Pre-trip Notes "Take This Job And Shove It" Edition

Well once again it is time to post my voluminous pre-trip notes. After working full time for 6 months, for the 1st time since 2013, I got fed up and am now back in "semi-retirement". This will be my 1st trip in 7 months, coming in Sun the 23rd and leaving early Friday morning. I have Allegiant booked for $170 round trip, 5 weeknights comped in hotels, $130 in freeplay, and a rental car reserved. I will be staying for some of the trip at the SLS, on a "former Sahara customer" offer. Based on what I have seen, I probably won't get asked back as the VP & BJ don't look too appealing, but we shall see. I'm looking forward to meeting some VMB-ers at the Boar bar on Tues the 25th at 4 PM.

I am a red chip BJ and quarter VP player, and I am considering seeking out some Free Bet BJ and High Card Flush tables on this trip. I am a coupon user and promotion chaser. I got my ACG for free thanks to an Amazon gift card I won at work during March Madness. I am planning on only playing 100%+ VP (including Players Club) and trying to play more blackjack.

So once I plan a trip, I start catching up on board posts, trip reports, and casino promotions, making note of items of interest. So was born the pre-trip notes. Hopefully these will be of interest, especially for those of you coming to town in August. As always, the list starts with Downtown, then Strip, then off-Strip.

Disclaimer: This is information copied from trip reports, blogs, casino websites, and other unsavory sources. I take no responsibility for the accuracy of the info, and the typos are NOT mine.

As always, have fun & good luck!

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MSS - Earn 250 points, get a FREE breakfast, lunch or brunch buffet. (ACG)

California - Earn 250 points, get a free breakfast, lunch or brunch buffet at MSS. (ACG)

Plaza - Ate Pop Up Pizza twice, couldnt have been happier, very good stuff! Plus they give free refills on drinks, so if you stay there, dont throw your cup away. Daily Spin 2 Win. Earn 1 entry with every 300 points earned while playing your favorite slot machines. 5 names will be drawn everyday at 8:15 pm for a chance to win up to $1,000 in cash. Wednesdays Senior slot tournament, Thursdays Queen slot tournament, see club for details. $5 freeplay (ACG)

Las Vegas Club - I was really happy to see that the LVC has cleaned itself up. The casino was much more 'casino-like' and actually clean and presentable. Ditto for the bathrooms. Great BJ games at the $5 and $10 levels. $5 freeplay, $5 matchplay. (ACG)

Golden Gate - Check for Allegiant $50 match play promo, present within 24 hours of arrival. “Email Yourself a Million” swipe promotion, running now through August 31. Members of the D’s Club D or Golden Gate’s Club 1906 can swipe their player’s card for the opportunity to win a $1 million grand prize, or one of several other prizes including free play, comp dollars, food and more from the D or Golden Gate. Prize winners may present their mobile device or a copy of the email at the respective club desk to redeem their prize up to 90 days from the date the prize was rewarded. Free calendar. (ACG)

Golden Nugget - Three $10k slot tournaments 8/24 - 26, $50 entry fee. $60-4-50 poker chips, 2-for-1 drink at RUSH Lounge. (ACG)

Binions - On Thursday June 11 they were still doing “Throwback Thursdays” and had 4 $1 blackjack tables from noon onward. These tables were always full with 2 to 3 players waiting to get in on them. The BBQ place in the back is great, excellent baby back ribs. 2-4-1 burger, Double points up to 500. (ACG)

Four Queens - 55+ 20% off Hugo's, Magnolias, Chicago Brewing, 20% off gift shop excluding food, cigs & alcohol. Chicago Brewing HH M-F 3-6 including half price appetizers. 2-for-1 lunch or dinner entree in Magnolia's, Double points up to 500. (ACG)

Fremont - Earn 250 points, get a free breakfast, lunch or brunch buffet. (ACG)

The D - “Email Yourself a Million” swipe promotion, running now through August 31. Members of the D’s Club D or Golden Gate’s Club 1906 can swipe their player’s card for the opportunity to win a $1 million grand prize, or one of several other prizes including free play, comp dollars, food and more from the D or Golden Gate. Prize winners may present their mobile device or a copy of the email at the respective club desk to redeem their prize up to 90 days from the date the prize was rewarded. $10 matchplay (email). $5 freeplay for every 50 points, max $100 (ACG)

Happy hour is made happier when there’s pizza, so from 3-6 p.m. weekdays and from 10 p.m. till close daily, Pizza Rock makes your night with individually sized pies for $7. You can pick from the award-winning Cal Italia or the simple Frank’s True Italian, but our preference is the meat-laden Molinari, topped with salami, pepperoni, Italian sausage, mushrooms and mozzarella. Closes at 11:30 during the week.

Every Thursday night they have a free stand up comedy show at The Downtown Grand, doors at 7:30, limited seating. Senior Thursdays $1000 drawing 6 PM, 10X tickets 6 AM - Noon, 5X points, free slot tournament 2:30 PM, 50% off S&O. $30 freeplay, $15/day, $15 dining credit (mailer), $10 matchplay (ACG)

El Cortez - Check for Allegiant promo. Hit a qualifying jackpot of $200 or more in August and win your choice of a $10 gift card at Walmart , Shell , Target , Walgreens , Smiths , Chevron , Zappos or El Cortez . Gridiron Glory free contest - see Club Cortez for details. Earn 100 points in a day for kiosk promo. Senior Wednesdays get 50% off special menu at Cafe Cortez. 5X points one day (email/personal site).

Mandalay Bay - Wincards. Buy one entree get one free at Border Grill (email).

Hooters - Play $10 get $10 freeplay, $10 matchplay. (ACG)

Monte Carlo - Million $ Block Party promo, every 500 MLife points wins (also NYNY, Excalibur & Luxor?).

Flamingo - Free appetizer at Margaritaville (email).

Circus Circus - WinCards.

On Aug. 2, 9, 16 and 23, guests who earn 250 slot points or 500 video poker points can receive a FREE gift courtesy of SLS Las Vegas. Mail recipients as well as guests who have made a $10 advance-deposit wagering (ADW) or higher in the last 90 days are also eligible. FREE gifts include Powerball ticket giveaways and a two-piece glassware set. Items must be picked up between 10 a.m. and 8 p.m. at the podium adjacent to 800 Degrees Pizza. 3X points Mondays

Palace Station - Top Dog Poker kiosk game, free swipe Mon, Tues & Wed, cash in your chips on Thurs. Senior Wednesdays $4 movie matinees, mystery multiplier up to 6X on VP, free Starbucks. $10 credit when spending $20 Grand Cafe (myVegas).

Silverton - Drawings at 2pm, 4pm, and 6pm every Monday for Seniors, 15 winners at each drawing.

Orleans - Young At Heart Wednesdays - Earn up to 50X points from 7:00am until 7:00pm with our Mystery Point Multiplier, swipe for drawing entry, drawing at 4:30 PM, earn 50 points for lunch or 100 points for dinner buffet, Orleans only "After Dark" up to 5X points 7 PM - Midnight. Earn 300 points for free gift Thursdays (school lunch bag 8/27). Shuttle now drops at Forum Shops on Strip. $10 matchplay, play $10 get $10 freeplay. (ACG)

Palms - $5 off $10 purchase at 24/7 Cafe (online). $10 matchplay. (ACG)

Gold Coast - Young At Heart Wednesdays - Earn up to 50X points from 7:00am until 7:00pm with our Mystery Point Multiplier, swipe for drawing entry, drawing at 4:30 PM, earn 50 points for lunch or 100 points for dinner buffet. Earn 300 points for free gift on Tuesdays (womens purse 8/25). Shuttle now drops at Forum Shops on Strip. Earn 200 points get a free breakfast, lunch or regular dinner buffet, $10 matchplay. (ACG)

Ellis Island - 50+ drawings Tues & Thurs at 11 AM, 12, 1, 2, 6 & 7 PM. Passport Pick 5 drawings daily, see club for details. Play $10 and get up to $100 in free play, $5 table game match play. (ACG)

Tuscany - 7X points on VP Mon & Wed. Senior Thursdays earn 200 points for free gift, free coffee at Caffe Bottega. $10 matchplay, $10 freeplay. (ACG)

Silver Sevens - Swipe promos on Wed & Thurs, Senior slot tournament on Wed 10 AM - 5:40 PM, drawing at 6 PM.

Hard Rock - Tuesdays 45+ 5X VP, earn 100 base points receive 5000 points. 20x Reels & Video Reels/5x Video Poker Wednesdays in July and August. Swipe at a kiosk to activate.

Mardi Gras Casino - Receive your first $10 freeplay award just for signing up for the players club. Thursday night is video poker tournament night. Players compete in two rounds of Video Poker for the top prize of $250. 9X points Mondays. 3500 Paradise (N of Flamingo, S of Westgate).

Longhorn - $5 matchplay. (ACG)

Eastside Cannery - Sundays Hot Seat 2-7 PM 7 winners per hour, win up to $100. Also on Sundays drawings at 3, 5, 7, & 9 PM, win up to $500. Mondays Senior days get $5 freeplay after 50 points, $5 off dining with $10 purchase, drawing (time?). Mon - Thurs Walmart cards for table play - $5/25 points, $10/45 points, $25/100 points. Thursdays in August earn 350 points for a gift or a $5 Walmart card (rolling cooler 8/27). Wednesdays earn 400 points for $15 freeplay plus trigger random winners for up to 600 bonus points.

Sam's Town - Young At Heart Wednesdays - Earn up to 50X points from 7:00am until 7:00pm with our Mystery Point Multiplier, swipe for drawing entry, drawing at 4:30 PM, earn 50 points for lunch or 100 points for dinner buffet. Get 50% off your buffet purchase when you pay with your points on August 2, 9, 16, 23, and 30. Sun - Thurs in August earn drawing ticket stamps playing table games, one stamp for each 2-card BJ, drawings at 4 & 8 PM. Earn 200 points get a FREE buffet, 2 free drinks. (ACG)

Boulder Station - Top Dog Poker kiosk game, free swipe Mon, Tues & Wed, cash in your chips on Thurs. Senior Wednesdays $4 movie matinees, mystery multiplier up to 6X on VP, free Starbucks.

Jerry's Nugget - Tuesdays Senior promotions swipe for 5X points & $5 matchplay. $5 matchplay. (ACG)

Bighorn - $5 BJ matchplay (ACG)

Lucky Club - $1 blackjack minimums. $10 matchplay. (ACG)

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Have a great trip. Looks like you have done your homework like I do. SLS did have decent VP when we were there in December even in nickels. It appears that they have been removed according to vpfree2. Bummer. Wife and I will be staying at The D Tuesday night. Will try to catch you guys at Boars Head 4 P.M. Can't promise anything as you know how Vegas takes me where it will. Good luck on match plays, free plays, coupon runs, etc.

 

Yeah, vpfree2 reported them missing days before we showed up in April. I should have tried one eyed Jacks just so I could say I've have tried the game. Only 99%+ paytable I've even seen of the game. Had lots of fun on earlier trips with 40/10/6 DDB, 15/11/4/4 Deuces, and of course, full pay pickem!

But now unfortunately, I think the best choice available for nickels is 7/5 Bonus with Double STP (98.51% w/DSTP) on their standalone DSTP games (all star IIs are 6/5). VPFree2 also says they have 8/6 Bonus Deluxe (98.49%) on their nickel 50/100 plays. For the quarter level, there are 7/5 Super Aces Bonus (98.85%) in a ton of places, even bartops. The game is a big gamble though (all Aces are 2000 credits). I've enjoyed a few Firestone Walker Union Jack IPAs while there. Triple play 8/5 Bonus (99.17%) for quarters is also there, but iirc, jason doesn't usually play that high.

Unfortunately will just miss the meetup. We come in the 26th.

 

Thanks for the Super Aces info. Even with 3X points it's well below what I want to play, but at least it's available at the bar. Rather than learn a new strategy, you think DDB strategy would be close enough?

I'll still be around on Thursday the 27th if you think you might want to hook up, just PM me.

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OP, THANK YOU for these great trip planning notes! I'll be headed to mecca on the 27th and had about half of these promos but quite a few that I would likely use but that I had missed. Thanks again!

 

DDB strategy is pretty close. Costs you 0.0414% if you use 9/6 DDB strategy with no changes.

One of the biggest changes that is easiest to remember: All 3 to a Royal beats 4 to a flush like Bonus Poker. That one change alone lowers it to 0.0242% error.

Next biggest Change... Ace > any QJT8, QJ98, or QJ off....this with the flush change lead to a 0.0109% error.

Add in: Ace > 3 SF w/1 gap (i.e. 467, 589 suited, etc.) > QJT8, QJ98 > QJoff, KQoff, KJoff > JTs, QTs, KTs ( and no weird 3 to a flush draws like KT7suited that exist in DDB). Now the error is down to 0.00125%. Easily "close enough". Hell the first two ideas are good enough really.

And yeah, I'll send you a PM in a couple of days when I get some of my internal plans better formed. I'm such a procrastinator. :evillaugh

 

I'm sure you know by now, you can cross the LVC off your list. good luck, hope its a great trip