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Drink ticket and poker machine light experiences on the strip Saturday, 10/1/16

Discussion in 'Comps' started by ref59405, Oct 4, 2016.

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  1. ref59405

    ref59405 Creepy Vegas Friend

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    If you are not concerned with getting drinks while paying poker machines at the bar on the strip then I am afraid this thread may not interest you. But since my wife and I just returned from a 3 day trip to Vegas I thought I would let everyone know of our experiences. Of course, your mileage may vary.

    On Saturday, 10/1/16, we went to the Cosmo and sat down at the Chandelier Bar around 1pm. We each put $100 in a poker machine and we playing .25 per credit, max credits of 5 per hand. Not long after we sat down and put our money in the machine a bartender came over and took our order. She then explained the drink ticket procedure to us. she would not tell us if it was a certain dollar amount or time frame that resulted in a ticket being dispensed, she said it was a combination of everything.

    We did not receive a drink ticket until we had played for approximately 30 minutes, max credits per hand at the quarter level, at a consistent pace of no more than 8-10 seconds per hand. I noticed that soon after we earned 20 session points the drink ticket came out. We did not stay to try and earn a second drink ticket. The bartender told us that since they went to the ticket system that her tips are down 75%.

    We then went to Bally's and played at the video poker bar closest to the strip. Once again we put in $100 each and played 5 credits per hand at the 25 cent level. A bartender watched us put in our money and start playing but he did not come over and take our order for at least 5 minutes. When he did come over he said that we needed to play faster to get the first light to come on. He said that he watched us put in $100 and he noticed that we were playing, and playing at $1.25 per hand, but since the light had not come on it must have been that initially we did not play fast enough. He said that we needed to play 4 of 5 hands very fast and then the machine would light up and then we could slow down the pace. He gave us a drink anyway, I don't know if our platinum cards helped or if him watching us play for a while made him do it, but he said the light never came on for us. He said the same thing happened to some other folks so he is telling everyone to play real fast at first so the machine lights up.

    This was a quick weekend trip for us and we stayed at the Plaza and mostly played downtown where we had no pressure to try and earn drink tickets. Although this was my first experience with drink tickets and lights on poker machines, I can say that it was much more relaxing to play where they had no such requirements. if this continues on the strip I could see my wife and I staying downtown more often.
     
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  2. Brad8173

    Brad8173 Low-Roller

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    Thx for the update.

    Not a big VP player but dabble here and there and planned to experiment like you just did. Disappointing to hear that the min play or speed was an issue for you as I play at the same level.

    Will add my 2 cents when I get back next week.

    B
     
  3. nhcris

    nhcris VIP Whale

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    I spent a very pleasant couple of hours at the first level of the Chandelier Bar at Cosmo and had no problem at all with the pace of the drink tickets. I drink at a leisurely pace, and ended up with a stack of drink tickets and quite a buzz. I don't think I play exceptionally fast, but they were coming out about every twenty minutes as you can see from these 2 exactly 20 minutes apart. The bartenders were friendly and creative and quite delightful. Too bad the VP didn't cooperate!

    IMG_3092.JPG
     
  4. Snidely

    Snidely VIP Whale

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    Can you share drink tickets with your friends?
     
  5. remmerde

    remmerde VMB's Resident Cigar Sommelier

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    Wow, I wasn't worried about these systems until I read your experiences.

    Figured the whole thing was to eliminate hit-and-run types, but from what you are saying, we're going to have to really punch the buttons at $0.25 level to get drinks.

    Kind of annoyed the machines don't at least take your Platinum status into account. You'd think that they wouldn't want to annoy any on their higher status players.
     
  6. TXactuarial

    TXactuarial VIP Whale

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    This is great news
     
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  7. prodaddy

    prodaddy Low-Roller

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    ...you can always order a 12.00 cocktail while playing.....
     
  8. MacAttack

    MacAttack VIP Whale

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    We played VP at the Bars in Bellagio, Luxor, Cromwell, Mirage (as well as a few places downtown) and had no problem with free drinks at .25 max credits. The Cromwell had a light system but they served us immediately and the staff were great. The barmen in the Bellagio all gave drinks promptly and sometimes refilled cocktails even before asking for one!

    We didnt play in the Cosmopolitan but if other people have a similar experience to you than people need to vote with their feet and play elsewhere.
     
    Half Solo - Bellagio Trip
  9. NandJfrmNJ

    NandJfrmNJ VIP Whale

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    I don't drink or play at bartops so it doesn't affect me personally but it sound Pavlonian. Do what they want and you get a "treat".
     
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  10. SH0CK

    SH0CK Stylin' and Profilin' Quasi Tech Admin

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    I had the same experience at the quarter level, though Sheil813 was getting them about every 10 minutes at the dollar level in her trip report.

    At Cosmo, yes. The tickets are good for 2 hours after being printed (it is time stamped), so you could leave and come back to use them or give them to a friend. I came back shortly after 2 hours to redeem a ticket and the bar tender didn't even look to see if it was still valid.

    The Cosmo ticket allows for a drink up to $15 in cost.
     
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  11. shokhead

    shokhead No big spender unless eating drinking having fun!

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    Same with my wife. Basic play and talk and had no problem with the green light staying on. I'm thinking these systems are still new and maybe some need tweeking?
     
  12. Ty

    Ty ?

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    Thanks for sharing.
    Ty
     
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  13. gilly from philly

    gilly from philly Low-Roller

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    How is someone who had no influence on the decision to go to the drink lights losing money, "great news"?
     
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  14. FullPay

    FullPay When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro

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    I go to Vegas to sit at video poker bars and drink for free. The wife and I have taken free room nights at local casinos and paid for our own drinks while playing. Just doesn't cut it. If this metering thing interferes with our Vegas experience Southwest Airlines will see their revenue decline.
     
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  15. Snidely

    Snidely VIP Whale

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    I'm in Vegas currently. The drinks are coming fast enough for me at Rio and Cromwell.
     
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  16. shokhead

    shokhead No big spender unless eating drinking having fun!

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    I keep saying that but some don't hear it.
     
  17. rgrif57

    rgrif57 VIP Whale

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    It is more fun to complain and not pay attention to what is going on, Snidely. Thanks for the update and good luck............Rick
     
  18. spdandpwr

    spdandpwr VIP Whale

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    On my last trip in September, I had zero issue at Cromwell, Linq (both bars), Venetian, and the Palazzo...and I drink fast and don't play more than quarters on bartops
     
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  19. insin

    insin Speed Spender

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    Drink tickets and poker machine green/red lights wont affect me much.
    I won't chase a drink comp.....that's crazy talk!
     
    Last edited: Oct 6, 2016
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  20. Mrs. K.

    Mrs. K. Low-Roller

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    They only had them at Caesars last time I was there, and the Bartender told us he was ignoring it.
     
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