Lucky Lucy and I just returned from a 6-day visit to Las Vegas and
stayed only on the strip; 2 days at Wynn and 4 days at Paris (all
comped). During the trip I had a brainstorm, a revelation. I figured
out why there are no or very few full pay VP machines on the strip.
They don't need them, there are no gamblers.
What! No gamblers in strip casinos! Are you nuts?
OK, there are a few but not very many (excluding whales). This was
our first visit since all the Harrah's properties switched over to
Total Rewards (we both have Diamond cards from our play in Kansas
City and Topeka) and it revealed a lot about the type customers
frequenting these establishments. Most people staying at these
casinos are tourists, not gamblers. They come to party, drink, see
the sights, drink, go to shows, eat, drink, lay around the pool,
drink, see and be seen. They don't come to gamble. This was evident
at the restaurant and buffet lines in the Paris and Rio. Although the
Diamond entrances accepted both Diamond and Platinum cards (at least
at Paris), there were no lines. However, there were huge lines for
the "unwashed masses", sometimes stretching half way down the
passageway to Bally's and almost to the outside doors at Rio.
So the casinos provide some machines for the tourists' amusement and
they play them a little -- mostly penny slots. But there is no need
for full pay VP machines, not needed to attract tourists who don't
come to gamble in the first place. They don't recognize full pay
machines anyway, "Hay Honey, don't play that machine. It only pays
125 for four Aces, this one over here pays 2000. This is the one I'm
gonna play."
We were pretty impressed at how well we were treated at Paris. I just
hope they continue to value gamblers in an area of town that is
becoming mostly tourist oriented.
BTW we checked out the remodeled buffet at Harrah's. A substantial
improvement over the old one, service (especially for Diamond cards)
excellent, good selection and variety of food, well prepared. Not the
Bellagio or Wynn, but decent and worth the effort.
Rick