What to do with "choice coupon"

My local casino sends me "choice coupons" in the mail that can be used for either a $40 slot play or $40 blackjack match play. I am always torn in deciding which is the better option for me. The slot play works as follows... you keep any winnings, but must give back the casino's $40. So if I end up at 80 after playing they give me 40 in cash. It would appear that the match play has greater EV, however I typically only bring $200 to $300 to the casino (college student) and play $10-20 a hand using basic strategy. Having to bet $40 to use the match play is a bit of a burden given that a loss results in a 20% depletion of bankroll (or more in the case of a lost double or split). Slots seem to be pretty tight (Indian casino with minimal competition), but I have been able to pull of $100 wins on a few occasions which I can then bring to blackjack. Is the potential hit on my BR from using the matchplay worth its EV ($19-$20 value to the best of my knowledge), or am I better off trying my luck on the slots with no out of pocket risk associated but a much smaller EV I think? I typically quit if my bankroll gets very low, because I know that a little negative variance will wipe me out completely which I try to avoid. I suppose this is more of an opinion question than a mathematical question, but I am interested to hear any insight or thoughts.

This might sound as a cop out... But just switch off. The EV is pretty close, so when you have a bigger bankroll for a trip, do it on BJ. When it's smaller, do it on slots...

If you can't get a match play at the levels you're comfortable playing, then the match play offer is worthless.

First thought is can you "match for less?" That lowers total vaslue of the play, but a near-even chance at an extra $20 at BJ should yeild more short-term than spinning off $40 of slot-play.

Quote: winmonkeyspit3

The slot play works as follows... you keep any winnings, but must give back the casino's $40.

This is not good. Short of a big hit, it's too likely to end with nothing, since you can't just play through it and keep the small wins.

If you typically play $10-$20, I don't see what's the big deal with going up to $40 just once. It's not like you always play $5 and $40 is too big now. Although doubling or splitting might be a bit much, if the casino requires doubling the full $80.

You have two enticements:

A slot machine usually has a very high house edge. This is particularly more true in an Indian casino with a geographic monopoly. So the slot machine offer is largely illusory but it does require you to pay the forty dollars only out of winnings. Winnings that are simply not too likely to even be there.

The Match Play option requires you to bet what is an amount that is clearly beyond your comfort zone. It is quite possibly beyond your bankroll too. ALL such match plays are awarded to draw the player out of his comfort zone and establish him at a higher bet level. Its mathematical worth is a bit less than half its face value, but that is a statistical value based on people to whom the exercise of the Match Play coupon is of no big deal financially or emotionally.

Think of it as two girls who would like to go out with you. One wants a cheap date in a coffee shop but tells you its very unlikely that its going to lead to anything. The other girl offers a fair chance at it leading somewhere but makes it clear it has to be an expensive date as she simply is not and never will be some man's cheap date. You know the best thing to do is politely decline the attentions of each of the two girls and go find yourself something more compatible. The problem is that this takes a measure of courage and determination.

So ask yourself. Are you going to display the required courage and determination?

If you can plunk down the forty dollars, lose it, and not complain or feel dejected, fine. Otherwise don't do it.
If you can sit there at a slot machine and basically kill time without much financial reward, fine do that.

Its YOUR time, YOUR money and YOUR emotions. We can't make up your mind for you.

I don't see the big deal of betting $40 one time out of a $200 or $300 buy-in when you have a massive advantage with a match play coupon. If you are afraid to double or split at blackjack, then use the match play coupon on a baccarat table.

If you seriously can't muster the courage to bet $40 one time when you have a massive advantage and you insist on you using the coupon on a slot, then use it on the highest denomination slot possible (for example, a $20 slot that has a two coin max). This will maximize the return on the slot coupon.

Thanks for all of the opinions, this has been very helpful. Back before I found the Wizard of Odds and learned basic strategy I used to vary my bets a lot randomly, sometimes going from 10 all the way up to a few bets at 80 (would press on wins), so I wouldn't say it is out of my comfort zone financially to do the hand at 40, I'm more concerned about its impact on my trip bankroll should the hand head south.

https://wizardofodds.com/games/blackjack/appendix/12/

looked at the Wizard's simulation of Risk of Ruin. I actually have a slightly higher BR than usual for my trip tonight ($500), so I have about 33 units assuming an average bet of 15. If I play 300 hands (guessing the tables will be busy on New Years) I have a risk of ruin of 10%. If I were to lose the matchplay hand (assuming it were my first hand), it would be right between 10% and 20%, and but in the instance of a failed double it would go to 20%. On the other hand, if it is successful I win over 5 units and the risk goes down to 5%. Given the larger bankroll I think I will go with the matchplay tonight, but it seems if my BR is smaller it may be better try to for a small win on the slots and use that money for blackjack. As far as getting the coupon for less, I am not sure, I have asked the clerk if it is possible to get two $20 coupons, to which he flatly said "no". Happy New Year everyone!

Seriously, don't be silly. We're not talking about life-changing amounts here, and you've come to gamble in the first place. Just act like a man, not a virgin on the third date.
And yeah, happy holidays.

It would be nice if one casino offered fp or 2xfp mp ever.

You say it is a "Blackjack" coupon, but if available, using it on Baccarat will limit your exposure to splits/doubles.