So many comments have been made on this topic, that I must reply to
them.
Let me address the practical first. I did not play the quarter
Double Poker progressive, but since it was 9/6 before, I suspect it
has been left alone. The carpet nearby is a mess of a patch, and
they have started tampering with the awnings, so maybe that has
distracted them from doing something about that pay table.
Yes, I agree totally with the post that said it is in the details
that MGM is devastating Bellagio. Gone are the metal keys, the
cardboard check at the Cafe, the grand staircase in the Conservatory
Julia Roberts comes down at in her entrance in Oceans 11, the papaya
at the Buffet, chamber music in the room elevators, fountain music
in the room TV Keno channel, etc., etc.
Someone commented that all the moves are to make the hotel more
profitable; but I wonder, will they do it for the long term or will
they end up blowing up the whole hotel eventually? Some grand
hotels -the Plaza in New York City and the Ritz in Paris come to
mind- are considered great decade after decade because they do care
about the visitors, and the details in everything about them. Will
Bellagio survive its first decade? Posters here are mostly 'long
term' VP players. Whoever is running Bellagio does believe in making
money fast in the here and now, and forgetting about the future.
Bellagio is no longer the wonderful hotel of 1998 and it could be
had things been done differently. I guess the managers believe that
exploiting Bellagio to the maximum now is better than making it a
unique destination to last a long time.
Yes, a VP clientele could be cultivated by the hotel without scaring
away the Convention people and the puking young party kids. The
convention people are the easiest, they will come no matter what is
on the casino, all they want is room for meetings and such.
Bellagio, like some other hotels, wants to catch the twenty
somethings and turn them into gamblers, but wants to also,
meanwhile, make money on them in Clubs, drinks, expensive
restaurants, whatever. Gamblers such as VP players are just not
their priority.
What do I know about business? Nothing. Maybe the Bellagio
management is right. This sometime VP player, though, would rather
play the 9/6 quarter DDB in dumpy little old Claridge in Atlantic
City, than try to get the comps needed for a room at Bellagio by
playing 8/5 DDB. But there are still nice solutions. The Palms,
MonteLago and Green Valley Ranch with 10/6 DDB are wonderful!!! And
how much nicer is a room at the Ritz in Lake Las Vegas than at
Bellagio!!!
As a silly man regrets the fate of the promiscuous slut he is in
love with, it pains me to see the changes at Bellagio; but there are
plenty of fish in the sea, including a big, nice goldfish swimming
up to the Strip on April 28th.
May Royals and Aces with kickers rain to all of you.
E