG please direct me. But... How worthwhile is it? I mean, what are some of the best offers and how often do you have to go to Vegas to make it worthwhile assuming I don't gamble locally? For the admins, I'm not sure on the legality of it, but if there was a section for people to state some of the better deals in it that would be awesome.

If people can't legally post some of the deals, how about from previous years? I mean is it held to just match plays, or can you get something as neat as 2 for 1 at the Bellagio buffet?

Here is a list of the laste ACG coupons. It's not just matchplays, though there's no 2-for-1 for the Bellagio. Would you settle for the Rio?

The gambling coupons, IMO, are the best part. It's the closest thing to free money that you'll ever see. Two or three of them will easily pay for the book's cost. If you're married to your hotel and can't or won't travel outside it, then the ACG is probably not of use. Otherwise I consider it a mandatory "get" for all Las Vegas travelers who come at least once a year.