We and some oother people received Oct. mailings and again noticed they were
lower than usual for about the same play. Today I read the "Las Vegas
Advisor" which gives the probable answer:
"Although the Palms gave in to player complaints by bringing back its NSUD
schedules, evidence suggests that the classification of "theoretical value"
for these machines, which is used to deetermine how much customers get in
mailers, has been cut by 2/3. players who play these machines exclusively
could start noticing a downgrade in their mailers beginning in Oct. or Nov."
The really dumb thing is - I play DDB on these multiplay machines, which
means my rate is getting cut too - for a much worse paytable than NSU.
Presumably if you play Bonus Poker or anything else on a machine that has NSU, your
rate will also be cut.
I think Mr. Maloof is terribly shortsighted in the way he has cut mailings.
As a result of his cuts, I am now playing reel slots over at Ballys/Paris or
Venetian and $1/.25/$2 5 play DDB at Ballys or Gold Coast or Venetian, $1
9/6 over at Caesars or Paris, quarter NSU at GC or Orleans or weirdo deuces
at Wynn, quarter 10/7 DB at Orleans - etc. --- All these places are giving me
more than Palms.
Although Palms is the closest casino to me - I'm going elsewhere. Those
wanting $1 10/7 single line will do better at Wynn and other places too.
For example - for heavy mixed play of DDB, some 9/6 JB, $5 reels (which I
actually did several months ago) -- at Ballys/Paris I am currently getting 2
offers per month - 1 for $1000 cash, 1 for $1000 shopping spree; plus cashback,
plus FULL RFB with 4 nights of room, plus some small extra accumulating
comps. This is way more than for similar play several months ago at Palms which
garned me at most $350 in free play (this was before the cuts), $50-100 in
food comps, plus accumulated comps for points, and 1 $25 spa per month. Also
my host at Bally's was able to comp some Jubilee and other show tickets. This
month Bally's sent me extra offers for "Le Reve Tix" and a spa weekend (plus
the 2 $1000 offers).
This is mostly do to Palms weird system of couting every trip you make to
determine a "daily average." If I play say $60,000 through on one day at the
Palms on $5 reels or 5-play $1 DDB or even $5 9/6 JB - the next month I could
get offers to pick up my free play 5-to up to -9 times a month. Plus 2
dinners plus a couple of oddball Megabyte pulls I might make. If I end up going
that month say 8 times, they divide my $60,000 by 8 and I've got a $7500 daily
average- and woops - on my next trip my cashback gets sorely cut; even if I
make another trip where I play $60000 - or say 2 trips playing $30,000 each
through. And pretty soon I'm down to $150 freeplay or so a month, or now even
less with the cuts, plus maybe $40 in extra food coupons and points toward
more comps (that's $150 worth of food if I have this right). (Of course
playing 2x or 3x point days would get me more food - but not cashback -- how much
can I eat?)
Meanwhile if I go to Orleans and play $60,000 through - whether on one day
or 2 or 10, even if I come and eat at the place a couple of times or go in for
a drawing - I'm still at the $60,000 level - and if I played that on a 2X
point day I will get $180 in instant cash (not just free play that I might lose)
plus 3 $50 mailers = $150 more cash, plus a meal voucher good at their
gourmet restaurant (value approximately $100), plus 2 show tickets, plus I now
have reached the level to ask for descretionary comps.
And every month I were to continue to play at that level, regardless of how
many times I visit - I still get the same mailing.
If I play $60,000 through in 1 day at Ballys for about 3-4 trips in a row,
I get whatever comps I can on those trips (probably a gourmet meal at each
trip) plus cashback. After those 3-4 trips, I start getting those great cash
and shopping sprees and RFB. To keep getting them, I have to play for 4 hours
during the spree/cashbash - let's say I then start playing $30,000 in 4
hours each time for twice a month. I'll continue getting mailers at that level
for awhile, though possibly I might drop down to the $500 level. Of course
each time I get cashback and extra accumulated comps, and RFB until my level
falls to limited RFB.
The above calculations are best guesses, but its pretty easy to see from my
own experience that Palms just doesn't cut it for anyone playing at higher
levels. And even if you just want to play 100% VP for quarters, you are
probably going to do better with Coast, Stations, Tuscany, Monte Carlo, Rampart,
Arizona Charlies, or elsewhere -- all the more so if you play on multipoint
days.
Even playing in Laughlin at Harrah's on 50 play nickel 9/6 has proved a
better bet for some people that the Palms!
Since Palms has alienated locals, reel slot players, VP players, and anyone
who plays for mailers and cashback and comps I guess they will have to rely
on making a profit from the booze they sell at Rain and Ghostbar and from
table players......and tatoos.
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