As I read my CURRENT PIONEER Nov. newsrag- it is not ALL good news.
Per their extensive writing on the subject (improved, new cashback OR
comps! for players at new rate of $2/pt on ANY machine, and 200 pts =
$1 cb or Xtra play OR comps..........so EQUALS a STRAIGHT .25%)....
Here's my latest summary, based on what's in our databases...
GN: Still the highest potential return at .19% cb + .38% comps.
too bad inventory is older, i.e. - coin dropping, and their hotel
rooms are limited (i.e. - < 400 vs 1000++ at some of the other
properties).
Trop: Surprisingly, a 'high' 2nd, imho, based on .167% cb + .333 %
comps, for a total of .5%! and seemingly easy room offers. I'm not a
heavy player there;
maybe 1k daily on a GOOD play day (although I do have 4-6 hrs live
poker, which adds $1.25-1.50 hourly to my comp balances!).
The rest of the resorts/hotels/casinos fall in the .25-.4% TOTAL
range, excl. marketing/host offers for daily play:
Avi - listed as .308% cb + <?> comps?
Slightly higher live poker comps at 1.50 hourly.
River Palms: (despite motel-like aging rooms)
a decent .3% total: .2% cb + .1% comp rate.
Although daily meal deals cost slightly more (now $1.22 out of pocket
for specials AFTER earning requisite pts), like 25 pts for bkfst to
save $1, or 75-100 pts for the meal of the month special ~ Prime Rib,
or fried shrimp ~ stick with the Prime Rib! (ALL VP $5 coin-in/pt).
Still bonus logo items and cb/multipliers on Mondays and Fridays.
Check website for monthly deals.
Bonus Pts levels- They have a gift catologue of various items,
starting at 75 Bonus Life pts (each Bonus Life pt = 200 pts ~ 1k VP).
EW-CB & Pioneer: Now all 'equal' at .25% TOTAL.
PIONEER is COMPS or CB; EW-CB is .15% cb (non-100% vp), and .1%
comps, plus marketing offers (which are bigger, bec bigger company
than Pioneer).
PIONEER marketing offers (get away free day stays) begin once you
attain '3000' pts on old system, so maybe $10-12k in lifetime??
Right now, though, it appears that all "Card of the day, multi pts
days" are mia. We'll see if they return in the future.
Riverside: .2% cb + <?> comps bonuses, which may vary by machine
played.... Didn't take too much play to get monthly mailers though.
Harrah's: .1% comps only + .1-.4%, depending on TYPE of machine
games played (slots give more bonus RCs).
Once you attain higher status, though, marketing offers quite
generous. Also - ongoing BONUS bounceback mail if you reach 4500
total pts in any month. (~15k in vp or 1500 Tier base + 3000 bonus).
I received $17 one month, and $28 on another.
I did have some penny slot play mixed in.
May this summary assist you in your 'where to play' in Laughlin
decisions...
Martin.