The six hundred dollar comp experiment.

My usual Vegas bankroll is US $600. That's the maximum I'll fritter away at the tables and machines, not necessarily what I'll spend on gambling. First trip I spent less than $200, for example. Last trip I surely bet more than that, but had a couple of winning sessions as well.

Now, seeing the numbers bandied about in this board, I barely seem to qualify as a low roller. I play where I like, and usually spread my play about, because I don't see any likely comps at all anywhere. But I wonder, if I were to play only in one place would I be likely to get anything? I'd settle for future room offers at a nice place.

I'm thinking of doing just that this trip. First, though, I need a nice, cheap place to stay that also has good enough games. Since WoVCon will be at MSS, that is the natural choice. I play 3CP, PGP, craps and VP mostly. I assume 3CP and PGP are pretty much the same everywhere, especially if you don't make side bets. Craps is 20X at MSS, which is plenty good enough; I don't make field bets, so the 2 or 3 to 1 for 2 and 12 doesn't affect me. I'd like a fire bet, but if there isn't one that's ok. But according to VPfree their VP doesn't look good for multi-hand machines. The best is BP (which I assume is Bonus Poker) at 99.17% 1/3/5/10 hands at $0.25

But all hope isn't lost, not yet. MSS is a Boyd property, as is Sam's Town. Sam's has full pay DW, single line at 25 cents. I'd be willing to give up the thrill of multi-hand for full pay. Both casinos employ the same player card, and getting to Sam's is easy enough from Downtown if I recall their shuttle schedule correctly. Would I still get the same benefits comps-wise if I did this? Or is VP rated so poorly anyway it doesn't matter?

Any other casinos? Since I specified cheap properties, this rules out places like Palms, which does have good VP in multi-hand. I'd also like the Strip or Downtown. So I'm thinking of researching joints like Sahara, Riviera, Stratosphere, Fitz, Golden Gate, Fremont, etc. On previous trips I've stayed at the Sahara and IP, if that helps any.

Of course I'm probably just wasting my time ;)

It's pretty hard to find decent multi-play games anywhere these days. If that is your primary criterion, then that would pretty severely restrict your choices.

If you are willing to just play single-line VP, either MSS or 4Q would fit the bill as far as cheap properties that give good room offers for modest play, and have fullpay VP. My room offers from both properties have been excellent, based on just .25 single-line VP. 4Q's slot club is more generous, but the MSS mailers have been slightly better.

You will get room offers for whatever Boyd property you play at the most, so Sam's Town might not be best if you want to be able to stay downtown in the future. Plus, there are very few fullpay machines left at Sam's, and those are often totally taken up by locals. So you might wind up taking a long shuttle ride for nothing. (Also, I have a long-standing beef with them for cheating me out of about $600 worth of slot club points.)

Your strategy of concentrating your play at one place is valid, but definitely dip a toe into as many places as you can. I've gotten room offers for fifteen minutes of .25 play.

I would definitely give my action to MSS or the 4Q if I were you, since they are very generous with room offers; the Cal and Fitzgerald's are also good in this regard. The El Cortez is the best of all (basically, stay there once and you get free room offers for the rest of eternity), but I've cut back my play since their former great VP is now 99% doodoo. However, it's a good low-rolling craps player joint, and they have the best BJ in town.

My opinions on gaming trips is this: Once your inside a casino, it don't matter where you are, uptown, downtown, etc., UNLESS you're staying there overnight, otherwise, I don't care what casino I'm in, and so, I'm just looking for the lowest table minimums in craps, with some decent odds, and that's that. I think that factor outweighs any extra comps you might be getting, if thats what your choice is baseed upon.

Especially with only a $600 bankroll!

If you are staying overnight, you might look for a place with a combination of low minimums and close proximity to other casinos. The reason for this, and I don't want to sound supersticious or anything (no craps players are), but if the table gets cold, it pays to be able to leave and go next door. That's one of the reasons I like Tunica so much, you can walk to a couple of others if yours gets cold. Downtown Vegas, same thing. Dont try it on the strip unless you really like to walk.

Quote: discflicker

I think that factor outweighs any extra comps you might be getting, if thats what your choice is baseed upon.

That's pretty much how I play, too. Last year I stayed at the Rio and didn't play at all there. I'd pretty much eat breakfast at the buffet, then catch the shuttle for the Strip, and got back late at night. I've never played for comps at all because my bankroll is tiny.

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If you are staying overnight, you might look for a place with a combination of low minimums and close proximity to other casinos.

As I rule I stay several nights and only in the same hotel. I've seen many posters here do hotel-hopping, but I don't know why (I suppose it's related to free nights). That's why I specified a nice place.

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The reason for this, and I don't want to sound supersticious or anything (no craps players are), but if the table gets cold, it pays to be able to leave and go next door. That's one of the reasons I like Tunica so much, you can walk to a couple of others if yours gets cold. Downtown Vegas, same thing. Dont try it on the strip unless you really like to walk.

On vacation walking does duty for working out, so the Strip would be fine. But even if I stay Downtown, which is very likely, I'll still walk the Strip quite a bit. I always go see the Bellagio Foutnains, the arhcitecture and art available at the Venetian, Bellagio, Wynn, Caesars, Paris, etc, and I like to walk through the malls. This year I'll also go see the new Cosmopolitan casino. Everyone's raving about it, and I could use something nice after the disappointment that was Aria and Crystals last year.

The problem are what shoes to wear. I discussed that elsewhere.

I can't agree with you more, happy feet = happy ness. I havn't seen your other discussion, I always wear 2 pairs of high quality thickly cushioned socks and Dr. Shole's gel-sole sneakers from Wal-Mart. It has changed my life; my feet NEVER hurt any more regardless of how much I walk. Did I tell you I play hold'em at 3 different Detroit casinos and run up 100 flights of stairs almost eevry night? I play disc golf and Ultimate too, all on this same life-extending foot gear.

Most people, however, don't want to combine gaming with stair climbing, or leg lifts in the elevators or long hikes between tables (go figure), and for that reason they get "captured" by the casino they're at. I think it's a big problem and an important consideration when choosing where to stay.

Hey if you got a second, please check out this alternative to long hikes between casinos.

marty

Quote: discflicker

I can't agree with you more, happy feet = happy ness. I havn't seen your other discussion,

It's in the GLBT section. I discussed high heels vs flats or low heels.

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I always wear 2 pairs of high quality thickly cushioned socks and Dr. Shole's gel-sole sneakers from Wal-Mart. It has changed my life; my feet NEVER hurt any more regardless of how much I walk. Did I tell you I play hold'em at 3 different Detroit casinos and run up 100 flights of stairs almost eevry night? I play disc golf and Ultimate too, all on this same life-extending foot gear.

Last time I wore two pairs of socks was when I was learning to skate :)

I do well enough with plain sneakers, or any kind of rubber-soled shoe. But en femme I'm very concious of style, and sneakers are a fashion faux pass unless you're playing a sport or working out. I think I'll hit the outlet mall before I do anything else. I'll have to see what shoe stores are there.

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Most people, however, don't want to combine gaming with stair climbing, or leg lifts in the elevators or long hikes between tables (go figure), and for that reason they get "captured" by the casino they're at. I think it's a big problem and an important consideration when choosing where to stay.

I'm lazy, but not that lazy. I've ditched the monorail in Vegas because it involves more walking, but only due to the fact that the walks between and within hotels are already long enough.

<sigh> I keep adding requirements...

I expect I'll spend a busy weekend researching all the cheap properties on the Strip and Downtown. Meantime, here's the full list of what I need/want:

Cheap property
In-room safe
Decent craps game (I can take 3,4,5X but I'd like better)
Decent PGP and 3CP, which as I said I presume it's the same everywhere.
Decent VP, prefferably multi-hand.

Thus far MSS fails at a safe. Fitz has a safe, but no good multi-hand VP and craps at only 3,4,5x. 4 Queens has a safe, but with an extra charge according to their website.

I still will look at other properties, and write down what I've already found out, but any input is aprpeciated. Some things you don't find out in the web.

Nareed

When my wife and I stayed at mss last year, our room had a safe in it. It even had a key lock instead of the number pad. I remember because they will charge you 35 if you lose the key, and it's a small one. Almost lost it once. ;)

-B

Well, the Riviera only recently went from 2x odds to 3x4x5x on craps but its such a tighwad dump this change is really meaningless. Sahara beats the Riviera hands down on comps. Sahara rooms (via twitter specials) are one dollar plus six dollar resort fee.
Safe? Unless its for a laptop why is this a big deal?

Quote: toastcmu

Nareed

When my wife and I stayed at mss last year, our room had a safe in it. It even had a key lock instead of the number pad. I remember because they will charge you 35 if you lose the key, and it's a small one. Almost lost it once. ;)

-B

Thanks! I should email them and settle it. MSS has some decent multi-hand and good craps. But really their website did not specify a safe in the room (or I missed it). Sometimes websites are infuriatingly incomplete when you're looking for one small aspect.

I have a good record of keeping keys. I've never lost one.

Well, the Riviera only recently went from 2x odds to 3x4x5x on craps but its such a tighwad dump this change is really meaningless. Sahara beats the Riviera hands down on comps. Sahara rooms (via twitter specials) are one dollar plus six dollar resort fee.
Safe? Unless its for a laptop why is this a big deal?

Quote: FleaStiff

Sahara rooms (via twitter specials) are one dollar plus six dollar resort fee.
Safe? Unless its for a laptop why is this a big deal?

I can do the Sahara again at those prices. I'll look them up.

The problem with the safe is ID for the safe deposit box. I posted about in the GLBT section. A little also the time saved not having to open a safe deposit box at the cage or the front desk.

That level of play at Sahara has gotten me free room mailers and a buffet comp.
You DO NOT WANT the buffet comp.

Quote: dudestupid

That level of play at Sahara has gotten me free room mailers and a buffet comp.
You DO NOT WANT the buffet comp.

Didn't the Sahara buffet close?

I tried it in 08. It wasn't bad for breakfast, plain and bland for dinner.

The problem is they don't have in-room safes. Or at least they didn't in 2008. But with any luck that won't be an issue neaxt year...

They no longer have a buffet. I do think that a room safe is not. A thief would probably head there first. And at six hundred dollars for a bankroll then one wonders why a safe is even a consideration. If you color up you are talking about two chips! Or six at the most!

Why would a safe be of use of so few chips that could easily be put in a pocket. If its a question of security from invited visitors, then while you are sitting there waiting for that not-an-agency girl to show up you should be able to find a safe place to hide six lousy chips. And if its a matter of chloral hydrate followed by a thorough search for valuables, you are safer if they find the valuables promptly. At a low rollers joint, neither thief nor light-fingered hooker is going to search for a twenty-five grand chip from the Bellagio.

Quote: FleaStiff

They no longer have a buffet. I do think that a room safe is not. A thief would probably head there first. And at six hundred dollars for a bankroll then one wonders why a safe is even a consideration. If you color up you are talking about two chips! Or six at the most!

Whatever else a room safe may be, it most definitely is. You can't escape that.

As to the rest, there are valuables other than money. Travel documents, passport, etc. $600 is what I can afford to lose. Therefore it's what I play, not what I carry. I find it very hard to gamble even such a low amount if I don't eat something during the week, for example. Also these exravagant shows want to be paid in order to issue tickets granting admittance. And shops get most upset if you take merchandise without paying for it.

Perhaps you would know this if you didn't try so hard to be crude and obnoxious.

What about a casino safe deposit box? I saw people using those at Sahara. I haven't heard anything bad about using them...are they a better option than an in-room safe???

Quote: toastcmu

Nareed

When my wife and I stayed at mss last year, our room had a safe in it.

I checked again and there it is right in the room description. There is an in-room safe <facepalm>

It's a good thing my job doesn't involve noticing tiny details... No, wait, that's all my job involves. Drat! ;)

So I guess I'll be staying at the MSS after all. VPfree2 does list some rather good single line VP otpions and a few decent multi-hand ones as well. Unless, that is, I get a really good deal elsewhere between now and June. Last year about this far from the trip I was weighing IP vs Flamingo, but wound up at the Rio.

Quote: Nareed

So I guess I'll be staying at the MSS after all. VPfree2 does list some rather good single line VP otpions and a few decent multi-hand ones as well. Unless, that is, I get a really good deal elsewhere between now and June.

Don't forget, the MSS scratch cards for 4 of a kind are still there too, each time you get one, call the attendant and you'll likely get an extra $1-$2 off the scratcher. There are more amounts, but rarely to people seem to get them..

-B

I didn't know the Sahara buffet closed. That's good to hear. That must have happened shortly after my rather disgusting meal.

Judging by the comments a lot of these places may have safes in some rooms, and not in others. I had a Sahara room with a safe, also in 2008. It was in their most recently renovated tower, whichever that one was.

I always like to have one, as a place to store my laptop.

Quote: toastcmu

Don't forget, the MSS scratch cards for 4 of a kind are still there too, each time you get one, call the attendant and you'll likely get an extra $1-$2 off the scratcher. There are more amounts, but rarely to people seem to get them..

-B

You always get at least $2 if you're playing .25 denoms. The higher amounts are rare, but I get a $3 or $5 card about once in every ten tries. I put the average card value to be about $2.20.

For the nickel player, who gets $1 cards, the bonus is worth quite a bit more proportionately: almost 1%. But nickel paytables are usually crap.

Quote: toastcmu

Don't forget, the MSS scratch cards for 4 of a kind are still there too, each time you get one, call the attendant and you'll likely get an extra $1-$2 off the scratcher. There are more amounts, but rarely to people seem to get them..

Right (and I swear I answered this post on Friday... work PCs <sigh>). I hope there's signage about it at the casino, because I'm sure to forget all about the cards between now and June.

Quote: dudestupid

I didn't know the Sahara buffet closed. That's good to hear. That must have happened shortly after my rather disgusting meal.

You got that comp just at the wrong time, it would seem. It happens...

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Judging by the comments a lot of these places may have safes in some rooms, and not in others. I had a Sahara room with a safe, also in 2008. It was in their most recently renovated tower, whichever that one was.

It's likely, as they have renovated some parts and not others. They may even think people in the cheaper rooms don't need a safe.