Las Vegas - All you fellow gamblers out there - help me evaluate which offer I should take!

Hello, Las Vegas forum! I'm a New Yorker, embarking next week on a cross country road trip with my boyfriend a mutual friend, driving from L.A. to NYC (I won free airline tickets to L.A., so we're doing the drive in reverse). And...I'm a gamble-holic. :o:cool:

Since I hit the slots at Planet Hollywood last year, they have been sending me offers nonstop to get me back. Most of them are 3 or 4 night stays, complete with one slot tournament or giveaway or cashback or waffle iron or "meet Vanna White" or dining credit or what have you. I always save their mailings, on the off chance (for gamble-holics like me, those 'off chances' have a funny way of presenting themselves) that I might be back in Vegas again.

We are working out the driving details of our road trip, and we 3 have decided to hit Las Vegas for one night only, Friday, September 26. Obviously, I will book us in for free at Planet Hollywood. However, for the time period in question, I have three offers. I can only use two of them (more on that later), but I am typing the third one in below just so folks can see what I'm looking at.

Before I call to make reservations for my free night, can the more experienced gamblers among us advise which offer is better? What this comes down to, in sum, is this: I have never had an offer that involved 'theoretical' losses or cash back, and I don't know how to evaluate that one in the context of the others.

Here are the 3 offers I can choose from:


Wheel of Fortune slots tournament. My offer includes free entry into the tournament, free 3 night stay (9/25-9/28), meet Vanna White. I can't use this one for one simple reason: we are leaving early on September 26 to head to the Grand Canyon, so I will miss the tournament! But I thought it might be helpful to type it in, to compare the other offers.
Free 2 night stay. This includes either 10% of my theoretical loss or 5% of my actual loss back in cash - whichever is higher.
Free 2 night stay. This offer includes $100 in cash, $50 in dining credits, 2 free passes to PH spa, a PH robe and birthday gift.


I'm guessing someone is going to ask me how much I plan to gamble, as that will determine whether the theoretical thing is worth more than the 2 free nights 'birthday' offer. But I don't know: I guess my question is - if any fellow gamblers out there understand these matters - how much would I have to gamble to make that offer with the cash back worth my while?

Regards,
Katherine

The slot tournament won't help since multi-day tournaments require you to play each day and the collective sum of your points is used to determine your ranking in the tournament.

This would leave the final two options and for me I'd just choose the latter. Go in for your one day, get your freebies, play up a storm, live it up and have fun.

The slot tournament won't help since multi-day tournaments require you to play each day and the collective sum of your points is used to determine your ranking in the tournament.

This would leave the final two options and for me I'd just choose the latter. Go in for your one day, get your freebies, play up a storm, live it up and have fun.

well, i took your advice and just called them. and it turns out that birthday offer is only good for a 2 night stay. i mean, i guess i could book 2 nights but check out early, but i'm sure they've 'been there, done that' with others and somehow i won't get my free stuff.

so i've got a voicemail in to the host who sent me the letter on the 'theoretical' thing, to see if i can even book that offer for one night. will report back. i guess i'm not that big of a gambler, that they feel they need me there for a few days to make up for my room stay, huh? :p

Check to see when you can collect your freebies. Sometimes all it takes is checking in then going to the A-List club and obtain the coupons/certificates and the freebies. If a certain number of points is required they need to tell you that up front.

On the day you are leaving, you can consider not checking out of the room. I've done that many times at other casinos without any incident. Good thing about that is you have the room for the day and can use it up till the time you leave.

The PH uses lots of esoteric language in its mailers like "theoretical win" and "credit must be clear or front money posted." I don't understand it either.

The PH uses lots of esoteric language in its mailers like "theoretical win" and "credit must be clear or front money posted." I don't understand it either.

well i think i'm going to ask them about this tomorrow - i mean, based on your post and what kingalien said, i bet there is a requirement to gamble a certain amount (the 2 night birthday promo mentions something about conditioned on spend - don't have card in front of me right now).

so if they need to tell me up front what the requirements are, i guess i can find out if i can meet them and then just do what you (mbstone) suggest and just leave the next day w/o checking out!!

(sadly for us, we are leaving early to head to grand canyon so we really won't get much use out of the room...oh well)

Does the PH rewards program have a website you can sign in to? I know Total Rewards does. You can sign on to your account and see what offers are available to you. I can even book some of the offers right then and there. This might be an option for you.

Does the PH rewards program have a website you can sign in to? I know Total Rewards does. You can sign on to your account and see what offers are available to you. I can even book some of the offers right then and there. This might be an option for you.

haha, i had this same thought earlier today and went to planethollywood.com. but no, what you can do is sign up to be an 'a list' member, but you can't sign into anything, see what's available, etc., etc. you have to call their hosts/player's club office people.

we totally hated planet hollywood and i swear their payouts aren't good (not based on anything i've read, just based on how much i lost). i played slots for a few days b/c i was there with my boyfriend, who was there for a bachelor party, so obviously i had to keep myself occupied. :p plus the rooms weren't yet upgraded. if you're wondering why we'd go back to a place we hated, it's simple: we are on a tight, tight budget and the room is free! :D

plus it's just for the one night. and i should even get an upgrade (i'm spg gold, and ph is a starwood property).

Every casino will be peeved if you avail yourself of their comps and then totally stiff them by not gambling. Most clubs, however, won't say anything and just won't invite you back. The PH, being one of the smaller casinos, sweats stuff like this and they might just be crazy enough to charge you money if you don't play. They are also not fond of people who win. But the rooms are OK, and you can get P.F. Chang's from room service.

Every casino will be peeved if you avail yourself of their comps and then totally stiff them by not gambling. Most clubs, however, won't say anything and just won't invite you back. The PH, being one of the smaller casinos, sweats stuff like this and they might just be crazy enough to charge you money if you don't play. They are also not fond of people who win. But the rooms are OK, and you can get P.F. Chang's from room service.

um, i'm totally planning to gamble.

it's just a question of how much i need to gamble to make it all ok in their minds....

as for them not being fond of people who win, since i'm likely to only do slots, they need not fear and should welcome me even for just one night. their slots suck, like i said, and i think the payouts are low based on my experience over several days there last year.

Whenever I'm on a comped multi-day stay, I have to sign off that, if I check out early, I'll be charged for the room for the stay. I haven't tested this...

Whenever I'm on a comped multi-day stay, I have to sign off that, if I check out early, I'll be charged for the room for the stay. I haven't tested this...

ok, i'm sure this will be the case for me then too. i've only ever used comps for one night stays, but as i said earlier, i'm pretty sure any workaround i could dream up has been tested already and casinos have figured out how to spoil it. :eek:

Free 2 night stay. This includes either 10% of my theoretical loss or 5% of my actual loss back in cash - whichever is higher.
Free 2 night stay. This offer includes $100 in cash, $50 in dining credits, 2 free passes to PH spa, a PH robe and birthday gift.


I'm not sure about the theoretical vs actual losses thing, but you would have to lose $1500-3000 to be given back 5-10% equal to $150 (cash + dining). If you are just planning on playing slots, I doubt you would lose that much in one day. I say take offer 2. Enjoy the spa & birthday gift. Have a nice dinner with the dining credit & cash, and be sure you use your comp card when you play. Even though you are leaving early, play a little bit before you leave in the morning. Put a do not disturb sign on your door before you leave and don't check out. Then, call the next day (when it should be your check out time) and say you were in a big hurry to leave and could they please mail you your receipt?

My only other concern is the valet parking. You may want to park off site so they don't have a record of you not using the valet that morning of proper check out. If you had arrived by cab that would not be a concern. You could always park at a neighboring hotel and pay for their valet like you were just going there to use the casino. You shouldn't have a lot of luggage since you were just planning on being there for "two" nights anyway. A small carry on sized duffle wouldn't attract much attention when you leave. Or just put your stuff in an big shopping bag.

Another option, leave a little earlier and spend Thursday and Friday night there. :)

Another option, leave a little earlier and spend Thursday and Friday night there. :)

i wish i could. but we're on a relatively tight schedule, and i'm the only one who'll be gambling (one member of the party is a fellow gamble-holic worried about losing money, the other doesn't like gambling but just wants to see vegas-has never been). :rolleyes::cool:

keep in mind we have to drive all the way back to new york october 4 (due to parties' work schedules). it's doable, but we want time to really enjoy stuff along the way - the extra day in vegas would hurt us, even if everyone did want to gamble.

rsnash, i like your advice. to be frank, i'm just not sure i'm willing to do it all for a free night. we will have a car full of luggage for our trip, i'll be inconveniencing the others with all the shenanigans unless i'm super used to doing all the stuff (parking elsewhere, gamble before 8am-ish departure, etc.), which i'm not. i wish i was willing to do it - it sounds kinda fun - but just not on this trip. :p

I'd take offer 2. In my experience they print out the tickets when you arrive and hand them to you. You should get all of your gifts, and they shouldn't charge you for 'not playing enough'...now, there is the risk that was mentioned before that they could not invite you back if the determined your play was not high enough. It sounds like thats a chance you're willing to take. Besides, if you don't go frequently enough, the offers will dry up rather quickly...don't expect birthday offers in the coming years if you never return to the property.

If you're worried about the two stay thing, just go check out in the early AM, tell them you're doing some sight seeing and then catching a red eye back east so you won't need the room. Or, just drop your key in the 'rapid checkout' box or whatever they call it and you'll be long gone before they even process your request.

To be honest, I would probably just book a cheap room. You can get one for $50 a night for the Friday night. That waythere is no worries about suddenly being presented with a $200 bill when you check out early. Since you are the only one gambling pick a different chain to gamble with. The Harrah group gives better comps for rooms and they can be used for single nights.

Something to think about anyway. Try looking on Expdia or www.lasvegas.com The Sahara comes up as cheap. It doesn't get very good reveies, but as you said, it's only for one night. The Inperial Palace is usually cheap. Crappy hotel but in a good spot for seeing the strip. Downtown hotels are also cheaper than strip hotels.

To be honest, I would probably just book a cheap room. You can get one for $50 a night for the Friday night. That waythere is no worries about suddenly being presented with a $200 bill when you check out early. Since you are the only one gambling pick a different chain to gamble with. The Harrah group gives better comps for rooms and they can be used for single nights.

Something to think about anyway. Try looking on Expdia or www.lasvegas.com The Sahara comes up as cheap. It doesn't get very good reveies, but as you said, it's only for one night. The Inperial Palace is usually cheap. Crappy hotel but in a good spot for seeing the strip. Downtown hotels are also cheaper than strip hotels.

i was thinking about doing this. i may still. i guess i want to see first if PH will give me a room for one night. $50 isn't much but we're on a pretty tight budget, and that's $50 less to gamble with. :p

spg.com shows a ridiculous rate too for PH ($188) and 12,000 points if you want to use points.

but like you said, i should hitch my wagon to a new casino, since i don't really like PH. the truth is, i lost a )(*&load of money there last year, and i want to use the room. and like someone else said, they're not going to keep sending offer after offer - if i don't come back, they'll dry up, so i kinda want to use it (and then not come back). :D we shall see...

Who in the world would book a room on Expedia, etc. when there is Priceline Name Your Own Price? The PH often sells on PL for $50. Look on betterbidding.com and see what Las Vegas hotels are going for.

Who in the world would book a room on Expedia, etc. when there is Priceline Name Your Own Price? The PH often sells on PL for $50. Look on betterbidding.com and see what Las Vegas hotels are going for.

i wouldn't book a room on expedia. but i do use it often to compare prices on everything (airfare, hotels, rooms).

actually i take that back - i would book a room there if i found a good deal - and i did book one, once, years ago, for a hotel in rome.

as for priceline: i hate them. if you've ever had a problem with them, you know you can't get in touch with anyone, and even disputes meet with silence. the only thing they're good for, in my experience, is rental cars: you can name your own price and get one cheap (depending on the market).

at any rate, this is all moot, because i can tell you right now: i certainly considered it - it'd be foolish not to open my mind for one second and think about it - but there is no way in he** i am paying for a room in vegas! i hate PH but i blew a LOT of money there last time. and by gum, i will get a free night there! :p

Here are the 3 offers I can choose from:


Wheel of Fortune slots tournament. My offer includes free entry into the tournament, free 3 night stay (9/25-9/28), meet Vanna White. I can't use this one for one simple reason: we are leaving early on September 26 to head to the Grand Canyon, so I will miss the tournament! But I thought it might be helpful to type it in, to compare the other offers.
Free 2 night stay. This includes either 10% of my theoretical loss or 5% of my actual loss back in cash - whichever is higher.
Free 2 night stay. This offer includes $100 in cash, $50 in dining credits, 2 free passes to PH spa, a PH robe and birthday gift.


I'm guessing someone is going to ask me how much I plan to gamble, as that will determine whether the theoretical thing is worth more than the 2 free nights 'birthday' offer. But I don't know: I guess my question is - if any fellow gamblers out there understand these matters - how much would I have to gamble to make that offer with the cash back worth my while?

Regards,
Katherine

well, i called an executive casino host today and he said he would book me in for the one night (he was on his cell so i don't know if it's the 'theoretical' booking thing or just one plain ol' free night...but i don't really care, either). he said, 'are you sure i can't talk you into staying another night?' i said the person i was travelling with only committed to one night, so that's all i could commit to, but i would let him know when i was there if that changed.

so, there you have it. i will have the free night but without all the birthday goodies. :(

thanks to all for your replies. now off to budget how much money i can lose in the wheel of fortune slot machines...

Ya should have tried my suggestion by leaving early. It works ;). Have fun :).

i hate PH but i blew a LOT of money there last time. and by gum, i will get a free night there! :p

thanks to all for your replies. now off to budget how much money i can lose in the wheel of fortune slot machines...

Well,

My only advice, is that if you really "hate PH" why bother continuing to give them your action? Maybe give them a "bit" of play, but since you seem to be a slot player, you fit the Harrah's profile perfectly.

So, find a Harrah's property you like (maybe Caesars or Paris), and put in some play at ONE of those properties in ONE day.

Harrah's is the best for low to medium slot players, with regard to future free rooms. And, you'll be able to book them online seamlessly. In addition, you'll be able to book rooms at other Harrah's properties, based on your play.

So, your travel from the left coast to New York could include COMP rooms at Tahoe, Vegas, St. Louis, Illinois, Indiana, and Atlantic City :D:D:D

Well,

My only advice, is that if you really "hate PH" why bother continuing to give them your action? Maybe give them a "bit" of play, but since you seem to be a slot player, you fit the Harrah's profile perfectly.

So, find a Harrah's property you like (maybe Caesars or Paris), and put in some play at ONE of those properties in ONE day.

Harrah's is the best for low to medium slot players, with regard to future free rooms. And, you'll be able to book them online seamlessly. In addition, you'll be able to book rooms at other Harrah's properties, based on your play.

So, your travel from the left coast to New York could include COMP rooms at Tahoe, Vegas, St. Louis, Illinois, Indiana, and Atlantic City :D:D:D

That was my thought exactly. Don't play at a casino that you hate.

One thing worth noting for slot players: Harrah's (and its brands) has made huge cuts to its slot inventory, pulling out a lot of the newer games. So that may not be the ideal spot for a slot player. I'd think about the Station casinos, which are tailored toward locals. Sam's Club or the downtown properties are also options.

Mike

Well,

My only advice, is that if you really "hate PH" why bother continuing to give them your action? Maybe give them a "bit" of play, but since you seem to be a slot player, you fit the Harrah's profile perfectly.

So, find a Harrah's property you like (maybe Caesars or Paris), and put in some play at ONE of those properties in ONE day.

Harrah's is the best for low to medium slot players, with regard to future free rooms. And, you'll be able to book them online seamlessly. In addition, you'll be able to book rooms at other Harrah's properties, based on your play.

So, your travel from the left coast to New York could include COMP rooms at Tahoe, Vegas, St. Louis, Illinois, Indiana, and Atlantic City :D:D:D

well, i do have to give them a bit of play as you mention to make sure they don't try to charge me for the room. but mainly i don't want to have to drive anywhere that night (we've got enough driving ahead of us) and harrah's looks to be about a half hour walk away.

for one night, i have to say it's not worth it to me to schlep somewhere else, unless it was next door. and i have to say, it's not like i'm going to blow $1,000. i'm on a budget and i'm a gamble-holic, so what those two things combined mean is that i must gamble, but in lesser amounts.

the other thing is that i'm not in vegas enough to try to pursue a new relationship, is my thought (although what you mention about harrah's if accurate means they'd still invite me back). i live in nyc and really love mohegan sun, and while i haven't been there in a while, i get comped there (at least have in the past) for rooms, food, etc.

i guess i'm happy losing (or winning!) a bit at planet hollywood this trip and then not returning, period. i'm not going to be gambling enough this trip for them to invite me back i think....

Do you play Video Poker? PH doesn't have outstanding paytables, but if VP will quench your slot thirst, so to speak, even a bad machine is better than most slots.

Mike

well, i do have to give them a bit of play as you mention to make sure they don't try to charge me for the room. but mainly i don't want to have to drive anywhere that night (we've got enough driving ahead of us) and harrah's looks to be about a half hour walk away.

No driving involved from Planet Hollywood.

Just walk right next door (from PH) to Paris Las Vegas (that's a Harrah's property). Paris is also connected directly to Bally's (which is also a Harrah's property) --- FWIW, play at Paris and Bally's count as ONE property. And, if you are in the NYC area Atlantic City Harrah's casino properties are 100x more generous than Mohegan (IMO) --- and they have 4 properties (Caesars, Showboat, Bally's and Harrah's AC) to choose from.

well, i do have to give them a bit of play as you mention to make sure they don't try to charge me for the room.

I don't take any offer that "requires" play, unless the "required play" is a data-point given to me in writing. To most casinos, a "bit" is nearly equivalent to "none" with regard to THEO --- so, if you have a requirement, best to determine what it is BEFORE you start playing (or accept an offer). ;)

One thing worth noting for slot players: Harrah's (and its brands) has made huge cuts to its slot inventory, pulling out a lot of the newer games.

I wouldn't call it "hugh cuts."

It stems from Harrah's pulling some IGT (http://www.lvrj.com/business/27067309.html) machines over royalties.

When I'm in the mood for slots, as long as there is "Gold Fish," "Top Dollar," and "Deal or No Deal" I'm pretty well satisfied.

Though, I "guess" I could imagine someone getting upset that their favorite machine was removed.

I get move upset, when they remove the big baccarat game, or, more common, raise the minimum bet to $300 or $500 per hand. :mad:

this is interesting. i do have a paris card b/c i did stop by there several years ago, so fine. i will walk next door to paris! i liked it there but didn't stay long.

as for atlantic city: i am happy to give one of those 4 a try. i have been to all of them, but only years ago (we are talking probably 15 years ago), when i lived in philadelphia. i don't know if this is right - b/c i don't own a car, so am only driving when i rent one, and we have rented to go to mohegan before - but i guess i've stuck with mohegan because although it is about equidistant (nyc to mohegan vs. nyc to atlantic city), the drive seems easier. less traffic. less drama. as i say, though, i could be wrong.

i like your advice re: knowing what the required play is. i have to call PH today to get my confirmation number - given what you've said, i'll ask. i was under the impression that casinos wouldn't tell you this (they don't want to give you a number you have to aim for, was my thinking).

i've gotten this impression over the years but where it most recently happened - and to answer mikeef's question as well - was at empire city gaming (the newish slot machine set up at yonkers raceway here in new york). i'd never been there, but kept seeing commercials for the slot machines. then they had a promotion last month, heavily promoted on tv and their web site: come in on this particular date, and someone is guaranteed to win $250,000 in a drawing of all player's club members! must be present to win - and it was a monday early evening - so i says to myself, "self, we've got a good chance at this."

me + boyfriend show up, sign up for player's club...and then find out you have to have '5 points' on it to get entered into the drawings. we went to the player's club booth and asked how we could get 5 points (the slots gambling wasn't doing it). no one would answer us - they said they didn't really know, or couldn't say. finally one guy got tired of us on our XXth visit and said, 'each $100 is approximately .4 of a point' (or something like that - don't hold me to the number - i don't remember it). then he said, 'but you didn't hear that from me!' he obviously told us because he felt bad and we realized (as he did early on) that we weren't going to get the 5 points in time to get into the drawing, unless we blew like $6,000 in half an hour (or whatever the number was). but he (and everyone else) obviously was under instructions not to share this information.

and in the past, i've asked this question of mohegan when making comp reservations, but they wouldn't answer. i don't remember what they said - and i'm not one to take a simple 'i can't tell you, but i do know!' as an answer - so they must have pleaded ignorance or maybe told me it's a complicated algorithm that they aren't privvy to.

back to mikeef...i don't play video poker. but on a related note, this empire city experience confirmed my gut hate of video gaming systems, period. i knew before we went to empire city that all they have is video gaming (some laws about gambling - and they're not a real casino, of course - allow them to have these machines classified as 'lottery', such that they are regulated by the new york state lottery). and i always suspect these machines, because you can't see the wheels spinning, so they seem more prone to (worst case) chicanery or (best case) malfunction. and you know, we gambled for a few hours, and lost tremendously. like nowhere else i've ever been. like, not even a few small wins here and there to keep you going.

i typed all this partially to share but also partially because it's obvious there are way more experienced gamblers than me on this board, and i'm curious to hear my fears/thoughts proved or disproved. are video games known to have lower payouts? and/or are 'lottery' gaming systems (like empire city) not regulated in the same way casinos are, and therefore simply not required to pay out at all?

side note, if anyone is considering empire city: it's pretty run down and crappy. and the lot at empire city was a sad and sorry bunch...worse than the usual cast of characters you see in the slots sections at many casinos. :D my boyfriend commented, after we found out what it took to get into the drawing, that those folks deserved to win, over us: they'd obviously blown so much money, at such a sad and sorry place...he felt bad for them (as did i).

No driving involved from Planet Hollywood.

Just walk right next door (from PH) to Paris Las Vegas (that's a Harrah's property). Paris is also connected directly to Bally's (which is also a Harrah's property) --- FWIW, play at Paris and Bally's count as ONE property. And, if you are in the NYC area Atlantic City Harrah's casino properties are 100x more generous than Mohegan (IMO) --- and they have 4 properties (Caesars, Showboat, Bally's and Harrah's AC) to choose from.


I don't take any offer that "requires" play, unless the "required play" is a data-point given to me in writing. To most casinos, a "bit" is nearly equivalent to "none" with regard to THEO --- so, if you have a requirement, best to determine what it is BEFORE you start playing (or accept an offer). ;)

Paris also has pretty tight slots (but not as bad as PH). Put in some play and you'll at least get discounted rate offers from the Harrahs group.

Paris also has pretty tight slots (but not as bad as PH). Put in some play and you'll at least get discounted rate offers from the Harrahs group.

is there a good resource online that lists the various slot payouts at these casinos, or are you basing it on experience? just curious...

i called to get my confirmation number and asked about any required minimum. she clicked in and said, 'of course we would like for you to gamble while you are here, but there is no minimum associated with this stay'. i told her i was just curious, as i had friends more experienced than i who had told me sometimes there was a minimum, and that i should ask what it was to make sure i hit it. she said that's true - and some promotions require a certain time span (her example was gamble for 4 hours, and get a fendi purse or something) - but mine did not.

so...voila! i can gamble at ph a bit with my friends or not at all, as i see fit. what i suspect is i will show up briefly at the machines there, and if i hit quickly, i'm happy to then fool around in there a bit. if not, i'll walk over to paris!

thanks everyone for your advice. off to the 'when will you be in vegas?' thread to note our night in town. :D

is there a good resource online that lists the various slot payouts at these casinos, or are you basing it on experience? just curious...

My comments were based on personal experience.

My comments were based on personal experience.

You do know the dangers of "personal experience" and making recommendations with regard to slot machines. ;););)

My "lucky" $5 TOP DOLLAR at Showboat Atlantic City --- has been permanently removed from my "lucky-list" after last week. :p

My "lucky" $5 TOP DOLLAR at Showboat Atlantic City --- has been permanently removed from my "lucky-list" after last week. :p

It may be removed from your list but you know that everytime you walk pass you'll want to try it ;).