If you have been following the Boyd “Young at Heart” drama, you know that I have been trying to keep you up to date on the details as they have been frequently changed since “Black Wednesday.” That is what one person called March 1 when the YAH program drastically changed by disqualifying out-of-towners to fully participate.
You will need to frequently check on the separate rules for the Downtown properties and those in the outlying areas. The one for the non-Downtown properties seem to have settled back to the way it was before March 1, with out-of-towners eligible to participate.
For a week or so there was a question whether out-of-towners could participate at the Fremont YAH, but these current rules answered that: Participants at the California and Main Street Station must be local residents with an 890 or 891 zip code address. The Fremont was not listed with this exclusion.
Some have speculated that some of the restrictions on out-of-towners were lifted by Boyd Gaming because of my blog. Actually I’m not sure they know or care what I write, but it seems that a flood of customer complains did get to them, which might have included the many upset comments that my blog generated. But I know a lot did complain to casino executives by phone, in person, and by e-mail.
Actually whenever you have a concern about a casino’s policy, almost all casino websites have a “Contact” tab where you can voice your complaints and give suggestions. Not always will you get a response, but I have heard reports from many many players who have. The answer or explanation isn’t always to your liking, but sometimes it has a very positive result. My advice for sending such communications is to not lambast everything or everyone, but in a very polite tone, describe how this issue makes you feel – “I don’t feel welcome in your casino.” Then you might say what action you might take – “I am going to look for another casino in which to play.” And it is always good to suggest a good reason for the casino to make a change – “I think you are losing money by excluding certain player categories.”
After Boyd reversed the rule to exclude non-locals from the YAH promotion, some pointed out that they are still excluded from other promotions, specifically the “regular” multipliers on other point bonus days. Evidently there was strong support behind this “unfair” protest, since I just heard – but haven’t been able to verify – that the Suncoast and Sam’s Town have dropped this non-local exclusion. Will the Orleans and Gold Coast follow suit? I have no guess here, since I know that each casino has some independent promotions and rules, depending on their customer target area.
The restriction on YAH at MSS and Cal to locals has been in place for a long time. It looks like Boyd have just reverted back to the rules pre 1st March.
Boyd properties reinstated senior day for everyone but be aware that if you are not local the multiplier will always be the lowest of the six offered on the kiosk! Only locals are given a multiplier that is worth participating in the promotion. This is false advertising as well as being unfair to visitors from out of town! Why does Boyd continue to drive away out of town visitors? Is local money worth more than money that comes from out of town?
Jean you wrote an article before and included a link to a list of the casinos and their multiplier days and what the multipliers are. I’m unable to find it now. Can you please help?
In a related development, Stations has destroyed the My Generation Wednesday point multiplier–for everybody! (At least I don’t feel slighted for not being a local–they’ve screwed everyone!) In its place is some kind of idiot little game where you have to visit the kiosk and then return on a later day to get your (trivial, pathetic) prize. A boothling told me that that particular game would be for seniors only.
Now get this–I remarked to her that a lot of seniors must be unhappy with no longer getting the 6X/10X points on Wednesdays. She (actually!) said, “Oh, no, they love the new kiosk game!” I then asked her if people really preferred a game where you had to visit the casino twice several days apart to get some kind of unspecified prize to a simple promotion where you got your points multiplied. She said “yes.” With a straight face. One has to admire that level of indoctrination, I guess.
Boyd properties had an 18 month marketing evaluation period. Recently they changed to a 6 month evaluation period which I found out from one of their marketing directors. Therefore your offers will dry up if you have not stayed at a particular Boyd casino within 6 months. I find this very anti out-of-town customers. I stay at 5 of the Boyd properties of which two (Sams Town & Gold Coast) are not giving me offers. The last time I was at either property was late last year. I am still receiving offers from the properties that I have visited this year. Unless they change this evaluation period or you visit twice a year at a property you will no longer receive offers. I guess they just do not like tourists.
I have noticed as mentioned by Dewey that the comps have recently been reduced. For years we have received enough offers from Boyd properties to stay for free twice a year for 5 days. I called the casino host to ask for additional days. She told me that Boyd has changed their comp structure, requiring a higher level of points to get free rooms. This is very disappointing.
It must have been quite a negative response to the YAH rule change which excluded non locals for them to back track so quickly. Looks like it lasted only 1 week.
I have for years received 2 free nights from the Orleans and last year I received 3 from Sam’s. I was always pleased that I received them in spite of the fact that the majority of my play was in nickels and all was full pay. This year, I have stopped receiving these offers, and yet my play was just as heavy as other years on my last trip in December. I noticed it at the same time that the YAH promotion was changed.
A similar thing happened at the Four Queens a couple years ago. I played there the DB 10/7 and suddenly the comps dried up.
I guess I’m just tired of all the changes. I’m looking to adjust my trips to spend more time in Laughlin and also explore Mesquite which gets me within a reasonable drive to the Utah canyons. If it is becoming impossible to do what your books have taught me to do, pay for a free trip by breaking even or losing just a bit on full pay VP, Vegas will lose its draw for me. Thanks for helping with this YAH issue. Enjoy.
Hi, Jean ~ On March 6th, I contacted Boyd with this message: “My husband and I have been Bconnected members for many years and we always stay and play at Boyd properties. We were shocked and dismayed to find that visitors to Vegas have been eliminated from your Multiplier Days and Young at Heart specials. I feel like we’ve been stabbed in the back and we will seriously consider playing elsewhere from now on. Shame on Boyd for making us feel unwanted.” I was surprised to get this reply on March 7th: “Based on Customer feedback, Boyd has decided to reinstate our Young At Heart promotion to all starting this Wednesday.” It definitely makes a difference once in a while to speak up!