The G'Curse on AGI - Taxes What do We Do?

Discuss proper hold strategies and "advantage play" and ask questions about how to improve your play.
Lucky Larry
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The G'Curse on AGI - Taxes What do We Do?

Post by Lucky Larry »

Due to a significant number of G's our AGI has gone up and we now pay more in income taxes and it raises our Medicare premiums for the next two years. I love Multi-Hand VP (MH) and have a hard time with single hand (as the song says,"the thrill is gone")

So here is the question:
What would you do and why?
Play:
1) a lower denomination of MH;
2) fewer MH at the same denomination;
3) fewer hands at the same denomination;
4) single hand at a higher denomination;
5) single hand at lower denomination;
6) other;

olds442jetaway
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Post by olds442jetaway »

Hi Ll. I just wrote back on the other thread not knowing this one was started yet. Other than short coining which I am sure you don’t want to do, I guess you could look for the best nickel paytable you could find and play no more than five lines in case you got a dealt Royal. Six lines would put you at 1200 even for a dealt Royal. For me it is even worse being that the State has its hand out for about 7 percent of gross winnings. I do enjoy playing 3 or five lines more than single line, but I cannot find a paytable much over 96 percent on nickels. For now I am going to stick with the above until I can come up with something better. Funny in a sense in that years ago before I hit my 70’s, the interest and dividends on stocks,cds, and funds used to take care of all of our taxes and insurances. Now we have the triple whammy of ultra low rate cds, the new tax rules, and fear of putting too many eggs into the market due to advancing age. By the way, by being mostly out of the market for 2019, I gave up a 30 percent return on the S and P 500. 30.43 percent to be
exact not counting dividends if they had been reinvested which would put the return at over 33 percent.

seemoreroyals
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Post by seemoreroyals »

I think it depends on the paytables being offered where you play and which format of games you enjoy playing. Like you, I prefer multi hand VP. If you have any triple play or five play machines at your casino you can play at the quarter level that should keep down your exposure to handpays. Or if you prefer more games at a time I would stick with the 50 or 100 play machines and stick with a combination you like that would only generate a handpay if you draw a royal or AWAK.

Lucky Larry
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Joined: Sat Dec 13, 2008 7:35 pm

Post by Lucky Larry »

For clarification:
Golden Nugget Lake Charles:
Machines:
The AllStars at GN provide 3-5 play options on 25-50-$1 denominations and 10 play options on 5¢ and 25¢. Pay tables are fair Bonus 7/5(98%); DDB 9/5(97.8%); DW 12/10/4/4/ (97.6%); BDW 10/4/3 (97.3%) and JOB 8/5 (97.3%).
The two 100 hand machines have the same pay tables on 10¢ and 25¢ as the All Stars.
Comps/Perks:
VP Comp=$10/point or $1M Coin In/year with a 1 year carryover. Cannot be used for VP
Cash back increase with Tier and can be used slots only.
Cash back for comps increase with higher TIER and can be used for all Landry's restaurants in the US and at all stores at GNLC.
Weekly Free Play (slot play only) is based on play so normally my level of play $100-200/week; Thursday-Sunday additional money is given based on play and is given daily - generally between $140-250/night in addition to the weekly Free Play.
Amenities: better food comps $75-100/week (one time use) at Landry's related restaurants, better gifts including 2 cruise vouchers a year, and facilities (rooms including Villas, Lofts, Presidential Suites, Corner Suites), and regular extended rooms are even wonderful with balcony. Much better pools and lazy river options, tennis courts and free 1 hour/month massage in the spa area, free use of the gym, and beach; secured gated parking for Elite level and 30 minutes closer a (real treat convenience for us); the same host we've had for 6 years at a previous casino who insures we get all the Free Concert tickets we need and in off peak times gets us the Presidential Suites or Lofts for special occasions or generally a corner suite.
Free room at any GN property annually. Our Anniversary trip to LV was a treat with limos and tickets to Celine even though we are not top tier.
Drawings: Cars given away with Elite status members drawn guaranteed every hour; frequent $50K Nightly drawings (I've been drawn on my limited play for $2,000 twice) with drawing usually every 1/4-!/2 hours. Our daughter has been drawn at least 10-12 times at $2000/draw this past year (3 times in one night).
Huge New Year's Eve parties with top notch steak meal, drinks, and entertainment.
Taxes: State taxes on all G - most refundable based on AGI the following year for non-residents.

Coushatta: Kinder
Machines:Best VP in La. I can get 3-5-10 and 50-100 play 1-2-5-25¢; Bonus 8/5; DDB 9/6; DW 25/15/9/4/4/3 (98.9%); DWB 13/4 (98.8%); and JOB 9/6...oh and TDB 1-25¢ at 9/6.
VP comp = $4/1point - 125K/every 6 months or $1M Coin In/year.
Cash back at a great rate for Elite level and can be used on VP, gas, food, merchandise or the eateries.
Weekly free play based on play but usually around $100-150 during the good times.
Free Concert tickets to decent concerts;
Amenities:
Lousy restaurants and eating options, pool area is OK, gifts fair and 30 minutes farther drive. We were elite there until the recent changes in management for 7 years. Many of the top tier players at Coushatta have left over the new management policies. Rooms are nice and comfortable. We usually could get a Suite on call from our host who was really good to us. The VIP receptionists could handle and upgrade at almost any time without a host being engaged. We could also gas up at the Casino Grocery store (they have one to serve the RV park) before we left each trip using our comps.
Taxes No state taxes taken due to Native American casino status.

olds442jetaway
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Post by olds442jetaway »

Just for comparison......Mohegan Sun....at my level, 99 percent games at the quarter level, tier points on those machines, but no spendable points. Free play 80 to 100 a week, comp rooms many weekdays, free buffets and coffee and every day, rooms are beautiful, suites sometimes, most so so shows are comped, nominal gifts in the 25to 50 range every week. Big parties and fancy dinners a few times a year, many good restaurants and coffee shops, unlimited free drinks while playing, sometimes free gas, unlimited lounge access with no limit on number of guests. Unlimited free golf at their country club, most all employees very nice and helpful and they keep the place clean. Additional free play depending on how much coin in that day. Usually, too steep for me.

olds442jetaway
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Joined: Tue Aug 21, 2007 9:08 pm

Post by olds442jetaway »

Note Foxwoods is similar to the above for Mohegan except their 99 percent machines are at the dollar and above level. You can spend their points. I usually average 20 per session worth 20 bucks. You get spendadble points for all machines. In general it is smokier.

olds442jetaway
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Posts: 9262
Joined: Tue Aug 21, 2007 9:08 pm

Post by olds442jetaway »

The bottom line is like LL , I am at a loss for how to play for 2020. Still trying to figure it out. If I play at a level where I never will get a W-2 G, most of the above at both casinos will go away including most all free rooms

Lucky Larry
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Joined: Sat Dec 13, 2008 7:35 pm

Post by Lucky Larry »

olds,
First, thank your wife for all the effort she puts in and I hope she has a wonderful spring semester. I have a really small group of only 6 student teachers all at the elementary level this semester so it should be an interesting semester. Spring semesters are always smaller compared to my 19 last semester. My honey-do list just got larger and the VP bankroll smaller.

We loved both Mohegan Sun and Foxwoods a couple years ago when we came up that way and stayed at Cape Cod (Province Town) and then Mystic. What an incredible drive to the casinos. We were headed that way this past fall for the UCONN vs Houston game until the IRS surprise came last spring. Maybe we'll get up that way again and we can meet.

olds442jetaway
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Joined: Tue Aug 21, 2007 9:08 pm

Post by olds442jetaway »

That would be great. I just can’t ever see myself being more than a stone’s throw from the ocean. Our little State does have a lot to offer. If you make it up here, and they haven’t pulled my weekday rooms, I probably could arrange a nite or two on the house like I did for Florida and Mrs. Phil. If my tier status is busted by then, I will still cone up anyway as it is only an hours drive. I will pass on the kind words to the Mrs.

seemoreroyals
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Posts: 533
Joined: Wed Oct 21, 2015 5:21 pm

Post by seemoreroyals »

Lucky Larry wrote:
Mon Jan 20, 2020 7:37 pm
olds,
First, thank your wife for all the effort she puts in and I hope she has a wonderful spring semester. I have a really small group of only 6 student teachers all at the elementary level this semester so it should be an interesting semester. Spring semesters are always smaller compared to my 19 last semester. My honey-do list just got larger and the VP bankroll smaller.

We loved both Mohegan Sun and Foxwoods a couple years ago when we came up that way and stayed at Cape Cod (Province Town) and then Mystic. What an incredible drive to the casinos. We were headed that way this past fall for the UCONN vs Houston game until the IRS surprise came last spring. Maybe we'll get up that way again and we can meet.
Go Coogs!!! We just cracked the top 25 in both polls. Would be nice to make another deep run in the tournament again this year.

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