April, 2014

MAY VEGAS PROMOTIONS

Watch for special Derby promotions all over town this first weekend in May, celebrating the annual Run for the Roses.  And there will be more promotions around Cinco de Mayo on the 5th, Mother’s Day on the 11th, and Memorial Day on the 26th.    (If you are stumped for a Mother’s Day gift and your mother loves video poker, you might want to consider buying her one of the books in the Frugal Gambler series. Some are available for eBooks as well as in paperback at http://www.shoplva.com/collections/video-poker/book.)

More Marketing Relationships

Another press release announcing another casino partnership:   MGM Resorts International (NYSE: MGM) has entered into a partnership with eight accomplished veterans on the PGA and LPGA TOURS, dubbed Team M life. The endorsements will result in unprecedented VIP golfing benefits, access, and experiences for members of MGM Resorts’ loyalty rewards program, M life.   New M life Moments include one-on-one interactions with Team M life players such as private dinners and golf lessons so you can impress your friends next time you are out on the course.

Major Phone Change in Las Vegas

Starting May 3, making local calls within the 702 area code will require dialing the area code plus the telephone number. This is due to the addition of another area code – 725 – that will be given to new phone service beginning after June 3. Here are all the official details:   http://tinyurl.com/n4pn66b 

I must quit procrastinating – and update my cellphone number list!

Problems with Promotions

Las Vegas locals are getting really confused – and not just a little frustrated – with changes on the local casino front.  Slot clubs keep changing their programs.  Casino policies are resulting in the exclusion of more and more categories of customers.  Restrictive promotion rules seem to prohibit rather than encourage more play.     This customer unhappiness  is seen in the private e-mails I am getting, the comments on my blog, and on Internet gambling forums.  Here is an excerpt from a post from that last source:

Are Casino Comps a Dying Breed?

Recently I wrote the article below for a newsletter than goes mainly to casino executives.  However, I thought it might be of interest to some of the players who read this blog.

—————–

Back in 1995, the news crew of 48 Hours followed Brad and me around Las Vegas, filming as we played video poker and reaped comps all over town.  On the air, Dan Rather dubbed me the “Queen of Comps.”  By then I had been honing my comp skills for more than ten years and after retirement, and Brad and I were staying in comped casino hotel rooms in Las Vegas for months at a time.  Our low-roller play on quarter video poker not only provided us with a free places to stay, but comps covered our food costs, gave us myriad entertainment choices, and provided gifts galore.  It was the golden age of comps.

Update on Station Casinos Changes

In my last blog entry I talked about the major revision Stations has made to its players club program.  You should read that first to fully understand this discussion.  They have changed the point calculation from $1 coin-in = 3 points to $1 coin-in = 1 point.

I try not to be too critical of casinos – they endlessly frustrate me but I know they are companies that need to make profits to stay in business.   So I try to be patient with them.  But when they make changes, especially those that negatively affect their customers, it would seem to be good business practice to publicize some details, preferably in advance.  People are already wary of a business that directly empties customer wallets at a fast rate.  So when casinos bring in new programs that change the rules of the “game” but don’t reveal this information, it is no wonder that customers feel like they are being tricked.  Doing things that decrease the trust your customers – or potential customers – have in your company is not only bad business practice – it is a public relations disaster.

If the Stations would have asked me how to handle this new change, here is what I would have said

Stations Change the Boarding Pass Program

Again!!!!

In 2008, the Stations players club underwent a major overhaul, changing point redemption from comps-only to a free play option.  Then in 2011, another major overhaul took place.  I discussed this at https://www.lasvegasadvisor.com/frugal-vegas/?p=1585#more-1585 .   This one included a major upgrade in the value of their points, but a downgrade in extra benefits like comps.  Now, in 2014, there are major changes once again – and massive confusion once again for their customers.

Personally I wish casinos wouldn’t change their minds so often – it’s keeping me from retiring. 

MORE APRIL VEGAS PROMOTIONS

Monthly mailings were running late from several casinos.  I hate to start off a blog entry with a rant, but I can’t understand why casinos are so dilatory in their advance planning.  A promotion that ran a day before I got the mailer telling about it does not seem like a good marketing technique.  Casino executives:  EVERY MONTH STARTS ON THE FIRST!