Holiday Greetings

Las Vegas Trip Report Part 4

Las Vegas Trip Report Part 4

Hope all the readers here are having a happy and healthy holiday season. Despite unseasonably cold weather in Georgia and viruses hitting friends and relatives right and left, we felt blessed that we could spend some time with family members on Christmas Day.

Now that the festivities are over and our life can return to a fairly routine schedule, I want to finish up reporting on my recent visit to Las Vegas with granddaughter Kaitlynn.

One of the questions that keeps popping up was how different I found Vegas this trip from when we moved away three years ago. I’ve described in the last three parts how we could do some of the old things we used to do, such as the money-making coupon run, and how we enjoyed the new activities, particularly the mind-boggling Area 15.

But I must tell you about one of our evenings that encapsulated this merger of the old and the new so well. It began by meeting long-time friends at the classic Hugo’s Cellar restaurant at the Four Queens, a nostalgic visit to a place we first tried about 30 years ago.  Absolutely nothing had changed: We were once again greeted by a gracious tuxedo-clad host, who gave all of us ladies a long-stemmed red rose. The servers were also formally dressed and impeccably but warmly efficient. Once again, Jon Simons was our sommelier, giving us wine advice like he’s been doing there for 37 years. From the time we walked down the stairs from the casino level, I felt like I’d been transported by a time machine back to our early Vegas days when everything was so new and exciting.

But after we finished our magnificent meal, it was time to have the time machine transport our whole group back to the present and set us down across Fremont Street at the shiny new(ish) Circa Casino. We were going to use our LVA coupons for complimentary glasses of champagne at the Legacy Club. We knew this would be a classy bookend to complete our classy start at Hugo’s. So we took the elevator to that elegant rooftop lounge on Circa’s 60th floor and walked around those floor-to-ceiling windows for a night-time bird’s eye view of the city lights.

From a dark basement to a sky of lights – yes, it was a dramatic difference, but perhaps symbolizing all the changes I’ve seen in Vegas since Brad and I first arrived in 1984. But on the way down on the elevator, we stopped just before the ground floor and had a passer-by take this picture of our group, we ladies still with our red roses from Hugo’s. And in the background was 43-year-old cowgirl Vegas Vickie, still kicking after being refurbished and a new leg motor installed when she was moved from outside on Fremont Street into the Circa.

I’m guessing that no matter how much Vegas changes, it will always be a “kickin” place.  How long will I be “kicking” enough to write about it? Hopefully, a long time to come.

But for a short time now, perhaps a few weeks, I’ll take a little rest from blog writing.

Below is a photo Kaitlynn took of me when I found a great vibrating couch in Area 15, with beautiful changing lights and enchanting music, where I could rest my feet after two hours of non-stop activity.  (Security said I was fine there, but just don’t close my eyes, since sleeping isn’t allowed!) I’m going to spend some time in January trying to replicate that relaxing experience, but sleeping will be allowed!

Happy New Year to all of you.

Las Vegas Trip Report Part 2

Las Vegas Trip Report Part 2

I hope everyone had a good Thanksgiving. I had an especially fine one, just thankful to be alive — especially since my Facebook Messenger account was hacked and contained a notice of my death. It caused a lot of consternation in the Frugal kingdom, but didn’t upset me, except for one detail: The announcement said I was 84. If you’re going to write my obituary, at least get the details right. I won’t be 84 for another month!

I’m not only not dead; I seem to be as busy in “retirement” as I ever was, which has forced to me delay writing projects. But I must get back to talking about Kaitlynn’s and my mid-October trip to Las Vegas. So many of you are requesting more details, especially about the changes I noticed from the pre-pandemic time when we were locals. Of course, the whole advantage-play situation has changed drastically and I’ve written about that here for the last few years; I’ll write more about it specific to this trip in a future post. But right now I want to concentrate on the more general changes.

First, many of the major negative changes are not unique to Vegas. COVID-mitigation measures are still sticking around, whether from continuing health concerns, an uncertain economy, or just cost-cutting measures that don’t seem to be hurting the casinos’ bottom line. Most hotels no longer offer daily housekeeping, although you might be able to request it at some. You can always ask for clean towels and needed supplies to be delivered to your room.

The nationwide employee shortage is extra frustrating for Vegas visitors who are dependent on food outlets and so many are cutting serving hours or completely closing for entire days. That means long lines and slow service at those that are open.  We were meeting a friend at 6 p.m. for a casual dinner at Bellagio where she was treating us from her large comp bank. We checked the buffet; it had closed at 3 p.m. Then to Sadella’s Café and it was the same story: closed at 3. Jasmine was closed on Tuesdays, even though the city was teeming with visitors and many casinos were heavily booked. Other restaurants either had long lines or full reservations. We finally found immediate seating at the upscale Mayfair Supper Club, which is nice, but the loud entertainment made the catch-up conversation we were looking forward to almost impossible.

I missed the personal service I appreciated in past years when there were more employees around to help or answer questions. Kiosks are taking over the hotels and casinos. Yes, a kiosk is better than a long line at a desk, but often there was a long line at the kiosk, while many were out of service. I don’t know what the concierge does, if there even is one still available at some casinos. At Paris where we were staying, someone wanted to deliver me a small package earlier than our check-in time and the concierge said they weren’t allowed to accept that. Why not? Company policy, they said. Maybe new security rules? They wouldn’t say.

However, Kaitlynn and I didn’t let such negatives ruin our visit. For one, we kept busy sightseeing. Some were “oldies” we never tire of re-visiting: The Bellagio Conservatory, always changing, and the fountains that always create a happy feeling. We’d ridden the High Roller observation wheel before in the daytime, but doing it at night was magical.

However, the number-one adventure planned was to visit Area 15. I’d watched this large multi-building place being built near Palace Station for the couple years just before we left Vegas and I’d read much about it. The descriptions were full of words like “otherworldly,” “eye-opening,” “mind-altering,” “psychedelic,” “experiential,” and always “immersive.”  But I never really understood what it was. I just called it weird and I knew that I probably wouldn’t ever visit, unless I was with a young person who could show it to me and explain everything. Now I had Kaitlynn to lead me on this adventure.

We spent four hours in just one part of Area 15, ‎Meow Wolf’s Omega Mart. And I still can’t explain it. Here is how it is described on their website: Omega Mart sends participants of all ages on a journey through surreal worlds, immersive storytelling, and playful nuggets of the imagination. There is that word again, “immersive.” You’re not looking at the work of artists; you’re actually in and part of it.

Here are a few of the hundreds of photos Kaitlynn took of our adventure. (More on my Jean Scott FB page.) I’m glad I had her as my shepherd through the weird and helping me understand that weird can also be wonderful.

Grandma to Kaitlynn:  Take a picture of me like this.

K: Okay, here is how you get here.

Immersive Art

More Vegas trip details coming up in next blog.

Fun Trip to Atlantic City 2022 – Part 2

Fun Trip to Atlantic City 2022 – Part 2

In my last post, I talked about the trip non-casino activities; I emphasized from the beginning that this vacation with my friend Susan was purely recreational. However, that didn’t mean that we would avoid casinos. I was looking forward to introducing Susan to this exciting entertainment environment. In past years, she’d made a few brief casino visits during business trips to Vegas, but she’d seen them only as a quick way to lose too much money.

I explained in past blogs that I wouldn’t be visiting the Atlantic City Tropicana this trip as an advantage player, since I’d already reached my Harrah’s tier goals for this year. It was my chance to have a relaxing vacation and a break from taking care of Brad. However, although I was leaving advantage play, I would not – actually could not – be leaving frugal play. I found myself, almost unconsciously, using many of the same frugal techniques I’d learned and used for the last 38 years of casino play.

One of the first things I did when I reached the casino was to check the players club kiosk, something I routinely do, especially if I haven’t visited the casino for a while. I didn’t expect to find any new information; I’d been closely following my online CZR account and already knew my point balances and company-wide promotions, along with offers from specific properties where I’d recently played. But since I hadn’t been to Atlantic City for many years, I really didn’t expect to find any extra goodies for this visit.

So was I surprised to see a $315 “gift” on the kiosk screen! It was from a free-play promotion that I didn’t know about. I hadn’t seen any publicity about it – no signage indicating if it was available to all CZR players or if it was specific just to the Tropicana. Maybe it was an extra perk connected to the CZR Reward Air package I was on, but I’d received no notice of that. I’m not sure I would have known that this was available to collect on any slot machine if I hadn’t stopped at the kiosk.

This wasn’t the first time that checking a kiosk reaped big benefits. Often when a casino is running a drawing promo that you hadn’t known about, you can check your account at a kiosk and find you can register there to be eligible to participate.

Susan and I had already each contributed $200 to a joint gambling bankroll that now had a $315 boost! We were ready to see how long we could make it last. We agreed that we weren’t looking for big wins; we just wanted to stretch out our entertainment time. To that end, we did a lot of “sampling” as we hit the table-game area. Moving around a lot reduces your time at the games where the casino edge will want to feast on your bankroll.

A good way to stretch your money is to bet the smallest amount you can and the casino will just nibble slowly on your bankroll. Therefore, we looked for the minimum-bet tables.  However, I knew we wouldn’t be playing table games very long; even though it was a weekday, there were no $5 tables that would provide us longer fun time; $15 was the lowest.

We hit the crap table first. As many people are, Susan was intimidated by all the busy complex action, so she chose to watch me. I know the best crap bets, but with a $15 minimum pass line bet, I knew our small bankroll wouldn’t survive long with taking the 5x odds offered behind the line. So to show Susan a few more fun options, I instead took the 6 and 8.  That got us lucky for a few minutes, but when my short roll quickly sevened out, we decided that a $100 loss in a few minutes didn’t provide enough bang for our buck.

Next, we headed for the Three-Card Poker table. I’d never played this game before and needed the help the kindly dealer gave me. (Don’t put a chip on Play first; you have to put it on Ante. You look at your hand to see if you want to play it and if you do, then put a chip on the Play space.)

I’d checked my latest book, The Frugal Gambler Casino Guide, when preparing for this trip (another good frugal tip) and found the best simplified strategy was to play only when you had queens or better. We were lucky and got good hands and when we’d won $100, we left, cashed in our chips, and decided that it was fun to get even!

Next we played a little roulette on the stadium option. Rows and rows of machines face a screen where you can play video blackjack, craps, baccarat, and roulette. Susan’s son had asked his mom to put $50 for him on black. It took a few hands to figure out how to play our machine, but she finally won $35 to take back to him.

These stadium games might be a good choice for players who are intimidated by the live tables and they might provide lower-minimum choices. However, they also provide the opportunity for faster play that might take away any advantage the low-minimum might afford. And, of course, you don’t have the social contact that makes live games more fun for many players.

We saved my favorite table game for last – blackjack – with which Susan had some experience thanks to just-for-fun BJ sessions at Legacy. We chose a crowded table since on any negative game the fewer hands you play, or the fewer bets you make, the longer your bankroll will last. We played almost an hour, with the expected up-and-down results. After one large down, we hit a good stretch and quit when our loss was only $100. We really enjoyed the session, but didn’t want to risk another big downhill slide.

We discussed how we enjoyed our play at the table games and would have stayed much longer if the minimum bets had been lower. But after about two hours, we moved away from the pit, looking for something that didn’t shrink our bankroll so fast.

“Did you play any video poker?” you might ask.

My research in planning this trip revealed that this would not be a casino where one would probably find an advantage VP play. However, I thought I might find some of the exotic games I usually didn’t play back in Vegas because of their bad paytables. But they could be a fun short-term option to play if I found them in very low denominations. It didn’t take me long to check out the VP inventory there: extremely small proportion of the machines on the floor and very few of the newer titles and variations. In one corner, I did find one very old sticky-buttons Ultimate X, at multi-line nickels. I wasn’t excited about playing it, but I wanted to show Susan a little glimpse into what I’d been doing in a casino for the last 38 years. She didn’t get my fascination with video poker and was certainly unimpressed when I lost $100 in just a few minutes. (It’s hard to explain that short-term losses “don’t matter” along the way to the long-term win.) She was looking bored and truthfully, I was bored too. Short-term play can be a real psychological downer. So we kissed that machine good-bye and labeled it “NO FUN.”

Off we went to a game we’d found earlier, one that unexpectedly gave us more entertainment value than all the others we’d played on this trip. I’ll tell you about it in Part 3. Just a little hint: We nicknamed ourselves the Wonder Women!

Happy Labor Day to all. Brad and I are going to Florida to relax with the family over the holiday weekend. And then I’ll be back to tell you more about the Atlantic City trip, including a report about the great frugal get-together.

New Year, New Updates

New Year, New Updates

I did plan to take a blog break over the holiday season, but I didn’t think it would end up being so long.

In the photo below of our family’s Buffalo-plaid Christmas celebration, you won’t see the intruder that disrupted our lives the following two weeks. It’s invisible!

Yes, unbeknownst to us, COVID was there and it attacked every adult who hadn’t been infected previously, despite all of us being fully vaccinated. Brad and I are just finishing our 10-day isolation period. He had no symptoms, but I got hit pretty hard and am still battling residue upper respiratory infections and bronchitis.

But no matter how bad I feel, I still “rest” a lot at my desk chair. And my computer keeps me connected to the outside world, including important casino news that may affect many of readers here.

TAXES

First, a lot of you are beginning to work on your 2021 tax returns and wondering if the 4th edition (eBook) of Tax Help for Gamblers will still be a good resource. There was no major federal legislation last year that required updates. The IRS clarified some cybercurrency regulations, so anyone with concerns about crypto should check with a tax professional. A change in one state’s law will make some taxpayers happy: Michigan residents can now claim a state-income-tax deduction for gambling losses they claim on their federal tax return. The law is effective for the 2021 tax year and beyond.

RESOURCES

Sadly, with the death of Darryl McEwen, we’ve lost “Seven Stars Insider,” the valuable resource for CZR players. However, I’m hoping that more VP players will join or re-join and participate more at vpFREE, which had to move to another site. (Subscribe at their new home.) We all need to help our fellow players by sharing information about VP conditions wherever we play. And vpFREE2 is still actively providing information about where the most generous games can be found, players club data, and other details from casinos all over the country.

Scot Krause still maintains the valuable Players Club Bonus Points list here on this website. He also continues to provide information on good casino promotions in “Vegas Values” on the American Casino Guide website, but now with a new once-a-month format on the second Sunday of each month beginning on January 9. The ongoing promotions page will be updated throughout the year.

Mark’s Las Vegas covers Vegas news and sometimes gives updated information about the MGM players club. Recently he posted that they were extending the Tier Credit-earning period for 2022 status by 31 days. They will count any Tier Credits earned in January 2022 toward both 2022 and 2023 status.

MGM

Speaking of MGM, I’m seeing a lot of online chatter about major changes in the players club at MGM properties and there seems to be utter confusion about what’s new and when and where the changes will come. Evidently, some changes started in November and some will be coming February 1. I haven’t played at a MGM property for many years, so I don’t have the experience to know the impact of these changes, and unfortunately, their website gives conflicting and often incomplete information.

Here are some of the details I’ve heard from experienced MGM players and internet sources, with some good news, but more disappointing downgrades. The new player loyalty system, now called MGM Rewards, will be universal at all properties instead of differing from those in Las Vegas and other regional areas. The five tier levels remain the same: Sapphire, Pearl, Gold, Platinum and NOIR, with only the threshold for reaching Pearl reduced.  Tier credits for non-gaming spend (food, lodging, etc.) have been drastically reduced. Players in the company’s sports betting and igaming system, BetMGM, can now earn rewards and tier credits.

There are too many changes for me to cover here, so I’ll give you several links that will keep you busy for many hours of study. Don’t forget to check the Q+A’s sections, which sometimes explain things more in detail.

The change that will hit video poker players the hardest is this phrase that appears over and over again: “Adjusting the way we calculate, basing it on your time played, average bet amount, and GAME TYPE.  (Caps are my emphasis!)

https://www.mgmresorts.com/en/mgm-rewards-is-coming-countdown.html

https://www.mgmresorts.com/en/mlife-rewards-program/point-calculation-change.html

https://www.mgmresorts.com/en/mlife-rewards-program/loyalty-program-changes.html

For those who coordinate with the Hyatt loyalty program, you’ll find more change info here.

FINAL GROAN

Whenever I see a casino wax eloquent about their new players club:

When we set out to reimagine our rewards program, we listened to your feedback and we did it to give you more …

To reward you appropriately we are adjusting …

We’ve completely reinvented the opportunities to reward you by …

I’m never excited … just sad!

Odds and Ends from the Frugal File

Odds and Ends from the Frugal File

It’s the Thanksgiving season and I want to tell all of my readers here and on my Jean Scott Facebook page how thankful I am for the constant stream of encouraging words so many of you have written to me while I care for Brad. Some of you I’ve met in person, but it’s amazing how well I know many of you just through the magic of online friendship.

Many have asked how Brad is doing. He’s very frail physically and losing weight since he doesn’t want to eat much. He sleeps 18-20 hours a day, but is still able to walk short distances with his walker.  Mentally, he seems to be happy in his own little silent world. I’m sometimes able to coax him out into my world, but he struggles to find words to communicate with. However, everyone here at Legacy loves him and his smiles when he can’t respond with conversation. And when there’s music, he sometimes still remembers how to dance.

3-year old great gran Cooper loving the Cat in the Hat Halloween dance.

CZR Notes

Some have asked for more information we found when we were at Harrah’s Cherokee in October. Like most businesses of any kind anywhere these days, the casino is having a terrible time getting enough help. They have billboards up all around the area, saying they need 700 new employees for both this casino (which just opened a new hotel tower) and their smaller sister, Harrah’s Cherokee Valley River Hotel & Casino in Murphy, NC.  Therefore, that factor and pandemic restrictions are a double whammy causing a decrease in service. There’s no routine room service during your stay, although you can request supplies you need. We still find the employees very friendly, even though they have to bustle around to cover more duties. Masks were required when we were there, but I have read that this restriction has now been lifted.

The biggest problem we had was in the food area. Of course, the buffet we loved is still closed and sadly not to be opened; the area is already being remodeled for the two-story Guy Fieri’s Cherokee Kitchen and Bar. When we were there, the Food Court options had been cut, with sometimes an hour’s wait to even enter, then long lines at the few choices. All the other restaurants had hours-long waits or were closed because of a lack of help.  Selu Garden Café is still our favorite, with the breakfast buffet back, and it wasn’t as crowded. But once you leave the hotel side, there just aren’t enough dining options in the casino, especially casual ones for players who are anxious to get back to the games.

Those specific issues about Cherokee are probably part of the reason why I’m seeing so much criticism of CZR properties in general. I understand player discontent with this new era of benefit cutting and service decline. However, I’m seeing the latter not just in casinos but at all kinds of other businesses. The pandemic is still wreaking havoc everywhere.  Hopefully, some good business practices will eventually come back, even in casinos.

I think a lot of casino visitors who have been playing for a number of years just can’t cope with change. However, wise veteran gamblers know that casino conditions have always been in a state of constant change and they have to be quick to adapt in order to stay successful.  They have to leave thoughts of what-used-to-be and look for what-can-I-do-now.

That has been the theme of most of my blogs for over a year, giving hints on what you might be able to do now.

I know I play at a higher level than many wish to, but there are many things I do to get more value in a casino that others can do, whether video poker or slot players, whether serious advantage hunters or recreational fun-seekers. I’ve been getting extremely good offers since my three trips to Cherokee this year, especially free charter flights to various CZR properties around the country. However, I’m hearing from many who are playing at a much lower level who are also getting these same free offers, especially slot players or those that mix in some slot play with their VP. And some at the very bottom levels of play will get these offers for a very frugal package price considering the convenience: straight-through flights, free rooms, and baggage handling and transfers from airport to hotel.  Especially helpful for seniors! Check out the website to see what is available in your area.

And for all those who used to check the “Seven Stars Insider” website for detailed information about CZR properties and wonder why it’s no longer available, here’s the sad news about the passing of its author, Darryl McEwen.  You can read a good tribute here.  I will miss his very helpful detailed writing. And to someone who suggested I do something similar, that is a big NO.  A site like that takes an unbelievable amount of time-consuming research.

I’m still taking your questions, so continue to fire away in the comments, on Facebook, or with a personal email.

Have a blessed Thanksgiving.

Looking Backward and Forward

Looking Backward and Forward

I haven’t forgotten the promise to give you my solution to the Christmas game in my last blog. But I was surprised that I received so many “guesses” and they’re still coming in, many many different takes. So I’ll compile them and report in my next blog.

In the meantime, a new year always inspires reflection and never more so than the passing of 2020 into 2021. Here is one I penned (typed?) for one of the many “projects” here in our senior community.

2020 – The Year Hugging Disappeared

There are a lot of things I have missed during this COVID-19 pandemic:

  • Big family reunions
  • Sit-down meal choices in restaurants all over town
  • The ability to see people’s faces to see if they’re smiling at me
  • Being able to see my regular doctor in person when I need him/her to diagnose why I’m sick
  • Visits to a friend’s home
  • Trying on clothes in a store
  • Feeling safe to fly to a vacation destination
  • Going to a salon and getting my hair and nails done

But most of all, I missed hugs:

  • When meeting an old friend
  • When introduced to a new friend-to-be
  • When someone does something nice for me
  • When seeing a long-absent relative
  • But most of all, when my three little great-grandchildren were warned that they couldn’t rush in and give me even their usual tight-squeeze “leg hugs.”

But I’m cautiously optimistic for 2021 — although not so much on the gambling front.  Anthony Curtis, in a recent QOD, quoted a Station executive as saying, when refusing to no longer be part of the LVA’s Member Rewards program, they’re “not giving anything away anymore.” And players are reporting from all over, but especially in Vegas, that promotions and customer benefits are being drastically cut. It’s hard to understand this phenomenon. Most of us had thought that the casinos would up the benefits to lure customers back when the pandemic restrictions were lessened.

Maybe in 2022?

There is one positive note for gamblers, although it’s accompanied by a big IF.  The American Gaming Association, the lobbying group for casinos and gambling in general, is optimistic about the prospect of the IRS raising the threshold for slot payouts, saying that it is “better than ever.” You can read about it here. However, I tell you that I’m not putting any money down on this maybe proposition. I would never bet on any IRS issue!

I do plan to stay hopeful about life in the future. Here is another short submission I wrote for the Legacy Reserve, our senior home, to be put in a buried time capsule.

                     End of 2020 – Start of 2021

Not enough negative adjectives in the English language to describe 2020: so much deadly racial violence, so much political nastiness, so much loneliness while trying to avoid the suffering and death from COVID-19.

But I am a little more optimistic for 2021. The COVID vaccine should bring down the hospitalizations and death toll and I am encouraging everyone with whom I come in contact to trust the scientists and get the vaccine as soon as it is available to them.  And until the pandemic is truly over, I will continue to take the advice of health authorities and follow their recommendations, including wearing a mask to protect myself and others.

I am cautiously hopeful for 2021.  Hope that new government leadership will be able to bring ALL Americans a little closer together, no matter the differences in ethnic or racial backgrounds, sexual orientation, gender identity, religious beliefs, cultural mores – and yes, even political views.

I want to do better myself in being more tolerant and showing more love. The spreading of more human love may be the biggest need to make 2021 better than 2020.

The Burning Question Answered

The Burning Question Answered

Most of you are probably busy with holiday celebrations right now and perhaps have temporarily set aside your interest in casinos and gambling in general. So maybe this is a good time to address a common query I hear from so many of my frugal friends: Do Brad and I miss Vegas and the casino life?

It may surprise you that we can answer that with a resounding “No!”

Perhaps I need to give you some background for this answer.  Although for years we worked hard pursuing advantage plays, the fun factor was just as important as the profit goal. People asked us if we considered gambling our “job” – and I replied that we couldn’t call it that, because we were having so much fun! What wasn’t to like about making money while enjoying such an exciting life?

However, as the good plays were oh-so-quickly drying up, so was the fun factor. To be honest, for the last couple of years, I’d grown tired of what I called the “casino rat race.” We had to work twice as hard for half – or less – the financial return. But I was willing to do it as long as Brad was still enjoying our usual casino routine; doing things together was still my greatest joy in life. However, by mid-2019, I was noticing that Brad’s enthusiasm was also decreasing. He seemed happy when I announced that we didn’t have to go to casinos as often, given that there were fewer good playing opportunities. And when we did go, he often was the first to say that he was ready to quit and go home – a change from all those years when I was the one who got tired first.

And there was another factor, a sad one: I could see that Brad was making many strategy mistakes in his VP play. It was obvious that his physical health was deteriorating, as he was becoming very frail, but it was harder to recognize – and accept – something I’d suspected for some time – that he was also suffering serious cognitive decline.

I had to make a major decision.

We thought we’d live in Vegas the rest of our lives. But I knew we were looking at a lot of medical issues in the future. Brad had already needed one long emergency hospital stay.   My family in Georgia was strongly urging us to move near them, so they could help us as needed.

It turned out to be not only the right decision, but also the right time to move. We’d just gotten settled in Georgia, down the road from my daughter Angela and son-in-law Steve’s house when the pandemic struck, and they were able to take care of all our needs while we had to shelter in place for months. Also, when I had to turn in the car keys, they helped us with the decision to move into the independent-living apartment at a senior center, choregraphing all the moving arrangements and doing all the heavy lifting of getting us settled. We couldn’t have done it without them! We’ve now been happily settled in our new home for two months.

Which brings us back to the question I introduced at the start, and the answer. No, we don’t miss Vegas, but we haven’t forgotten it. We couldn’t even if we wanted to. Most of the staff and many of the residents here are online and they’ve googled us. And you probably won’t be surprised that they all want to talk about our “exotic” life as gamblers. A few have visited Vegas, but to most, it’s a fairy-tale city they’ve only seen in movies. And now they wanted to get all the exciting details from new neighbors who’ve lived that life. We always have a string of visitors who want to come and see our “Vegas apartment” and take a pull on the antique slot machine in our “Vegas corner.”

And everyone, staff and fellow residents, was excited, though not surprised, when we gave each of them a little gift. Instead of Christmas cards, we passed out lottery scratch tickets!

Speaking of being surprised, myself most of all, one group activity that I’m enjoying here is playing a rummy-type card game called Phase 10. No money involved, just some fun trash talk.

The first 35 years of my life, as I’ve often written about, I was from a family of avid non-gambling gamers, from Chutes and Ladders to Scrabble. However, once  I started playing for money, these social games no longer interested me. I guess you never lose your competitive spirit – you look for a challenge wherever you are!

Now for a Christmas game for all you readers. Here are 3 pictures, the last 2 taken 20 years after the first one. What is the one thing that hasn’t changed?

 

The answer in my next blog.

Warm holiday greetings to all of you from two happy seniors who live in Columbus, Georgia, on Queen Bee Drive.

Yes, that is our address. I couldn’t believe it myself!

A Welcome Surprise Pop-Up Promotion

A Welcome Surprise Pop-Up Promotion

I hope you all had a safe and blessed family Thanksgiving get-together, following the CDC guidelines.

We wondered how we could do that.  Legacy Reserve, the senior facility where we are now living in an independent apartment, is not on lockdown as many are around the country.  However, they strongly recommended that we not visit family this year for traditional Thanksgiving reunions – and if we did, quarantine for 14 days when we returned to our apartments. We were definitely on board with the concept that we needed to help keep all our senior neighbors safe.

However, our daughter and son-in-law, Angela and Steve, figured out a safe plan for our family.  A few days ago, they planned a big bonfire in their woodsy back yard.  It was a beautiful slightly cool evening, cozy around the fire. The 3 great-grandkids love to hear ghost stories and gobble down hotdogs and chips.  And everyone – adults and kiddies – decided that roasting wieners and making s’mores out in the fresh air was just as good – and maybe better – than a turkey dinner around the dining room table!

Here is a smoky picture of the fun:

I even learned a new recreational skill – axe-throwing!

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And now for a good casino-promotion alert, something I love to share.  For the last month or so, I’ve been talking about how it pays for players who want to find good-value opportunities to check as many resources as they can. Here is one I found, even though I’m far away from Vegas.

South Point Casino is extending their November gift card promo through December 13th.  Get the details on their website.

And you could have learned of it – wherever you are – if you had joined the new vpFREE-Archives.  (I gave the instructions for signing up in my last blog.)

Keep scouting, my dear friends!

From My “This and That” File

I collect casino information as an on-going routine when I read the newspaper and articles in magazines and as I check almost daily numerous online forums and gambling websites.  So, here is some info that has been piling up.

Updates on CZR News

A surprise for the lower tier level players:  Caesars Entertainment Corp. has announced that Gold tier rewards members can upgrade to the Platinum tier for a limited time “in celebration of the holiday season.” This upgrade includes free parking at all Caesars’ Las Vegas resorts, discounted rooms, the ability to transfer reward credits and other benefits.  You have to upgrade your Gold card by December 31, but your Platinum status and all the rewards it brings will be good through January 31, 2020.

I have found conflicting reports about this upgrade.  Some say it is just for Vegas locals and you have to appear in person at a Vegas Rewards Center to activate this upgrade.  I have not been able to find any information about this on an official CZR website. Perhaps someone from out of town has had personal experience with this promo and could give the details in the Comments below.

However, there is another short-term perk – verified – for all tier levels that IS limited to Nevada residents – a 2X Reward Credit Multiplier until December 31st.  This is only available for Nevada residents that visit a Las Vegas Caesars Reward Center and present a valid NV driver’s license.

Note: There are a couple of on-going ways for some players to upgrade from Gold to Platinum (and score the free-parking benefit) without the necessary play they would ordinarily need to reach the higher tier level.  Active military and veterans can get a Platinum card by showing official verification documents at the players club.  And signing up for a CZR credit card will get anyone a Platinum card.

One other CZR happening you might have missed:  In July 2018 Caesars Entertainment bought Centaur Holdings, adding the Hoosier Park Racing and Casino in Anderson, Indiana, and Indiana Grand Racing and Casino in Shelbyville, Indiana.  Neither of these properties have a hotel, but some Seven Star players have been able to take their annual retreat there, with comped accommodations at a nearby motel. The other retreat benefits may be limited.  You would definitely need to check in advance the current situation and be aware there might be a lot of changes here – as well as elsewhere – when the Eldorado take-over is complete.

A New Way to Learn How to Gamble

The best way to attract new players to table games? Take away the gambling.  That’s the theory behind Casino Quest, a casino game education space set to open at the Fashion Show mall. Run by Casino Education Group, which operates the CEG Dealer School in Las Vegas, the space would allow guests to rent a table by the hour to compete against friends or learn how to play.

“There will be no money. You pay to access the space,” said Casino Quest CEO David Noll. “It’s going to be (for) people who are risk-averse. It’s going to be (for) people who want to learn the game.”

The space is set to have a mix of table games — one craps, one roulette, one baccarat and four blackjack — and will give students from the casino school Noll manages a chance to practice dealing to players in a real-world setting.

For the players, Casino Quest offers a casual venue where they can take their time learning a game without being under the watchful eyes of pit bosses or more experienced players. The student dealers will be able to ease new players into the game, teaching them rules and helping them along as they play.

This new experience is set to open tomorrow – Black Friday.  Who knew that you could go to the mall and learn how to play casino table games!

Holiday Giving Ideas

The Las Vegas Advisor Holiday Gift Catalogue is now online, chock-full of ideas for the casino lovers and gamblers on your gift list.  My contribution to this was spending a couple of hours autographing umpteen copies of my latest book.  If you want to order an autographed copy of The Frugal Gambler Casino Guide, click here.  Or, if you want to be more frugal, order it in your favorite eBook reader format.

Searching for Words

Am I impressed by this most expensive hotel room in the world?

I would be more impressed by the introduction of some 9/6 JoB VP in the casino downstairs from that room.

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Hope you all took the time to count the many blessings you have on this Thanksgiving Day – before you go out tomorrow and make your own personal Friday black by buying more than you can afford!

More November Bonuses and News

November is turning out to be a good month for gambling bonuses and food specials, particularly on holidays.

VETERANS DAY – Monday, November 11

Boyd Gaming is offering a 11x multiplier for all players with a Sapphire tier card and above.

Silverton is offering 10x on reels and 2x on VP.  They are also advertising a BOGO buffet that day for all players club members.

Many casinos will offer a free buffet for military members and veterans on this day. Most require a players card and verification of their status to be shown at the cashier, with military ID, VA ID, or a DD-214.    This includes the Rampart, South Point, Silverton and Boyd Gaming properties.

The Station casinos also offer a free military buffet, but the procedure is a bit different. You have to swipe your military Boarding Pass at any kiosk to redeem voucher.  If you don’t have the military flag on your card, you can take your official documents to verify your active or veteran status to the players club and get that military card.  (That will also qualify you for extra benefits for the on-going Military Mondays promotions.)

South Point’s offer is the plum one since the buffet freebie is not only for the qualified person but he/she can bring a guest who can also eat free.  The lines are long at all the casinos offering this free meal, even at those who have separate VIP lines, but you might find the wait at South Point excruciatingly long all day long – there doesn’t seem to be any “off time.”

There is another plum offer for all active or retired military personnel with verifying credentials but it involves a bit of a drive for Las Vegas residents, about 90 miles.  The Virgin River and Casa Blanca casinos in Mesquite are offering free buffets all day for both the qualified person and guest.

No free buffet at the El Cortez but you might not have to waste time waiting in line that day to eat – free White Castle hamburgers will be passed out to the active players on the casino floor, both at the tables and the machines.  And you don’t have to even be military or a veteran!

 

THANKSGIVING DAY – November 28

Boyd Gaming is running their 11x multiplier all day – and as usual only Sapphire tier and above can take advantage of this bonus.  So sorry, Ruby players.

South Point is running a Hot Seat promotion from 8 a.m. until midnight Nov. 28.

And almost every casino restaurant is serving a special Thanksgiving menu.  The lines may be long everywhere – I think very few in Las Vegas cook a holiday dinner at home!

 

MONTH-LONG PROMOTIONS

Here is a newly-released promotion, one which was not mentioned in the monthly mailer but which I first learned about from an ad in the R-J.  The Gold Coast is continuing their mid-week multipliers for all of November:  11x all day Monday through Thursday.  Check Scot’s player club bonus list for the varying multiple-point days for other Boyd properties – they are not all the same!   The same warning for Station Casinos:  The Fiestas and the Palms often march to different orders!

South Point is running their popular 1/2 -price player club point “sale,” this month for Amazon gift cards.

Tuscany is having a “Play and Win” promotion:

YOU COULD EARN UP TO $200 IN FREE SLOT PLAY NOVEMBER 4TH – 28TH

Earn 5,000 base slot points once during each week of dates listed, and receive $50 in Free Slot play. November 4th – 10th, 11th – 17th, 18th – 24th and 25th – 28th. Must visit Player’s Club each week to claim.

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An important note for all players who are looking for extra value: Always check out possibilities for double-dipping, combining monthly and holiday promotions.

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And finally, a hint for getting around during the Las Vegas Marathon coming up later this month:

Once again, the Las Vegas Monorail will be the only Strip transportation option available during the 2019 Humana Rock ‘n’ Roll Las Vegas Marathon & ½ Marathon. The Humana Rock ‘n’ Roll Las Vegas Marathon & ½ Marathon event gives participants a one-of-a-kind nighttime running experience as the only private event to close Las Vegas Boulevard at night. The largest event on the Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon Series tour will take place on the Las Vegas Strip at night on Saturday-Sunday, Nov. 16 – 17, 2019. Year after year, thousands of runners and spectators attend the Humana Rock ‘n’ Roll Las Vegas Marathon & ½ Marathon and its four days of events, relying upon the Monorail for getting to and from the start and finish lines of the weekend’s races. The Monorail also has a station at the Las Vegas Convention Center, which is the site of the events three-day Health & Fitness Expo, held on Thursday – Saturday, Nov. 14 – 16.

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