billiam

Thanks for the advice baccarat_king, you're probably right about switching back and forth... I just hope I can stay a table for more than 30 minutes before hitting a bad streak.

The more I think about the odds bet, the more I'm moving away from it, unless the point is 6 or 8, and playing the right side, I probably won't take/lay odds. Thats why I'm leaning towards betting only pass/don't pass, at least my sessions have a better chance of going longer. I know, the the house edge is lower if you take odds, blah blah I don't think I will be playing enough for it to have a real effect. For me, I'm just looking to ride a good streak, and minimize the bad ones.

My goal is to play enough to get some comps, like lower room rate offers (or getting the casino rate when I WANT to go..), and some food, and not lose more than what the comps are worth to me. I think the lower room rates are pretty easy to get, food comps and the other, a little more.

On a side note, if I want to use front money, personal checks aren't good right? Only money orders or other "firm" instruments?

mbstone

Here are some random thoughts.

The Venetian has been very nice to us, win or lose. I was told to get a Gold card (or even to go to the front of the line at the Grand Lux Cafe) you need to bet $300 a hand -and- have a credit line of $50,000. I am not sure I believe this, but I am sure Gold status there is very difficult to achieve. Nearly any other club will give you a pass to go to the front of the buffet or coffee shop line.

The Grand Lux Cafe (the Venetian coffee shop) was unbelievably awful. They played loud disco music that hurt our ears, and the food took an hour to arrive. Order room service, it will save you time.

Every club claims they only rate $25 players, but most high end Strip hotels (like all casinos) encourage the use of a player card even when playing for small buy-ins and small stakes. And you can become a high roller during any given session, you never know. If you don't use your card, and you wind up playing for large amounts of time and/or money, you will lose out on some really good comps.

Remember a couple of small bets at the same time in craps often adds up to more than $25.

It doesn't hurt to be affable. Smile, occasionally tip the dealers, and engage casino employees in conversation using their names. Few do any of these things. Casinos are full of sore losers and rude people. Your small courtesies will be appreciated; you will be remembered as someone who is pleasant to have around. Your comps will reflect this.

coplatsat

I agree to be very nice, do not be a sore looser, or a bad drunk. Tip a little when the dealer changes, even if you have been loosing. Engage in nice banter with pit boss so that they remember you and rate you acurately.

Text of other post on play verus comps:

"Back from Vegas. I played about 25 hours from Thursday night through Saturday (late) night at about $72 per hour. My cousin, who roomed with me, played about 5 hours at $120 per hour over the same time period. They considered us together. I was new to the Venetian, first time. The Venetian paid for three out four nights (rate of $219), all the meals except tips about $1500 worth (only for two people), mini bar, and drinks charged to the room when I was not gambling. Or, we paid for one night and two massages at the spa. The host said they do not have an agreement with the spa, so he can not comp it. My cousin won about $2.5 k, I lost about $3k.

Also, treated to VIP room, and instant reservations at the restaurants (ie-I am hungry, I want a steak, can I eat now, although the restaurant says they are full - answer was yes, dito to massages.

Delomicos was very good and so was the Chinese restaurant.

I also had a good time at the sports book and for your information they do not rate it and it is best not to show your card. I tried and the manager of the sports book told me not to, it would hurt my rating. Host was very nice. I will go back with my wife."

I played more than that, so I thought. My only mistake, was that I would start of small, and then increase my bet. Ie=start at $50-75, and once comfortable go to $100-$150 per hand. My cousin did the opposite and was rated better. Also, craps gives you a better rating, but is more risky.

kingalien

I was told this as well. Gold card can also be achieved (the more difficult way?) through slots/VP by amassing 2000 points in 12 month period (starts in November). Slots are rated at $20 per point and $50 for VP.

I agree, I usually stick to breakfast with Grand Lux and while the food is decent the service is almost always awful.

opus17

I got gold at the Venetian pretty easily playing 25 or 50 cent video poker, no tables or slots at all. I've kept it up over 3 years or so.

dhuey

That's essentially right -- going from 1.4% house advantage (pass line) to combined 0.5% (3x odds) isn't a huge difference for short stretches. Obviously, though it will add up over time (90 cents for every $100 bet, on average). Then again, the odds bet might have you betting more than you otherwise would have on the pass line (e.g., you move to a higher limit table to get higher odds than what is available on a lower limit table). In that case, the reduction is house advantage is partly offset by the extra money you're losing, on average, on the pass line.

hedoman

Three years later and I'll quote the most learned (and worst) gambler here.......me.

To the genius craps players that are betting do/don't at same time. It would be better having a second player at the other end of table where you are both betting opposite one another. The system itself works best if you're placing minimum bets at a $1.00 table and your primary interest is in collecting free drinks from the casino. The two of you can get plastered for less than $5.00. At a $25 table trying to collect comps, your loss (if you're lucky) over a 4 hour period will be about $100. You can get drunk, but your comps will not cover your likely loss.

MIKESILV

No personal checks only money orders or certified checks.
Even at that most places require you fax a copy of the money order back and front along with your bank phone #, a day or two before you arrive so that they can verify the validity of the check.
You can ask them to keep the check until you finish playing/check out and redeem it with winnings or other funds.

mike

dicemanqc

Thats called stroking the crew and will lower the rating. We love to comp people whos play warrants it but if you are obviously going to jerk the crew around for comp value. You wont get a favorable rating from me or anyone I know in the biz. To be honest with you those cards often just get "filed". I don't mean to come across as a smart ... I'm just telling you the truth. Put the dealers on the pass line with you . That will get your rating pumped up. Keep to the low percentage bets and you'll be fine. If you are playing for just the comps my friends you are playing for the wrong reason. Play to have fun and go where the staff treats you the best. Best of luck and have a great time.

GDIW

Welcome to FT Dicemanqc! Great accurate advice.

A few years ago (2002)we were upgraded to I think it was Platinum level at the Rio. Mostly because we visited at least 4 times a year and due to the lack of other travelers from 9/11 I think. It was great fun to get suite upgrades and not to wait in line at restaurants or at check-in. We were offered two free nights per month for over two years from this!

All in all though those perks are not worth gambling for to us. We never did gamble enough to get any restaurant comps and when the card expired it was not renewed. Now it's very rare that we gamble at all and it is far cheaper to buy our own drinks and we've found tons of off strip restaurants that are excellent.

For those with the money and time to gamble, the perks are a very nice reward. For those that have to try too hard to earn them it is like having a part time job.

MIKESILV

I only had mentioned the above as a point of interest, I never play that way if the tables are cold I can always go to the racebook and play the horses (although the most complex form of gambling horse-racing has by far the most risk/reward)

Craps is a great game I find it many players spend much too much time at a table. A roller (or rollers ) gets hot ride it out as long as the steak goes but as soon as the table turns walk ( run) away very quickly.
It always amazes me to leave a winning table and pass by say an hour later to see some players still there having lost all they won when I walk.

mike

peachfront

That is not true that you need both a $300 average bet AND the credit line. You can easily get RFB even if you are a cash player if you are betting heavy black. You do not need a credit line although it is a nice thing to have if you don't like carrying lots of cash and you don't mind giving your personal information.

A five figure win at a table game will get their attention, and you will be asked to stop playing if it's blackjack or if the name you are using had a history of winning big at blackjack even if you are playing another game. However, they are not mean about it or anything. They just tell you to quit playing and cash out. They continue to honor the offers they've already made -- they don't tack on room charges or anything. They may send a flyer to other casinos, so just take your profit and relax for the rest of your vacation, and save the rest of your play for another time. To your face, they are very polite, as least in my humble experience. They would probably wish I didn't recommend the place to MY friends, but the Venetian can be a terrific experience if you are a good player with a good bankroll. They'll catch on eventually, and the party won't go on forever, because surveillance is pretty antsy about advantage players, but it's good while it lasts.

I highly recommend Pierro Selvaggio Valentino if you only get the opportunity to be comped to one fine restuarant there.

mbstone

I wasn't talking about getting RFB, I was talking about getting a plastic card that says "Venetian Gold" on it. I'm not aware the "Gold" card is worth anything except to get to the front of the line in the Grand Lux Cafe or to enter their premium player lounge (haven't been there, but others, e.g. Harrah's Diamond Club next door, offer free drinks and hot hors d'oeurves). IMHO not worth the effort.

COOLIO

Not in anyway trying to hijack the thread, just thought it was the most appropriate place to ask this.

I went to vegas last yr but only went on the slots, i was a bit intimidated by it all, was going to try roulette at casino royale as that seemed quite 'downmarket' enuff for me not to worry. But table was full so i gave up.

I'm going to have a go at blackjack, and have been playing on a simulator but when at the table i dont want to be playing $20 a hand as ill lose it all within 2 minutes. So, where does $5 a hand blackjack or something low like that? And is also easy for a beginner to go to? I saw on some program some casinos allow the stratgy matrix? Can I really take it along?

Finally, if you have managed to get this far without larffing hysterically at me, after all your discussions of £200 a hand, I thank you.

jfe

There aren't many places that have $5 a hand blackjack, the bigger casinos rarely have them, and if they do, they are always busy.

The smaller casinos on the strip or the ones downtown will even have $1 blackjack tables. You won't get rich, but you won't lose your shirt either.

I only play $5 tables, I am not that great as a gambler, actually, I always lose, breaking even great for me