$140 Visa or $150 freeplay?
$140 electronic prepaid visa card (code will be emailed to me) or $150 freeplay
I will be playing $5000 coin-in on 8/5 bp (99.17%) to keep my adt up to receive future gifts.
i would be losing $10/$150 = 6.67% if i chose the Visa over the freeplay.
Which would you choose?
Why?
Quote: 100xOdds
Which would you choose?
Why?
I find cash more useful than a card to go shopping online with. I find freeplay easier to convert to cash.
$10 is not an unreasonable Visa gift card fee.
For most people, the decision should come down to how tolerant of variance they are. Bird in the hand, etc.
Quote: 100xOddsCasino gift:
$140 electronic prepaid visa card (code will be emailed to me) or $150 freeplay
I will be playing $5000 coin-in on 8/5 bp (99.17%) to keep my adt up to receive future gifts.
i would be losing $10/$150 = 6.67% if i chose the Visa over the freeplay.
Which would you choose?
Why?
You will certainly have enough play with your $5000 coin in. Take the Visa. You can use the code yourself or gift it.
If your casino bankroll was small you might choose the freeplay to boost your chances for a big win. But your $5000 already gives you that chance.
Granted... my "plan" has nothing to do with math.
Quote: 100xOddsI will be playing $5000 coin-in on 8/5 bp (99.17%) to keep my adt up to receive future gifts.
This is what you will do regardless? If so, how relevant to the equation?
Quote: 100xOddsCasino gift:
$140 electronic prepaid visa card (code will be emailed to me) or $150 freeplay
I dunno anything about freeplay. I do get promo chips, and sometimes I am able to turn a few thousand in promo chips into an ungodly sum, and sometimes I barely turn them into better than 50%. And of course there is the possibility of turning promo chips into nothing, as in losing them all. So, $150. in freeplay will / may turn into...what?
How about this one. $5000. Visa gift card or entry into a $500K tournament with about sixty some players. Can’t do both in one trip, would have to check out and check back in a few days later to get both.
Depends on the Wagering requirement of the freeplay? 1 x only, I guess, in which case you can expect to lose from .4% to 5% depending on game, subject to variance. So financially there's not much in it. I suggest you take the visa option and PM me the code for safe keeping. $:o)Quote: 100xOddsCasino gift:
$140 electronic prepaid visa card (code will be emailed to me) or $150 freeplay
I will be playing $5000 coin-in on 8/5 bp (99.17%) to keep my adt up to receive future gifts.
i would be losing $10/$150 = 6.67% if i chose the Visa over the freeplay.
Which would you choose?
Why?
What's your time worth to you? Will you stop playing video poker after this?Quote: 100xOddsCasino gift:
$140 electronic prepaid visa card (code will be emailed to me) or $150 freeplay
I will be playing $5000 coin-in on 8/5 bp (99.17%) to keep my adt up to receive future gifts.
i would be losing $10/$150 = 6.67% if i chose the Visa over the freeplay.
Which would you choose?
Why?
Alan, you seem to be in the casino playing -EV games frequently, correct? It seems strange to me that you would take the gift card at a reduced price only to end up playing anyway.Quote: AlanMendelsonYou will certainly have enough play with your $5000 coin in. Take the Visa. You can use the code yourself or gift it.
If your casino bankroll was small you might choose the freeplay to boost your chances for a big win. But your $5000 already gives you that chance.
Granted... my "plan" has nothing to do with math.
Quote: AxelWolfAlan, you seem to be in the casino playing -EV games frequently, correct? It seems strange to me that you would take the gift card at a reduced price only to end up playing anyway.
The poster said his plan was to play $5000 regardless.
I assumed that was play that would trigger the gift card or free play option and then he would stop playing(until next time) but now wants to know if he should take the free play or just get the gift card.Quote: AlanMendelsonThe poster said his plan was to play $5000 regardless.
Quote: AxelWolfI assumed that was play that would trigger the gift card or free play option and then he would stop playing(until next time) but now wants to know if he should take the free play or just get the gift card.
Here's what he wrote:
Quote: 100xOddsI will be playing $5000 coin-in on 8/5 bp (99.17%) to keep my adt up to receive future gifts.
Seems to me he received an offer based on past play and will play $5000 for future offers.
100xOdds care to clarify?
If you are at a retailer, you have to make sure you spend exactly the amount of the card, or whatever is left over eventually goes to waste. This may be easy to do at a restaurant ("put $140 on this card, and the rest on my Amex"), but not so much at the grocery store. Plus, many of those cards lose value over time due to inactivity fees.
These days, if I do get a prepaid credit gift card, I will immediately buy an Amazon GC with it for the full amount. No fees, no expiration, and I will eventually use it all.
for that day, yes.Quote: AxelWolfWhat's your time worth to you? Will you stop playing video poker after this?
after 5k coin in, will leave
no, there's no requirement for the gift card or freeplay.Quote: AxelWolfI assumed that was play that would trigger the gift card or free play option and then he would stop playing(until next time) but now wants to know if he should take the free play or just get the gift card.
but i always play $5k coin-in when i'm there to, at a minimum, maintain the free room offers.
this time they're offering a choice of $140 gc or $150 fp instead of just fp.
(I lost $1000 last time i was there playing the 8/5 bp)
edit:
It used to be $1 denom was 8/5 bp and the lower denoms were 7/5 but the 1st and only time i was there after the casino reopened after Covid, both .25 and .50 denoms were 8/5.
so if .25 8/5 is available, i'm playing that.
Quote: 100xOddsno, there's no requirement for the gift card or freeplay.
but i always play $5k coin-in when i'm there to, at a minimum, maintain the free room offers.
this time they're offering a choice of $140 gc or $150 fp instead of just fp.
(I lost $1000 last time i was there playing the 8/5 bp)
Dollars, $2 or $5 denom?
i assumed that if I buy a $200 item at Best buy ONLINE that i can put in $140 on the gift card and the rest on my credit card.Quote: JoemanI'd take the $150 FP. Not only does it offer more EV, but I find prepaid gift credit cards inconvenient to use.
If you are at a retailer, you have to make sure you spend exactly the amount of the card, or whatever is left over eventually goes to waste. This may be easy to do at a restaurant ("put $140 on this card, and the rest on my Amex"), but not so much at the grocery store. Plus, many of those cards lose value over time due to inactivity fees.
These days, if I do get a prepaid credit gift card, I will immediately buy an Amazon GC with it for the full amount. No fees, no expiration, and I will eventually use it all.
but you made me think how will Best Buy know i only have $140 on the visa GC and will they allow me to enter a 2nd credit card?
if i cant find the answer to that question, then i'm getting the fp.
edit:
Best buy online, not in the store
It used to be $1 denom was 8/5 bp and the lower denoms were 7/5 but the 1st and time i was there after the casino reopened after Covid, both .25 and .50 denoms were 8/5.Quote: Mission146Dollars, $2 or $5 denom?
so if .25 8/5 is available, i'm playing that.
Quote: 100xOddshow will Best Buy know i only have $140 on the visa GC and will they allow me to enter a 2nd credit card?
Best Buy will be able to get $140 when you tell them the card has $140 available.
Then you'll pay the balance.
It's been done before.
Quote: 100xOddsIt used to be $1 denom was 8/5 bp and the lower denoms were 7/5 but the 1st and time i was there after the casino reopened after Covid, both .25 and .50 denoms were 8/5.
so if .25 8/5 is available, i'm playing that.
I didn't know that. I was curious what denom you were playing when you ran 80% on 8/5 with 5k coin-in.
well, i usually play $1 3play but when i saw .25 denom was the same payout, i went 10play.Quote: Mission146I didn't know that. I was curious what denom you were playing when you ran 80% on 8/5 with 5k coin-in.
looking back, not much of a difference coin-in per spin. $15/spin vs 12.50/spin.
But it looks like 10play has ALOT more variance :(
edit:
$15/spin vs 12.50/spin, not $3/spin vs $2.50/spin
Quote: 100xOddswell, i usually play $1 3play but when i saw .25 denom was the same payout i went 10play.
looking back, not much of a difference coin-in per spin. $3/spin vs 2.50/spin.
But it looks like 10play has ALOT more variance :(
Ten-Play would be $12.50 per spin on quarters denom if you weren't short-coining, unless it's a weird game.
Of course, three-play dollars is $15 per spin.
ahh.. meant Best Buy online and not in the store.Quote: AlanMendelsonBest Buy will be able to get $140 when you tell them the card has $140 available.
Then you'll pay the balance.
It's been done before.
(edited that post)
Quote: 100xOddsBut it looks like 10play has ALOT more variance :(
Isnt there supposed to be less variance than if you played the same money on one line?
yeah, edited my post to say that.Quote: Mission146Ten-Play would be $12.50 per spin on quarters denom if you weren't short-coining, unless it's a weird game.
Of course, three-play dollars is $15 per spin.
whoops!
but the point is the same... similar coin-in
Quote: 100xOddsyeah, edited my post to say that.
whoops!
but the point is the same... similar coin-in
I wouldn't worry about the difference between a $140 gift card and $150 Free Play, in terms of Certainty Equivalent v. Expected Value, if you are betting that much per play in the first place.
***To be clear, this post is purely a statement of my opinion.
if thats true, then i ran REALLY bad.Quote: AlanMendelsonIsnt there supposed to be less variance than if you played the same money on one line?
Got killed lowering my coin-in and increasing the multi-line play. :(
also if true, then i guess i'll stick with .25 10play for this upcoming trip.
edit:
or just do .25 3play
Quote: 100xOddsif thats true, then i ran REALLY bad.
Got killed lowering my coin-in and increasing the multi-line play. :(
also if true, then i guess i'll stick with .25 10play for this upcoming trip.
It's still only 400 initial deals as opposed to 334...so any difference that there might be is not necessarily going to express in such a limited sample size when it comes to actual results.
Quote: 100xOddsi assumed that if I buy a $200 item at Best buy ONLINE that i can put in $140 on the gift card and the rest on my credit card.
but you made me think how will Best Buy know i only have $140 on the visa GC and will they allow me to enter a 2nd credit card?
if i cant find the answer to that question, then i'm getting the fp.
edit:
Best buy online, not in the store
If Best Buy online does not allow exact amounts for split payments you could always just buy a Best Buy gift card (with the Visa gift card).
I received Visa gift cards in 1000 denominations, and am running them through my own merchant accounts. I have three. That way, they are converted to cash at a rate of 2 - 3% (card not present rate). This must be done in a certain way, not all on one day, and not all on one account. I have merchant accounts for some different businesses, and they will accept both virtual and plastic credit cards.
I've run about four thousand dollars worth through so far, and have a lot more to go, so I have to do it slowly. Technically, one is not supposed to run one's own cards through one's merchant account, and I would never do that with my credit cards, but with gift cards, I don't think it is such a big deal, plus who is to say that they are mine, maybe they are my wife's. The merchant processor gets their percentage, and there is no risk of chargeback, so it's a gray area that is for the most part legitimate.
The rule against running your own cards is to prevent people from getting cash advances on their own cards without paying the cash advance fees, but with Visa/MC/AMEX gift cards, there is no cash advance capability so I don't think running them is against the processor's rules.
Just don't try doing it with PayPal though, use a real merchant account.
If I coin-in $6,000, I'd get 1,000 points, or $10.00, half of what I need to advance to the 2nd tier on my Player's Card. I'm getting 1/6th of a penny return per dollar wagered.
Every $1 tip I give to the waitress bringing me my drink to the tables would be equal to $600 bet at the table if counting for 100 points.
As far as gift cards go, I'd probably use it at the gas station (if there's any gas left at the station).
(There's a TV report from Metairie, LA at a gas station with people lined up in their cars for 6 to 9 hours to get gas and people on foot waiting 2-4 hours to fill up their gas cans. The proprietor put a $30 limit on gas purchases. So if you get a $30 gift card that should put you at the limit.)
Quote: billryanIf it is a weekly thing, in the long run you would be slightly better off running the $150 thru a 99% video poker game. On any one week, your results may be less than $140 cash but most you will do better.
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You have an excellent point, and it seems that the OP will try to keep getting this offer in the near future.
