Bad casino giveaways?
Quote: NathanIn my local casino, they were "giving away" a $100 Macy's gift card. All you had to do was play $500 of your own money! No wonder people ended up begging a certain woman who wasn't playing with a player's card to let them put their player's card in her machine after they lost their money chasing the Macy's gift card! That's absurd when you think about it! You could have just saved your money and just BOUGHT a Macy's gift card or 5 of them yourself at a grocery store instead of having to earn it at a casino.
Are you suggesting that $500 coin-in got you into a drawing for a Macy's Gift Card or that $500 coin-in absolutely would get you the Macy's Gift Card? If you are suggesting the latter of those two things, I find it hard to believe that the casino would offer a promotion that GOOD. Even if you had to buck a House Edge of 15% (which would be really high even on penny slots) you'd still have an expected loss of just $75 in exchange for a $100 Gift Card.
I'd consider that break even, only because I don't normally shop at Macy's and, therefore, attribute the value to the gift card that I could easily sell it for. If you could do the $500 coin-in on VP, even terrible VP, I'd suggest the player has the best of that by a long shot. I don't shop at Macy's, but if I can trade a 5% expected loss on $500 coin in ($25) for a $100 gift card, sign me up!
If, instead, you're referring to a drawing for a $100 Macy's Gift Card, then I'd have to try to figure out how many gift cards there were in the drawing and roughly how many people would qualify for the drawing. The gift card, of course, would still have value but not $75 (the maximum value I would ascribe to it) in value...unless there were more cards than players. At a guess, the Video Poker would have to be pretty darn good for the value that I would assign to the gift card multiplied by the probability of my winning it (expressed as a decimal) to be more than the expected loss.
And, of course, if the gift card were for a place I would normally shop, then it would, in fact, have $100 in value to me as a straight giveaway.
Quote: billryanWhy is the ratio of trolls to unicorns so high here?
I'm not being a troll. I was being serious when I said a $500 requirement for a $100 Macy's gift card is a bad casino giveaway.
Quote: NathanI was being serious when I said a $500 requirement for a $100 Macy's gift card is a bad casino giveaway.
Not necessarily.
Quote: Mission146Are you suggesting that $500 coin-in got you into a drawing for a Macy's Gift Card or that $500 coin-in absolutely would get you the Macy's Gift Card? If you are suggesting the latter of those two things, I find it hard to believe that the casino would offer a promotion that GOOD. Even if you had to buck a House Edge of 15% (which would be really high even on penny slots) you'd still have an expected loss of just $75 in exchange for a $100 Gift Card.
I'd consider that break even, only because I don't normally shop at Macy's and, therefore, attribute the value to the gift card that I could easily sell it for. If you could do the $500 coin-in on VP, even terrible VP, I'd suggest the player has the best of that by a long shot. I don't shop at Macy's, but if I can trade a 5% expected loss on $500 coin in ($25) for a $100 gift card, sign me up!
If, instead, you're referring to a drawing for a $100 Macy's Gift Card, then I'd have to try to figure out how many gift cards there were in the drawing and roughly how many people would qualify for the drawing. The gift card, of course, would still have value but not $75 (the maximum value I would ascribe to it) in value...unless there were more cards than players. At a guess, the Video Poker would have to be pretty darn good for the value that I would assign to the gift card multiplied by the probability of my winning it (expressed as a decimal) to be more than the expected loss.
And, of course, if the gift card were for a place I would normally shop, then it would, in fact, have $100 in value to me as a straight giveaway.
Okay, okay, it was $500 coin in for a guaranteed $100 Macy's gift card. But still, having to spend $500 for a $100 gift card is really steep IMHO.
Quote: NathanOkay, okay, it was $500 coin in for a guaranteed $100 Macy's gift card. But still, having to spend $500 for a $100 gift card is really steep IMHO.
This is where you're wrong. Playing through $500 does not equate to spending $500. Even on a crappy 8/5 JoB, your expected loss is only $13.50783 playing through $500.
Quote: NathanMy local casino also had a $50 dollar umbrella giveaway promotion. Get out of here! That umbrella was worth $6 at the most!
Okay, well that one actually sucks because just the idea of an umbrella being $50 strikes me as objectively ridiculous.
However, that Macy's Gift Card one is killer. Again, even at the $75 in actual value that I would ascribe to it, there are very few slot machines at which I would consider myself at a disadvantage playing for it. Just about any video poker would be very good!
If you have the cash, maybe you should call around to any places that buy gift cards (if there are any in your area) and get an idea how much you could quickly sell such a gift card for. I think those companies turn around and sell them online, which you can also do yourself, but they're usually doing it based on really high seller ratings or websites specifically for doing that.
I am not vouching for the legitimacy of the site to which I am about to link and have never used it, click/use at your own risk because I know nothing about it:
https://www.giftcardgranny.com/buy-gift-cards/macys/
That site lists a bunch of gift cards, gift card sellers, types of cards and values. I see that some of the cards valued at $100+ are apparently listed on EBay and none of them at $100+ are discounted by more than 7.43% as of the second I am typing this sentence. The two listed at exactly $100 in value cost $95 each, are listed on EBay, and are 5% off face value.
Assuming that those gift cards sell for only 5% off face value, I should imagine that the sellers got them for even less than that. I find it difficult to imagine that they purchased the gift cards in order to merely break even.
How long does it take to list a gift card online, wait for it to sell, and then mail it to the buyer? Less than ten minutes of cumulative work, I would suggest. I'd definitely pay you $75 for a $100 gift card if I knew I could turn it around for $95 with very little work involved.
Actual mileage may vary, though, so get an idea of how much you actually could sell it for, of course.
As IBYA just stated, you're looking at an extremely healthy advantage (with the giveaway) on virtually any poker game that is not a Class II machine, and even then, I would think you have a small advantage at a minimum. Look up the minimum return in your jurisdiction, you KNOW the machine can't be any worse than that, so you can calculate your expected loss of $500 coin-in based off of that if you want to.
If my casino was doing that, I'd be selling some gift cards right now, or shopping some clearance rack at Macy's. (Hell with paying retail)
Actually, that could be tough now that I think about it, unless I could find some honest family members.
Quote: NathanQuote: Mission146Are you suggesting that $500 coin-in got you into a drawing for a Macy's Gift Card or that $500 coin-in absolutely would get you the Macy's Gift Card? If you are suggesting the latter of those two things, I find it hard to believe that the casino would offer a promotion that GOOD. Even if you had to buck a House Edge of 15% (which would be really high even on penny slots) you'd still have an expected loss of just $75 in exchange for a $100 Gift Card.
I'd consider that break even, only because I don't normally shop at Macy's and, therefore, attribute the value to the gift card that I could easily sell it for. If you could do the $500 coin-in on VP, even terrible VP, I'd suggest the player has the best of that by a long shot. I don't shop at Macy's, but if I can trade a 5% expected loss on $500 coin in ($25) for a $100 gift card, sign me up!
If, instead, you're referring to a drawing for a $100 Macy's Gift Card, then I'd have to try to figure out how many gift cards there were in the drawing and roughly how many people would qualify for the drawing. The gift card, of course, would still have value but not $75 (the maximum value I would ascribe to it) in value...unless there were more cards than players. At a guess, the Video Poker would have to be pretty darn good for the value that I would assign to the gift card multiplied by the probability of my winning it (expressed as a decimal) to be more than the expected loss.
And, of course, if the gift card were for a place I would normally shop, then it would, in fact, have $100 in value to me as a straight giveaway.
Okay, okay, it was $500 coin in for a guaranteed $100 Macy's gift card. But still, having to spend $500 for a $100 gift card is really steep IMHO.
You should have to provide the casino name or be banned as a troll. No way a casino is giving that away for only 500 coin in.
Quote: Mission146Okay, well that one actually sucks because just the idea of an umbrella being $50 strikes me as objectively ridiculous.
However, that Macy's Gift Card one is killer. Again, even at the $75 in actual value that I would ascribe to it, there are very few slot machines at which I would consider myself at a disadvantage playing for it. Just about any video poker would be very good!
If you have the cash, maybe you should call around to any places that buy gift cards (if there are any in your area) and get an idea how much you could quickly sell such a gift card for. I think those companies turn around and sell them online, which you can also do yourself, but they're usually doing it based on really high seller ratings or websites specifically for doing that.
I am not vouching for the legitimacy of the site to which I am about to link and have never used it, click/use at your own risk because I know nothing about it:
https://www.giftcardgranny.com/buy-gift-cards/macys/
That site lists a bunch of gift cards, gift card sellers, types of cards and values. I see that some of the cards valued at $100+ are apparently listed on EBay and none of them at $100+ are discounted by more than 7.43% as of the second I am typing this sentence. The two listed at exactly $100 in value cost $95 each, are listed on EBay, and are 5% off face value.
Assuming that those gift cards sell for only 5% off face value, I should imagine that the sellers got them for even less than that. I find it difficult to imagine that they purchased the gift cards in order to merely break even.
How long does it take to list a gift card online, wait for it to sell, and then mail it to the buyer? Less than ten minutes of cumulative work, I would suggest. I'd definitely pay you $75 for a $100 gift card if I knew I could turn it around for $95 with very little work involved.
Actual mileage may vary, though, so get an idea of how much you actually could sell it for, of course.
As IBYA just stated, you're looking at an extremely healthy advantage (with the giveaway) on virtually any poker game that is not a Class II machine, and even then, I would think you have a small advantage at a minimum. Look up the minimum return in your jurisdiction, you KNOW the machine can't be any worse than that, so you can calculate your expected loss of $500 coin-in based off of that if you want to.
If my casino was doing that, I'd be selling some gift cards right now, or shopping some clearance rack at Macy's. (Hell with paying retail)
I have purchased from them before kinda. I believe they send you to other sitems to buy. They act like a travelocity for gift cards.
Anyways, I looked into selling once when giant eagle had a killer deal going. They only pay you 75% for the best ones and less for high inventory ones.
Quote: GWAE
You should have to provide the casino name or be banned as a troll. No way a casino is giving that away for only 500 coin in.
On the other hand, if a casino were doing that, (and this is coming from someone who shares plays with people, as you know) there's not a chance in Hell I'd publish the name of it.
Quote: GWAE
I have purchased from them before kinda. I believe they send you to other sitems to buy. They act like a travelocity for gift cards.
Anyways, I looked into selling once when giant eagle had a killer deal going. They only pay you 75% for the best ones and less for high inventory ones.
That sounds about right, I went to one of the gift card selling places once because I came into a gift card for a store chain that has no locations within 150 miles of me. After the guy confirmed the amount, he offered me 75% straightaway. Expecting 50% and thinking the gentleman generous I said, "I'm surprised you would give me so much for it, there's not one location anywhere around here."
His response, "I sell them online, I just need a location to be near someone and it's a good buy for me."
Anyway, if you ever have a Giant Eagle one you want to unload, just shoot me a PM. I'd likely give you 90% of the face value for it. I like the Market District locations, especially this one in particular that has the spices and other things (like faro) that can be bought by weight from the dispensers. That's where I get all of that kind of stuff for the spice rack, it's great because you don't have to buy some $10-something dollar bottle of spice that you literally use in ONE FRIGGIN' RECIPE that it will take you longer than your natural life to use up. If I just need a pinch, then I can just buy a pinch!
Quote: mcallister3200In mcallisters casino, we would have promotions where we give out grate clips gift cards/vouchers, since people who gamble with their haircut money would be a target market.
Look enough with the haircut jokes on my threads! Those random haircut jokes are really old!
I sell my swag on eBay and occasionally it sells for a lot more than I expect.
Got $30 for the Disney sleeping bag.
Why wouldn't be good in a class II Machine?Quote: Mission146Okay, well that one actually sucks because just the idea of an umbrella being $50 strikes me as objectively ridiculous.
However, that Macy's Gift Card one is killer. Again, even at the $75 in actual value that I would ascribe to it, there are very few slot machines at which I would consider myself at a disadvantage playing for it. Just about any video poker would be very good!
If you have the cash, maybe you should call around to any places that buy gift cards (if there are any in your area) and get an idea how much you could quickly sell such a gift card for. I think those companies turn around and sell them online, which you can also do yourself, but they're usually doing it based on really high seller ratings or websites specifically for doing that.
I am not vouching for the legitimacy of the site to which I am about to link and have never used it, click/use at your own risk because I know nothing about it:
https://www.giftcardgranny.com/buy-gift-cards/macys/
That site lists a bunch of gift cards, gift card sellers, types of cards and values. I see that some of the cards valued at $100+ are apparently listed on EBay and none of them at $100+ are discounted by more than 7.43% as of the second I am typing this sentence. The two listed at exactly $100 in value cost $95 each, are listed on EBay, and are 5% off face value.
Assuming that those gift cards sell for only 5% off face value, I should imagine that the sellers got them for even less than that. I find it difficult to imagine that they purchased the gift cards in order to merely break even.
How long does it take to list a gift card online, wait for it to sell, and then mail it to the buyer? Less than ten minutes of cumulative work, I would suggest. I'd definitely pay you $75 for a $100 gift card if I knew I could turn it around for $95 with very little work involved.
Actual mileage may vary, though, so get an idea of how much you actually could sell it for, of course.
As IBYA just stated, you're looking at an extremely healthy advantage (with the giveaway) on virtually any poker game that is not a Class II machine, and even then, I would think you have a small advantage at a minimum. Look up the minimum return in your jurisdiction, you KNOW the machine can't be any worse than that, so you can calculate your expected loss of $500 coin-in based off of that if you want to.
If my casino was doing that, I'd be selling some gift cards right now, or shopping some clearance rack at Macy's. (Hell with paying retail)
If there are any AP's out there who refuse to play a what seems to be a juicy promo Just because it's a class ll machine feel free to pass the information among to me.
Quote: AxelWolfWhy wouldn't be good in a class II Machine?
If there are any AP's out there who refuse to play a what seems to be a juicy promo Just because it's a class ll machine feel free to pass the information among to me.
I'm not saying it definitely wouldn't, I'm just saying it wouldn't necessarily be in a jurisdiction with a low minimum permissible return. It probably still would be good, but I'm not going to say it's a lock.
I'd play it AND pass the info to you, you know that!
Quote: djatcSpeaking of gift cards; why don't stores let you bundle your small cards into one big one? I have like 15 $25 Macy's cards and they wouldn't let me turn it into one.
Processing, less of a pain just to use them all in one transaction.
Quote: djatcSpeaking of gift cards; why don't stores let you bundle your small cards into one big one? I have like 15 $25 Macy's cards and they wouldn't let me turn it into one.
Even online?
Quote: NathanIn my local casino, they were "giving away" a $100 Macy's gift card. All you had to do was play $500 of your own money! No wonder people ended up begging a certain woman who wasn't playing with a player's card to let them put their player's card in her machine after they lost their money chasing the Macy's gift card! That's absurd when you think about it! You could have just saved your money and just BOUGHT a Macy's gift card or 5 of them yourself at a grocery store instead of having to earn it at a casino.
How long did you beg?
But it would be nice if Nathan stated which casino did this promo.
Another website, if you sent a gift, the company would check the order, let them choose anything they wanted, and if the gift recipient chose something cheaper than you intended, they got the balance in a gift card. I wouldn't like this as a gift giver.
Quote: Mission146Okay, well that one actually sucks because just the idea of an umbrella being $50 strikes me as objectively ridiculous.
I shared that thought until I first learned a couple weeks ago about the amazingly high quality umbrellas from Davek of NY.
see: Davek website
Starting at $49, and up to $350.
I'm ordering their "Solo" model as I like a collapsible umbrella of that size; a mini is too wide and a bit complicated, and a non-collapsible is too big to easily stow.
Quote: mcallister3200In mcallisters casino, we would have promotions where we give out grate clips gift cards/vouchers, since people who gamble with their haircut money would be a target market.
Quote: djatcSpeaking of gift cards; why don't stores let you bundle your small cards into one big one? I have like 15 $25 Macy's cards and they wouldn't let me turn it into one.
Idk. But they sure as hell swindle you online when you buy stuff. There's a limit of 5 per transaction. I had a few $100 cards, $25 cards, and some other random ones ($5, 10, maybe $50). It was a total pain to figure out all the stuff I wanted to get, then make separate transactions. It's not as simple as you'd think.
And FFS, would people please stop asking which casino runs this promotion? Not that a particularly lot of money can be made from this promotion (unless you can do it every day or can get multiple GC's at a time), but we should have some respect for the APs who may be playing this promotion or promotions like it.
Quote: MrVI shared that thought until I first learned a couple weeks ago about the amazingly high quality umbrellas from Davek of NY.
see: Davek website
Starting at $49, and up to $350.
I'm ordering their "Solo" model as I like a collapsible umbrella of that size; a mini is too wide and a bit complicated, and a non-collapsible is too big to easily stow.
This is probably going to sound (and is) silly, but I don't use an umbrella in the first place. I have my kids use them, obviously, but being rained on doesn't bother me at all, even to the point of being soaked.
Quote: RS
And FFS, would people please stop asking which casino runs this promotion? Not that a particularly lot of money can be made from this promotion (unless you can do it every day or can get multiple GC's at a time), but we should have some respect for the APs who may be playing this promotion or promotions like it.
That's what I'm saying, and even if you could only do one per day without getting cut off, say they have a 95% VP game...which would usually be a horrible game:
Okay, so I need $500 coin-in with an expected loss of $25, I can turn the gift card for $75 with almost zero effort, expected profit $50. In my personal case, were it the casino closest to me, I could be there in five minutes, I could be at the gift card place in another five minutes, then I could be back from there in five minutes. I've got fifteen minutes of travel time, the game will take me a half hour to play (800 hands/hour at $1.25 = 400 hands per half hour), so I've got a profit expectation of $50/hour if we say it will take me fifteen minutes to get to the machine and wait in line for the gift card.
If there is VP there, it is probably better than 95%, and there are probably other games still will lower variance than that and a better return (possibly).
Point is, if I have a $50 profit expectation and I only have to carve an hour out of my day for it, I'l find an hour everyday and it won't be hard.
Some people wouldn't know a good opportunity even if a Macys gift card hit them in the face. ☺Quote: BozThe only way I see this as legit is if it was a promotion only for invited guests with a limit of 1. Would allow them to target and slightly reward those who they know will play far more than $500 through.
But it would be nice if Nathan stated which casino did this promo.
Hasn't Nathan said what casino's he usually goes to in the past?
What casino did Kentry go to? (Not that he's Kentry of course)
Not that this promo isn't possible (We have all seen much better) but there is a good chance he got his facts wrong.
Because the rule supposedly encourages buying more items and, hopefully, more trips to the stores.Quote: djatcSpeaking of gift cards; why don't stores let you bundle your small cards into one big one? I have like 15 $25 Macy's cards and they wouldn't let me turn it into one.
Quote: NathanI got advice from someone in a PM strongly implying that I shouldn't give out the name of the casino to avoid trouble.
Really?
Somebody on this board actually threatened you over it?
They told you to zip your lip in order to "avoid trouble?"
Were somebody from WoV to threaten me as you said they threatened you, it would piss me off.
In response, I'd sing like a canary about whatever it is they wanted me to be mum about.
You may not feel up to the challenge, and that's fine.
Some of us are bold, whereas some of us are meek and easily cowed: that's just the way of the world.
Quote: JohnnyQOr report it to an administrator.
I'm not certain that admin can do much about it, at least the way I look at the rules.
Bullying and threatening are not allowed, but by implication that would apply only to posts, not to PMs.
Can admin punish for comments made from one member to another by PM only?
Plus, there is that rule about keeping the content of PMs private, absent consent of both parties to discuss the contents.
What say the mods?
Quote: ThatDonGuyEven online?
As RS said it seems to be a nightmare to buy with multiple gift cards online.
I wouldn't buy any clothing that requires me to know sizes and stuff online because time would be wasted trying it on and seeing that it doesn't fit. Usually I wear a large for shirts jackets etc but pants sizes have been all over the place. Usually I wear 32-34 and 29-30 long because I have a buddha-esque stature with short legs.
Being a short fatboy is no good it seems. I either gotta get taller or stretch out my legs.
Post proof in the forum of this promotion and I'll give you 500 cash
I will even post up with mission
If not then your are just full of bs and everyone knows it
A casino doesn't want their PROMOTIONS. Known
Quote: NathanWell, the person strongly implied that the casino themselves don't want to be advertised on a public website forum.
Ok I haven't commented on all the ridiculous troll threads you've started because I didn't want to get into an argument about the legitimacy of your posts. However now you stand to gain $500 for releasing the casino name which would also prove that you aren't the troll that we all figure that you are. This is more than 5 times what the casino promo would net you so you have no excuse to not take WoN's offer. Time to put up or shut Nathan. (Btw most of us are hoping you just choose the second option)
Quote: NathanWell, the person strongly implied that the casino themselves don't want to be advertised on a public website forum.
Because casinos always create promotions for the general public that they don't want the public to know about. Makes total business sense.
Note I am not talking about a promo where they realize they f'd up after getting hit on it and then just pull it.
I get the benefit of not outing a play that others are working but I'm with WoN that we aren't getting the whole story here.
It wasn't an earn and get and if it was a promo it was a one time offer so I hardly doubt anyone is going to care about a prior promo worth all of 50 dollars in ev at max
This is just absurd and you are clearly just making stuff up
Quote: NathanLook, someone who KNOWS what he is talking about strongly advised me not to give out the casino name.
Well, I KNOW what I'm talking about, and it is worth it to give proof. I've already booked plane to FL tomorrow to get my Macy's cards.
Which town or casino are you going to?Quote: CrystalMathWell, I KNOW what I'm talking about, and it is worth it to give proof. I've already booked plane to FL tomorrow to get my Macy's cards.
