First, a technical note: In my last blog entry, I explained that I needed to start a new subscribers list since my last one had so many invalid e-mail addresses. Most people who wanted to re-subscribe or start receiving e-mail notifications when I posted a new entry found it easy to follow the instructions on the right side of the blog homepage. However, some had trouble on their iPads or other mobile devices. We are working on making this easier, but in the meantime you might have success by going to the bottom of the page if you’re on the mobile site & push “original version.”
Below is the promotion information I have found so far. As usual, many casinos don’t put out publicity much in advance, so in a few days I will write a Part 2 to cover what I find out later.
PALMS
All players cards have an expiration date of 8/31/15 but our mailer tells us to come in September 2 or 3 (8 a.m-1 p.m.) and pick up a new card at Club Palms and get your picture taken to put on that new card. Old cards ordinarily still work in the machines after their expiration date – and you usually can go to the Club anytime and get a new card, either having a new picture taken for it or, if you wish, they can use an old one from their computer files. However, they recently have been having problems, i.e., kiosks out of order, delayed drawings, and card readers not showing point accumulation, either because they are changing over to a new system or upgrading an old one. So watch out for glitches!
I heard from an employee that the management of the Palms Buffet and 24/7 Cafe is going to be contracted to an outside company sometime in the near future. I also see construction workers in what will be the main part of the Hooters restaurant; the smaller section back beside the pool is already open for business and the monthly food coupons can be used there (with some restricted times printed on the coupon).
“Play for Prizes” is running as usual on Monday through Friday. Play for Costco gift cards September 7-18. (Not a good promotion for those of us who do not belong to the Costco warehouse club.) Play for Fresh and Easy grocery store gift cards September 21-October 2. Redemption times are the same as usual, Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m.-10 p.m., and Fridays 10 a.m.-midnight.
Again, many gift days are offered – every Saturday and Sunday in September. To earn the gift-of-the-day, you need 100 base points on video slots or 500 base points on video poker, on that same day between 12:01 a.m. and 6:59 p.m.
Weekly drawings continue at 7 p.m. on Fridays – 10 winners each week win up to $3000 cash. (Earn 2x entries Fridays 4 p.m.-6:30 p.m. and 5x entries Fridays 8 p.m.-11:59 p.m.) There is an added “Bonus Play”: “Activate 10 or more base drawing entries and receive $10 in Free Slot Play on Saturday.” More details at Club Palms.
ELLIS ISLAND
I have received reports that this casino is ditching some of the player-unfriendly changes they made some months ago and going back to some of the promotions we loved in the past, including a more traditional multiple-point program. I will need to check this out after September 1 and then I will give more details in Part 2.
In the meantime, I have found one unusual and interesting promotion they are running in September. You can turn in all those coins you have been collecting in a jar at home – for 100% cash or 120% in free play – with no fee! I don’t have any more details – you need to check for limits and restrictions at the players club booth – and there is the usual fine print, “Management reserves all rights.”
DOWNTOWN GRAND
This is another casino that is changing a program, introducing a new players club beginning September 1, one that will have a tiered system. And again, I will need to check out the details after that date and share with you what I find.
A Frugal Shopping Opportunity
RGE Publishing is going out of business and selling gambling products at highly discounted prices. You might want to browse their online store here.
————-
Stay tuned for Part 2, hopefully to be posted in a few days.
Costco does allow a non-Costco member to indeed use a Costco gift card.
Consider for those of us needing prescription drugs, Costco typically is the low cost provider and this along with lower cost supplements and similar health related items even to include their in my opinion high quality fruits and vegetables can make a membership valuable even without the bulk items most think of that they dont need.
Last Costco does allow you to purchase a membership and then cancel it for a full refund on demand if after a time you do not see the savings or convenience you need to justify a membership.
The Ellis coins promo is pretty dumb, though generous. The various bottom-feeders in town will go to the bank, buy a whole bunch of rolls of pennies, nickels, and dimes, and then take them to Ellis in a jar for a 20% bonus. If they put restrictions on this such as a low maximum amount or only one time per person, the local homeless will be used as proxies. Believe me, I’ve seen this sort of thing hundreds of times–that’s how most promos get burned out and canceled prematurely. And Ellis is smack-dab in the middle of Vegas’s famed Crummy Transient Apartment District, where thousands of people live on casino coupons. Terrible’s used to have the same problem (due to having a similar location), which they handled by reneging on promos without any warning. I don’t think Ellis will do that–that’s not their style, especially now that they’ve belatedly realized that antagonizing their customers is not an optimal strategy (who woulda thunk it!). But employees at the cage are going to get terribly sick of dumping jars of coins into the counter’s hopper, fishing out the used cigarette butts, and bagging the coins. Also: don’t most casino coin counting machines not handle dimes???
Hi Jean!
If you don’t have a Costco membership and you have a friend that does (like me), you can get in with them and make purchases under their card.
At The Palms, to check your point accumulation, pull your card and stick it back in. Be sure to note your starting number of points beforehand. The slot attendants don’t seem to know about this.
It is true you can use the cards if you are not a member. I have done it. They just call a Supervisor over who performs their magic.
It is my understanding that any member can buy a Costco cash card, give it to anyone, and the bearer can shop at Costco without being a member. Also good for gas.
I’d think a Costco card obtained under this promotion is a cash equivalent and, if not a Costco member, the first one might be worth an additional $35 (the typical membership fee IIRC). Though if the player thought Costco membership was worth it, they’d already be a member…
I made the same comment about Costco. However, while I cannot verify it, a friend told me that you can use Costco gift cards even if you are not a member.