Perfect Example!!

[DougJ]

On the way home yesterday, stopped off to collect free play at M.

Not able to take a photo of this phenomenon, but it is a perfect example of VP Strategy, for all those so-called "advantage" players out to maximize their benefits.

There they were, crowds of folks, waiting around for the "Big Draw" promotion at 6 pm. You get a postcard in the mail with your six valuable lucky numbers, hoping that a majority of your numbers will be drawn at either 6 or 8.

Holy cow. If I could have taken a photo, it would illustrate the wisdom of folks chasing promos like this. Or, similar ones at South Point.

That's AP, folks.

The casinos love it ... truly, the place was packed. Marketing Genius.

Oh, wait, M was also giving away a took kit that day. Picked it up, tossed it in my car trunk donation box, to be schlepped once a week to Habitat for Humanity (unless it's alcohol, which then gets handed off to a neighbor).

[Tedlark]

Does Habitat for Humanity get many "took kits?"

That's misspelling, folks.

Edited to ask: When you make donations such as the one you make to Habitat for Humanity, do you get a charitable deduction receipt and write off the deduction?

[billryan]

It is a perfect example, not just the one the op envisioned.
Traveling from North Vegas to a remote casino to play below average games.
Look like we have a mini-Phil.
Daddy must be proud.

[BobDancer]

I was at the M when Doug didn't take his picture. Didn't win that night, but I average $50,000 a year from drawings at various casinos. Significantly more than that last year.It was not just the post card going on. Should you play $3,000 coin-in of video poker during the week, you receive an additional ticket --- to double your chance to get an award. Should you earn those points on days when you'd like a free buffet ($850, $1,300, or $2,000 coin-in depending on the meal period --- you keep the points) or earn an extra gift of the day (usually $1,000 per extra gift --- often the gifts are worthless, but not always and what's crap to me might be valuable to you or vice versa.) There are a number of video poker games for low stakes (i.e. 25c, 50c, $1) where the player is actually the favorite during double point days --- which means 0.6% there --- which are frequent.Often there are additional "somethings" going on as well. One example is that if you get free play, you also get a food voucher once or twice a month. Assuming you're going to use the voucher(s), it might make sense to eat at the same time as the Big Draw. Often there are multiple drawing periods going on simultaneously.You need to play sometime to keep your mailers coming and maintain your tier status. (I find it valuable to be ICON there. You'll need to make that decision for yourself.) Picking up free play without playing some additional is not viewed favorably by many casinos.Depending on what else is happening, it could easily be that the Big Draw was the highest EV event for that particular night for many players --- whether others sneer at it or not.And Bill, I don't think Doug qualifies as a mini-Phil until he starts calling these drawings "raffles." That's the big clue that he has no idea what he's talking about.

[billryan]

   When did M get decent low budget games? I pounded them for the $500 free play for new members deal a few months back and wasn't impressed with the machines at all.
I do like the Johnny Walker Blue and stop by from time to time on my way to or from The Pioneer and /or Seven Magic Mountains.
It's just too remote for my taste. Same reason I don't hit Aliente or Santa Fe Station.
My money guy is right next to Red Rock, so at least quarterly, I have an excuse to hit RR, Rampart Sun Coast and usually Arizona Charlies.
Little by little, my "routes" are coming together.
If I could add another day or two to the cycle, or somehow get out of bed before noon, I just might make something of myself.

[BobDancer]

   When did M get decent low budget games? I pounded them for the $500 free play for new members deal a few months back and wasn't impressed with the machines at all.
 They don't have a LOT of those machines, and you could easily have missed them, but they have perhaps 15 machines including NSU, 9/5 TBPP, 9/6 BPD, 9/6 JoB, and some other single line games for the stakes I mentioned earlier. They were officially excluded from the W2G promotion at the end of the year (although sometimes not actually excluded), but low stakes games aren't the best ones to play for a W2G promo anyway. There are players who earn ICON ($400,000 coin-in every six months) playing dollar NSU on 0.6% days --- collecting free buffets, mailers and other goodies along the way. I personally wouldn't want to go that route, but it's less than 20 hours a month of play to reach ICON which isn't outrageous.

[FAA]

the wisdom of folks chasing promos like this. Or, similar ones at SP.
That's AP, folks.
The casinos love it ... truly, the place was packed. Marketing Genius.--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Aristotle is credited as the first to coin the "wisdom of the crowd" in his work, Politics. Thanks for the memories. I sometimes get roped into these fiascos myself. The Gladiator Challenge at Caesars AC, typically won by Diamonds and 7S getting called to the lobby like clockwork. Low rollers just have to have blinders on those days. They simply cannot compete. They make the M's promotion actually sounds democratic!

[billryan]

   I do enjoy the M buffet, but they generally send me a comp or two in the mail, and many days it's under $1,000 coin in to get a free one. ICON isn't for me.
I'm currently trying to build up eight 'houses" to hit weekly. Right now, I'm at about 3 1/2-4 hours , four days a week. Unlike many people, I try to keep my FP separate. I play it through once and then bank it. After that, I play from my budget.
It's just a book-keeping entry, but I like to think if the casino is willing to pay me $50, or $100 just for showing up, I might as well have a plan for the money.

[FAA]

Unlike many people, I try to keep my FP separate. I play it through once and then bank it. After that, I play from my budget.
It's just a book-keeping entry, but I like to think if the casino is
willing to pay me $50, or $100 just for showing up, I might as well
have a plan for the money.--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Interesting idea. My only plan is to add the proceeds to the war chest.

[billryan]

I keep three bankrolls. One for VP, one for BJ and one for promotions and whatever else pops up. My thought was to bank all my money earned from Free Play and at the end of the year, use the money to pay next years rent. Be it six months, or nine months. It's all book keeping but means something to me. Sometime in the next two weeks, I'll pass $1,000 for the year. While I don't expect to keep that pace up all year, it would let me live for free if I can.