In a message dated 12/10/08 12:28:50 AM US Mountain Standard Time,
alan3262@yahoo.com writes:
···
I'm sorry if this post is off topic, but I earned almost all of my
rewards credits playing 9/6 JB video poker.I usually gamble at Bally's in Atlantic City, but sometimes at the
Showboat and Caesars if they have special promotions there. With
reward credit multipliers and bonuses, I've managed to accumulate
216331 rewards credits ($2,163 comp dollars) since January. The
casinos periodically have special days where you can convert your
rewards credits to cash, but you only get 2 for 1 (50%). It seems
that most of these 50% offers are towards the end of the year. In
2007 I missed out on the 50% offers, and was able to take advantage
of an unexpected 1 for 1 (100%) cash offer from Bally's in January
2008, from which I collected $897. I know this offer wasn't extended
to everyone. Anyway, I'm debating whether or not to take advantage
of the Showboat's 50% offer on December 27, or hold out to see if I
get a 100% offer later on.If it helps, although my gambling has stayed consistent (my tier
score this year is 42,491, higher than the 35,000 or so I had last
year), it seems that my offers from Bally's are dropping. I was
getting 2 $50 coupons per month up to November, this month nothing.
I was getting $35 per week for 30 minutes of play a few months ago,
then it dropped to $25, and for January it dropped to $20. I did
spend a few days recently collecting free money and perks without
gambling, but I still did a lot of gambling at Bally's.I also noticed last Friday (11/29) that there was a drum for
postcards for a 10x comps offer that I did not get. Is Bally's
generally cutting back on their offers due to the tough economy, or
are they penalizing me in particular for perhaps not gambling enough
and/or taking advantage of too many free offers?My thoughts are as follows:
- If I take the guaranteed 50%, I can lose out on the other 50% if I
get a 100% offer later on.
- If I don't take the guaranteed 50%, I can probably get the same 50%
deal late next year, but I may be forced to do some gambling in order
to be eligible (and I recently became unemployed and not sure if I
will continue my gambling at the same pace, especially since my
offers seem to be drying up).
- At the worst, if I don't get another cash back offer, I should be
able to exchange my comps for Shell gas cards at 50%, and sell the
gas cards for 82%. So I would end up with 41% of my comp balance. I
could also use the comps to purchase some overpriced item that I
don't need, and my return would probably be in the 40%-50% range (but
not in cash).
- I suppose that if there is a reasonable chance of a future 100%
cash offer, it would pay for me to wait. Without such an offer, I
would rather take the 50% in cash now.Any thoughts or suggestions would be appreciated. It would also help
me if you know of any future Bally's 100% cash for comps offers that
I was excluded from.
*****
I think it is on-topic. You play the best games in the house and are trying
to optimize the overall return for your play, just like alot of us. You are
trying to figure out the ever-changing system.
You imply that you are just a day-tripper to AC. With your action you should
be invited to alot of tourneys and special events. By having such a large RC
balance also implies your account has not been drained by coming in RFB,
which happens to southern Nevada visitors.
The AC HET market is fairly unique with all those invited multiplier promos
and bounceback coupons. You must have taken good advantage from the
multipliers with that 5/1 ratio you have Reward Credits/Base.
Having any opportunity to convert RCs to cash is rare in southern Nevada, my
region of interest. The opportunity to buy gas cards has vanished for
Laughlin, my epicenter. Are you sure this is still an option?
The perceived worth (theo) of playing the best game in the house was
diminished drastically. The HET casinos used to rate players better than the optimum
return. Southern Nevada casinos slashed that value to them, then just chucked
out anything to play in Vegas like 9/6 Jacks. Recently it has been reported
that the Laughlin casino (which still has a decent VP play) has slashed any
Bonus Credits earned. So your play this year, even if it is stronger, could be
perceived to have less value to them. Welcome to that Nationwide club!
Bluesteak
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