I first heard the word "breakage" in the context of casino operations during a discussion with a slot manager at the Palms. Concluding a rant about the undesirablility of video poker players (as opposed to reel slot players) he said, "and there's no breakage."
What he meant, in a gross overgeneralization, is that video poker players use their players cards, take advantage of free play offers and promotions, and use all the points they earn.
Breakage occurs whenever a casino doesn't have to provide something a player has been offered or is entitled to. It's a huge source of casino profits.
Much, perhaps most, breakage is the "fault" of players. The casino sends out room offers, dining credits and free play that can be used only on certain dates. The customer can't make it to the casino while the offers are valid, so they go unused. Breakage.
But another kind of breakage is, in my opinion, manipulative at best and deceptive at worst. This occurs when casinos set things up so it's almost impossible for them to give players what they promise.
A simple example is a drawing or tournament with an advertised prize amount. But the time frame for claiming the prizes is so restrictive that the casino knows a percentage of the money will be forfeited. A few years ago, many casinos would mail prizes to guests who couldn't personally claim them after a drawing or tournament. Now it's not uncommon to require winners to claim within as little as half an hour.
Another way to create breakage is to design a drawing or promotion so that the biggest prizes do not have to be awarded. An easy want to do this is to provide more prizes than there are winners, and have each winner pick a prize. Let's say a casino advertises a drawing with 10 winners and a top prize of $10,000. But each winner has to select an envelope from a total of 20, only one of which contains $10,000. In my opinion a casino operating such a drawing should be allowed only to advertise the top prize guaranteed to be awarded as the top prize. In this case that would be the 11th-highest prize, because the 10 highest prizes might not be selected. The top potential prize ought to be allowed to be mentioned in advertising only if it is made clear that this prize might not be awarded. The usual "win up to $10,000" in a case like this is at best misleading.
There are ways to set up a promotion so that the creation of breakage is achieved with great subtlety. Let's look, for example, at the weekly seniors drawings at the Silverton.
The casino holds three drawings each Monday for players 50 and older, at 2, 4 and 6 p.m. There are 15 prizes at each drawing, ranging from $50 free play to $1,000 cash. A player can win at one, two or all three drawings each week. Tickets are earned on Mondays only based on amount of coin-in. All tickets remain in the drum for all remaining drawings that day.
But every senior is entitled to a free entry. Part of Silverton's seniors day promotion is a half-off buffet or entree at the cafe. To get this discount, players have to swipe at a kiosk. With the discount they automatically get an entry into the drawing.
Players need not be present to win, but must claim their prize within two hours of each drawing. Those who are serious about these drawings time their play on Mondays to end just before 2 p.m., wait for the results of that drawing, come back just before 6 p.m. to check the results of the 4 p.m. drawing and wait for the results of the final drawing.
How many people who come for a cheap lunch and have one ticket in the drum are going to check the results of all three drawings? Not many, I'm sure. I wouldn't. Same for casual players who might earn a few tickets. And plenty of people are going to have things to do that keep them from checking, even if they have good reason to do so.
I participate in these drawings almost every week and usually win at least a couple of times a month. Winners have to sign a sheet of paper on which all the winners' names are listed. Signing for the 4 p.m. drawing just before the end of the two hours claiming period, I often have seen that only a few of the 15 winners have shown up to get their prizes.
It's important to understand that even a promotion designed to create breakage, and even one that's deceptively advertised, can be an advantage play. And the Silverton, for example, undoubtedly would provide a much smaller prize pool on Monday if the rules provided that all prizes had to be awarded.
Nonetheless, I agree with Michael Gaughan, owner of South Point, whose philosophy is that casinos ought to give away what they say they are going to give away.
Showing posts with label Palms. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Palms. Show all posts
Sunday, November 29, 2015
Friday, June 26, 2015
A hint of desperation
It's been very hot in Las Vegas lately -- today's high, 112 degrees -- and maybe that's resulted in fewer people going out to gamble. Whatever the reason, several casinos have taken unusual steps recently to lure players in.
It's been a long time since the Palms has offered point multipliers. Instead, it allows players to earn gift cards with weekday play at a rate of 0.2 percent on video poker. That's almost equal to the point value of 0.25 percent. But the other day I got an e-mail from the Palms offering double points yesterday, a day on which play also counted toward gift cards, bringing the total value offered to 0.7 percent. The best game on which the multiplier could be earned was 16/10 "not-so-ugly" deuces, with a maximum payback of 99.73, making for a 100.4+ percent play. (On top of that, I had an American Casino Guide coupon for $50 in free play after earning 15,000 points in one day, adding 0.33 percent.) I was worried so many people would come to the Palms for the point multiplier that all the "good" machines would be taken, but that proved not to be a problem.
When I checked my e-mail last night, there was an offer for $15 in free play today or tomorrow from Station Casinos. Stations has rarely if ever made such an offer by e-mail. This offer and the Palms point multiplier seem to me to be attempts to boost coin-in totals before the end of the month, indicating that play to this point has not been up to expectations.
Another indication of desperation: A few weeks ago, the SLS, the north Strip casino that had been the Sahara, offered 10 times points on video poker. My spouse and I both went in and lost a lot of money. The other day, a host called and offered her a 5 percent rebate in free play of her loss that day. Brilliant woman that she is, she asked the host to check on my play that day to see I could get a rebate as well. Sure enough, the host called back and said I could get $150 in addition to the $350 offered my spouse.
While I was at the SLS the day of our big losses, I chatted with a host I recognized from the now-closed Riviera. She admitted the property was struggling, and was trying to attract locals. Ever helpful, I offered some free advice.
First, I will say that it's hard to attract locals to the Strip on a regular basis because of traffic and parking concerns. For those lacking comps, the restaurants and other amenities on the Strip are much more expensive than in the locals casinos or downtown. The machines, both reel slots and video poker, are generally tighter, and table game minimums are higher. To a degree this is necessary because of the higher costs of operating on the Strip.
In some respects, SLS, away from the center of the Strip, is relatively well positioned to draw locals. It's near I-15's Sahara Avenue exit and has lots of convenient garage parking, which can be entered from either the Las Vegas Boulevard or Paradise Avenue sides of the building. But the big challenge facing the SLS and other Strip and downtown properties trying to draw locals is this: What can I offer to make it worthwhile for people to drive past the Red Rock Resort, Green Valley Ranch or other major locals casinos to come to my property?
I pointed out to the host from the Riviera that the SLS's video poker pay tables are not competitive with those at the locals casinos and that when the SLS was the Sahara, it had a section called Locals Lane that featured better video poker as well as reel slots. (There was no requirement that you had to be a local to play in Locals Lane; it was open to everyone.) Bringing back Locals Lane or something like it would indicate that the SLS is willing to do something special to win their business.
Something the SLS has been doing and should build on is holding tournaments. The locals casinos don't offer many tournaments of any significant value. When what is now the Westgate was the Las Vegas Hilton, it offered monthly tournaments geared most to locals as well as larger tournaments that were open to qualifying locals. These tournaments helped build a loyal group of local customers, many of whom formed friendships not only with one another but also with casino employees. (The casino business, though largely taken over by numbers crunchers, also still is -- or should be -- a relationship business.)
Another thing the SLS might try to do is market itself as the place for locals' friends and family members to stay on the Strip. Offering locals free room nights that can be used by visitors might bring in new out-of-town customers who could be marketed to separately. The SLS is an attractive property, catering to the sensibilities of younger people. To this crowd, the resort's location away from the center of the Strip may be a disadvantage, but one that could be at least partially overcome by cooperative marketing with the Las Vegas Monorail, which stops at the property. Possibility: a free Monorail pass with every stay of more than a specified number of nights.
One thing the SLS has been doing that I don't think is likely to be effective is blitzing locals with gift offers. Although gifts have been very effective at locals casinos in getting people through the doors, I doubt they will be as good at a casino that most customers have to travel a considerable distance and/or go out of their way to reach. And then there's still the problem of getting people to play once you've gotten them in the door. If I were in management at SLS, I would consider redirecting the gift budget to dining offers. This would be in line with the overall marketing of the resort as a "foodie" destination. One thing I might to for locals is offer a discount for walking in that could be upgraded to a free meal with a certain amount of play.
Finally, Boyd Gaming has expanded its Wednesday "Young at Heart" program from the Coast locals casinos to its downtown properties, the Fremont, California and Main Street Station. This month there have been separate "Young at Heart" point multipliers -- up to 30 times points on video poker with a maximum of 100,000 multiplied points -- during the day and from 7 p.m. to midnight, as well as drawing, buffet offers and dining credits.
I think its smart for Boyd to market its downtown casinos to locals. Boyd's Coast chain has about half as many properties at Stations, its major competitor in the locals market. Two Coast properties, the Orleans and Gold Coast, are very close to each other. There is no Coast property in the northern part of the Las Vegas Valley, where Stations has Santa Fe Station, Texas Station and Fiesta Rancho.
But it's not going to be easy for Boyd to get middle-aged, middle-class residents of the outlying areas to come downtown. Panhandlers, drunken tourists, traffic hassles, parking restrictions and outdated properties are among the turn-offs. Attractive gaming offers are probably necessary but not sufficient to draw more locals. What's needed is an education effort that frankly addresses the reasons locals have for not wanting to go downtown and letting them know what Boyd has done to minimize the problems and why its worth making the trip despite the problems that can't be eliminated.
For example: The Fremont has no self-parking, only valet. Parking at other casinos along Fremont Street is no longer a good option for visitors to the Fremont who don't also want to play or eat at another casino. But, as my spouse found out only by asking, anyone with a Boyd sapphire or emerald players card can park all day for free at the California's garage, without the hassle of dealing with validation. Boyd needs to let locals know they can park downtown, in a covered garage, virtually hassle-free.
Although driving into and out of downtown is pretty easy, it's easy for those not familiar with the tangle of highways leading there to be intimidated. Any mailing aimed to get people downtown should provide maps and directions to the properties being marketed.
Of the three downtown Boyd casinos, one is right on the Fremont Street Experience and two are a short walk from it. I think this situation calls for some sophisticated marketing, especially to locals. I would try to get locals to think of one of the casinos -- Main Street Station is my choice -- as their "headquarters," with easy access to the others for those who want it as a bonus.
Main Street is the most attractive of the three properties and the farthest from the commotion of the FSE. It has a nice buffet and a brew pub, amenities that many locals should find attractive. It is connected by enclosed bridge to the Cal, where patrons can park all day in a covered garage (MSS also has its own huge surface parking lot, but that's not a competitive option for locals). The Cal itself has been established as a magnet for visitors from Hawaii, I believe its main attraction to locals would be as an annex to MSS, offering additional dining and shopping options.
The Fremont offers the most challenges in marketing to locals. As noted, it lacks self-parking. It's only a short walk from the Cal, but along unattractive streets lined by the backs of parking garages. Its main attractions are restaurants including a very popular Tony Roma's and its video poker, particularly NSU deuces at high denominations. Some locals will want to leave the MSS-Cal cocoon for the Fremont; others won't. The marketing for these properties should stress that you don't have to, but you can, and it's not difficult or dangerous to do so (maybe security escorts should be offered to those reluctant to take the walk).
Downtown attractions such as the Smith Center and Mob Museum might offer cross-marketing opportunities for Boyd, as well as additional reasons for people to come downtown.
Both the SLS and the Boyd downtown properties illustrate the need for marketers to assess the advantages and disadvantages of their properties in regard to each type of customer they hope to attract. They must also try to ascertain the reasons customers have for not coming to their properties, and do what they can to refute or at least mitigate these objections.
A final suggestion: In a still-struggling economy, most businesses -- especially those relying on discretionary spending -- compete by offering more value, not less. Since the economic crisis of 2008, many gaming companies have downgraded pay tables, tightening rules, cut comps and otherwise reduced customer value. Especially for casinos struggling to attract customers, maybe its time for a different approach.
It's been a long time since the Palms has offered point multipliers. Instead, it allows players to earn gift cards with weekday play at a rate of 0.2 percent on video poker. That's almost equal to the point value of 0.25 percent. But the other day I got an e-mail from the Palms offering double points yesterday, a day on which play also counted toward gift cards, bringing the total value offered to 0.7 percent. The best game on which the multiplier could be earned was 16/10 "not-so-ugly" deuces, with a maximum payback of 99.73, making for a 100.4+ percent play. (On top of that, I had an American Casino Guide coupon for $50 in free play after earning 15,000 points in one day, adding 0.33 percent.) I was worried so many people would come to the Palms for the point multiplier that all the "good" machines would be taken, but that proved not to be a problem.
When I checked my e-mail last night, there was an offer for $15 in free play today or tomorrow from Station Casinos. Stations has rarely if ever made such an offer by e-mail. This offer and the Palms point multiplier seem to me to be attempts to boost coin-in totals before the end of the month, indicating that play to this point has not been up to expectations.
Another indication of desperation: A few weeks ago, the SLS, the north Strip casino that had been the Sahara, offered 10 times points on video poker. My spouse and I both went in and lost a lot of money. The other day, a host called and offered her a 5 percent rebate in free play of her loss that day. Brilliant woman that she is, she asked the host to check on my play that day to see I could get a rebate as well. Sure enough, the host called back and said I could get $150 in addition to the $350 offered my spouse.
While I was at the SLS the day of our big losses, I chatted with a host I recognized from the now-closed Riviera. She admitted the property was struggling, and was trying to attract locals. Ever helpful, I offered some free advice.
First, I will say that it's hard to attract locals to the Strip on a regular basis because of traffic and parking concerns. For those lacking comps, the restaurants and other amenities on the Strip are much more expensive than in the locals casinos or downtown. The machines, both reel slots and video poker, are generally tighter, and table game minimums are higher. To a degree this is necessary because of the higher costs of operating on the Strip.
In some respects, SLS, away from the center of the Strip, is relatively well positioned to draw locals. It's near I-15's Sahara Avenue exit and has lots of convenient garage parking, which can be entered from either the Las Vegas Boulevard or Paradise Avenue sides of the building. But the big challenge facing the SLS and other Strip and downtown properties trying to draw locals is this: What can I offer to make it worthwhile for people to drive past the Red Rock Resort, Green Valley Ranch or other major locals casinos to come to my property?
I pointed out to the host from the Riviera that the SLS's video poker pay tables are not competitive with those at the locals casinos and that when the SLS was the Sahara, it had a section called Locals Lane that featured better video poker as well as reel slots. (There was no requirement that you had to be a local to play in Locals Lane; it was open to everyone.) Bringing back Locals Lane or something like it would indicate that the SLS is willing to do something special to win their business.
Something the SLS has been doing and should build on is holding tournaments. The locals casinos don't offer many tournaments of any significant value. When what is now the Westgate was the Las Vegas Hilton, it offered monthly tournaments geared most to locals as well as larger tournaments that were open to qualifying locals. These tournaments helped build a loyal group of local customers, many of whom formed friendships not only with one another but also with casino employees. (The casino business, though largely taken over by numbers crunchers, also still is -- or should be -- a relationship business.)
Another thing the SLS might try to do is market itself as the place for locals' friends and family members to stay on the Strip. Offering locals free room nights that can be used by visitors might bring in new out-of-town customers who could be marketed to separately. The SLS is an attractive property, catering to the sensibilities of younger people. To this crowd, the resort's location away from the center of the Strip may be a disadvantage, but one that could be at least partially overcome by cooperative marketing with the Las Vegas Monorail, which stops at the property. Possibility: a free Monorail pass with every stay of more than a specified number of nights.
One thing the SLS has been doing that I don't think is likely to be effective is blitzing locals with gift offers. Although gifts have been very effective at locals casinos in getting people through the doors, I doubt they will be as good at a casino that most customers have to travel a considerable distance and/or go out of their way to reach. And then there's still the problem of getting people to play once you've gotten them in the door. If I were in management at SLS, I would consider redirecting the gift budget to dining offers. This would be in line with the overall marketing of the resort as a "foodie" destination. One thing I might to for locals is offer a discount for walking in that could be upgraded to a free meal with a certain amount of play.
Finally, Boyd Gaming has expanded its Wednesday "Young at Heart" program from the Coast locals casinos to its downtown properties, the Fremont, California and Main Street Station. This month there have been separate "Young at Heart" point multipliers -- up to 30 times points on video poker with a maximum of 100,000 multiplied points -- during the day and from 7 p.m. to midnight, as well as drawing, buffet offers and dining credits.
I think its smart for Boyd to market its downtown casinos to locals. Boyd's Coast chain has about half as many properties at Stations, its major competitor in the locals market. Two Coast properties, the Orleans and Gold Coast, are very close to each other. There is no Coast property in the northern part of the Las Vegas Valley, where Stations has Santa Fe Station, Texas Station and Fiesta Rancho.
But it's not going to be easy for Boyd to get middle-aged, middle-class residents of the outlying areas to come downtown. Panhandlers, drunken tourists, traffic hassles, parking restrictions and outdated properties are among the turn-offs. Attractive gaming offers are probably necessary but not sufficient to draw more locals. What's needed is an education effort that frankly addresses the reasons locals have for not wanting to go downtown and letting them know what Boyd has done to minimize the problems and why its worth making the trip despite the problems that can't be eliminated.
For example: The Fremont has no self-parking, only valet. Parking at other casinos along Fremont Street is no longer a good option for visitors to the Fremont who don't also want to play or eat at another casino. But, as my spouse found out only by asking, anyone with a Boyd sapphire or emerald players card can park all day for free at the California's garage, without the hassle of dealing with validation. Boyd needs to let locals know they can park downtown, in a covered garage, virtually hassle-free.
Although driving into and out of downtown is pretty easy, it's easy for those not familiar with the tangle of highways leading there to be intimidated. Any mailing aimed to get people downtown should provide maps and directions to the properties being marketed.
Of the three downtown Boyd casinos, one is right on the Fremont Street Experience and two are a short walk from it. I think this situation calls for some sophisticated marketing, especially to locals. I would try to get locals to think of one of the casinos -- Main Street Station is my choice -- as their "headquarters," with easy access to the others for those who want it as a bonus.
Main Street is the most attractive of the three properties and the farthest from the commotion of the FSE. It has a nice buffet and a brew pub, amenities that many locals should find attractive. It is connected by enclosed bridge to the Cal, where patrons can park all day in a covered garage (MSS also has its own huge surface parking lot, but that's not a competitive option for locals). The Cal itself has been established as a magnet for visitors from Hawaii, I believe its main attraction to locals would be as an annex to MSS, offering additional dining and shopping options.
The Fremont offers the most challenges in marketing to locals. As noted, it lacks self-parking. It's only a short walk from the Cal, but along unattractive streets lined by the backs of parking garages. Its main attractions are restaurants including a very popular Tony Roma's and its video poker, particularly NSU deuces at high denominations. Some locals will want to leave the MSS-Cal cocoon for the Fremont; others won't. The marketing for these properties should stress that you don't have to, but you can, and it's not difficult or dangerous to do so (maybe security escorts should be offered to those reluctant to take the walk).
Downtown attractions such as the Smith Center and Mob Museum might offer cross-marketing opportunities for Boyd, as well as additional reasons for people to come downtown.
Both the SLS and the Boyd downtown properties illustrate the need for marketers to assess the advantages and disadvantages of their properties in regard to each type of customer they hope to attract. They must also try to ascertain the reasons customers have for not coming to their properties, and do what they can to refute or at least mitigate these objections.
A final suggestion: In a still-struggling economy, most businesses -- especially those relying on discretionary spending -- compete by offering more value, not less. Since the economic crisis of 2008, many gaming companies have downgraded pay tables, tightening rules, cut comps and otherwise reduced customer value. Especially for casinos struggling to attract customers, maybe its time for a different approach.
Monday, May 5, 2014
Back to the Palms
When George Maloof owned the Palms, I was a regular customer. Like all other casinos, it had its annoying quirks, but the Palms offered good games and some attractive promotions. After Mr. Maloof lost control of the property, the management put in by the new owners made a series of decisions that culminated in my severing my business relationship with the Palms.
Since around the first of the year, the Palms has been under new managers, and they have justified my giving the Palms a second chance. The most significant change is that they put in a good game -- $1 "not so ugly" deuces (99.73 percent maximum payback) -- and made it eligible for all promotions. (In the Maloof era, all games with maximum payback of more than 99.54 percent were ineligible for most promotions.)
Another attractive, and innovative, move: Anyone who participates in the Palms' weekly drawing and isn't called now gets $10 in free play, good the next day. That's as much as $50 this month. Because the Palms' points are worth 0.25 percent, making NSU deuces nearly break-even, that's money in the bank.
The last mailer I received before this policy went into effect offered $3 in free play four times in March. This mailer was not adequate enticement to get me into the casino. With the NSU deuces available, $10 a week from the drawings in April was enough to entice me to give the Palms some play and see what I would get the next month. I did get a mailer for May with $10 in free play four times, plus one $5 dining credit. Not terrible impressive, but combined with the free play from the drawings, enough to get me through the door each week this month.
I was disappointed to see that my mailer did not include any free pulls on Megabucks or Wheel of Fortune. In the Maloof era, I would get two pulls on Megabucks three times a week and two on Wheel of Fortune twice a week. These were not high-value promotions but allowed me to go for some fantasy jackpots on machines I would not otherwise play. The Palms also used to have swipe card promotions on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The prizes were often disappointing but once in a while I'd get something of value. Apparently those have been discontinued. The Palms still offers gifts on many Saturdays, which is also the day the free play from the drawings is good, giving two reasons to come to the casino.
Among the Palms' quirks is that it does not offer point multipliers. Instead, it has a more-or-less ongoing promotions called Play for Prizes. The face value of the prizes, which change about every two weeks, is generally 0.25 percent of the coin-in required to earn them on video poker, so if there's a prize that's worth full price to you, the promotion effectively doubles your points. Only play on weekdays is eligible for the promotion.
I am cautiously optimistic that the Palms will work its way back to being a leading locals' casino. For now, I plan to give it a moderate amount of play and see what happens. If anything changes, I'll let you know.
Since around the first of the year, the Palms has been under new managers, and they have justified my giving the Palms a second chance. The most significant change is that they put in a good game -- $1 "not so ugly" deuces (99.73 percent maximum payback) -- and made it eligible for all promotions. (In the Maloof era, all games with maximum payback of more than 99.54 percent were ineligible for most promotions.)
Another attractive, and innovative, move: Anyone who participates in the Palms' weekly drawing and isn't called now gets $10 in free play, good the next day. That's as much as $50 this month. Because the Palms' points are worth 0.25 percent, making NSU deuces nearly break-even, that's money in the bank.
The last mailer I received before this policy went into effect offered $3 in free play four times in March. This mailer was not adequate enticement to get me into the casino. With the NSU deuces available, $10 a week from the drawings in April was enough to entice me to give the Palms some play and see what I would get the next month. I did get a mailer for May with $10 in free play four times, plus one $5 dining credit. Not terrible impressive, but combined with the free play from the drawings, enough to get me through the door each week this month.
I was disappointed to see that my mailer did not include any free pulls on Megabucks or Wheel of Fortune. In the Maloof era, I would get two pulls on Megabucks three times a week and two on Wheel of Fortune twice a week. These were not high-value promotions but allowed me to go for some fantasy jackpots on machines I would not otherwise play. The Palms also used to have swipe card promotions on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The prizes were often disappointing but once in a while I'd get something of value. Apparently those have been discontinued. The Palms still offers gifts on many Saturdays, which is also the day the free play from the drawings is good, giving two reasons to come to the casino.
Among the Palms' quirks is that it does not offer point multipliers. Instead, it has a more-or-less ongoing promotions called Play for Prizes. The face value of the prizes, which change about every two weeks, is generally 0.25 percent of the coin-in required to earn them on video poker, so if there's a prize that's worth full price to you, the promotion effectively doubles your points. Only play on weekdays is eligible for the promotion.
I am cautiously optimistic that the Palms will work its way back to being a leading locals' casino. For now, I plan to give it a moderate amount of play and see what happens. If anything changes, I'll let you know.
Sunday, June 3, 2012
Follow-up on the Palms
As predicted, the 50-cent full pay deuces have been removed from the Palms.
This violates the general rule that it's better for a casino not to offer something attractive to players and yank it away, then never to offer it at all.
One clue that the 50-cent deuces wouldn't last was that there were a number of them adjacent to one another, making it possible for several people at once to play two machines at a time. And these machines were fast! The set-up was a magnet for advantage players.
When new management took over from founder George Maloof at the Palms, it removed the 25-cent full-pay deuces progressive (and other potential advantage plays). Why the new management thought the 50-cent deuces wouldn't hurt the bottom line as much as the quarter deuces is beyond me.
I was told a few months ago the new management's changes in video poker at the Palms were over. Apparently that wasn't true.
This violates the general rule that it's better for a casino not to offer something attractive to players and yank it away, then never to offer it at all.
One clue that the 50-cent deuces wouldn't last was that there were a number of them adjacent to one another, making it possible for several people at once to play two machines at a time. And these machines were fast! The set-up was a magnet for advantage players.
When new management took over from founder George Maloof at the Palms, it removed the 25-cent full-pay deuces progressive (and other potential advantage plays). Why the new management thought the 50-cent deuces wouldn't hurt the bottom line as much as the quarter deuces is beyond me.
I was told a few months ago the new management's changes in video poker at the Palms were over. Apparently that wasn't true.
Monday, May 21, 2012
Notes and thoughts on a few new things:
1. The Orleans has changed its Tuesday seniors program to include a drawing at 4 p.m. This drawing is unusual in a couple of a little unusual. You don't have to activate your tickets -- everyone who has played during the eligibility period is entered automatically. But you do have to present to win. Three names are called. Each winner who is there gets $1,000. Any money that isn't claimed carries over to the following week. The first week, none of the three winners was there. I suspect the prizes will sometimes be substantial, but with everyone who has played during the earning period entered, the chances of winning are reduced. I plan to time my visits to the Orleans to be there for this drawing and see how it goes. Incidentally, exactly what the earning period is is unclear. It was announced in the casino that it's just the day of the drawing, but I was been clicking the "drawings" button on the kiosks and finding tickets for this drawing on other days. Next chance I get, I'll review the written rules, which are on a sign in front of the players' club.
2. I was very disappointed in a promotion at the M Resort that started Friday night. The deal was, earn up to five swipes by putting $250 coin in on video poker. Some swipes would award free play. In my case, five swipes resulted in nothing. My wife got a total of $10. A near-Strip resort has been running a similar promotion this month and the same week I got nothing at the M I got $140 in free play at the other place (which I am not naming because to keep competition at its drawings, which have been very good to me, to a minimum). At both places I play 15/9 "pseudo not so ugly" deuces for $1 on the five-play machines, betting $25 a hand. I would think that kind of play would earn something, especially on the first day of a promotion. I cannot understand why casino executives implement promotions that will tick people off instead of promoting the casinos' business. In fairness to the M, its seniors' drawing on Tuesdays offers a good chance of winning meaningful prizes, but this new promotion appears to be a big stinker. Another disappointment at the M: The convenience store on the property apparently has been sold and no longer accepts M slot club points for payment for gas or other purchases.
3. Guess what's back at the Palms? After all the 100-percent payback games had been removed, two or three weeks ago I walked over the area where the $2 "not so ugly" 16/10 deuces were and found them replaced by two rows of 100-percent-plus payback machines, with big signs on top advertising their presence. The games on two rows of machines are double bonus, double double bonus and deuces wild at 25 and 50 cents. Points are earned at one-quarter the rate on other games, making them worth 0.625 percent. Double bonus, which is very difficult to play accurately, and double double bonus, which pays back barely over 100 percent with perfect play, are still fairly common in Las Vegas and can be found in denominations as high as $1. Deuces wild, which pays back 100.76 percent with perfect play, has become relatively rare even at quarters and is found at 50 cents only in two small casinos in Henderson that don't have slot clubs. So the 50-cent full-pay deuces at the Palms is quite a find. Unfortunately, if history is a guide, it won't last long, so enjoy it while you can.
4. Stations continues its comeback with a surprisingly strong promotion this month. Each day through May 28, players' club members can swipe their card at a kiok for prizes. When Stations has run this type of promotion in the past, the prizes have often been disappointing. In particular, they would often be drawing tickets, which were worse than worthless because any edge an individual would get would be swamped by the extra entries awarded other players. Other prizes included slot club points, dining credits and free play. This time, the types of prizes are the same, but in my and my wife's experience, the prizes are many times more valuable than they have been in the past. Point prizes have ranged from 5,000 to 25,000; free play from $10 to $100, and dining credits from $10 to $50. This promotion is been run in conjunction with daily drawings in which five people at each of the eight Stations and two Fiestas wins $500 and a chance to win a Cadillac in a drawing held that night. Winners who are present get an extra $500. The best news about the swipe card part of the promotion is that the drawing ticket prizes have become quite rare and the number of tickets awarded enough to give the winner a real advantage. I was awarded drawing tickets only once in this promotion and the 5,000 extra entries may have been responsible for me winning one of the $1,000 prizes that night (the free drawing tickets, unlike tickets earned during the promotion, are good for one night only). Kudos to Stations for running a promotion that gives its customers something of real value every day they come in.
5. A small casino in Henderson, Club Fortune ticked me and at least a couple of other players off a couple of weeks ago. At this casino it has long been possible to download free play only on certain machines, but these included virtually every machine in the high-limit room. I walked in one day to find labels on almost all the machines in this room saying "this machine does not accept free play." My wife, who preceded me into the room, heard one player saying he was going to the players' club to complain. I tracked down a slot attendant and asked to speak with a manager. The explanation I got was that the slot director wanted to spread the availablilty of free-play compatible machines throughout the floor to give more people a chance to use free play on their favorite machines. This might have made some sense if I had not also been told that the move was made in conjuction with a doubling of the number of machines available for free play. The only sense I could make of this move is that it is a crude attempt to force customers to play at least their free play on machines with worse pay tables, but I did not express this opinion to the manager I spoke with, because it can be hazardous to become known to casino management as a player who knows too much. At any rate, this appears to be a particularly petty, stupid move by a casino's management in terms of possible gain versus irritation of bigger players. Here are two good rules for casino executives to keep in mind: 1. People don't like to have things taken away, even relatively minor conveniences, and 2. People don't like to be told they can't do something at your casino that they can do at other casinos (at most casinos, free play can be used at all or a vast majority of machines).
1. The Orleans has changed its Tuesday seniors program to include a drawing at 4 p.m. This drawing is unusual in a couple of a little unusual. You don't have to activate your tickets -- everyone who has played during the eligibility period is entered automatically. But you do have to present to win. Three names are called. Each winner who is there gets $1,000. Any money that isn't claimed carries over to the following week. The first week, none of the three winners was there. I suspect the prizes will sometimes be substantial, but with everyone who has played during the earning period entered, the chances of winning are reduced. I plan to time my visits to the Orleans to be there for this drawing and see how it goes. Incidentally, exactly what the earning period is is unclear. It was announced in the casino that it's just the day of the drawing, but I was been clicking the "drawings" button on the kiosks and finding tickets for this drawing on other days. Next chance I get, I'll review the written rules, which are on a sign in front of the players' club.
2. I was very disappointed in a promotion at the M Resort that started Friday night. The deal was, earn up to five swipes by putting $250 coin in on video poker. Some swipes would award free play. In my case, five swipes resulted in nothing. My wife got a total of $10. A near-Strip resort has been running a similar promotion this month and the same week I got nothing at the M I got $140 in free play at the other place (which I am not naming because to keep competition at its drawings, which have been very good to me, to a minimum). At both places I play 15/9 "pseudo not so ugly" deuces for $1 on the five-play machines, betting $25 a hand. I would think that kind of play would earn something, especially on the first day of a promotion. I cannot understand why casino executives implement promotions that will tick people off instead of promoting the casinos' business. In fairness to the M, its seniors' drawing on Tuesdays offers a good chance of winning meaningful prizes, but this new promotion appears to be a big stinker. Another disappointment at the M: The convenience store on the property apparently has been sold and no longer accepts M slot club points for payment for gas or other purchases.
3. Guess what's back at the Palms? After all the 100-percent payback games had been removed, two or three weeks ago I walked over the area where the $2 "not so ugly" 16/10 deuces were and found them replaced by two rows of 100-percent-plus payback machines, with big signs on top advertising their presence. The games on two rows of machines are double bonus, double double bonus and deuces wild at 25 and 50 cents. Points are earned at one-quarter the rate on other games, making them worth 0.625 percent. Double bonus, which is very difficult to play accurately, and double double bonus, which pays back barely over 100 percent with perfect play, are still fairly common in Las Vegas and can be found in denominations as high as $1. Deuces wild, which pays back 100.76 percent with perfect play, has become relatively rare even at quarters and is found at 50 cents only in two small casinos in Henderson that don't have slot clubs. So the 50-cent full-pay deuces at the Palms is quite a find. Unfortunately, if history is a guide, it won't last long, so enjoy it while you can.
4. Stations continues its comeback with a surprisingly strong promotion this month. Each day through May 28, players' club members can swipe their card at a kiok for prizes. When Stations has run this type of promotion in the past, the prizes have often been disappointing. In particular, they would often be drawing tickets, which were worse than worthless because any edge an individual would get would be swamped by the extra entries awarded other players. Other prizes included slot club points, dining credits and free play. This time, the types of prizes are the same, but in my and my wife's experience, the prizes are many times more valuable than they have been in the past. Point prizes have ranged from 5,000 to 25,000; free play from $10 to $100, and dining credits from $10 to $50. This promotion is been run in conjunction with daily drawings in which five people at each of the eight Stations and two Fiestas wins $500 and a chance to win a Cadillac in a drawing held that night. Winners who are present get an extra $500. The best news about the swipe card part of the promotion is that the drawing ticket prizes have become quite rare and the number of tickets awarded enough to give the winner a real advantage. I was awarded drawing tickets only once in this promotion and the 5,000 extra entries may have been responsible for me winning one of the $1,000 prizes that night (the free drawing tickets, unlike tickets earned during the promotion, are good for one night only). Kudos to Stations for running a promotion that gives its customers something of real value every day they come in.
5. A small casino in Henderson, Club Fortune ticked me and at least a couple of other players off a couple of weeks ago. At this casino it has long been possible to download free play only on certain machines, but these included virtually every machine in the high-limit room. I walked in one day to find labels on almost all the machines in this room saying "this machine does not accept free play." My wife, who preceded me into the room, heard one player saying he was going to the players' club to complain. I tracked down a slot attendant and asked to speak with a manager. The explanation I got was that the slot director wanted to spread the availablilty of free-play compatible machines throughout the floor to give more people a chance to use free play on their favorite machines. This might have made some sense if I had not also been told that the move was made in conjuction with a doubling of the number of machines available for free play. The only sense I could make of this move is that it is a crude attempt to force customers to play at least their free play on machines with worse pay tables, but I did not express this opinion to the manager I spoke with, because it can be hazardous to become known to casino management as a player who knows too much. At any rate, this appears to be a particularly petty, stupid move by a casino's management in terms of possible gain versus irritation of bigger players. Here are two good rules for casino executives to keep in mind: 1. People don't like to have things taken away, even relatively minor conveniences, and 2. People don't like to be told they can't do something at your casino that they can do at other casinos (at most casinos, free play can be used at all or a vast majority of machines).
Monday, March 19, 2012
When it's good to be old (or at least middle-aged)
Seniors days have long been a staple of locals' casinos marketing, but now is a particularly good time to be 50 or older if you're a gambler who lives in the Las Vegas area. Casinos are competing as heavily as I've seen in my nearly 5 years here for the weekday business of older customers.
These programs differ in details but their staples have been slot tournaments, dining discounts, point multipliers and drawings. Different casinos' programs may be better for some players than others. Here's a brief summary of what's offered. Essential information is often available on signs in the casinos and details can be obtained at the players' clubs.
Sam's Town offers a complete program on Thursdays comprising a $3,500 slot tournament, a $3,000 drawing, 5 times points on video poker and 7 times points on reels, half-price buffet and a free variety show. Low rollers with time on their hands might find value in the slot tournament. The formula for determing the long-term value of (or your average win in) such promotions is the total of prizes divided by the number of entries. In this case it's likely to be less than $5. Another consideration for some is the time it takes to play in the tournament plus the amount of time spent waiting to play. For higher rollers, the point multipliers and drawings can offer more value. Sam's Town recently has added a scaled-down Monday seniors day to compete with the new offering of its neighbor, the Eastside Cannery.
The Eastside Cannery's program, which runs from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Mondays, is unusual in that the qualifying age is 55, not 50. Enrollment at the players' club is required. Benefits are a 3 times point multiplier, half-price dining at selected restaurants and, after 300 base points are earned, a card swipe with prizes from $10 in free play to $1,000 in cash. Play on machines in the Classic Slots room does not qualify for the point multiplier.
The Palms also recently added a seniors program, on Thursdays, which includes dining and movie discounts and promotions. At least for now there are slot tournaments and drawings.
Station Casinos, including the Fiestas, have a $3,000 slot tournament at each property and half-price dining with payment in points until 6 p.m. Signs indicated that, as a special for this month, the program also includes a bonus point day, bringing points earned from the usual 3 per $1 coin-in to 10 for reels and 6 for video poker. Let's hope this "special" becomes a regular part of the program, as a point multiplier used to be. And, Stations, how about bringing back the drawings you used to have?
The M Resort has a drawing for seniors at 6 p.m. Tuesdays. The unusual thing about it is that you do not need to play, or activate your tickets, on Tuesday, and you need not be present to win. Tickets can be earned any day of the week and must be activated at a kiosk on the day earned. The winners' names are posted shortly after 6 and all prizes must be claimed at the satellite rewards center by 7 p.m.
The Silverton has two seniors drawings on Monday. Tickets must be earned that day but prizes can be picked up until 6 p.m. Tuesday. There are 50 winners in each drawing, and each winner gets a minimum of $50 and maximum of $500. A player may win twice each week, once in each drawing. Although the prizes are modest (expect $50 most of the time), it appears that this promotion offers an unusually good chance of winning something.
The Gold Coast recently cut the point multiplier on video poker for its Monday seniors day from 5 times to 4 times, but that's still a good deal given that casinos' inventory of strong games. Reel players get 10 times points. A maximum of 10,000 points on video poker and 100,000 points on reels are eligible for promotional multipliers at the Gold Coast. Seniors day there also includes a bingo special and a small video poker tournament.
The Orleans offers 7 times points and a card swipe after earning 50 base points, both from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesdays. My prizes from the card swipe have included two dinner buffets, two ticket to Big Al's Comedy Club, 5,000 points and 10,000 points. The great things about this swipe are that, opposed to the slot tournaments and drawings at other casinos, almost no time is involved in participating and everyone wins something.
South Point this month added a $5,200 slot tournament for seniors from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursdays. This is a relative large prize pool and the tournament could be attractive to more players than those at Stations and Sam's Town, depending on how many people participate.
In addition to gambling- and dining-related promotions, some seniors days include movie ticket specials. Often the qualifying age for these is 60.
A few tips regarding casino seniors programs: As with any casino promotion, these may be altered or discontinued at any time. Most if not all require that you be enrolled in the program, not just that you have a players card and meet the age requirement. Many will put a small sticker on your players card showing that you qualify for discounts and other offers. Beware of time time limits and other restrictions on promotions. This information should be available at the players club.
These programs differ in details but their staples have been slot tournaments, dining discounts, point multipliers and drawings. Different casinos' programs may be better for some players than others. Here's a brief summary of what's offered. Essential information is often available on signs in the casinos and details can be obtained at the players' clubs.
Sam's Town offers a complete program on Thursdays comprising a $3,500 slot tournament, a $3,000 drawing, 5 times points on video poker and 7 times points on reels, half-price buffet and a free variety show. Low rollers with time on their hands might find value in the slot tournament. The formula for determing the long-term value of (or your average win in) such promotions is the total of prizes divided by the number of entries. In this case it's likely to be less than $5. Another consideration for some is the time it takes to play in the tournament plus the amount of time spent waiting to play. For higher rollers, the point multipliers and drawings can offer more value. Sam's Town recently has added a scaled-down Monday seniors day to compete with the new offering of its neighbor, the Eastside Cannery.
The Eastside Cannery's program, which runs from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Mondays, is unusual in that the qualifying age is 55, not 50. Enrollment at the players' club is required. Benefits are a 3 times point multiplier, half-price dining at selected restaurants and, after 300 base points are earned, a card swipe with prizes from $10 in free play to $1,000 in cash. Play on machines in the Classic Slots room does not qualify for the point multiplier.
The Palms also recently added a seniors program, on Thursdays, which includes dining and movie discounts and promotions. At least for now there are slot tournaments and drawings.
Station Casinos, including the Fiestas, have a $3,000 slot tournament at each property and half-price dining with payment in points until 6 p.m. Signs indicated that, as a special for this month, the program also includes a bonus point day, bringing points earned from the usual 3 per $1 coin-in to 10 for reels and 6 for video poker. Let's hope this "special" becomes a regular part of the program, as a point multiplier used to be. And, Stations, how about bringing back the drawings you used to have?
The M Resort has a drawing for seniors at 6 p.m. Tuesdays. The unusual thing about it is that you do not need to play, or activate your tickets, on Tuesday, and you need not be present to win. Tickets can be earned any day of the week and must be activated at a kiosk on the day earned. The winners' names are posted shortly after 6 and all prizes must be claimed at the satellite rewards center by 7 p.m.
The Silverton has two seniors drawings on Monday. Tickets must be earned that day but prizes can be picked up until 6 p.m. Tuesday. There are 50 winners in each drawing, and each winner gets a minimum of $50 and maximum of $500. A player may win twice each week, once in each drawing. Although the prizes are modest (expect $50 most of the time), it appears that this promotion offers an unusually good chance of winning something.
The Gold Coast recently cut the point multiplier on video poker for its Monday seniors day from 5 times to 4 times, but that's still a good deal given that casinos' inventory of strong games. Reel players get 10 times points. A maximum of 10,000 points on video poker and 100,000 points on reels are eligible for promotional multipliers at the Gold Coast. Seniors day there also includes a bingo special and a small video poker tournament.
The Orleans offers 7 times points and a card swipe after earning 50 base points, both from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesdays. My prizes from the card swipe have included two dinner buffets, two ticket to Big Al's Comedy Club, 5,000 points and 10,000 points. The great things about this swipe are that, opposed to the slot tournaments and drawings at other casinos, almost no time is involved in participating and everyone wins something.
South Point this month added a $5,200 slot tournament for seniors from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursdays. This is a relative large prize pool and the tournament could be attractive to more players than those at Stations and Sam's Town, depending on how many people participate.
In addition to gambling- and dining-related promotions, some seniors days include movie ticket specials. Often the qualifying age for these is 60.
A few tips regarding casino seniors programs: As with any casino promotion, these may be altered or discontinued at any time. Most if not all require that you be enrolled in the program, not just that you have a players card and meet the age requirement. Many will put a small sticker on your players card showing that you qualify for discounts and other offers. Beware of time time limits and other restrictions on promotions. This information should be available at the players club.
Sunday, November 14, 2010
Barely off the Strip
This post is directed to serious blackjack and/or video poker players who are coming to Las Vegas and staying on or near the Strip, but looking for better games than the Strip casinos offer.
When it comes to blackjack, there are good games on the Strip, but the double-deck games are often available only at minimums of $25 and higher. There is little good video poker on the Strip, defined as games with 99.5 percent payback or better. Some Strip casinos do offer 9/6 jacks or better, but rarely at less than $5, unless you're willing to forgo comps (New York New York offers 9/6 Jacks at $1 and $2, but those machines don't accept a players club card).
This may come as a surprise, but Hooters offers some of the best video poker near the Strip. The good video poker is all on two banks of machines in front of the cage. Games include jacks or better (99.54 percent payback), "not so ugly" deuces wild (99.73 percent) and, on one machine only, double bonus deuces wild (99.81 percent). Slot club points for video poker accrue at a rate of one for every $3 coin in, but each dollar of free play costs only 100 points.
Hooters also offers $10-minimum double deck blackjack with typical locals casino rules and a 0.40 house edge. This game is not open all the time and is never on more than one table. Penetration varies by dealer.
This casino is a very short walk from the Strip at Tropicana, just east of the Tropicana hotel. It is easily accessible by the Monorail, which stops just across Tropicana Avenue at the MGM Grand.
Moving north, a longtime favorite of Strip casino workers and other locals is Ellis Island, a few minutes’ walk east of the Strip on Koval Lane just south of Flamingo Road. This casino, which got its name from founder Gary Ellis, features shoe and double deck blackjack games at $5 and video poker including “not so ugly” deuces at 25 cents and 9/6 jacks or better at up to $2. The casino building also houses a microbrewery, karaoke bar, restaurant, barbecue and Metro Pizza outlet. The casino and karaoke bars serve very generous drinks at moderate prices. Expect a wait at the restaurant (open 24 hours every day) and barbeque (open 4-10 p.m. every day). The restaurant is famous for its off-the-menu steak special, a 10-oz. filet-cut sirloin for $7.99, including an Ellis Island beer.
Farther east at Flamingo and Paradise Road, a fair walk or short bus or taxi ride from the Strip, is Terrible’s (named after founder “Terrible” Herbst, so-called by his competitors in the gas station business for undercutting their prices). The only video poker that meets the 99.5 percent criterion here is 9/6 jacks or better, at up to 50 cents, near the cashier. Double-deck blackjack is consistently offered at $10, based on my experience.
On the other side of the Strip, a long walk or short bus or taxi ride away, are the Palms and Gold Coast, directly across the street from each other. The Palms has one of the best and biggest selections of good video poker in Las Vegas, including a 25-cent full pay deuces wild (100.76 percent) progressive and a $1 full-pay double bonus (100.17 percent) progressive with progressives on the straight flush and quads as well as the royal flush. “Not so ugly” deuces and 9/6 jacks or better are available at pretty much all denominations, including on Triple Play/Five Play machines. Slot club points are worth a generous 0.25 percent.
The Palms also offers a range of blackjack games, including the variation Blackjack Switch. In the past double deck has been offered at $10, but I haven’t seen that for a while. Expect a minimum for double deck of $15 or even $25. Card counters would do better elsewhere; double deck penetration is set at 50 percent with a notch.
The Palms is a big, high-end property with lots of dining and entertainment options. On weekends it is filled with young club goers; during the week it draws an older crowd heavy with locals there for the good video poker and promotions.
The Gold Coast, across the street, has lots of $5 blackjack at all times with good Vegas rules (but consistently lousy penetration) and lots of good video poker, including 9/6 jacks, “not so ugly” deuces and double bonus deuces, at denominations of up to $2. A favorite of Chinese Americans, the Gold Coast has two Chinese restaurants among its dining options. Another nearby casino, the Orleans, is also part of the Coast group owned by Boyd Gaming. A free shuttle connects two and goes to the Strip at Flamingo as well.
Bracketing Las Vegas’ Chinatown area to the north, at Sahara Avenue at Interstate 15, is Palace Station, which offers blackjack with excellent rules and, usually, good penetration at as little as $5 for shoes and $10 for double deck. The selection of positive video poker games (found on machines labeled “Optimum Play” is less than at most other Station properties. To my recollection, no such games are offered at more than 50 cents, but like all things casino-related, that could change at any time.
Finally, the property most like a major Strip resort, but with much better games, is the Las Vegas Hilton, on Paradise Road east of the Strip and south of Sahara Avenue. The Hilton is a major property famous for its entertainment offerings and with excellent restaurants and full major-resort amenities.
The only downside concerning video poker at the Hilton is that all the good games are in the sports book area, which can be crowded, loud and smoky. The upside is the games themselves, including “not so ugly” deuces, loose deuce deuces wild (100.15 percent) and 9/6 jacks. All are offered at 25 cents and $1; the jacks are also offered at $5.
Blackjack at the Hilton is also excellent, with surrender offered not only on shoe games but also on double deck. Shoe games are sometimes offered at $5, usually at $10; double deck is offered at $25. Penetration for both is set by a notch, with about a deck and a third cut off for the six-deck game and about a third of the pack cut off the double-deck game.
The Hilton is a short walk from the Sahara or Riviera, and is accessible by the Monorail, which stops right at the hotel.
When it comes to blackjack, there are good games on the Strip, but the double-deck games are often available only at minimums of $25 and higher. There is little good video poker on the Strip, defined as games with 99.5 percent payback or better. Some Strip casinos do offer 9/6 jacks or better, but rarely at less than $5, unless you're willing to forgo comps (New York New York offers 9/6 Jacks at $1 and $2, but those machines don't accept a players club card).
This may come as a surprise, but Hooters offers some of the best video poker near the Strip. The good video poker is all on two banks of machines in front of the cage. Games include jacks or better (99.54 percent payback), "not so ugly" deuces wild (99.73 percent) and, on one machine only, double bonus deuces wild (99.81 percent). Slot club points for video poker accrue at a rate of one for every $3 coin in, but each dollar of free play costs only 100 points.
Hooters also offers $10-minimum double deck blackjack with typical locals casino rules and a 0.40 house edge. This game is not open all the time and is never on more than one table. Penetration varies by dealer.
This casino is a very short walk from the Strip at Tropicana, just east of the Tropicana hotel. It is easily accessible by the Monorail, which stops just across Tropicana Avenue at the MGM Grand.
Moving north, a longtime favorite of Strip casino workers and other locals is Ellis Island, a few minutes’ walk east of the Strip on Koval Lane just south of Flamingo Road. This casino, which got its name from founder Gary Ellis, features shoe and double deck blackjack games at $5 and video poker including “not so ugly” deuces at 25 cents and 9/6 jacks or better at up to $2. The casino building also houses a microbrewery, karaoke bar, restaurant, barbecue and Metro Pizza outlet. The casino and karaoke bars serve very generous drinks at moderate prices. Expect a wait at the restaurant (open 24 hours every day) and barbeque (open 4-10 p.m. every day). The restaurant is famous for its off-the-menu steak special, a 10-oz. filet-cut sirloin for $7.99, including an Ellis Island beer.
Farther east at Flamingo and Paradise Road, a fair walk or short bus or taxi ride from the Strip, is Terrible’s (named after founder “Terrible” Herbst, so-called by his competitors in the gas station business for undercutting their prices). The only video poker that meets the 99.5 percent criterion here is 9/6 jacks or better, at up to 50 cents, near the cashier. Double-deck blackjack is consistently offered at $10, based on my experience.
On the other side of the Strip, a long walk or short bus or taxi ride away, are the Palms and Gold Coast, directly across the street from each other. The Palms has one of the best and biggest selections of good video poker in Las Vegas, including a 25-cent full pay deuces wild (100.76 percent) progressive and a $1 full-pay double bonus (100.17 percent) progressive with progressives on the straight flush and quads as well as the royal flush. “Not so ugly” deuces and 9/6 jacks or better are available at pretty much all denominations, including on Triple Play/Five Play machines. Slot club points are worth a generous 0.25 percent.
The Palms also offers a range of blackjack games, including the variation Blackjack Switch. In the past double deck has been offered at $10, but I haven’t seen that for a while. Expect a minimum for double deck of $15 or even $25. Card counters would do better elsewhere; double deck penetration is set at 50 percent with a notch.
The Palms is a big, high-end property with lots of dining and entertainment options. On weekends it is filled with young club goers; during the week it draws an older crowd heavy with locals there for the good video poker and promotions.
The Gold Coast, across the street, has lots of $5 blackjack at all times with good Vegas rules (but consistently lousy penetration) and lots of good video poker, including 9/6 jacks, “not so ugly” deuces and double bonus deuces, at denominations of up to $2. A favorite of Chinese Americans, the Gold Coast has two Chinese restaurants among its dining options. Another nearby casino, the Orleans, is also part of the Coast group owned by Boyd Gaming. A free shuttle connects two and goes to the Strip at Flamingo as well.
Bracketing Las Vegas’ Chinatown area to the north, at Sahara Avenue at Interstate 15, is Palace Station, which offers blackjack with excellent rules and, usually, good penetration at as little as $5 for shoes and $10 for double deck. The selection of positive video poker games (found on machines labeled “Optimum Play” is less than at most other Station properties. To my recollection, no such games are offered at more than 50 cents, but like all things casino-related, that could change at any time.
Finally, the property most like a major Strip resort, but with much better games, is the Las Vegas Hilton, on Paradise Road east of the Strip and south of Sahara Avenue. The Hilton is a major property famous for its entertainment offerings and with excellent restaurants and full major-resort amenities.
The only downside concerning video poker at the Hilton is that all the good games are in the sports book area, which can be crowded, loud and smoky. The upside is the games themselves, including “not so ugly” deuces, loose deuce deuces wild (100.15 percent) and 9/6 jacks. All are offered at 25 cents and $1; the jacks are also offered at $5.
Blackjack at the Hilton is also excellent, with surrender offered not only on shoe games but also on double deck. Shoe games are sometimes offered at $5, usually at $10; double deck is offered at $25. Penetration for both is set by a notch, with about a deck and a third cut off for the six-deck game and about a third of the pack cut off the double-deck game.
The Hilton is a short walk from the Sahara or Riviera, and is accessible by the Monorail, which stops right at the hotel.
Thursday, March 4, 2010
A horrifying possibility
I just became aware of reports that Harrah's Entertainment has taken over some of the debt of the Palms and may have its eyes on taking over the property, as it recently did to Planet Hollywood. The Financial Times published a fairly detailed story on Feb. 24 and the Las Vegas Sun Web site carried a brief summary the following day. Sun readers posted some interesting comments on the story. (Incidentally, the Sun failed to note that the Greenspun family, which owns the paper, also has a small stake in the Palms.)
To say the least, a Harrahs takeover of the Palms would not be good news. The Palms is a unique casino that serves a diverse group of Vegas locals and visitors in ways that no Harrah's property does or could.
On the other hand, Harrah's, the owner of a number of Strip properties and the Rio, has consistently shown nothing but contempt for local gamblers. Its games are among the worst and its comps are among the stingiest. Most of its properties (Harrah's, Flamingo, Imperial Palace, the abominable O'Sheas) are second rate or worse. Harrah's uses Vegas largely as a reward for players at its casinos in other parts of the country, who fill its rooms here, paying little or nothing. They certainly don't come for the 6-to-5 blackjack or Colorado deuces.
If Harrah's takes over the Palms, the changes will come quickly, and they will be drastic. The result will be what a blackjack dealer at Caesars Palace told a player there after Harrah's changed the rules: "This used to be one the best places to gamble. Now it's one of the worst."
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