1. Welcome to VegasMessageBoard
    It appears you are visiting our community as a guest.
    In order to view full-size images, participate in discussions, vote in polls, etc, you will need to Log in or Register.

Finally made Diamond, here's my next project. Comments appreciated.

Discussion in 'Comps' started by DaiLun, Mar 16, 2015.

Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.
  1. DaiLun

    DaiLun R.C., L.C., and A.A.N.G.

    Joined:
    Apr 24, 2014
    Messages:
    13,085
    Location:
    San Jose, CA
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    100
    OK, so I'm Platinum at mLife, and Diamond at CET, and Gold at V/P.

    My next project is to make a direct comparison of benefits for those who are trying to make a decision as to which one to consider.

    However, I don't want to "reinvent the wheel". Has such a comparison been done?

    I would be focusing on things like:

    show tickets (CET) vs. attractions (mLife)
    comps (CET using RCs first) vs. mLife (more free with BE comps)

    I am not a "High Roller" but do have a reasonable gambling budget each trip.
     
  2. sindustry

    sindustry VIP Whale

    Joined:
    Jul 22, 2013
    Messages:
    3,172
    I believe there have been many comparisons between the two, but I do not recall any formal comparisons.

    Here are my thoughts and exeriences:

    Show Tickets: CET has mostly resident shows, whereas MLife has resident shows, major Concerts, fights, and attractions. Which is better, pretty much comes down to what type of entertainment one prefers. I prefer the options with MLife. Ease of tickets to concerts at MLife and show tickets at CET seem equally attainable.

    Comps: I am still mostly a table player, but in my experience, the upfront and back-end comps seem better at MLife. Yes, CET allows me to book 5 free nights very easily online, whereas MLife only allows me to book 3. I have yet to get Free Play/Match Play at either chain, but up front Resort Credit is always much better with MLife. Comp rooms are also much nicer at the MLife properties. Back-end comps seem better at MLife, but then again I never really have that much in room charges when I stay at a CET property. With that said, I also have not had my RCs taken out first...maybe I just don't notice, but I never see a chunk of RCs gone after a trip.

    I do feel, at CET, you get better service when you have Diamond...and even better service when you have 7*. At MLife, Platinum is everywhere and for the most part, they could care less.

    Looking forward to read your experience between the two competing chains.
     
  3. stackinchips

    stackinchips VIP Whale

    Joined:
    Jul 13, 2009
    Messages:
    1,202
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    9
    In regards to the Platinum vs. Diamond comment, I think you need to qualify that statement. Diamond at CET seems to be treated the same whether that's earned in one trip or twenty. Mostly because the tier perks are flat tier perks (free dinner, show tickets, diamond lounge, etc.). I don't think Platinum is widespread, in fact I think the opposite. I'm sure there are far less Plats at MGM than Diamond at CET, as CET has the nationwide presence at local casinos and has all the tier bonuses now. Not hard at all to become diamond. Platinum on the other hand takes significant gaming, unless you get it through a lot of resort spend (which I doubt many do).

    You don't get as good of perks simply from being platinum (line cuts are probably the best thing going), BUT the difference is that most of the people who've earned platinum at Mlife are probably big enough players that they're treated really well anyways. For example, their host is definitely coding them for the VIP lounges, arranging limo trans, setting them up with nice accommodations, and they're probably getting a lot of up front and back end comps.

    So I guess your statement holds water for the guy earning his plat/diamond over the course of 20 trips, as he's a low roller getting there through quantity and isn't going to be treated as a big player because he isn't. Therefore the only benefit he's getting from that play is whatever guaranteed perks there are for his tier level. In that case I agree that CET has better "laid out" guaranteed perks for Diamond vs. MLife Platinum, but I think in the big picture most players will be treated much better by MLife overall if they're big enough players to be platinum.
     
  4. stackinchips

    stackinchips VIP Whale

    Joined:
    Jul 13, 2009
    Messages:
    1,202
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    9
    My last post got a bit long winded, so I wanted to make a new one regarding the OP.

    IMO much of your comparison hinges on what size player you are. I think there's a certain threshold you need to reach before MGM becomes preferable to CET. I'm not sure exactly where that's at, but it's been widely known that CET is pretty loose with room comps for lower end players. They'll also comp up to 5 nights up front for most low, low-mid players. However beyond that it takes a LOT more play before you start getting solid FB/FP/Shows/Limo. MGM on the other hand is stingy with the lower end players, but once you hit a certain threshold (mid-roller?) you start getting room offers, FB/FP/etc. AND they'll give you plenty of back end comps if your play warrants it. CET is pretty stingy with back end comps IME. In addition, I'd put 5 of MGM properties ahead of pretty much every CET property (Caesars might hold off Mirage), so your room comp is a lot better than getting free digs at Harrah's (not that Harrah's is awful, just that the overall experience isn't going to compare with Mirage/MGM/etc.)

    I think if you took a survey you'd probably find that is backed up by the demographics of the player profiles and which they prefer. Look at the posts on here that praise CET, most of them are low rollers that are ecstatic about getting 3-5 nights for free at Bally's or Flamingo, while most of those posting about MGM are talking about free room plus FB/FP/etc. Not that there's anything wrong with either, just that CET typically has the admiration of those just hoping for a couple of free nights in the hotel while MGM has the players who warrant more.
     
  5. Chuck2009x

    Chuck2009x VIP Whale

    Joined:
    Apr 5, 2009
    Messages:
    14,199
    Location:
    Boston
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    30
    The only objective formula would require you to have the exact same theo (and ideally, actual, but good luck with that) at all 3 chains for the same number of gambling days, then add up the monetary value of:
    1. Cash-equivalent comps earned during the trip (ECs + PointPlay at MGM, RCs at CET, Slot Credits at V/P)
    2, Back-end comps given on the stay
    3. The cash value of room, freeplay, F&B and tickets next offered down the road based on that trip once it's worked its way into the system

    The fact that MGM and V/P rooms are better than CET rooms shouldn't enter into it, nor should "this-show-is-better-than-that-show". Only $.
     
  6. sindustry

    sindustry VIP Whale

    Joined:
    Jul 22, 2013
    Messages:
    3,172

    Very good point, Stackingchips, regarding tier level versus level of play. I always tend to blur the distinction when trying to convey my experience, when I know full well it is not Diamond (CET) versus Platinum (mLiife). It is a bad habit I can't shake...lol...I think maybe I just find it easier to say than trying to explain I get this and this because I play this amount for this amount of time and earn this amount of theo, which gets this amount of comps. Hell, I can't even figure that out most of the time...lol. But yes, explaining comps as being tied to a certain tier level is very flawed, which my post may have inadvertently conveyed.
     
  7. stackinchips

    stackinchips VIP Whale

    Joined:
    Jul 13, 2009
    Messages:
    1,202
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    9

    I don't necessarily disagree, but it's a bit hard to quantify some of that stuff. Have you ever looked at the rack rate at Caesars, especially on a busy weekend? I've seen ROMAN tower rooms going for $600 a night. Meanwhile Aria or Wynn are at $350-$400. Obviously there has to be some sort of way to adjust for quality of product rather than just taking whatever number the resort decided to put on the room. I only bring up Caesars because they seem to always be incredibly overpriced relative to other properties.
     
  8. stackinchips

    stackinchips VIP Whale

    Joined:
    Jul 13, 2009
    Messages:
    1,202
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    9
    No I got what you were saying, I was just trying to qualify the statement of Diamond being treated better than Platinum at MGM. I actually think that most platinum players are treated better at MGM, it's just that their explicit benefits of the tier level aren't quite as good. I was just pointing out that explicit tier benefits only really matter for smaller players who made many trips to get to the upper tiers, vs. the bigger players who get their based on higher play.
     
  9. sindustry

    sindustry VIP Whale

    Joined:
    Jul 22, 2013
    Messages:
    3,172
    This is one reason I feel MLife is much better...at least for table players. I usually double book CET and MLife...usually letting a friend or friends use the CET room. For CET, I usually book PH or Caesars. For MLife, it is usually one of, Aria, MGM Grand, Mirage, or MB. I usually play the same at both properties...putting in 4 hours at each property per day at the same bet size (base bet of $75 Ante/Blind + $25 Trips on UTH). I may end up putting in slightly more play at the MLife prop, simply because that is the one I am staying. I have not compared the numbers between the two though, since I rarely ask the CET host what my stats are (because I rarely have much of anything in room charges). However, based on marketing offers, my MLife offers blow CET's out of the water.
     
  10. newmans

    newmans VIP Whale

    Joined:
    Jun 30, 2014
    Messages:
    1,648
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    65
    I don't think you can use rack rate for comp puposes. I've stayed in suites at CET properties that have been listed at $700-800 per night on their website. I know that my host's comp rate for the suite was about $250. So when calculating comps for me(based on theo generated) my suite is $250, not $800....since that is what my host is charged by the hotel.
     
  11. Chuck2009x

    Chuck2009x VIP Whale

    Joined:
    Apr 5, 2009
    Messages:
    14,199
    Location:
    Boston
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    30
    Yes, ideally, you would be able to find out the price the casino pays the hotel and use that.
     
  12. nostresshere

    nostresshere Mr. Anti Debit Card

    Joined:
    May 4, 2009
    Messages:
    23,220
    Location:
    TN
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    40
    What NONE of the many comparisons can take into account are some unknowns.

    Where are you comfortable playing?
    Where do you like to sleep?
    Where do you like to eat?
    Where do you seem to win the most?

    Casino A might have a great plan, but if you do not like going there, then....

    Pluses and minuses up and down. And, the Theo answers move all over place. You will find folks that were getting higher offers than before at the same casino with the same play. And some that go the other way.
     
  13. DaiLun

    DaiLun R.C., L.C., and A.A.N.G.

    Joined:
    Apr 24, 2014
    Messages:
    13,085
    Location:
    San Jose, CA
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    100
    Oh, I totally agree. The first order of business would/should be:

    "Where do you feel lucky"
    "Where do you like to play", and
    "What casino do you feel a good vibe"

    OK, then what I should really do is identify any "unadvertised" perks at that level. For instance, with mLife there are things like free tickets to Shark Reef, Secret Garden, and the Fine Arts Museum, as opposed to the show tickets with CET.

    The veterans (apparently) have their minds made up on CET, mLife, V/P, or Cosmopolitan. This would be for guys like me who haven't really made up their minds.
     
  14. nostresshere

    nostresshere Mr. Anti Debit Card

    Joined:
    May 4, 2009
    Messages:
    23,220
    Location:
    TN
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    40
    Plat at Mlife treated better than at CET?
    Keeping in mind that Plat at Mlife is similar to Diamond at CET..

    Okay, here are my two cents worth.
    Diamond at CET -
    love to spend time in Diamond Lounges
    free show tickets on every visit

    Plat at Mlife:
    no lounges to speak off
    no free shows, other than those as a result of theo
    We prefer the hotels and food options (in general) at Mlife in Vegas vs CET
     
  15. Chuck2009x

    Chuck2009x VIP Whale

    Joined:
    Apr 5, 2009
    Messages:
    14,199
    Location:
    Boston
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    30
    Yes but in the original post you said:

    "My next project is to make a direct comparison of benefits for those who are trying to make a decision as to which one to consider."

    As soon as you bring anything subjective into it, like
    "Where do you feel lucky"
    "Where do you like to play", and
    "What casino do you feel a good vibe"

    then it doesn't necessarily apply to anybody except you.
     
  16. shellieshoe

    shellieshoe Low-Roller

    Joined:
    Jan 23, 2015
    Messages:
    329
    Location:
    middle of nowhere
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    20
    I will be interest to hear of your results. I have been a CET player for the past 4 years and lots of friends stay and play at the MLife properties. As you stated earlier - some people (veterans) have already made up their mind but I would love to hear your opinon.
     
  17. DaiLun

    DaiLun R.C., L.C., and A.A.N.G.

    Joined:
    Apr 24, 2014
    Messages:
    13,085
    Location:
    San Jose, CA
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    100
    Agreed. I misstated my original intent. I would want it to be something of value to VMBers as well as myself.

    It just goes to show you how luck can strike anytime, and at anyplace. I hadn't been to Harrah's Reno in nearly 15 years, and I hit the jackpot that made CET Diamond all possible. Never played there, that was "my Dad's place to play".

    After this past weekend's trips (which were more like work than anything), I would like some nice time off to relax.
     
  18. oghuman

    oghuman VIP Whale

    Joined:
    May 24, 2010
    Messages:
    3,473
    Location:
    NYC
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    48
    I agree MGM properties overall are currently better than Caesars. However, one advantage of Caesars is that you can attain your status at properties all over the country that can be used in Las Vegas or elsewhere. You are treated the same no matter the property, though you may be competing with larger players at certain properties. Currently I get a free rooms and flight to several casinos around the country, if I like. I've done a New Orleans trip three consecutive years. If you’re playing at MGM it basically gives you Vegas.
     
  19. powersof10

    powersof10 Tourist

    Joined:
    Jan 3, 2015
    Messages:
    83
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    20
    What about the hyatt status match. Hyatt diamond status matches to mlife platinum and I believe it works the other way around too. Has anybody done this? There are some nice perks to being Hyatt Diamond.
     
  20. SandsFan

    SandsFan VIP Whale

    Joined:
    Aug 12, 2010
    Messages:
    3,037
    Location:
    Texas
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    125
    Thanks for that info. I always try to figure out what the suite would cost for keeping up with my comps
     
    The 3 P trip (Paris, Palms and ??)
    The 3 P Trip (Paris, Palms and ??)
Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.