I recently played in an "invitational" slot tournement at mgm. Part of the promo was free nights and selected resturants meals were comped (including the buffet.) When I registered for the tournment (there was a special window for late registration at the players club desk) I asked about getting a buffet line pass; they said they were told that no buffet line passes were to be given out to tournement players. The next day, I went back to the players club and got a line pass. What doesn't make sense: (1) it doesn't "cost" them anything to give me a pass; (2) I was an invited guest--why alienate a steady customer.
PS: At the times I went to the buffet, there was noone on line!