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.

TR 10/2 - 10/5/2016. Silver Strikes, GGWU bonus, and Celine!!!

Discussion in 'Vegas Trip Reports' started by DaiLun, Oct 7, 2016.

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

    My Trip Report

    Day one

    Well, it was an uneventful journey down. Plane was running late but I got there In plenty of time to catch the Palace Station shuttle. The shuttle is at level 0 (one level down from the baggage pickup level) stalls 21-23.

    The ride to palace Station was quick. I was the only person on the shuttle.

    The room was comped courtesy of myVegas, and it was a standard King room in the Tower. Very close to the elevators.

    upload_2016-10-7_7-53-34.png
    upload_2016-10-7_7-54-2.png
    upload_2016-10-7_7-54-23.png
    So, the shuttle arrived at the hotel about 6PM, and was making a swing to Fashion Show mall, but I had to check in first, and the next bus left at 8PM, OK, I'll give the host casino a little play.

    Well, I gave them a little too much play, losing more than I had intended, but that just gave me more determination to be a good boy and stick to my guns the rest of the day.

    I took the 8PM shuttle over to Fashion Show Mall, intending to play for Silver Strikes at Venetian/Palazzo. Just so that you know, the shuttle parks at the far south end of Fashion Show mall, near Forever 21. It is 1.5 miles from the shuttle bus stop to Palazzo.

    Played the Silver Strike machine at Palazzo first

    Got about 17 clear caps and 3 blue caps, and took a break after the session at Palazzo to have dinner at Hong Kong cafe. I had:

    Pei don sau yook jook (Rice prooidge with pork and thousand year old egg)
    Yau Jow gwai (Chinese unsweetend donut)
    Har Gau (Shrimp dumplings, a din sum dish)

    Came out to exactly $30.00, which was the amount that I took for comp. It would have been about $10.00 on Spring Mountain Road or at home.

    Went over to Venetian and got the remaining strikes I needed for the $300 strike, and decided I'd done enough for one day.

    upload_2016-10-7_7-56-49.png upload_2016-10-7_7-57-0.png

    Blue cap
    upload_2016-10-7_7-57-35.png

    I did quite well, I got the new $300 strike and 3 blue caps for $290 (about $9.75 apiece), factoring in the 3 blue caps at $22.50 apiece.

    Decided to take a cab back to Palace Station. Didn't want to walk the mile and a half. Taxi was only $13.00.

    Good food specials at Palace Station late

    upload_2016-10-7_18-2-41.png

    Went back to the room, wrote this up, and then bedtime.

    End of Day One
     
    Last edited: Oct 7, 2016
    • Like Like x 1
  2. 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
    upload_2016-10-7_8-20-37.png Second day

    Ate breakfast at the buffet at Palace station. Life sustaining, but only $6.99.

    Made a little back in the morning

    upload_2016-10-7_18-7-11.png

    Took the Palace Shuttle to the airport and picked up my rental car.

    My experience at Enterprise was less than stellar. I was told that LDW (Loss Damage Waiver) was going to be $24.99 a day. They have raised the full coverage rate (LDW and Liability) to $49.98 a day. I asked why and I was told:

    "Well, LDW only covered $20,000, and all of our cars are $30,000". So, what $30,000 car did I get? A Ford Focus. FORD FOCUS!!!!! So, I "waived" LDW and reminded myself to be more careful.

    Drove down to Caesars, checked in and got an "end" room. Now this trip was going to be a "budget" trip since I was getting tickets for Celine Dion, which I hoped would be comped with minimal play (1000TC per day). I had $500 in food vouchers from 2016 7*, so food was pretty much covered.

    Went down to check in at the TR desk. I was here for a GGWU bonus event. 42,000 GGWU points, PLUS 75,000 bouns points for attending 4 events, PLUS this trip made me eligible for the point doubler, which is another 50,000+ points. They only double actual points earned, and that is why my total is so "low". I had 200,000+ points coming into this trip.

    For those of you keeping score, 30,000 GGWU points is worth about $100 based on the FP/gift card conversion.

    Off to meet Justine, my host from myVegas at Arawan Thai Bistro for lunch.

    We both had the lunch specials.

    http://arawanthaibistro.com/lunch

    Justine had the drunken noodles with Creme Brulee, I had the Garlic Short Ribs and Banana dessert that wasn't on the menu.

    I had eaten there before with Jin Caldwell (owner and chocolatier at Jinju Chocolates, but my camera wasn't working so I didn't get any pictures. I explained to the waitress why it was necessary for me to have pictures, that I considered all their dishes to be "works of art".

    Soup
    upload_2016-10-7_8-23-53.png

    Salad

    upload_2016-10-7_8-28-6.png

    Tea

    upload_2016-10-7_8-28-30.png

    Drunken Noodles

    upload_2016-10-7_8-28-49.png

    Garlic Pork

    upload_2016-10-7_8-29-13.png
    Pan Dessert (not on the .pdf menu)

    upload_2016-10-7_8-30-0.png
    Creme Brulee

    upload_2016-10-7_8-30-25.png

    Arawan Chocolates (I believe that these are made by Jinju chocolates

    upload_2016-10-7_8-31-0.png
    This is the dessert that comes with the lunch special

    [ upload_2016-10-7_8-31-40.png

    Justine and I talked about the upcoming mLife HGS and what the awards would be, and I was assured that they wouldn't be "less" than last years.

    3M LPs for 500K HGS points (with a 2 night stay required). I had an upcoming comp (resort fee only, $100 resort credit and $100 FP), so I would pay $80 in resort fees for $1800 (or more HGS points).

    at mLife HGS, it's approx. 30,000 HGS points = $100 in FP/Gift cards

    Justine also told me about her dealings with mLife, and plans for changes and expansion. We also discussed mLifes weakness by not letting myVegas have better access to mLife amenities (I did mention that this was improving).

    Lunch ended, I encouraged Justine to take the cupcakes and leftovers and we parted ways. I decided to get "back to business.".

    Went to the El Cortez for "Life is Beautiful" blue cap strikes. Apparently, El Cortez had run out of clear caps, so they bought 300 each of three different strikes, and packed them all into the turrets. So, as it turned out, it wasn't "getting a blue cap" that was a challenge, since every strike was a blue cap, it was getting a set of the three.

    After about $200, all tolled, I ended up with 22 strikes, (12 of one and 10 of the second) and none of the third. I was later able for get (one of the other Silver Strikers found) someone that had 6 extra of the "Life is Beautiful" strike and needed 6 of the El Cortez Hotel and Siegel's 1941 strikes, so a deal was struck.

    upload_2016-10-7_8-35-6.png
    upload_2016-10-7_8-35-24.png [
    Back side of each of the blue caps
    upload_2016-10-7_8-37-13.png

    Went back to Caesars and put in a little more time, made my 1000TC (about 1400) and decided I was tired. Time to take a short nap.

    Woke up at about 6:30PM and went down to the Diamond Lounge. Hot food was all gone, but I had a salad and a drink. I had already planned to eat a late dinner at Andiamo's (at the D) downtown.

    Went over to Flamingo to give Jenny (a waitress at Center Cut) a small box of chocolates from Jinju Chocolates we chatted briefly and she asked if I was eating there that night, and I said that I had other plans, so I left.

    Went over to El Cortez because the new rule at the D is that if you're using a voucher at Andiamo's, you need to eat before 6 or after 9.

    Called my local friend of mine who does my Silver Strikes at QQQQ for me when I can't make it. I needed to meet up with him to "prep" him for the Halloween Silver Strike event. So, I ended up driving out to his house and then back downtown. Gave him some $$ and a set (2 out of 3) of the El Cortez blue caps

    Ordered the Surf 'n Turf, sauteed spinach, Lobster baked ziti, came to $100.35, and my voucher was for $100. Mission accomplished. While my food was being prepared, I gave them some play.

    Back ro room. Ate the lobster and 1/2 of the Filet Mignon and one of the "extra" servings of pasta that Andiamo's always provides.

    11PM. To bed. Tomorrow my cousin arrives.
     

    Attached Files:

    Last edited: Oct 7, 2016
    • Like Like x 3
  3. mrstealth

    mrstealth VIP Whale

    Joined:
    Aug 7, 2009
    Messages:
    1,145
    Location:
    Midwest - Sister Bay, WI
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    62
    great report so far (as always)!
     
  4. 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
    Day three.

    The day's objectives (in no particular order) were:

    1)Go out to Jinju Chocolate's new store
    2)Pick up a gift for my host
    3)Pick up my cousin at the airport
    4)Dinner at NOBU
    5)Celine Dion in concert
    6)High Roller if Stefanie (my cousin) had energy left.
    7)Get the silver token (not a silver strike) at QQQQ

    The original plan was to meet Jin at her new store at about 11AM, so I had a morning to kill.

    Didn't eat breakfast since I'm now on an 1800 calorie a day diet and my cousin and I were scheduled to eat at Nobu tonight.

    Went downstairs, played about 450TC, didn't hit anything picture worthy.

    I decided to pop on down to the Four Queens to pick up the silver token that they were giving away for 3000 comp points. During June, it was only 2000 points, but it went up to 3000. There were only 450 minted.

    When I go there, I found out that I had 2980 points, so I needed to run $100 in action to get the strike. I also found out that earning 100 comp point would get me a 50th Anniversary coffee cup. So, being a "sucker" for promotions, I decided to run an additional $400 through and got the coffee cup.

    upload_2016-10-8_7-38-22.png Decided to go back to

    upload_2016-10-8_7-38-56.png Palazzo to see if the strikes had "cycled out".

    By "cycled out", the strikes at QQQQ, V/P and most of the other casinos place the strikes in the turrets like this:

    upload_2016-10-8_7-39-32.png

    1 red cap, 6 or 9 clear caps, 1 blue cap, 6 or 9 clear caps, which, if you're collecting red and blue caps, makes you play a lot longer to get a set of reds and blues. So yesterday, I got my blue capse, and then the machines were on the clear cap/red cap cycle.

    When I got there, the red caps were "in play", and for about $200, I got 21 clear caps and 3 red caps.

    Not much slot porn this trip, but this kept me even on the Silver Strikes

    upload_2016-10-8_7-40-15.png

    I also sat down at a Buffalo Grand Machine and hit 10X Minor jackpot!

    upload_2016-10-8_7-40-37.png

    Picture was taken as it was counting up, the total jackpot was $31.99x10 = $319.90

    The 12 bonus spins won $300+. So, that brought me back a little (less losses, not up by any means).

    Having completed my Silver Strike sets, and it was now about 10:30AM, time to go to Jinju Chocolates.

    This is Jin's second retail store. Her first is on the second floor of Container Park. This store is located at

    7345 S Rainbow Blvd
    Suite 130
    Las Vegas, NV 89139

    upload_2016-10-8_7-42-19.png
    upload_2016-10-8_7-43-6.png

    Jin met me there and I spent about 45 minutes to an hour at the store, we sat there getting caught up and talking about her holiday business. Station Casinos increased their order, which would provide a lot more businedd. Her primary business is wholesale to the casinos.

    I bought several boxes and bars, a gift for my Las Vegas host, and for my Reno/Tahoe hosts at the Appreciation dinner the next week.

    Business concluded, time to go to the airport to pick up my cousin.

    I was way early, so I stopped by the Post Office to get some boxes and postage labels. I have taken to sending boxes home with things that can make room for the perishable items that I'm bringing home. It's a good thing that I took two large flat rate boxes, because I needed them. The post office on Sunset is open 24 hours a day and their parcel drop accomodates the large flat rate boxes. For $18.75 apiece, it saves a lot of headache.

    After the post office, still a little early, so I went over to Hooter's for a bottle of juice and a bag of chips. Hooter's was dead, I had no intention to play. Got a cranberry juice and a bag of Cheetos.

    Off to the airport.

    Well, after guiding my cousin to the passenger pickup, we drove to Caesars. "S" hadn't been to Las Vegas in many, many years, so a lot of things were new, however, this trip was specifically to see Celine Dion.

    We decompressed in the room, and went down to the Diamond Lounge at about 4:15PM, the line was long, but I used 7* privilege to move to the head of the line. We had skewers and I had a salad, since I hadn't eaten all day.

    Dinner was at Nobu, and I was using vouchers. The use of a second voucher would depend on how much over $100 or under $200 we were.

    https://www.caesars.com/content/dam/clv/Dining/Upscale/Nobu/menus/dinner-menu-8.2.16.pdf

    A picture of me and my cousin at Nobu

    upload_2016-10-8_8-12-31.png

    We ordered:

    Nobu style taco - King Crab
    Nobu style taco - Salmon

    upload_2016-10-8_7-57-31.png

    Chilean Sea Bass with Balsamic Teriyaki

    Somehow, I missed taking a picture of this. I'll check with "S" to see if she has one.

    Pork Belly Miso skewer with teriyaki sauce
    Squid Skewer with anticucho sauce

    Nobu is a Japanese restaurant with "Peruvian influences", and the squid with antichucho sauce was excellent, a great pairing. I'm beginning to understand what Food personalities like Andrew Zimmern describes as starting out xxx, then xxx flavor comes in, and it finishes with xxx. It's difficult to explain, but Nobu's antichucho sauce starts out salty, then turns sweet, then ends with "heat", not a burning heat, but a mild, pleasant spicy taste

    upload_2016-10-8_7-50-1.png

    I don't remember what this one was, I'll Have to ask "S".

    Nobu_springrolls.jpg

    So, we thought we were cutting it close, but, as it turns out, we weren't. At 7:25 we got up and left. Dinner was $135, so I used one vousher and the rest in cash. I'm coming back in December, so why "waste" $65.00?

    It's a short walk from Nobu to the Coliseum Theater, and the lines were long. It's the first time I'd seen a metal detector (I don't get out much, I guess).

    We got seated. Picture taking is allowed, as long as you don't use a flash. Here's a picture of the stage from our seats. For reference, these are the $200 retail seats (I was comp charged $175 each) Middle of the rear orchestra (Row H). Center Aisle (seats 244 and 245).

    upload_2016-10-8_7-55-58.png

    Here are a couple of the "best" pictures that I got.

    Celine and her backup singer "Beauty and the Beast"

    upload_2016-10-8_7-59-40.png

    Celine singing a song that Pink "gave" her after Rene died

    upload_2016-10-8_7-59-14.png

    upload_2016-10-8_8-0-15.png

    From the movie Titanic "My Heart Will Go On"

    upload_2016-10-8_8-2-35.png

    From the final song "The Show Must Go On"

    upload_2016-10-8_8-1-6.png
    upload_2016-10-8_7-58-48.png

    The concert started late. Scheduled for 7:30, it started at 7:55 and ended at 9:25.

    Let me say this . . . . I wasn't a fan of Celine Dion before the concert, and the concert didn't change that. But . . I am impressed by her talent and see why she has the reputation that she does. At one time during her performance, she said "I didn't want a hit, I wanted a career . . . ". That is certainly true, she did make a wonderful career. If you are a fan of Celine Dion, I highly encourage you to see her show. Even if you sit in the "cheap seats", which aren't cheap, you will be treated to a wonderful show.

    So, after the concert, I checked my cousin's energy level. She said that she was fine, so I suggested going to the High Roller. She said OK, so we got the car and drove to the LINQ. I got my two tickets (monthly 7*), and off we went.

    When we got there, the line was lllloooonnnnggg. The longest I've seen it in the four times I've ridden the High Roller. Strangely, when we got to the boarding area, there wasn't much of a line, and we got on with four other people.

    We rode the High Roller, and like the three times before, it was uneventful.

    We had Hot Chocolate at the Cafe Americano (limited menu because they were cleaning the kitchen)

    After that, there was one more thing on my bucket list for her, and that was take a picture in the 50th anniversary chariot.

    Stef_Caesars_50.jpg

    We went back to the room and hit the sack.

    End of Day Three
     

    Attached Files:

    Last edited: Oct 8, 2016
    • Like Like x 3
  5. 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
    Day Four - Go home Day

    I woke up at 4AM. I was quite awake, and realized that I had only put in 450TC that day. I figured that I'd better fill out the day to 1000TC. "S" was still sleeping, so I crawled out of bed and went downstairs.

    Thanks to a couple of minor bonuses on the Wonder 4 Tower machines at the Forum casino, I made the 1000TC with a minimum of effort and spend ($200-300). Once that was done, I went back to the room. "S" woke up and we started packing. She had to be at the airport at about 8AM and I was leaving a couple of hours later.

    I found that the first box I had packed was full, and I had to pack a second box. Thankfully, I had brought a second one back to the hotel.

    So, I packed the boxes, and we set off to Silver Sevens for the breakfast buffet. I wanted to show "S" my "go to" place for "go home day" breakfast if I didn't want to swipe on checkout day.

    As I've stated before, Siver Sevens buffet is "life sustaining" and at $8.99 (I think it's $1 off if you have a player's club card) it's a bargain. It's also on Paradise, so direct access to the airport.

    Passed by the Willy Wonka machine that I hit for $900 on my last trip, but decided not to try to make "lightning strike" twice.

    Dropped "S" off at the airport. Then went to the post office to mail my boxes. They arrived Friday.

    "S" will be joining me for HGS/GGWU weekend in December, and on that trip one of my plans is to sign her up for Total Rewards and earn 50TC on her card and receive the two free buffets.

    Anyway, it was still early, and I needed a place to "hang out" for about 30 minutes. So, somewhere I'd never been before was "South Point". I headed over there and signed up for their player's club.

    I asked if they matched levels, and I was toild that they only have one card level and all offers are based on play.

    So, I had my card and was walking out the door, and saw a Buffalo Grand bank (of slots) as I was walking out the door. Sat down and took out $100, and within about 5 pulls hit a bonus. Ended up +$350, a little more than I had sent in the morning make my 1000TC. Cashed in, walked out and on to the airport.

    I took a picture of the South Point Entertainment schedule which will give you an example of the clientele that they cater to.

    upload_2016-10-8_9-40-34.png

    Turned the car in at Enterprise. Was told that the poor performance of the car was "normal" for the Ford Focus. I'll be that the people at Ford would dispute that. Anyway, that was another of the points that I made out to Enterprise Rent-a-car in an email that I sent to them when I got back.

    At the airport 2 hours early, ate brunch, and played "Diamond of Atenhs", made $28.00 and quickly cashed out.

    Plane going home was pretty empty, caught up the hour that I lost by getting up at 4AM.

    So, a "decent trip", no hand pays, got all of my objectives (except a winning trip) accomplished. Got 2/3 of the way to a second $300 strike at V/P.

    The next trip will be in December for HGS/GGWU. I should have $1800 or more to spend at HGS, and about $1200 to spend at GGWU. "S" will once again be accompanying me, and the dinner plans were Emeril's and Giada's, but I think that I'll change Emeril's to Hugo's Cellar, or one of Mario Batali's Steakhouses at V/P. Maybe Evoni or VegasChic (or another member) will have a recommendation.

    Among the scheduled events for that trip are:

    1)HGS
    2)GGWU
    3)Dinner at Giada's
    4)V/P
    5)Downtown FSE
    6)Jinju Chocolates

    My host comped the Celine tickets, I had given him a "larger" box of chocolates this trip.

    Thanks for reading.
     
    Last edited: Oct 8, 2016
    • Like Like x 4
  6. birdman925

    birdman925 Low-Roller

    Joined:
    Mar 14, 2013
    Messages:
    358
    Location:
    Northern Ohio
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    10
    What HGS and GGWU? Thanks
     
  7. 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
  8. tringlomane

    tringlomane STP Addicted Beer Snob

    Joined:
    Jan 21, 2013
    Messages:
    31,307
    Location:
    Chicagoland
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    28
    Nice report as always! I still can't believe Sheldon always puts his mug on those strikes though...
     
  9. martinr

    martinr Rock Chalk Jayhawk

    Joined:
    Aug 19, 2012
    Messages:
    3,604
    Location:
    Memphis
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    23
    Not understanding the strike "cycles" that you were referring to. Is there some sort of pattern that they hit on? Also, I've never seen the cylinders loaded with the same colors before. I thought it was randomly filled.
     
    First Time Staying on the South End. Will I Hear Southern Accents?
  10. Niteshade

    Niteshade VIP Whale

    Joined:
    Nov 17, 2013
    Messages:
    1,547
    Location:
    Abilene, Texas
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    25
    Great report. Really enjoyed reading
    about your adventures and loved the pics.
    Thanks for sharing.
     
  11. 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
    If you see the Silver Strike machines filled, you will see that the trays that hold the strikes have one colored capsule at each end of the tray. So, if a strike machine were completely empty, the turrets would be filled with 1 colored, 9 clear, or 9 clear, 1 colored. The reds and blues are also alternated. The turrets hold 30 (I think that's right) silver strikes each. That would be as many as 3 colored strikes per column in the turret. Four Queens sometimes places the colored strikes every 7, so it would be a red, 6 clears, a blue, and 6 clears, and so on.

    By "cycle" since most people don't "collect" silver strikes and aren't targeting the colored strikes, the columns can come up where a majority of the columns have colored strikes near the bottom. If you are a collector like me, who is also "gathering" clear caps, you don't really care, and the purpose is moving the colored caps to the bottom where they can be extracted.

    Since the colored strikes are alternated 1 red, 9 clear, 1 blue, 9 clear, once all of one color is out of the way, the second color comes into play. When I played the first day, the blues were near the bottom, and I got 3 of them. In those columns, the next colored strike would be a red one. When I came back the next day, the clears had been won and the reds were near the bottom. I hope that explained it.
     
    Last edited: Oct 8, 2016
    • Informative Informative x 2
  12. Chicken Dinner

    Chicken Dinner Low-Roller

    Joined:
    Jan 7, 2015
    Messages:
    435
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    10
    Great reading. Thanks!
     
  13. Valgal

    Valgal VIP Whale

    Joined:
    Aug 10, 2014
    Messages:
    5,302
    Location:
    South
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    20
    Great report as always. You always get so much done and make it look so easy.
     
  14. NY lady- MidWest Cowboy

    NY lady- MidWest Cowboy Low-Roller

    Joined:
    Aug 9, 2014
    Messages:
    188
    Location:
    Kansas City
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    12
    I have 2 silver strikes from the Rio. Went on a Mother daughter trip in 1996. It was the only trip I ever took with my Mom as an adult. She had a heart attack 2 months later and never recovered. I have those silver strikes in my jewelry box as one of my true treasures. I can hold them in my hand and they always make me smile. A remembrance of our time together.

    Wonderful report. Thanks for taking the time to share with us.
     
    • Like Like x 6
  15. justmare

    justmare High-Roller

    Joined:
    Apr 16, 2009
    Messages:
    741
    Location:
    Southern California
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    200
    Nice report! Sounds like a good time even though it wasn't a winning trip.

    I don't understand the whole Silver Strike thing, either. Are the $300 Strikes actually worth $300 -- meaning you could turn them in at the cage for that amount?

    I didn't realize the Four Queens commemorative coin was limited to only 450. Do you know the actual worth of each one?
     
  16. kkinwi

    kkinwi VIP Whale

    Joined:
    Jan 16, 2016
    Messages:
    2,177
    Location:
    Northern WI
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    80
    Busy trip! You sound like a good player for CET....my GGW points are barely worth turning in, lol.
    Thanks for the report!
     
  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
    $300 silver strikes can be turned in at the cage for $300. I realize that they do not earn "interest" like his 529 does, but they are "easily redeemable for cash in an emergency" and not readily spendable. Silver would have to hit $50 an oz. for the melt value to be worth more than the face value. They have more value as "collectables" since only 148 of each $300 strike are available to the public.

    A quick summary (from my point of view)

    30 clad strikes = $300 at the cage
    30 clad strikes = nothing in melt value. They are silver plated brass
    30 clad strikes = one $300 strike, which contains 6 oz. of .999 silver

    It takes about $360 to win 30 clad silver strikes, based on:

    playing with reds/blues in the machine. Reds/blues are only worth $10 in the cage, but to a strike collector on eBay, blue caps are worth about $20-25 and red caps (.5 oz. of 999 silver) are worth $30-35. I don't play unless there are red/blue caps in the machine because I am usually gathering clads for a $300.

    OK, a little bit of history. The Silver Strike machines were actually invented by Anchor Gaming, and in 2001, IGT acquired Anchor Gaming and the Silver Strike machines were converted from Anchor Gaming to IGT.

    Before 2009, almost every casino in North America had a silver strike machine. If you look at the online catalog at www.silverstrikers.com , you will see how many casinos had them.

    In 2009, IGT made a decision to discontinue support for the Silver Strike machines. Casinos were to that at the end of the current lease, they could either 1) buy the machines, or 2) turn them in.

    There were at least a couple of casinos, Planet Hollywood that I definitely know of, that had red caps that were destroyed because the strike machines were turned in. The Planet Hollywood red cap strike "The Playing Field" was such a strike. 500 were minted, but far less were made available. They almost never come up for sale, and when they do, they are over $100.

    When the Mirage recently decided to remove their silver strike machines, they were told that they couldn't sell their strikes, they were told by the Nevada Gaming Commission that they had to be destroyed.

    With regard to the QQQQ 50th Anniversary token, I don't see any for sale on eBay, and even on the Silver Striker board there have been requests, but no sales. They have no cash value but are one troy oz. of silver.
     
    Last edited: Oct 9, 2016
    • Informative Informative x 1
  18. lalala

    lalala Low-Roller

    Joined:
    Jan 23, 2015
    Messages:
    378
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    23
    Nice report Dai Lun ,Your silver strike coverage reminds me of the early 2000"s,playing at the Circus Circus and falling in love with that machine.As a collector I always liked the silver content and the frequency of silver strike pay outs.I only wished that they could bring back the all silver content strikes ,even if they made it a Dollar Machine.
     
  19. 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
    Well, I imagine that they could, but the problem is that the machines have been discontinued. There was a rumor that Sunshine Mint had a new prototype Silver Strike machine that would be tried out in the California Indian casinos, but that news has been taken down from the Silver Striker website.

    For the casino, there are also the following factors:

    1)Strikes cost "something" to mint. I often see on the silver strike board inquiries about " . . well, since silver is now a x/oz. won't they be minting .999 silver strikes again?"

    2)If silver is $20/ozt., then .5 oz. center is $10 in silver, add to that the costs of minting, the capsule, the outer ring. All those costs add up. Even though the casino is making money by having Strikes effectively "purchased", I'm not sure what the profit margin is or needs to be.

    Currently, they mint 500 red caps (.999 silver) and 500 blue caps (colorized clad) for the Halloween event. Once all those strikes are "won", that is $10,000 (less the cost of minting the strikes) taken out of circulation. There's $5000 in the cost of the silver in the red caps, for starters. That doesn't leave a lot of profit, even if you add in the "take" from the Silver Strike machines.

    3)Silver Strike machines appeal to the "common" person because of the low cost to play. $0.75 to play and this attracts the "casual" player. I doubt that at $3.00 a pull it would attract the same type of player. Even I would have to think twice about playing at $3.00

    4)It would necessitate a "paradigm shift" in the strategy for the casino. I believe that they have a "sweet spot" and are marketing it accordingly.
     
    Last edited: Oct 11, 2016
  20. Grid

    Grid Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jan 17, 2011
    Messages:
    3,484
    Location:
    Chicago
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    31
    Very well written. Thanks for taking me along for the ride.
     
Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.