Caesars & Ballys

[DaBurglar]

We all hope the 2 new casinos will bring some positive changes to the AC VP scene, but I'm not expecting it. Indeed, this would be one reasonable impetus to hang around AC at least through the end of this year, 2018, to see how this impacts things, as I am certain the existing casinos will at least initially offer up some incentive to prevent players from bolting to the new properties, just as the new properties (Hard Rock and Ocean Resorts-a.k.a. "Revel") are now offering players to convert their playing status at other casinos into a higher level at their property.   Ocean just sent me something via e-mail that seems to indicate my Diamond Level will get me their top shelf card....Hence, my one remaining "PLANNED" trip to AC this year will probably happen sometime AFTER Labor Day, probably end of September or first week of October, when Summer has subsided and the initial rush on these new properties has played out and I start to hear feedback from others on what, if anything, they have to offer that's worthwhile.   Another reason why I have not completely abandoned AC is the soon-to-be advent of Sports Betting and what that may do to the scene in the casinos.....what's really great for me is with Sports Betting set up in AC casinos, I will have lots of incentive to resume frequent visits during football season since this will invariably help the live POKER scene in AC as well, since it is known Poker Players tend to also be big Sports Bettors, and for a long time now (since I started visiting AC in 2009) the lack of sports betting has always been one of the biggest handicaps that most AC casinos have in terms of developing their own Poker rooms (Borgata has really been the only true blue, serious poker room in AC for the past decade, with all other AC casinos either giving up completely on Poker or suffering from permanent mediocrity.    This will allow me to possibly give the live poker scene another serious shot....I tried in the past but the VALUE in just about every aspect of what the Poker rooms were offering just was not there like it is in Vegas, Reno or even down Foxwoods way!    Anyway, anyone concerned with whether or not I will continue to "dabble" in AC video poker, I'm certain I will if I am there for these other reasons.....Dig all you want for alleged statements of cessation or whatever..... I can and will change my mind as often as I like, and will post about my VP experiences, or lack of same, as well as anything else that happens in and around AC, as I see fit.  Feel free to ignore me 100%Anyhow its a moot point if.....IF, as alleged, I wrote something to the effect that as soon as free play dries up, I'm done, because quite simply, not only has my free play NOT dried up, but as I have SIGNIFICANTLY cut back on my frequency of visiting AC, both CET Casinos and the Golden Nugget have actually sent, over the past 9 months at least, INCREASED Free Play offers, presumably to entice me back......admittedly, this has played at least some part in my last two (and ONLY two) visits to AC in 2018!As Cyrus the Gang Czar said in the 1979 film classic "The Warriors" during his speech in Central Park to ALL Gang Members from the five boroughs (just before he was assassinated):     "CAN ... YOU... DIG IT?!!!?"

[Casino Knight]

We all hope the 2 new casinos will bring some positive changes to the AC VP scene, but I'm not expecting it.

What I've experienced with new casinos opening in Vegas, and I've been to several, is that for some reason, all the machines have been really generous. For a while it seemed that a new opening would trigger a Megabucks Jackpot on the property adding more hype, and drawing bigger crowds. I've found that VP was also generous at those times as well.

[Tedlark]

Casino Knight thanks for your insightful response. I was recently sent a free trip to Atlantic City from Harrah's but I will not be partaking of the offering.

This is due in no small part to all the information people have posted here about machines being rigged.

[Carcounter]

CK, I have found that was true when the Borgata first opened in 2003. I did great the first two years, but the good games and paytables eventually disappeared, save for 9/6 JOB, which is still there, and 9/5 SDB which was put in some newer Game Kings. I am looking forward to exploring the offerings at the Hard Rock and Ocean Resort.

[DaBurglar]

[QUOTE=Carcounter] We all hope the 2 new casinos will bring some positive changes to the AC VP scene, but I'm not expecting it.

What I've experienced with new casinos opening in Vegas, and I've been to several, is that for some reason, all the machines have been really generous. For a while it seemed that a new opening would trigger a Megabucks Jackpot on the property adding more hype, and drawing bigger crowds. I've found that VP was also generous at those times as well.

[/QUOTE] There definitely is something to this, or at least there used to be, when a new property first comes online......the first 3-4 months it seems the Video poker machines are red hot and even the slots are jumping.    Now, in Vegas, back during the BOOM times of 1997 - 2003 when it seemed they were opening one or two MEGA-Resorts (and 2 or three smaller ones) each year, this often meant that regular visitors could and would jump from new place to new place throughout each of those years and stay there for 6 months or so until the NEXT new place opened up.....I often have my current (i.e. Today's) video poker perspective and expectations tainted because I remember and think back to how things were back in these Boom times in Vegas....Consider, in 1996-97 you had the Stratosphere finally open, followed quickly by Monte Carlo and New York New York,  followed by Bellagio in Summer 1998, the Venetian very soon afterwards, Paris, Aladdin/Planet Hollywood.....and numerous smaller off-Strip places that became premium destinations (think green Valley and the Palm for starters).....it was dizzying in hindsight!   And yes, just as Casino Knight indicates, they all seemed to initially offer games that allowed you rarely to lose, often to win much more than you normally expected!    Is this the case today?  In places like AC?   I don't know, but I'll leave it to others more patient and with closer proximity to AC to tell me how the new Hard Rock fares and compares......the soonest I will ever be back in AC to sample the new places will be late in September after the Summer season is over......unless of course something changes or someone sends me a ridiculous "We Miss You, Where have you Been!?!" offering that is just too good to refuse.    But in All seriousness, I have summer plans in place that make an AC visit just not that attractive.....

[FAA]

My frequency is trending to plunge from sixty plus to twelve or so a year. I have become impatient and greedy, thus a terrible money manager. I hope to return calmer and wiser. Between the new northern venues and Resorts' seasonal free spin promos, I should also cut time spent warming Caesars chairs considerably, which will be a huge relief.

[jetermacaw]

I'm going to pass on the new places until after the season is over. It's going to wild with all the summer crowds and all the tier matching they are doing, everyone and their mother is running over there trying to get what ever they can in matching offers.

[Waiting4RF]

How did you know? I will be there with my wife and mother-in-law.

[FAA]

If only to pull the plug on substantial CET losses, I'm there. Hoping to ride a wave of initial generosity, as DB posits. But given equal pay tables, why patronize worn down, beat up and tight machines when new ones are at the ready? Addition by subtraction. Anywhere But Caesars. Easy as ABC.