Another trip to Reno

Some more offers have led to another trip to Reno, where I am writing this. The first two nights of this trip we stayed at the Eldorado, downtown. This is one of three casinos connected by skyways, the others being the Silver Legacy and Circus Circus.

One of the main purposes of this trip was to try to figure out exactly what we are earning in comps and free play from the casinos we have targeted, at least for now, to play in Reno. Besides the three downtown, the others are the Peppermill and the Atlantis, about three-quarters of a mile from each other on Virginia Street south of downtown.

Compared to most player club systems in Las Vegas, those in Reno are complicated and opaque. At the locals casinos in Vegas, you typically earn points based on coin-in, typically one point for every $1 or $10 played through. Points can be used for free play or comps at a specified rate. At Station
Casinos, for example, 1,000 points equals $1 in comps or free play. Thus, points are worth 0.1 percent and add that much to the payback of the games. There are variations and complications, but for the most part the basic system is easy to understand.

In Reno, the systems are all over the map. Points, if they're involved at all, usually serve only to determine your card tier level. You may earn comps and free play, or only comps, which in some cases can be converted to free play, but usually at a reduced rate. But the big kicker is that at some of the casinos, the comps and/or free play accumulate at different rates on different games, and even at different rates for different players!

To figure out what we are getting at the Peppermill, which has a comps and tier points system (comps can be converted to free play at one-half the value, with restrictions), my spouse and I ran $1,000 through several machines. What we found was that the points and comps accumulated at different rates on different machines, even if we were playing the same game. Of two machines with exactly the same game in the same format, one gave substantially more points and more than 25 percent more in comps.

Why? We could only guess. We know that all comp rates can depend on all the games on a machine, and the one that gave us the most had slot games as well as video poker. An otherwise identical machine that gave less had video keno games on it but no slots. Another possibility: because the Peppermill adjusts comp accumulation by player, the system may have loosened up for us because of losses earlier in the day. All I know for sure is that we're going to have to keep working to figure out how the Peppermill's system works and whether it gives us enough to make further play there worthwhile.

I'll have more to say about the player club systems at the other casinos, but right now I'd to share a few general observations.

1. Of the four buffets we've sampled in Reno, we were very impressed with three: the Peppermill, Atlantis and Eldorado. The Eldorado's buffet is a little smaller than the other two but has what I think is the best atmosphere, with a decor based on wood and stone. It also seems a little quieter than most buffets, and you can easily enjoy a conversation with your meal. If this buffet has a specialty, it's barbeque, including the best pork ribs I have ever had in a buffet and very tender, smoky brisket, a rare find in any restaurant, let alone a buffet. The buffet that wasn't as good as others was the Silver Legacy's, but in fairness, we saw some long lines of people waiting to get in, possibly because of player card discounts.

2. Reno has a really stupid slogan: "The biggest little city in the world." Why would that make me want to visit? If I were the mayor, I'd launch a contest for a slogan that says something specific and meaningful about what makes Reno different from every other city.

3. The Circus Circus casino in Reno has its own players club, even through like the CC in Las Vegas it is owned by MGM Resorts. The Reno version is a little less tacky, if you don't take into account the carnival midway above the casino floor. This casino gave me the most unusual premium I have ever received for hitting a taxable jackpot (four deuces for $2,000): two free room nights.

That's going to have to be it for now. Time to hit the casino floor and try to make some money.