I would be interested in the opinions of the members of this board,
as to your primary annoyances and pet peeves regarding the
questionable tactics and marketing practices of some casinos.
Pet Peeves About Annoying Practices of Some Casinos
--- In vpFREE@yahoogroups.com, "jackessiebabe" <jackessiebabe@y...>
wrote:
I would be interested in the opinions of the members of this
board,
as to your primary annoyances and pet peeves regarding the
questionable tactics and marketing practices of some casinos.
SORRY!! This got sent somehow, before I finished my post.
To continue: I chatted about this subject with Mark
(Mark_My_Words_Again) earlier today, and he actually suggested the
topic, so I am giving him full credit for the idea. I think it is an
interesting subject, so I am taking the liberty of posing it to the
board.
I would also be interested in knowing if you avoid playing in
casinos who persist in engaging in tactics that you find
unsatisfactory.
My personal #1 Pet Peeve is the delibrate placing of some short-pay
vp in banks of fullpay vp. It is all too easy (and very common it
seems) for players to move over a seat or 2, and play several hands
of short-pay vp before they notice this descrepancy. I know, I
KNOW!! We should all be vigilant and notice the pay schedule before
playing the first hand, but, in the real world, we are not always
this well deciplined, particularly since the majority of machines in
the bank are full-pay.
My # 2. Peeve involves casinos who utilize the "Max Bet" button to
take more than 5 coins (in some cases, FIVE TIMES 5 coins) from an
unwary player. Most players do not realize that the "Bet 5 Coins"
button must be activated first, and then, after that, either
the "Deal" button or the "Bet 5 Coins" button must be hit with each
deal. This causes many players who are in the habit of always
hitting the Max Coin button, to bet more than they intended to bet.
IMO, both of these "peeves" are delibrate efforts on the part of the
casino, to mislead the player.
If anyone is interested, I'll be happy to "name names", though I'm
sure I'll miss many offenders in the process.
As a rule, I try to avoid casinos that employ either of these
practices.
I look forward to hearing from the board.
Babe
--- In vpFREE@yahoogroups.com, "jackessiebabe" <jackessiebabe@y...>
wrote:
My personal #1 Pet Peeve is the delibrate placing of some short-pay
vp in banks of fullpay vp.
LOL! I guess it is a "guy thing" in a "hunter/gatherer" society. But, I enjoy
seeking out and then finding the few "good" machines among the "chaff". If I
find a good full-pay machine, I'll play it. It makes me feel good to know that I
am intelligent enough to find the "good" machine and avoid those that are not.
Yeah! Yeah! Yeah! LOL! Flame me if you want. But, hey, I said it was a "guy
thing", Babe.
<light-hearted grin>
.....bl
--- In vpFREE@yahoogroups.com, "jackessiebabe" <jackessiebabe@y...>
wrote:
My # 2. Peeve involves casinos who utilize the "Max Bet" button to
take more than 5 coins (in some cases, FIVE TIMES 5 coins) from an
unwary player. Most players do not realize that the "Bet 5 Coins"
button must be activated first, and then, after that, either
the "Deal" button or the "Bet 5 Coins" button must be hit with
each
deal. This causes many players who are in the habit of always
hitting the Max Coin button, to bet more than they intended to bet.
Have a feeling this is going to be one of my pet peeves also, but
not sure if I understand it. Any more information that might help me
out? I have noticed this from time to time, but chalked it it to my
betting mistake.
Paul
--- In vpFREE@yahoogroups.com, "bornloser1537" <bornloser1537@y...>
wrote:
--- In vpFREE@yahoogroups.com, "jackessiebabe"
<jackessiebabe@y...>
wrote:
> My personal #1 Pet Peeve is the delibrate placing of some short-
pay
> vp in banks of fullpay vp.
LOL! I guess it is a "guy thing" in a "hunter/gatherer" society.
But, I enjoy
seeking out and then finding the few "good" machines among
the "chaff". If I
find a good full-pay machine, I'll play it. It makes me feel good
to know that I
am intelligent enough to find the "good" machine and avoid those
that are not.
Yeah! Yeah! Yeah! LOL! Flame me if you want. But, hey, I said
it was a "guy
thing", Babe.
<light-hearted grin>
.....bl
Hi BW,
It's been a long time since we've chatted.
No matter how hard you try, you will NOT convince me that you are a
MCP!
I understand (even though I am a mere woman.....ROFL!) what you are
saying. Furthermore, I think that you make a good & valid point.
However, it is the principle of the thing to which I most object.
i.e, that the casino is trying to trick the more naive or careless
players among us. As usual, just the opinion of this WOMAN.
I'm in a bad mood today, anyway, having been snowed out of our LV
trip. We were supposed to arrive yesterday, but had a monster snow
storm in the Midwest. All the flights were cancelled yesterday and
most of today. Since we were flying home on Sat., we just cancelled
(postponed) the trip. I should be sitting in front of my favorite
vp right now. Rats!!
A Happy, Healthy & Prosperous New Year to you.
Babe
--- In vpFREE@yahoogroups.com, "jackessiebabe" <jackessiebabe@y...>
wrote:
I would be interested in the opinions of the members of this board,
as to your primary annoyances and pet peeves regarding the
questionable tactics and marketing practices of some
casinos.>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Wow. I could go on and on, but here are a few that come to mind.
1. Sending out lots of free room coupons, but allocating almost zero
free rooms to marketing. You call up the casino a month ahead of
time for what should be a slow weekday night, and they say "Yes, we
have plenty of rooms for that date. Oh, you have a coupon? Sorry,
no rooms left for coupons." Give me a *%&!! break 
2. Excluding Video Poker from multi-points and other promotions.
3. Advertising "SINGLE DECK BLACKJACK IS BACK!!!!!" but of course it
turns out to be the 6:5 junk game.
3a. Advertising that our single deck games "PAY A WHOPPING 6:5 FOR
BLACKJACKS!!!!!!". This is obviously designed to fool those patrons
who are so bad at math that they think 6:5 is a bigger number than
3:2.
4. Sending out "free play" coupons instead of cash coupons,
especially when they must be used on "select slot machines".
Unfortunately, this seems to be the wave of the future.
5. Putting a late starting time, such as 7:00 AM, on the first valid
date of coupons. This makes it impossible to cash in one coupon just
before midnight on the expiration date and then another coupon just
after midnight on it's beginning date. This practice also seems to
be the wave of the future.
6. Making you stand in line at the players club to "validate" a cash
coupon, then making you stand in line again at the cage to actually
get your cash. Thankfully most of the casinos in my area have
abandoned this practice (either you can cash coupons directly at the
cashier or the players club people have cash to give you), but there
are still one or two holdouts.
7. Advertising something like "it only takes xx dollars to get a
slot point at our casino, vs. xxx dollars at some other casino".
Another ad aimed at people who are bad at math. As we all know, this
tells you absolutely nothing unless you also know what each slot
point is worth at both casinos.
8. Putting intentionally deceptive or hidden fine print into
promotions with the sole purpose being to invalidate many potential
winners. Here's a real example: I was playing VP at a casino that
ran a promotion offering a small $25 bonus for hitting quad 7's.
When I actually hit quad 7's, they refused to pay me because hidden
in the fine print of the rules posted behind the players club desk
(and NOT mentioned in the promotional placards at the bar where I was
playing) it said that the 7's must me contiguous. In other words,
7777X or X7777, but not something like 77X77. That's a lot of ill
will generated just to save paying a few customers $25.
I could come up with plenty more, but that's enough for now.
EE
--- In vpFREE@yahoogroups.com, "jackessiebabe"
<jackessiebabe@y...>
wrote:
>
> My # 2. Peeve involves casinos who utilize the "Max Bet" button
to
> take more than 5 coins (in some cases, FIVE TIMES 5 coins) from
an
> unwary player. Most players do not realize that the "Bet 5
Coins"
> button must be activated first, and then, after that, either
> the "Deal" button or the "Bet 5 Coins" button must be hit with
each
> deal. This causes many players who are in the habit of always
> hitting the Max Coin button, to bet more than they intended to
bet.
>
Have a feeling this is going to be one of my pet peeves also, but
not sure if I understand it. Any more information that might help
me
out? I have noticed this from time to time, but chalked it it to
my
betting mistake.
Paul
Hi Paul,
There are certain banks of MG/MD TITO (in my experience, usually
flat-tops) where the maximum bet is more than the usual 5 coins. I
guess it could be any multiple of 5 coins, but that ones that I've
encountered had a 25 coin maximum. Usually, the "Max. Bet" button
is prominently placed above the "Bet 5 Coins" and "Deal" buttons. It
would be quite natural, especially if you always hit the Max. Bet on
other machines, to just hit the Max. Bet button. If you do this you
will be betting whatever multiple of 5 coins that machine takes. I
have never seen instructions or warnings about this anywhere on the
machine. The only clue is in the payoff schedule, which, in the 5th
column, looks strangely high and confusing. However, since the ones
I've seen are all MD machines, taking bets from 1 cent to $1.00, it
is very easy for the unwary to get confused. If you wish to bet
just 5 coins, you must push the "Bet 5 coins" initially. This will
show the payoff,in the 5th column, for 5 coins, in which ever denom.
you have selected. (Many times, I've seen these machines with short-
pay schedules, such as 8/6JoB.) On subsequent deals, you must ALWAYS
hit either "Bet 5 Coins" or "Deal". If you forget and hit the Max.
button, and don't "re-set" it to 5 coins, before hitting deal,
you'll bet the max amount again.
I hope that helps you a little.
Babe
···
--- In vpFREE@yahoogroups.com, "Paul Furr" <phfurr@e...> wrote:
--- In vpFREE@yahoogroups.com, "jackessiebabe" <jackessiebabe@y...>
wrote:
the casino is trying to trick the more naive or careless
players among us
that's how casinos make money
as they say at the poker table, if you can't tell the fish from the
sharks then you're probably one of the fish
--- In vpFREE@yahoogroups.com, "nightoftheiguana2000"
<nightoftheiguana2000@y...> wrote:
--- In vpFREE@yahoogroups.com, "jackessiebabe" <jackessiebabe@y...>
wrote:
> the casino is trying to trick the more naive or careless
> players among usthat's how casinos make money
as they say at the poker table, if you can't tell the fish from the
sharks then you're probably one of the fish
Hi Iggy,
I fully understand that, and believe me I am NOT a fish! It's been
a long time since anyone suggested that I had any minnow like
characteristics. However, what I said was that this was a PEEVE of
mine, NOT that I had fallen into their trap. Furthermore, I do
think that those types of pitfalls discourage newbies from
continuing to play vp. I also think that the casinos make enough
off the unaware, w/o this additional rip-off.
Certainly, most advantage players would prefer that lots of
unskilled players to continue to contribute to the casino's
coffers. I think that this type of machine only discourages such
players.
Just my opinion, of course.
Babe
Wow. I could go on and on, but here are a few that come to mind.
1. Sending out lots of free room coupons, but allocating almost
zero
free rooms to marketing. You call up the casino a month ahead of
time for what should be a slow weekday night, and they say "Yes, we
have plenty of rooms for that date. Oh, you have a coupon? Sorry,
no rooms left for coupons." Give me a *%&!! break2. Excluding Video Poker from multi-points and other promotions.
3. Advertising "SINGLE DECK BLACKJACK IS BACK!!!!!" but of course
it
turns out to be the 6:5 junk game.
3a. Advertising that our single deck games "PAY A WHOPPING 6:5 FOR
BLACKJACKS!!!!!!". This is obviously designed to fool those
patrons
who are so bad at math that they think 6:5 is a bigger number than
3:2.4. Sending out "free play" coupons instead of cash coupons,
especially when they must be used on "select slot machines".
Unfortunately, this seems to be the wave of the future.5. Putting a late starting time, such as 7:00 AM, on the first
valid
date of coupons. This makes it impossible to cash in one coupon
just
before midnight on the expiration date and then another coupon just
after midnight on it's beginning date. This practice also seems to
be the wave of the future.6. Making you stand in line at the players club to "validate" a
cash
coupon, then making you stand in line again at the cage to actually
get your cash. Thankfully most of the casinos in my area have
abandoned this practice (either you can cash coupons directly at
the
cashier or the players club people have cash to give you), but
there
are still one or two holdouts.
7. Advertising something like "it only takes xx dollars to get a
slot point at our casino, vs. xxx dollars at some other casino".
Another ad aimed at people who are bad at math. As we all know,
this
tells you absolutely nothing unless you also know what each slot
point is worth at both casinos.8. Putting intentionally deceptive or hidden fine print into
promotions with the sole purpose being to invalidate many potential
winners. Here's a real example: I was playing VP at a casino that
ran a promotion offering a small $25 bonus for hitting quad 7's.
When I actually hit quad 7's, they refused to pay me because hidden
in the fine print of the rules posted behind the players club desk
(and NOT mentioned in the promotional placards at the bar where I
was
playing) it said that the 7's must me contiguous. In other words,
7777X or X7777, but not something like 77X77. That's a lot of ill
will generated just to save paying a few customers $25.I could come up with plenty more, but that's enough for now.
EE
That is a fantastic list! I've run into some of those too. It
reminds me of the Publishers Clearing House mailer I just received,
and their $10,000,000 jackpot. In the fine print they tell you the
odds of winning are 1 in 310,000,000. Isn't that more than the
entire population of the US? Maybe they mail to Canada too. And in
even finer print they say if I win the $10,000,000 I will receive
$225,000 a year for 29 years and a final payment of $3,475,000 in the
30th year. I'll be 107 years old when that happens! And they don't
mention if my heirs get anything, in the very likely event I'm dead
by then. And then they say the present value (whats that?) of the
prize will vary depending on interest rates and market conditions at
the time of the award. Does that mean I may not actually get
$10,000,000? It sounds like a scam not worth a 37-cent stamp.
···
--- In vpFREE@yahoogroups.com, "eecounter" <eecounter@h...> wrote:
--- In vpFREE@yahoogroups.com, "jackessiebabe" <jackessiebabe@y...>
wrote:
I would be interested in the opinions of the members of this
board,
as to your primary annoyances and pet peeves regarding the
questionable tactics and marketing practices of some casinos.
Reducing the point/$ ratio on full pay machines. Example: $1 = 1
point on 98.9% Deuces, but $2 = 1 point on FPDW.
Now, I can understand doing this on higher denomination FP machines
(assuming there are any), even if cashback is not offered. But on
machines where it's hard to put thru more than $1000-$1500/hour,
with no cashback, a low comp rate, and inflated prices at the in-
casino *$ (Starbucks), AND very few fullpay machines anyway, this
just seems mean-spirited ("Ok J.P, a few players haven't bought in
to the idea we're the Evil Empire. Let's correct that misimpression
right now!!").
This rant is prompted by discovering that a northwestern LV outpost
of said Evil Empire, in the course of relocating some nickel 10-
plays with mostly short-pay crap, but with FP Kings+ Jokers, have
seen fit to cut the point rate on them. It's like, "OMG, some
people with functioning brain cells might 'get over' on us - let's
show 'em." Thereby p*ssing off Myrtle, who has no idea that the DB
she's playing is 98% maximum.
There's an phrase for this sort of stinginess - something
like "penny wise and pound foolish." Bad PR, IMHO.
I certainly agree with what you say in the post below. And it seems
that many of the newer VP games go out of their way to NOT post what
the Max Coin Bet is. Some do, and I think that should be the rule.
While we are on the subject, I can post a somewhat related incident
that happened to me once. I was about to play Spin Poker (45 coin)
and thought I had set the screen at 1 cent. But somehow it got to 25
cents instead. First hand bites the dust and I am out $11.25. I was
steamed, even though it was my fault. Now I check, and then check
again before I press the deal button.
--- In vpFREE@yahoogroups.com, "jackessiebabe" <jackessiebabe@y...>
wrote:
My # 2. Peeve involves casinos who utilize the "Max Bet" button to
take more than 5 coins (in some cases, FIVE TIMES 5 coins) from an
unwary player. Most players do not realize that the "Bet 5 Coins"
button must be activated first, and then, after that, either
the "Deal" button or the "Bet 5 Coins" button must be hit with each
deal. This causes many players who are in the habit of always
hitting the Max Coin button, to bet more than they intended to bet.
Babe
->>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Hi ee,
You are the absolute winner, as far as I'm concerned. I think that
you came up with a GREAT list of peeves and annoyances; I agree that
everything on your list is a legitimate gripe.
I did forgot to list another peeve of mine. That is in regard to
the free or very inexpensive vp "tournaments" that many casinos have
on a continuing basis (daily or weekly). Usually, the "top prize"
for the daily winner is $500, with a lesser amount for the 2nd & 3rd
place winners. In order to qualify for the top prize, a contestant
must first have to win 1st place in a "session". Then, when all
sessions, for the day have been played, the winners of each session
play in the final session, to determine the top 3 scores. My gripe
is that session winners get nada if they don't score in the top 3
places at the final session. Consequently, a player can get a RF,
have the highest score of the day, yet get no monetary reward at
all. This has happened to me, and I found it very disheartening. I
think, just as an inexpensive "good-will" gesture, that the casino
should have some very nominal ($25.00 perhaps) prizes for session
winners. The little that this would cost the casino, would surely
be made up in additional patronage by the winners.
BTW, I think your #8., where the casino would not give you the
$25.00, because your "7's weren't contiguous" is one of the worst
and most stupid marketing blunders that I've ever heard. I'd be
interested in knowing what casino thought that up, and if you still
patronize them.
Thanks for all your good peeves!
Babe