wrongway
wrongway
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December 19th, 2011 at 4:55:02 AM permalink
I was wondering if anyone has used the $300 slot play coupon in American Casino Guide. Sounds too good to be true. In the fine print it says something about cash awarded for top prize only. Going to Vegas next week, any info is appreciated. Thanks!
FleaStiff
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December 19th, 2011 at 5:33:41 AM permalink
Not worth the shoe leather you use to get there. Unpleasant casino with dealers who feel treated miserably by their employer. Great chicken wings and beer, but you can get that all over town if you really want chicken wings. Its just two ordinary slot machines with all the modest prizes removed: you either hit the jackpot or you get zilch. And they feed the hundred dollar bills into the machine for you, you don't even get to touch them. Waste of time and effort.
zippyboy
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December 19th, 2011 at 6:58:09 AM permalink
Normal offer is only $200 for new members, so $300 is better. But it's not on any machine, just a dozen tight $5 machines in a roped off area in center of casino. Apathetic girl chatting with her bf on her cell will feed hundreds into slot for you, and you must play max coin, and play till you get one of the major prizes listed on the glass, then THAT'S what your free play will be elsewhere in the casino. She'll give you a ticket to redeem for the FP at the Owl Desk. If you don't get one of those major prizes, you get nothing. So you can't just run through the $200 thinking you can take your paltry winnings for your pocket.

However, if you're into collecting a weighty stack of players cards, the Owl Card may have value because Hooters is believed to be next to close. Get it while you can.
"Poker sure is an easy game to beat if you have the roll to keep rebuying."
CrystalMath
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December 19th, 2011 at 7:27:20 AM permalink
Agreed. Don't go. I did it a few years ago for $100 and it was worthless. At the time, you had to hit one of the top two awards or accumulate something like 1700 credits (you started with 20!). You will regret wasting an hour.
I heart Crystal Math.
Wizard
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December 19th, 2011 at 8:14:27 AM permalink
Same reply from me. I complain about that misleading offer in my Hooters review. The actual worth of that offer is about $5. Note that any time you see the word "promotional" in such offers, assume it a trick.
"For with much wisdom comes much sorrow." -- Ecclesiastes 1:18 (NIV)
Tiltpoul
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December 19th, 2011 at 9:12:37 AM permalink
However, if you're nearby, check out the Tropicana. They had a promotion where you got 1:1 on losses on ANY gaming machine, half of which is redeemable that same day, the other half at a later date, up to a year. You have to LOSE the total amount, but you can play it on Video Poker if you want. I found it to be a very generous promotion, especially if you're going to visit Vegas again within a year.
"One out of every four people are [morons]"- Kyle, South Park
FleaStiff
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December 19th, 2011 at 9:13:47 AM permalink
Quote: Wizard

The actual worth of that offer is about $5.

Okay, then if its worth "about five dollars" but is variously described as a one hundred dollar offer or a two hundred dollar offer or even a three-hundred dollar offer this is a good example of the misleading hype that seems to pervade Las Vegas. Face it, wouldn't you expect such stuff from a used car salesman or something. Prominently featuring the word promotional may be a tip-off but it shouldn't be. If they want to have some lousy five dollar promotional offer they should describe it as such. Now I can understand some "rounding off" or some sort of puffery but in reality if its a worth five dollars I don't know why they don't such say "Five Dollar offer".

How much is an average taxi-fare and tip? All to take advantage of a five dollar offer? Who would ever do it?
Tiltpoul
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December 19th, 2011 at 9:32:46 AM permalink
Quote: FleaStiff

Face it, wouldn't you expect such stuff from a used car salesman or something.



Actually, a used car salesman would feel right at home in Hooters. The green and purple plaid sportcoat doesn't stand out nearly as much against an orange background.
"One out of every four people are [morons]"- Kyle, South Park
Wizard
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December 19th, 2011 at 9:56:08 AM permalink
Quote: FleaStiff

this is a good example of the misleading hype that seems to pervade Las Vegas.



I agree. You should have seen the hype from the former Vegas World. Bob Stupak was famous for it.

For now, I'm happy with my victory against the Vegas Club by getting them to stop saying they have the "loosest slots downtown." However, I don't want to push it so far as to file a formal complaint about Hooters. They at least say "promotional." It isn't just Vegas, that word should set off a huge red flag anywhere in the US that they are about to be tricked.

In a city where prostitution is illegal, yet about 200 pages of the Yellow Pages are devoted to such services, you have to assume enforcement of truth in advertising laws don't take a high priority around here.
"For with much wisdom comes much sorrow." -- Ecclesiastes 1:18 (NIV)
FleaStiff
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December 19th, 2011 at 10:31:46 AM permalink
In a town that is desperately pleading for people to come visit and open up your wallets to have fun in our casinos ... I would expect that the casino industry is the one industry that would have to be straight forward in their advertising. Imagine taking a cab to get to the Three Hundred Dollar Hooters special and then finding out its an utter rip-off. You may be pissed at Hooters and pissed at yourself but you are going to go get another cab and gamble elsewhere!

I sent an email to Tuscany about their website's "Where The Odds Are In Your Favor" and two weeks later they hired a firm to completely re-do the website. I've no idea if the two events are connected but their website no longer makes any such utterly absurd claim like that!

Tourists are often drunk (to at least some degree) and often ignorant of the games they are playing (to a great degree). The last thing any drunk, ignorant player needs is the casino lying to him or deceiving him. Sure its a festive atmosphere the alcohol intake is still his choice but if the casinos want repeat customers they need to be honest and direct.
Wizard
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December 19th, 2011 at 10:38:08 AM permalink
You might consider writing a letter of complaint to the Gaming Control Board about it yourself.
"For with much wisdom comes much sorrow." -- Ecclesiastes 1:18 (NIV)
pacomartin
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December 19th, 2011 at 12:28:50 PM permalink
I am reminded of what a girl once said to me in Mexico (about 20 years ago). We were told by a salesgirl that we could go to lunch at this time-share and we didn't have to sit for the presentation, that it was sufficient to simply see the place and decide for ourselves.

After we went on the bus to the time-share they began their two hour presentation. When we complained and said that is not we were told, the girl said "Did you think you were going to get something for free? You shouldn't have believed the girl.

It's practical advice.
odiousgambit
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December 19th, 2011 at 1:50:03 PM permalink
Quote: pacomartin

Did you think you were going to get something for free? ...It's practical advice.



Personally, because of this sort of thing, I am quite allergic to "free" offers. It has made me very slow to get on to the "comp" idea. Not that I earn much in comps the way I play. In any case you can be sure I won't be found at a free lunch for time shares etc, no matter how reassuring someone is that there is no hard sell.
the next time Dame Fortune toys with your heart, your soul and your wallet, raise your glass and praise her thus: “Thanks for nothing, you cold-hearted, evil, damnable, nefarious, low-life, malicious monster from Hell!”   She is, after all, stone deaf. ... Arnold Snyder
wrongway
wrongway
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December 20th, 2011 at 3:15:57 AM permalink
Thanks for all of the info. We can scratch that casino off of the list.
wrongway
wrongway
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December 20th, 2011 at 3:16:36 AM permalink
Thanks for all of the info. We can scratch that casino off of the list.
FleaStiff
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December 20th, 2011 at 4:44:54 AM permalink
I time-share's "free lunch" may be the most expensive meal you'll ever have in your entire life depending upon just how well you can resist a salesman and the attractive young shills that are often planted in the audience.

Even the various "comps" systems in Vegas casinos are indeed entangling alliances meant to ensnare you into a false sense of "loyalty" to a particular casino. Its nice to obtain a sort of rebate as a reward but it should never become an overwhelming influence on your behavior. Sort of a "never eat at a free lunch unless you are hungry" policy.

Hooters has been crossed off the poster's prospective list. This forum has done its job. Of course it can be said that the executives at Hooters that instituted and maintained the practices there did their job too. They just didn't do it well. And they are reaping the rewards of their job performance. If Hooters had been more honest and straightforward with their customers perhaps they would have been a more oft-visited casino. Hooters executives had the capacity to make a choice and seem to have forgotten that the public has the capacity to make choices also.
teddys
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December 20th, 2011 at 8:40:13 AM permalink
I just did the $200 promo, and I enjoyed it. I'll take the contrary position: Yes, the expected value is low, but it is fun to pay slots for 10 minutes. Unlike Casino Royale's promotion, which I think is worse, it is not "jackpot or nothing" on the machines; you can increase your credits by hitting minor awards. Sure, the prizes suck, but it is better than nothing.

I was impressed by Hooter's as a property and think they do a lot of things well. They have a decent (okay, barely so) promotion where you can earn some free gear for earning points after signing up. Got a t-shirt and hat. Played single-deck blackjack with a Hooter's girl for 15 minutes. Won $55. Plus, I kinda like that faux-wood decor. I would recommend a visit to hooters.
"Dice, verily, are armed with goads and driving-hooks, deceiving and tormenting, causing grievous woe." -Rig Veda 10.34.4
Wizard
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December 20th, 2011 at 8:48:50 AM permalink
I wouldn't cross the casino off the list only because of this. It is otherwise a good value. Not to mention Hooters girls dealing 3-2 single-deck blackjack.
"For with much wisdom comes much sorrow." -- Ecclesiastes 1:18 (NIV)
odiousgambit
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December 20th, 2011 at 8:49:29 AM permalink
Quote: teddys

I just did the $200 promo, and I enjoyed it. I'll take the contrary position



I'm thinking high expectations getting crushed are largely the problem. Presumably yours were lowered, and that was a good thing.
the next time Dame Fortune toys with your heart, your soul and your wallet, raise your glass and praise her thus: “Thanks for nothing, you cold-hearted, evil, damnable, nefarious, low-life, malicious monster from Hell!”   She is, after all, stone deaf. ... Arnold Snyder
pacomartin
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December 20th, 2011 at 9:45:36 AM permalink
Quote: Wizard

I wouldn't cross the casino off the list only because of this. It is otherwise a good value. Not to mention Hooters girls dealing 3-2 single-deck blackjack.



Good point! Two years ago if you wanted to play a game with reasonable odds the dealer wore long underwear (I'm not kiiding). Now you can play decent odds against a Hooter girl.

Logically a casino can only afford to spend so much "expected loss" on a cold contact who did nothing more than walk into your place and sign up
If you give a $5 match play on blackjack, then you are spending $2.50, but at least you know the person is willing to sit down at a table
If you give a "free spin" then the expected value is probably less than $2
If you give $40 on regular machines with an expected loss of 5% then it is $2
If you give $300 it had better be on machines with a very low expected value (about 1%) so that the casino's expected loss per customer is $2
CrystalMath
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December 20th, 2011 at 12:14:03 PM permalink
Before I did the promotion, I really wanted to stick around and play, but after I did the promotion, I didn't give the casino a chance. I didn't expect them to give away $100 in real free play, but I didn't expect it to be so lousy either. I'd rather take $5 in real free play than take a $100 offer worth $5 by the Wizard's estimate.
I heart Crystal Math.
FleaStiff
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December 20th, 2011 at 12:46:39 PM permalink
Quote: pacomartin

If you give $300 it had better be on machines with a very low expected value (about 1%) so that the casino's expected loss per customer is $2

I understand the point being made. The casino really wants to SPEND two dollars but ADVERTISE three hundred dollars... and if that is the situation they might be better off to just come right out and SAY THAT.
We will give you 300 dollars to play at a One percent machine wherein the top Prize is pretty darned impressive but unlikely to hit.

We make decisions based on over all impressions and do not generally give sole weight to one particular factor, but when it comes to deception that is an impression that outweighs alot of other things. The casino is used to Hype... its Las Vegas, after all. Many of the women have "enhancements", many casinos have loose slots, all casinos offer bargains and extravaganzas and everything is hyped. So to a casino executive saying 300 and meaning two dollars is utterly normal. I just don't think its quite that way for the customers.
cardcounter
cardcounter
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December 22nd, 2011 at 4:48:43 PM permalink
Quote: wrongway

I was wondering if anyone has used the $300 slot play coupon in American Casino Guide. Sounds too good to be true. In the fine print it says something about cash awarded for top prize only. Going to Vegas next week, any info is appreciated. Thanks!



One day I was in Vegas and Hooters had an advertisement a $100 in free slot play for new card members so I go over there to check it out. I live in Tahoe where a $100 in free slot play really means $100 in free slot play from places like the Peppermill with about a $97 cash value after you played it out. However the $100 of free slot play at Hooters was probably worth about 5 cents and I walked away with nothing after playing out the slots. Basically Hooters was a bait and switch with there free slot play offer. I prefer the $7 of free slot play I get every week from Cal-Neva in Reno to the $100 of slot play I got at Hooters.
cardcounter
cardcounter
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December 22nd, 2011 at 4:51:27 PM permalink
Quote: Wizard

Same reply from me. I complain about that misleading offer in my Hooters review. The actual worth of that offer is about $5. Note that any time you see the word "promotional" in such offers, assume it a trick.



I think that the Wizard is being generous when he says the value of the offer is $5 I think that it is even less.
cardcounter
cardcounter
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December 22nd, 2011 at 4:55:20 PM permalink
Quote: Wizard

I wouldn't cross the casino off the list only because of this. It is otherwise a good value. Not to mention Hooters girls dealing 3-2 single-deck blackjack.



I did eat at the Restaurant there and the food was really good so they had that going for them!
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