Harrah's does not have cashback. They do usually mail out bounceback cash but it is much less than other Strip properties and cannot be redeemed until the next trip.

QL

I haven't been inside Caesar's Palace in about a year myself (I was referring to the Caesar's properties, not this casino/hotel itself), but I imagine so long as you're playing BJ at a $25 or more table you wouldn't have a problem. (Yet....) Craps, I don't know.

Today the casinos are managed by guys (and the odd girl) who have an MBA and worked on Wall St. before coming to the casino world. 10, 20, 30 years ago they didn't have an MBA, barely had a high school diploma and worked in casinos all their lives. So yes the atmosphere will be different and don't expect it to go back to the "good old days" anytime soon.

But, you have to realize 90% of visitors wouldn't know the difference between 3/2 vs 6/5 payouts if it came and bit them in the a$$. Less than 50% of revenue comes from gaming. Of that less than 50% comes from table games. So you upset a few hard core gamblers by lowering the payout...big deal. You more than make that up by serving $12 drinks on top of a $30 cover charge in your night club or the $150 concert ticket.

Even if people don't notice the odds, they notice when they lose their money quick.

QL

Harrahs program is great for the occasional gambler who plays quarter VP and $25 table games. I rarely play more than a few hands of BJ (or a few minutes on the VP machines) and still get free and discounted room offers every other month like clockwork. Contrast to MGM Mirage, where I play bigger amouts and don't get so much as a mailing.

However I would agree with the comments about facilities. The Harrahs properties (newly acquired Paris and Casears excepted) are generally run down tired places with a harried staff, drab rooms and unattractive casino (and patrons). For that reason I generally refuse the free room offers (except in Lake Tahoe) and instead book at Aladdin or Westin where I get nicer rooms at pretty good discounts. Of course, I would much rather stay at Mirage, Bellagio, Mandalay but you would have an easier time walking thru Death Valley before you will see a gaming rate from the MGM-Mirage people.

My colleague is now receiving free offers from Wynn on a monthly basis, so I guess I will sign up there on my next visit.

On that note, who still does like the table player, for smaller (10-25), middle (25-100) and larger (100+) bets? Personally, I like the non-poker table games so I'd rather make an effort to support those places that like the table player.

Quick answer --- Big player... I would say Wynn would be your best bet.
Smaller and Medium players should look to Stations Casinos (Red Rock, Green Valley, Palace Station et al). Another good option for smaller players is Boyd (Coast Properties [Barbary Coast, Gold Coast, Orleans], Stardust -- while it lasts...)

Basically, avoid the mega merger casinos of Harrahs and MGM/Mirage. Of course, YMMV --- and I am personally NOT very familiar first hand with how things work at MGM/Mirage... though, I have seen Harrahs in action.

Of course, Downtown is always an option (also some Boyd and Stations Properties), but I will let someone else answer about that. Another issue is what really constitutes a small or big player; IMHO, $75 to $100 (average bet per hand) TODAY is really a small player; but, of course, YMMV.

Right...unfortunately, on the Strip today, 10-25 constitutes nothing, 25-100 is small, and $100+/hand might be worth something depending on where you are...

The lesser MGM Mirage properties still seem to want the $100 table player, but comps seem to be much, much tougher than they were 5 years ago at this level.

I stayed at TI. I had two rooms booked for regular $169 rate for two nights. I spoke with the casino host when I got there and he said I would need to average $80 for 4 hr/day to get one of the rooms comped for the stay. When I talked with him at the end I only averaged a $67 bet (although I thought it should be higher) and he comped one of the rooms completly including a late check-out (7PM) and the other room got knocked down to casino rate. I was happy.

Were you up or down?

I was up when I talked to the host Saturday night, but ended up down $400 by the time I checked out Sunday night. I have to learn to quit when I'm ahead...........

As a Rio loyalist over theyears, I have observed the property go downhill under Harrah's in terms of quality, pricing and employee morale. I'm sure the same thing will happen to the Caesars properties.

I do appreciate, however, the integration of these properties for purposes of player recognition and comps. As a Diamond level player, I have RFB/limo transfers at the LV properties which include suite upgrades (except for Caesars - Augustus Tower rooms). I like the ability to hop around and play at all of the LV properties with all play credited to the same account, the comp dining options available to me (more than 40 restaurants), VIP lines for restaurants and casino cages, Diamond lounges at Caesars, the Rio, Harrah's and Flamingo which offer free drinks and food.

As a Rio player, I appreciate receiving offers from the various properties including Caesars invites for fights and concert tickets for Elton John and Celine Dion. Even if I don't stay at a Harrah-owned property, I can still use my player's card to get meals and gift shop items at Harrah's properties (cost in points is deducted from my Total Rewards account).

i can't speak for the "downhill" aspect but i agree with everything else you have said as it is nice to be able to use the various diamond lounges, lines and have all play combined (and the offers are not that bad either) tho the only thing i don't get is limo priveledges <jealous> but i don't stand on ceremony as w/rfb all taken care of, i'll gladly take the shuttle from the rio to the strip and a cab to/from the airport

Same as you, we've been coming to LAS since 1982. My wife's best friend was engaged to the GM of the DI back then. On our honeymoon we stayed in a massive suite at the MGM Grand for a week, fully compted because Jim took care of the MGM's high rollers while they were rebuilding from the fire, and didn't steal a single one of them.

We come up to LAS a couple times/yr but stay with our friends out in Henderson and haven't been to the Strip in years. We did stay in a Bellagio suite two years ago for our anniversary. Which we found to be very nice! We never left the Bellagio so didn't notice how rotten it's gotten out on the Strip.

I am writing this from the Bellagio where we moved last night because we were staying at the Mirage for a business confererence. The Mirage lost all AC in their rooms and after 7 hrs, couldn't tell us when they would "reset" our room. They offered $200 in drink coupons but we checked out and moved to the Bellagio. The service at the Mirage restaurants, bars etc. was abysmal! MGM needs to rethink their new GM, he obviously hasn't made a positive impression.

Walking down the strip (or trying to because of the press of 350lb waddling flesh) I remarked to my wife that I alternatively felt like we were stuck in a Burger King somewhere in a ghetto given all the gang bangers, or outside of a KMart at closing time with all of the massive people waddling around with strollers full of kids at 11:00PM. Just atrocious behavior, dress and over all "scuzzyness". UGH!

It made me want to rush back to our room and take a shower. If this is a cross section of America, it looks like I'm going to use my Dutch citizenship for retirement somewhere away from this mess.

Interestingly enough, we've generally been Stardust players and get decent promos from them for our (relatively minimal) play rates -- dunno what we'll do with the change to Borgata. We played at GVR one time for a matter of an hour or two and get (what I guess is) their standard postcard that has discounted and free nights here and there.

I don't ever expect to be the player that gets a bunch of free stuff from the casinos -- we go to have fun and play a little instead of going to play a whole bunch and qualify for whatever major comps we'd get. Maybe if I have more money I'm willing to lose later then I'll do more of that. :)