Penny slot players get a lot better freeplay than VP players. As they should, they are giving the house action on a 90% game. Even the worst VP is around 96%. At one of my locals, they have great odds - up to 99.8%. But if you play those games only/mostly your FP will be nearly zero. I was playing a lot of halves and dollars there, averaging about $7k a visit and my FP was cut to $5; but only after earning 25 points ($500 coin in)
Casinos aren't dumb. Play games with a high hold and you will get more. Play only the best games and you won't get much.
Cash Back
-
FloridaPhil
- Video Poker Master
- Posts: 6229
- Joined: Sat Jul 19, 2008 11:28 am
[quote=pokerpokerpoker]Casinos aren't dumb. Play games with a high hold and you will get more. Play only the best games and you won't get much.
[/quote]I get this. They have to make money somehow. One thing I have always wondered about. If a professional video poker player never plays any game where he doesn't have the advantage, how does he ever get any comps? Or put another way. If you never give the casino a chance to make money, why do they want you to play there? Or, why would a casino continue to give away cruises, cash back, high roller suites, entries into lucrative drawings and everything else to a player that continues to hit them up for big bucks? Sounds like they are losing money on every deal, but making it up on quantity...
-
wildman49
- Video Poker Master
- Posts: 1236
- Joined: Fri Oct 05, 2012 10:45 am
Penny slot players get a lot better freeplay than VP players. As they should, they are giving the house action on a 90% game. Even the worst VP is around 96%. At one of my locals, they have great odds - up to 99.8%. But if you play those games only/mostly your FP will be nearly zero. I was playing a lot of halves and dollars there, averaging about $7k a visit and my FP was cut to $5; but only after earning 25 points ($500 coin in)
Casinos aren't dumb. Play games with a high hold and you will get more. Play only the best games and you won't get much.
The same is true where I play for each dollar in slots gets you 2 points, VP gets 1 point per $1. I am fine with this since poker give you two shots at a winning hand. Just think if you spun a slot and held two out of three windows that hit on the line and got to spin again, that would be a blast!
-
Lucky Larry
- Video Poker Master
- Posts: 2693
- Joined: Sat Dec 13, 2008 7:35 pm
A funny story. When the casino where we learned VP removed VP we moved to a new casino-Isle of Capri Lake Charles. I forgot all about cash back and was happily playing along for almost a year. I needed a new card so I saunter up to the Guest Services. They give me a new card and inform me casually, "you know that you have almost a $1000 in cash back. Cash back is capped at $1000. So you might want to use it soon." After getting off the floor, I sauntered - ran back to my VP machine and started playing on my cash back.
One of the advantages of higher level cards is more cash back. At Isle when we made top tier we received 3X cash back vs 1X. And, at Coushatta we receive a remarkable 10¢/point on a $4/point VP scale. Coushatta is capped at $3K. Another reason for Sweet C and I to work as a team and both of us reach top tier at the casino.
One of the advantages of higher level cards is more cash back. At Isle when we made top tier we received 3X cash back vs 1X. And, at Coushatta we receive a remarkable 10¢/point on a $4/point VP scale. Coushatta is capped at $3K. Another reason for Sweet C and I to work as a team and both of us reach top tier at the casino.
-
FloridaPhil
- Video Poker Master
- Posts: 6229
- Joined: Sat Jul 19, 2008 11:28 am
[quote=Lucky Larry]They give me a new card and inform me casually, "you know that you have almost a $1000 in cash back.[/quote]That's some serious cash back. My wife and I also play as a team at the casinos that allow us to play on the same account. Two serious quarter players playing as a team can look like a decent customer to a casino. I think this is why we get the offers we do.
-
Lucky Larry
- Video Poker Master
- Posts: 2693
- Joined: Sat Dec 13, 2008 7:35 pm
Phil,
You are exactly right. Your ADT (Average Daily Theoretical) is much greater when both of you play on the same player's cards. This is an important strategy. Two 2,500 point players become one 5,000 point player when they pool. Just remember to only use one card, and have all the registrations (hotel), purchases, etc in that card. Use of a card for any service/purchase triggers a "day of play" at some locations. Zero coin played on a day of activation of your card is a killer when averaged in with the other days. Just light back in school.
"Learn the system - Play the system"
You are exactly right. Your ADT (Average Daily Theoretical) is much greater when both of you play on the same player's cards. This is an important strategy. Two 2,500 point players become one 5,000 point player when they pool. Just remember to only use one card, and have all the registrations (hotel), purchases, etc in that card. Use of a card for any service/purchase triggers a "day of play" at some locations. Zero coin played on a day of activation of your card is a killer when averaged in with the other days. Just light back in school.
"Learn the system - Play the system"
-
FloridaPhil
- Video Poker Master
- Posts: 6229
- Joined: Sat Jul 19, 2008 11:28 am
[quote=Lucky Larry]"Learn the system - Play the system"[/quote]Great advice. I never took the time to even look at the system. Once I did, I learned it has real value to those that use It. I was shocked to find a casino would give small players anything. All you have to do is ask...
-
Lucky Larry
- Video Poker Master
- Posts: 2693
- Joined: Sat Dec 13, 2008 7:35 pm
Asking is all about how, who and when you ask. Our strategy includes the following:
1) Learn all you can about the casino player program - Coin In/point, tier levels, cash back options, the "official casino day". This last point is crucial to keep up your Average Daily Theoretical. Most casino official day runs from like 4:00 am to 3:59 am. If you play even a short time on a new day the day is averaged into your ADT - lowering you cash back and offers.
2) Make it a point to meet the casino hosts, learn about who is a good host and how you get a host. I make it a point to meet personally with several at different times to learn about the system and to let them know who we are, what we play and especially that all our points are from "video poker". Those 10,000 points on slots represents $10,000 coin in but $40,000 coin in for VP. I always give them a distinguisher to separate me from other faces. I often go by the moniker the "old gray-headed retired principal". Don't be pushy and always be courteous and gracious. Remember being a host is not an easy job and there are lots of pushy, demanding people who feel they are owed something.
3) When you do need something ask and be courteous and thank the hosts for their efforts.
4) We've found that you can prime the pump by knowing when the casino is at its least demanding times. For example, we made it a point to come on Sunday nights when rooms are available. Our hosts then started treating us to suites which were readily available. As time has gone by we have a record of being placed in suites or junior suites. Now even on weekends we usually are placed in a suite. Hosts (even ones who don't know you) look at your past room placements and usually give you the same quality of room. They don't want to upset a fellow host's guests.
5) Be reasonable, loyal and gracious. Sending thank you notes and even better an email to the Player Development Director who supervises the hosts complimenting them gets lots of small considerations back.
6) I make it a point to get to know the operations staff at the casino and the facilities. Getting to know one of the hotel managers last year and making a point to speak to him each time we saw him helped when we needed multiple rooms for family for a big family get together. I simply asked the manager how would go about booking multiple rooms for an upcoming event. He personally took me to the registration. Took notes and personally reserved a "block of rooms" for us with a big suite to meet in. He even offered help if we needed to cater anything. The same goes for all personnel. Shawn, a regular valet makes it a point to take special care of our car after we got to know him, what he's majoring in college, etc. He'll put up our sun visors now without asking telling us he didn't want it too hot for us when we get it back. An extra $10-20 at tuition time goes along way.
Those old sayings, "Treat other people the way you want to be treated!" and "walking a mile in someone else's shoes" are so true.
Learn the system - play the system.
1) Learn all you can about the casino player program - Coin In/point, tier levels, cash back options, the "official casino day". This last point is crucial to keep up your Average Daily Theoretical. Most casino official day runs from like 4:00 am to 3:59 am. If you play even a short time on a new day the day is averaged into your ADT - lowering you cash back and offers.
2) Make it a point to meet the casino hosts, learn about who is a good host and how you get a host. I make it a point to meet personally with several at different times to learn about the system and to let them know who we are, what we play and especially that all our points are from "video poker". Those 10,000 points on slots represents $10,000 coin in but $40,000 coin in for VP. I always give them a distinguisher to separate me from other faces. I often go by the moniker the "old gray-headed retired principal". Don't be pushy and always be courteous and gracious. Remember being a host is not an easy job and there are lots of pushy, demanding people who feel they are owed something.
3) When you do need something ask and be courteous and thank the hosts for their efforts.
4) We've found that you can prime the pump by knowing when the casino is at its least demanding times. For example, we made it a point to come on Sunday nights when rooms are available. Our hosts then started treating us to suites which were readily available. As time has gone by we have a record of being placed in suites or junior suites. Now even on weekends we usually are placed in a suite. Hosts (even ones who don't know you) look at your past room placements and usually give you the same quality of room. They don't want to upset a fellow host's guests.
5) Be reasonable, loyal and gracious. Sending thank you notes and even better an email to the Player Development Director who supervises the hosts complimenting them gets lots of small considerations back.
6) I make it a point to get to know the operations staff at the casino and the facilities. Getting to know one of the hotel managers last year and making a point to speak to him each time we saw him helped when we needed multiple rooms for family for a big family get together. I simply asked the manager how would go about booking multiple rooms for an upcoming event. He personally took me to the registration. Took notes and personally reserved a "block of rooms" for us with a big suite to meet in. He even offered help if we needed to cater anything. The same goes for all personnel. Shawn, a regular valet makes it a point to take special care of our car after we got to know him, what he's majoring in college, etc. He'll put up our sun visors now without asking telling us he didn't want it too hot for us when we get it back. An extra $10-20 at tuition time goes along way.
Those old sayings, "Treat other people the way you want to be treated!" and "walking a mile in someone else's shoes" are so true.
Learn the system - play the system.
-
FloridaPhil
- Video Poker Master
- Posts: 6229
- Joined: Sat Jul 19, 2008 11:28 am
Larry. Thank you for posting. We could use more of this kind of information on this forum. I recently learned the value of working with a casino host myself. That 40 minutes I invested in talking with him was well worth the effort. I found it is better to approach them as someone who doesn't know anything. They seem to be more helpful than if you come across as a "know-it-all". I realize your level of play is much higher than ours, but I think small time players would be surprised to find the casino is more than willing to give you things if you approach them in the right way. This works two ways. If a casino provides good games with decent odds and takes care of their regular customers, the customers will stay. If all they want to do is clean out your pocket's and move on to the next sucker, the casino will eventually run out of players and no one wins.
Continue with Google