This first weekend in May is predicted to be a monster. I am not interested in a monster prize fight, but I am concerned about monster traffic jams. You won’t find us near the Strip. However, because it is also Derby weekend, it might be worth your time to check out promotions off the Strip.
First, you can make going to Today’s News, right at this site, a regular habit: http://www.lasvegasadvisor.com/whatsnews.cfm#20016. Frequently they report on good up-coming promotions, especially on holidays or other special days. Also, Scot Krause lists many Vegas promotions, with comprehensive details, at http://www.americancasinoguide.com/vegas-values/vegas-values-report-for-april-26-2015.html. You will find some Derby Day specials and offers for May 2 there.
GOLD COAST
Here’s a quirky twist for the usual Senior Bonus Mondays, happening on May 4, 11, and 18: These special offers, including bonus multipliers, a bingo freebie, and a video poker tournament, will be available for EVERYONE of any age with a slot card, not just those 50+. Read the rules carefully at http://static.boydgaming.net/goldcoast10/media/downloads/senior-bonus-rules-2015.pdf.
They are also advertising a “Hippie Party Pit” for getting your BJ groove on every Friday and Saturday. I probably will skip this – you think? More interesting to me would be the video poker tournament every Thursday 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Earn 50 same-day points for one entry. Earn an additional 100 points for second entry. These points do not have to be redeemed – you keep them and then they are available to use for cashback or free play.
BOYD PROPERTIES (Sam’s Town, The Orleans, Suncoast, and Gold Coast)
All 4 properties are running a swipe-and-win promotion on Fridays and Saturdays in May. Everyone is an instant winner at the kiosk game after earning 10 points, 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Earn entries every day for a grand prize drawing May 30. Details on their websites.
STATIONS
A report by a reliable source on vpFREE says monthly mailers are being severely downgraded, with free drawing entries replacing the more valuable offers for free slot play and point multipliers. The same thing is happening for various swipe-for-prizes promotions. With so many players getting these large amounts of free drawing entries, the value of their drawings is decreasing dramatically. There is little incentive for a customer to play more to earn more tickets.
TUSCANY
Gift card promotion and veterans discounts on Sundays. The roving 20% senior discount moves to Tuscany Gardens for all of May. Go to http://www.tuscanylv.com/packages-en.html to see promotions on other days.
PALMS
Drumroll: News about the area where Gardunos used to be located. Sometime in late May or early June the world’s largest Hooters will open there, with a poolside bar out the “back door.” Now a close place for us to get one of our favorite foods – fried pickles!
“Play for Prizes” is running as usual on Monday through Friday. The first period is May 4-15, offering Walgreens gift cards. The second is May 18-29, when you can play for Fresh & Easy and McDonald’s gift cards. Redemption times are the same as usual, Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m.-10 p.m., and Fridays 10 a.m.-midnight.
Gift days for May are the 3rd, 17th, and 24th. 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. (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 drawing entries and receive $10 in Free Slot Play on Saturday.”
Check for special movie prices and movie-and-food combos at http://www.fandango.com/brendentheatresandimaxatthepalms. On $8 Thursdays, that one price gets you one ticket, one 16oz drink, and a 46oz popcorn. Swipe your players card at a kiosk to get a voucher to redeem for this offer.
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Like to choose a new casino or an old favorite that has a promotion that involves just a small amount of play to earn a food comp? In May you could check out South Point’s free buffet program Monday through Thursday. The Palms and the Suncoast usually run similar earn-and-eat programs. Silverton has a two-for-one buffet promotion on Wednesdays in May. And most senior programs offer the 50+ crowd meal discounts. Check out individual casino websites for details.