Finally...a winning day!

[FloridaPhil]

Went back to the Tampa Hard Rock yesterday. My first trip since the Alaska trip.  I can't believe how happy I was to see 8/5 DDB after playing 6/5 on the ship. 
 
I'm trying a new strategy and it seems to be working for me.  I'm cashing every quad or higher and not playing any white tickets.  It takes more of a stake to do this, but I'm almost always guaranteed to go home with some money.  It's a personal thing for me, but I always seem to play until I'm broke.  This keeps me from doing this the vast majority of the time. Anyway, I hit a quad early and put a $78 ticket in my wallet.   Three minutes later I hit 4Aces for $200.  Now I know I'm going home with at least $278.  I played for about 3 hours and cashed a total of 9 tickets.  Some were at .50.  I never hit anything but normal quads except for the first 4 Aces, but I went home up $400 for the day which makes me even with the cruise ship casino. 
 
The Hard Rock has new management and they are starting a new comp point program.  Old points are going away and I had about $170 left in old points.  I can't eat that many hamburgers, so I bought a nice pair of Oakley sunglass with the points.  At the moment, VP points accrue at the same rate as slots but  VP is not eligible for multi point days.  We'll see what they come up with in the new system. 
 

[olds442jetaway]

Good job Phil. Very hard thing to do too putting a padlock on your wallet. I recently found out that Mohegan Sun will start a niew "tier" system too on 10/01/2013. They were supposed to start on July 1, but various glitches caused them to put it off. All kinds of rumors flying, but most of them say it will not be good for the players. Will have to wait and see I guess. I am happy with the current system and that is probably why they are changing it. LOL.

[wilcoxfun]

My experience is if they change the tier system it is good for the casino.

[FloridaPhil]

I don't think we're losing much.  The Florida Hard Rocks have a near monopoly on Casino gambling in Florida.  Points accrued at 400 per dollar.  Could only be used for restaurant meals, store merchandise and hotel stays.  The room rate is so high, I wouldn't stay there myself.  I can go to Biloxi any time I want for free.  Cherokee and Black Hawk are either free or around $100 a night with huge discounts for players.  The Tampa Hard Rock wants $259 a night plus tax.  Crazy...   I can't see how the new system could be any worse.  If you want to gamble in Florida they are the only game in town.  The odds are about what you see outside of Vegas and the facility is nice. I have no problem with what they are doing. I only wish Florida had some more competition so they would value the real players a little more. Right now the place is packed full of tourists and seniors riding in buses.

[BillyJoe]

Nice going, Phil. I guess I need to use whatever points that I still have there soon. I usually go to Rise, and buy pastry for the cul-de-sac. My neighbor is now addicted to their chocolate cup cakes.

[FloridaPhil]

I eat a lot of free lunches in the Hard Rock Cafe, but you can only eat so much. I just got a post card from them offering to convert $25 of my points to cash or free play.   $25 isn't  much, but it's going in the right direction.  Now, if we can get a real "cash back" system we may be getting somewhere.  I've never actually went to the trouble to find out how much play equals a point.  I may have to do that some day.  

[BillyJoe]

  Now, if we can get a real "cash back" system we may be getting somewhere.  I've never actually went to the trouble to find out how much play equals a point.  I may have to do that some day.  
Phil, I just received an EMail from HR, saying that they are beginning a FreePlay cashback program. Earn at least 600 credits, and in 3 days, you will see FreePlay on your card.  

[FloridaPhil]

Interesting.  I'm out of town right now.  When I get back I'll have to look into the new program.  I'm really curious about how they calculate points. Is it based on your average bet over a period of time or your total cash through the system?  Would you get less points playing one coin dollars vs. 5 coin quarters?  Also, I wonder if they'll allow VP players to participate in multi point bonus days?  Maybe I'll email them.  The last time I did, they responded promptly.