In a message dated 3/25/2005 8:23:55 PM Pacific Standard Time,
LanceS@aol.com writes:
1. This current March promotion is for free play of $10.00 for every
4000 points. Am I correct in that the only difference between this
promotion and the "normal" player club benefit is that during March
you can redeem for actual free play cash versus the "normal" need to
use comp dollars for food and services?
···
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You are correct. You can get free play for your earned (single) points,
instead of having to use them at the various Palms' outlets.
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2. In the high limit room it appears the same sort of "free play"
type promotion is routinely available for money gambled in the high
limit room. Is there any other benefit to play in the high limit room
(as far as promotional benefits are concerned) other than this free
play money vs "normal" promotional cash type benefit?
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Your play on HL room machines normally will get you free play at the rate of
800 points/dollar. The current promo gets you FP at the rate of 400
points/dollar. Nearly twice as good! 
No other benefit for play in HL, vs. elsewhere in the casino.
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3. Does using the 3 x points coupon in the Las Vegas Advisor POV have
any detrimental effects or does it just give my host additional "comp
dollars" available to increase my comp reimbursement potential?
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No detrimental effects. Just gives you extra comp points to work with. Max
bonus points is always 40,000/day.
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I ask some of these questions because on a previous trip we used our
points to supplement a spa treatment and later found out that this
reduced our hosts ability to use our points to further reduce those
charges we accrued that she could not discretionary comp us. (I'm
assuming a discretionary comp is a comp that does not dive into using
your point totals?) On the same trip however there was some promo
going on that put free play available for us that we mistakenly
DIDN'T play thinking this too would carry over to our hosts ability
to reduce our charges. Unfortunately, this "free play" turned out to
be something that expired if you did not use it the same day and we
lost quite a chunk of money because of not playing it.
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Promotional FP that is only on your card for a limited period of time does
not come from your comp points. Locals get it on a regular basis, with the
available dates and amount shown on their monthly mailer. Sometimes there is an
"e-mail free play day." Some drawings have FP awards on particular days and
times, if you meet certain play/card swipe requirements. None of these things
affect your comps.
At the rate you played last time ($16,000/day average), you probably qualify
for a discretionary room comp, at least during off-peak periods. I would not
expect that you would get much else without your host having to hit your
accrued comp points. Rule of thumb for the Palms hosts for a room comp is
$20K/day coin-in.
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Sorry about all these questions... just trying to become even more
knowledgeable and have found that asking both Player Club personnel
and asking questions of the host never quite give you a straight
answer. (I gotta believe the hosts know all about current promotions
and player club benefits but more than once we've been given the "I'm
not sure WHAT the player club does... you need to ask them" type
runaround.)
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As hard as it might be to believe, the Palms' hosts are not always aware of
promos which do not directly affect them (like a VIP slot tournament).
Marketing sends out its mail directly to the qualifying players, the hosts usually
hear about it from their customers. Info about promos like drawings or the
current FP for points is NOT routinely sent to the hosts. It is a sad fact that
in many casinos, the marketing department, slot club, and hosts are not all
up to speed on each other's activities. If my Palms host needs to know about
a current promo, she usually asks ME!
Brian
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