How do you use your free play?

[Mr.Dawes]

In the past I basically just picked the game I was there to play, (almost always DDB) downloaded my free play and started playing for the day. However, the IP in Biloxi has added 9/6 JoB and I will be devoting almost all of my play to this game for at least the next few months. I plan on playing much more coin in at the IP since it is the only casino in Biloxi offering 9/6. I hope this will lead to better mailers with more free play. Currently I average about $15 a week.The IP will not allow free play to be used on the 9/6 JoB machines. I have heard that a good strategy is to use free play on games with high variance. I am thinking of playing my free play on DDB and maybe even for higher stakes than quarters. This would not give me very many hands but if I caught quads and then used that on quarter JoB it could really pad my JoB bankroll.Any thoughts on how others approach free play is welcome.

[Eduardo]

If I couldn't use it on the game I wanted to play any way, I would pick a game that is most likely to convert the free play into cash (then move to the game I want). Probably low variance, not high.

[wildman49]

Today I had $70 free play and play it this way every time I have some. I hit the 9/6 nickels play it off and go from there. Today ended with $60 cash. Some days I run it off this way just before heading to work. Pocket it for my next day trip.

[BobDancer]

You guys are concentrating on how to get the most dollars today out of your free play. I believe that's the wrong way to go about it, especially if your main play is the loosest game in the house.A better strategy is to use this money to help get more free play in the future.Playing it on penny slots is a good idea. Casinos believe that players who play such bad games are "real gamblers" and they reward them with better offers.With $15 a week in free play, and a 10% disadvantage at penny slots, it's costing you $1.50 on average each week and the likely result is you'll get better mailers.If you play it on the highest returning low variance game, you'll likely have your mailers reduced, not increased.

[FloridaPhil]

[quote=BobDancer]Playing it on penny slots is a good idea. Casinos believe
that players who play such bad games are "real gamblers" and they
reward them with better offers.[/quote]This is interesting information.  It you assume this is true, wouldn't it be better to play slots with your free play?

[BobDancer]

 This is interesting information.  It you assume this is true, wouldn't it be better to play slots with your free play?
In the case of the original poster, he was going to be playing the highest yielding game in the casino. He needs to take special precautions because casino managers watch those games closely. In your case, FP, you intentionally avoid the best games and play games that are a percent or two tighter than what's offered. And you sometimes play single coin --- which adds to the casino's bottom line whether you can justify it to yourself or not. You can do what you want with your free play. Casinos wouldn't / shouldn't  be worried about you at all.

[Mr.Dawes]

Bob, this idea is interesting to me. I had not even thought about my play from the point of view of the casino. Except that increasing my coin-in would increase my mailers. You are suggesting that if all my play is on 9/6 JoB the casino my actually be less likely to offer mailers to bring me back. Is there some general formula for the amount of play on slots versus vp? I am anticipating increasing my play to an average of 2 day trips a month with around $4,000 coin in per trip. My past mailers were based on an average of around $2,000 coin in per month.If I begin to see $30 - $50 a week in mailers would you still use all of that on slots? Would quarter or dollar work just as well as penny so I could get it over faster?Thanks for your thoughts.

[BobDancer]

There's no precise formula. Every player does it a bit differently. Every casino manager does it a bit differently. Penny slots actually go much faster than quarter slots. Penny slots can often be $2.40 or $3.00 per play --- about the same speed as dollar slots.

[FloridaPhil]

[quote=BobDancer]In your case, FP, you intentionally avoid the best games
and play games that are a percent or two tighter than what's offered.
And you sometimes play single coin --- which adds to the casino's bottom
line whether you can justify it to yourself or not. You can do what you
want with your free play. Casinos wouldn't / shouldn't  be worried
about you at all.[/quote]Sell it BOB!!  

[olds442jetaway]

     To me, free play is just found money just like you picked it up off of the floor. If my budget is 400 for the session, and I have 15- in free play that day, my out of pocket budget is 385-. One interesting thing about where I play at Mohegan Sun. Unless things have recently changed, your free play when downloaded, does not count toward points or comps of any kind. Once you have bet the entire amount of free play, the counting starts. They don't care how much you won or lost on the free play, just that all of it has been wagered before any point or comp considerations begin.