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. But here I go again, trying to explain a new program for all of you.
First, I must tell you not to be tricked by the publicity put out about the new Station program. “3x points ALL THE TIME.” I don’t accuse casinos of deliberating trying to fool the customers, but a more cynical person might. Is this new program a three-times-better one than the old one?
Too many customers will see only half of the new program – the 3x points 24/7. What many will miss is that the calculation of points has been changed. You used to get THREE points for every one dollar of coin-in. Now you get ONE point for every one dollar of coin-in. Is this an upgrade to the program?
The answer is “No – it is a fooler.” $1 coin-in = 1 point but with all-the-time 3x points is the same value as the old $1 coin-in = 3 points calculation. Still the same .3% slot club benefit.
Therefore, if you see the big ads in the newspaper for 6x points for video poker (Sundays in April), you should look for the fine print: “Multipliers are based on $1= 1 point. These cannot be combined with the daily 3x points.” Now you realize that this is like the old double points multipliers!
Note: To get the 3x every-day points the higher tier players will not have to swipe, only the Preferred and Gold players. However, everyone must swipe at a kiosk (or use an app on your phone) to activate special-day multipliers. I am not sure if you must swipe before you start playing – as you must at Boyd properties – or you can do it anytime that day. Also ALL multipliers are excluded on 100% payback machines.
Another Note: I believe that the Status Level requirements have not changed during this recent overhaul. Since the re-do in 2011 video poker players have been getting 1 status credit for $1 coin-in.
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I will appreciate any additional information about the new changes that I have not covered. Put it in a Comment here or in a private e-mail.
So once again casinos prove why they are a scam. Doesn’t surprise me anymore. Vegas has gone down hill.
And let’s not forget about how the Stations make you sign a tax form for a bonus payout less than $600 when you hit something in their poker rooms or the fact they increased the amount of time needed for the “free roll” tournament. Stations looks to be once again headed for bankruptcy. Good thing the Fertitta’s backed into some luck when they bought the UFC and that the UFC is paying their bills.
Yeah Tom, a casino host told me that. I will inquire once more when I get there, and I’ll make sure to get the final answer from management. But it looks like the $1=3 pts is just a memory. I agree that they ought to cut the points needed for this promo offer to make up for the reduction. Good luck complaining, though. If you play good enough VP that your play would have resulted in a loss to the casino, your pleas will fall on deaf ears.
I now consider it to be the “stay but play elsewhere” promo.
The Stay and Play Promo does say “$1=3 points” in a red circle on it, so I will still complain even though management reserves all rights. Promo was worthwhile on Bonus Poker or Dream Card Bonus Poker (including 0.3% pts + 1.5% promo), very disappointing.
I’ve just verified that for the Stay and Play promo, only base points earned will count, so that’s three times as many points you’d have to earn than before the switch. The $1000 free play for 200K coin-in was a 1.5% boost to your action, but you wouldn’t have gotten it on the 100%+ games OR the 99.8% games–the best games eligible would have been <99% short pay. So while the promo is now worth nothing (+0.5% on bad games), it wasn't really worth much anyway. You'd do better just playing the 99.8% or the 100%+ games.
It's evident that the point calculation switch has as its objective to make it MUCH harder to qualify for promos that are based on point accumulation. So no matter how you slice it, it's a downgrade, and a deceptive one at that. It doesn't affect the casual or occasional player all that much, though.
The room offer is still good, so I still plan to go. There's nothing wrong with playing .25 FPDW and hanging out by the pool. The rooms at GVR are very very nice, though a bit of a distance from the casino.
The most important thing in a Casino is how much I’m winning. If they have tightened the slots and VP( which they have ) it’s no big deal!
The major difference, is now when you have to play 300 points for a prize, or slot tournament entry, you have to play 3x more than previously. Play 300 points for a swipe? Now you actually have to play $300 coin in to obtain that. So even though the values are the same, when you have to play for prizes (around Christmas) or any other benefit, you have to play 3x as much.
So whats considered a base point now in some of their other promos? If a promo requires 1000 base pts it used to be $333 coin in, is it now $1k coin in?
We are headed to Vegas on a Stations offer which was giving $1k in free play for 200k points. Similar to ones received in the past, this was a 1.5% offer. Did it just go down to 0.5% as the offer uses base points in determining the free play?
Just another way to keep unsuspecting players from earning their points ( preferred and gold card members), for if you forget to pre scan your card these members will only earn 1 point -typical slime ball bean counter trickery.