Hi local (So Cal/San Diego) players:
It’s been a while since I’ve had a chance to report on anything worthy of note, mainly due to not much playable vp (for .25 and lower). $1 and higher might find more playable vp.
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Hollywood casino (Penn Gaming) may have some impact on competing local casinos as it is the closest in distance for most local residents in central San Diego area. I only found .25 9/5 JB as best playable vp game, mostly a ‘slots’ casino. Very nice design and good restarant options; however parking structure is weird- sort of underground/multilevel, due to landscape/limited area casino was built on.
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Viejas - due to recent planned expansion project (hotel/restaurants/more convention space?)- which closed the former casino area where there was Chinese restaurant and coffeebar area, along with the portion of the nw-side corner (probably eliminated about 25,000 sq ft, including most of the ‘slots’ that were relocated)… this expansion project really has messed things up/somewhat.
Anyhow - a tip for locals - if you want to utilize any ‘weekly’ bounceback bonuses (mine is only $10/weekly, usually not valid on Saturdays). I have a work schedule that allows me to sometimes visit Sun’/Mon .
If you ride the El Cajon coach bus (travel park/ride station by Trolley stop), after earning 15 pts (at $5/pt) so $75 played, you will earn an extra $10 in freeplay . That’s a decent 7.5% return (on minimal played).
Of course, one may play longer, depending on goals.
I experimented and earned (short term) Silver (2nd level up from basic) and this gives 30% off food/dining. I won’t eat at the buffet often (1 daily price, $28 Su-Th, $39 Fri/Sat) too high imho, due to including alcohol/bar service as incl in the price. I did use on a random marketing mailer (50% off) to see if much has changed- still hit/miss on stations style food; PRib ok, and steamed/cold crablegs ok along with other (Asian, Mexican, Italian, salad/dessert stations); but overall, still overpriced; half-price ok.
Silver card (takes 2000 tier/6 months play rolling) or approx $10K thru in vp/slots. I’ve been on a lucky penny slot streak, so maybe that has factored in to offers (recent). Expected ‘loss’ is 1-3%, SO $100-300; with the unknown (monthly ) marketing offers, bounceback freeplay is cutting this down to maybe 1/2…
Monthly 2017: Friday gift days - ($20-40 value), I’ve picked up a few (and since I don’t like the busier /full casino on Fri evenings), I usually just pick up the gift; Lately by doing this you also get $25 bounceback freeplay for the following Monday.
Hotel stay - the HOTEL rooms are excellent imho, as a 4-star AAA rated hotel, and friendly hotel desk /bellhops, etc. They seem to be doing well - marketing for small conventions (in their new convention space areas, which is why they are expanding to host bigger ones). I 've been receiving up to 2 free (usually Sun-Th) ‘stay-cation’ offers; In March, marketing only had me on ‘discount’ room rates, but they UPGRADED me to 2 free Suites for April - which I decided to use.
With the base rate $1 freeplay or comps per 100 pts ($500 played on GameKing/VP games) ~ .2% and weekly freeplay (and bonus of $10 if I use the shuttlebus), I think I’m at ~ .4% or so.
Still not over ‘100%’, but pretty close, if you factor in the rooms/gifts.
I play mainly 98.9 ugly dw games, so I’m probably at 99.3-99.5%, and with the rooms, I feel it is ok for Stay-cation (vs driving to LV for longer trips and to get my vp-recreational play out of my system!).
The $25 bounceback is huge, using it on a Monday with shuttle bus gave me $10 extra and $10 weekly so $45 total; This is closer to .5% imho. Goal is 333 pts/monthly ($1650-$1700) to reach 10k goal every 6 months; I’ll only keep doing this while I’m break-even/minimal loss for the entertainment/stay-cation factor.
Still royal-less; but I’m hitting enough other wins (deuces) and (SFs in JW 17-7-5 game) along with slot wins to keep this going, as an experiment for mystery/marketing bonuses.
I have a superb Bday offer coming up, more on that later.
Finding some low-roller offers in 2017 amidst the changing casino scene (i.e. - LV/Boyd cutbacks)
Martin