vpFREE2 Forums

General level of initial play to solicit offers

#1

Thanks to the great offers and particularly good luck I've had chasing status with a couple programs this year, I'm considering devoting some of my bankroll to establish myself with other casinos that offer my preferred games. I imagine this will generate a round of (hopefully overly generous) initial offers, and after redeeming them, I should be able to use the next round of offers to approximate the actual value of each play.

Unfortunately, while it was easy to decide on a level of play for, say, CET - 25k or 50k a day - I don't have any information on how to choose an optimal amount at each casino for these "test runs."

I know information on specific properties is likely considered something of a trade secret - and subject to change - so I'm just looking for more general advice. I'm open to private messages with details, of course :wink:

So what level of play is likely to generate some decent freeplay mailers pretty much anywhere I go, without overplaying too heavily at casinos with smaller maximum offers? The initial trip will be all single day "drop in" plays, mostly combined with sign up and multiplier promotions. I'm primarily looking at Vegas and Reno/Tahoe (as I have comped airfare for an upcoming trip) but would be interested in any other areas with several casinos within easy driving distance.

Again, I'm specifically not asking for property specific details publicly - though I'd gladly take private messages - I'm looking for more general, "5k coin in won't cut it most places, 15k is overkill a lot of the time" kind of advice. Thanks so much for the help you all have provided thus far and for any help you can provide with my planning.

#2

You will receive more answers if you give a list of properties you are considering.
The requirements for the Bellagio are far different than the 4 Queens.

Regards
A.P.

···

From: mailto:vpF…@…com
Sent: Saturday, June 06, 2015 4:54 PM
To: vpFREE@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [vpFREE] General level of initial play to solicit offers

Thanks to the great offers and particularly good luck I've had chasing status with a couple programs this year, I'm considering devoting some of my bankroll to establish myself with other casinos that offer my preferred games. I imagine this will generate a round of (hopefully overly generous) initial offers, and after redeeming them, I should be able to use the next round of offers to approximate the actual value of each play.

Unfortunately, while it was easy to decide on a level of play for, say, CET - 25k or 50k a day - I don't have any information on how to choose an optimal amount at each casino for these "test runs."

I know information on specific properties is likely considered something of a trade secret - and subject to change - so I'm just looking for more general advice. I'm open to private messages with details, of course :wink:

So what level of play is likely to generate some decent freeplay mailers pretty much anywhere I go, without overplaying too heavily at casinos with smaller maximum offers? The initial trip will be all single day "drop in" plays, mostly combined with sign up and multiplier promotions. I'm primarily looking at Vegas and Reno/Tahoe (as I have comped airfare for an upcoming trip) but would be interested in any other areas with several casinos within easy driving distance.

Again, I'm specifically not asking for property specific details publicly - though I'd gladly take private messages - I'm looking for more general, "5k coin in won't cut it most places, 15k is overkill a lot of the time" kind of advice. Thanks so much for the help you all have provided thus far and for any help you can provide with my planning.

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

#3

Well, I especially like properties with a major hotel chain association - Downtown Grand, Tropicana LV, SLS, Cosmopolitan, Rampart, Max at Westin, Hyatt Regency in Tahoe... I'm also looking at Tropicana Laughlin and M Resort because we fully value any reduction in costs on cruises. There are a number of others (especially in Reno/Sparks) that have my multi line crack - lol - but I don't know enough about them to know who I'd want to play at.

I think what I'm looking for is something like a relationship between room rate and a fairly strong showing for initial play. Or perhaps to be told that no such general correlation exists =p

#4

In spite of what you may have read there are a lot of broad generalities that are somewhat consistent.

1. Some properties rarely if ever send out offers of note. These you will have to discover, but the South Point is one that rarely sends out worthwhile offers to out of towners, the Palms would probably be a close second.

2. Every other property will usually send out some kind of offer for almost any play, these may be totally useless offers, but once you get over the $3000 level you can expect to get minimal offers from the out of the way properties.

3. All properties send out a wide variety of offers depending on your play level. They will range from a discount on a mid week room
to Suites and airfare. Here is where it becomes difficult.

4. It is generally accepted that the fancier properties on the strip require more play than the less fancy off strip and downtown properties.

5. If you are looking for reasonable mid level offers i. e. room for 3 nights anytime, some free play and maybe some food comps I’d suggest $10,000
in action at the off strip and downtown properties, and $15,000 for the strip properties. I am assuming that all of your play is on video poker.
This will give you a baseline and after that you can adjust your play up or down.

6. Finding specific play levels for each property requires a lot of work and most people will not be sharing that information without getting equivalent information in return.

As always play in your own comfort zone and don’t go over your budget in search of good offers or comps.

Regards
A.P.

···

From: mailto:vpF…@…com
Sent: Saturday, June 06, 2015 11:59 PM
To: vpFREE@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [vpFREE] General level of initial play to solicit offers

Well, I especially like properties with a major hotel chain association - Downtown Grand, Tropicana LV, SLS, Cosmopolitan, Rampart, Max at Westin, Hyatt Regency in Tahoe... I'm also looking at Tropicana Laughlin and M Resort because we fully value any reduction in costs on cruises. There are a number of others (especially in Reno/Sparks) that have my multi line crack - lol - but I don't know enough about them to know who I'd want to play at.

I think what I'm looking for is something like a relationship between room rate and a fairly strong showing for initial play. Or perhaps to be told that no such general correlation exists =p

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

#5

Great post AP.

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

#6

Yes, many thanks, AP! That was incredibly helpful - exactly what I needed. I think I knew they're were no "rules" but wanted to make sure my comfortable level of play would be in the right ballpark.

I've only started playing heavily fairly recently - I've always used my travel buffet as a bankroll for playing quarter JoB for rooms and beers, and felt well compensated. I'm actually more of an advantage player of hotel and airline programs - but there's a synergy between that game and casinos offers that I'm enjoying learning to maximize.

I'm fortunate to have traveling companions who are used to (benefiting from) my points games, so I have extra opportunities for testing there. One of them only plays slots, but was happy to play all day on my account when I got a huge multiplier - I can only assume that's why Harrah's Laughlin wants me back.

In any event, I appreciate the general advice - my bankroll is stronger than my stomach, and just keeps getting larger as I'm able to offset other costs. For instance, I pay good money to attain Southwest Companion Pass status, and airfare credits offset that and might even get me to AList+ status next year. I only count actual "back to bankroll" dollars when calculating EV, but some of the money saved in the overall travel budget ends up in the bankroll eventually. As I learn more, I'd be very interested in discussing the possibilities of "stacking" other loyalty programs with casino play.

Oh, and Jean, don't sell yourself short - trial and error is about as scientific as it gets! :wink:

#7

Now that I understand where you are coming from, I can add a little more information.

Offers to locals are way different than offers to out of towners. Since this forum has both types of players you will find that what be a good place for locals isn’t good for visitors and vice versa.

As an out of towner myself I look at 3 things in picking a casino to play in.

1. Quality and type of games to play. Some places have good single line games but poor mult-line games, you have to develop some flexibility in your choices. The vpfree database will have all the information that you will need to easily evaluate all the casinos.

2. Slot club benefits and comps. Does the slot club offer benefits that you want, and how are the casino’s comping policies. Do they send out good mailers to visitors. The database will give you some help here at least to the area of what your coin in will earn, but the comping policies are a nightmare. Some casinos do almost everything through marketing, others do almost everything through hosts. If you have an aversion to using hosts you may want to try a place that relies heavier on marketing. A good host can make up for a lot of stupid marketing in my opinion. Finding a good host is another problem altogether.

3. The Casino/hotel itself. Do you care about location ? What kind of room keeps you happy. Do you want fancy digs or will a more basic place keep you satisfied. What kind of restaurants keep you happy ? Do you need a big entertainment venue with nice shows etc.

These are highly personal items, so a casino that I might like another player would hate. Best thing is to attempt to put a dollar value on everything, and then picking the place becomes easier.

Take Caesars properties in Vegas for example. They score good points for frequent mailers, the hotels and casinos are nicer than average.
Their games score on the low end and their restaurants are pricey. Go to somewhere like the 4 Queens downtown, and they score poorly for rooms, but have better games, good cash back, and more reasonably priced restaurants.

I doubt that there is any place that would score highly in all areas. As you develop a finer set of criteria as to what you want in a casino, you will be able to ask more targeted questions that might return more helpful information from this forum.

Happy hunting

Regards
A.P.

···

From: mailto:vpF…@…com
Sent: Sunday, June 07, 2015 12:37 PM
To: vpFREE@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [vpFREE] General level of initial play to solicit offers

Yes, many thanks, AP! That was incredibly helpful - exactly what I needed. I think I knew they're were no "rules" but wanted to make sure my comfortable level of play would be in the right ballpark.

I've only started playing heavily fairly recently - I've always used my travel buffet as a bankroll for playing quarter JoB for rooms and beers, and felt well compensated. I'm actually more of an advantage player of hotel and airline programs - but there's a synergy between that game and casinos offers that I'm enjoying learning to maximize.

I'm fortunate to have traveling companions who are used to (benefiting from) my points games, so I have extra opportunities for testing there. One of them only plays slots, but was happy to play all day on my account when I got a huge multiplier - I can only assume that's why Harrah's Laughlin wants me back.

In any event, I appreciate the general advice - my bankroll is stronger than my stomach, and just keeps getting larger as I'm able to offset other costs. For instance, I pay good money to attain Southwest Companion Pass status, and airfare credits offset that and might even get me to AList+ status next year. I only count actual "back to bankroll" dollars when calculating EV, but some of the money saved in the overall travel budget ends up in the bankroll eventually. As I learn more, I'd be very interested in discussing the possibilities of "stacking" other loyalty programs with casino play.

Oh, and Jean, don't sell yourself short - trial and error is about as scientific as it gets! :wink:

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]