casinos and inflation

[OTABILL]

It's not just paytables. What I noticed several years ago was the meter on VP progressives, at least where my wife and I played, had changed. The amount the progressive (s) rose was significantly slower than before while the paytables remained the machines. Progressive meters is a topic discussed a number of years ago but not in the Recreational Forum if I recall.

[case]

Casinos have really increased their hold on slots over the last 10 years. If you notice the minimum bets are much higher and the max bet is also much higher. 10 years ago minimum bets were small because you could choose how many lines you wanted to play and most games maybe had 20- to 30 lines. Some machines today the minimum bet starts at 0.88 cents.

VP pay tables have for sure decreased as well as some comps. I think I get more rooms and food today but less cashback or free play. You are right in that 1.25 today is not what it was in 2008 so casinos nickel and dime everywhere in a casino. Look at the Vegas strip where casinos charge for parking and food prices have grown ridiculous.

[notes1]

On occasion, with BR down the tube and and one more night to go, I can actually stretch my last
$20-$30 with 9-6 JOB @ 5c, 25c a hand!! You want boring, try that for a couple hours.

tech, i welcome your honesty!

[notes1]

think of it this way, someone has a favorite sports team, wants to see them play live. ten years ago, buys seats on the 50 yd line. every year, the team raises ticket prices, the seat buyer spends the same amount, but get a seat in a little worse location.

so, ten years later, i am still going to the game, watching my favorite team (when life goes back to normal), but instead of the 50 yd line, i am in the end zone.

same money, same game, just less value. sound like VP?

[FloridaPhil]

Great comments. We finally have a current discussion instead of a history lesson.

Everyone knows video poker odds and comps have taken a big hit in the last ten years. There are still a few good games out there. When we go to Vegas or Reno we play them. When we get back, we have the same crappy games to play as when we left. This makes a difference in our strategy. When you play crappy games, you are fighting a losing battle. Your strategy is more about limiting losses than waiting for jackpots to make you a winner.

Our casinos will offset some of their advantage by giving you free play and comps. If these things have value to you, they may make the games playable. In no case do they ever make them beatable. When we walk into the Beau Rivage on one of their comped trips, we are already ahead by the cost of the flight, rooms, drinks and food. Assuming you were going to pay for a vacation in the first place, this means we are up at least $1,000 before we put the first bill in their machines

If you play video poker at the Beau Rivage like you would in Vegas, you will most likely pay more than I will to be there. Why? Because when you play near positive games you have a decent chance of making it back home with some money. At the Beau, the truly horrible odds will eat up your bankroll before anything good can happen. You may even hit a royal and come home broke. At most of the casinos in the Southeast, money management becomes more important than odds or accuracy. There are numerous strategies you can use to limit the damage of playing these games. Unfortunately, this forum does not allow these discussions. We are stuck talking about the few positive video poker games left, games few of us has access to.

[Carcounter]

think of it this way, someone has a favorite sports team, wants to see them play live. ten years ago, buys seats on the 50 yd line. every year, the team raises ticket prices, the seat buyer spends the same amount, but get a seat in a little worse location.

so, ten years later, i am still going to the game, watching my favorite team (when life goes back to normal), but instead of the 50 yd line, i am in the end zone.

same money, same game, just less value. sound like VP?

When I moved from NY to NJ in 1984, my friend from Long Island sold me his NY Giants season tickets. Section 326 in the old Giants stadium, 5 rows from the top, corner of the end zone, so certainly not 50 yd line. $11 bucks a ticket, had 3 seats, so for a total of $ 330 I bought the 2 pre season games and the 8 regular season games. Gave some games back to him free as a courtesy. Tickets went to $14 then $17 and so on. What a bargain still. Last year an attorney friend who has seats in the new stadium gave me 2 tickets to a game, 2nd level 40 yd line, $ 550 bucks a ticket! Are you kidding me? At least I didn't have to pay for them.

[FloridaPhil]

The first new car I bought was a 1967 Mustang. It didn't have many options, but it was new. The sticker price was $3,000. Last month, I drove by my local Ford dealer. They had a new Mustang GT on the floor. The list price on the windshield was $48,000. Our first house cost $10,000.

[TripleTriple]

Last month, I drove by my local Ford dealer. They had a new Mustang GT on the floor. The list price on the windshield was $48,000.

That's insane. It wasn't too many years ago you could get the Shelby GT500 for that much!

[Tedlark]

Phil, any chance on getting that number from you?

[FloridaPhil]

Phil, any chance on getting that number from you?

It's the same as Gronbog's long term number...