Best Downtown Hotel and Casino for Future Offers

Hey everyone,

I will be heading down to Vegas in mid January with a couple of friends for a 21st birthday celebration. We will be staying downtown and gambling mostly downtown with the exception of possibly running up to the Cosmo to take advantage of their slot loss rebate program. Anyways, I am looking for suggestions as to what properties downtown would send me the best future offers? I have players cards at most of the casinos but I usually just play short sessions and hop around a lot. This trip I will likely focus my play a little bit more in hopes of getting cheaper rooms/freeplay/dining credits/etc. I play mostly blackjack at 10-15 dollars a hand with a little slot play here and there. I expect to play around 10 hours of BJ and have maybe $500-$1000 in coin-in over the course of two days. Do you think it is worth it to concentrate my play or at that level will I likely recieve nothing worth while in the future? Also, does it help to book the room at the place where I will do most of my playing? Thanks in advance for any thoughts.

 

I play for less money than that and get quarterly free room offers (tower room or junior cabana suite) at the El Cortez with $25 dining credit and $25 slot play and a 5X points day. And those free rooms are good on weekends too. Keeps me coming back, for sure.

Four Queens used to send room and slot play offers but they seem to have tightened up substantially in the last two years.

 

I played through $10 of freeplay at VP and lost $25 at blackjack during my last trip, visiting the Plaza mainly to try HHAGG. Whilst I was there I signed up to the player's club (hence the FP) and stopped to play some BJ.

Recieved an email on December 1 with an offer for FOUR free nights and $25 FP. It's a pitty it expires just the day before my next trip as I certainly would have been tempted to double book and use it in case I get drunk downtown. Would certainly have put a good level of play through, hopefully I'll get another one that's valid for when I'm staying.

 

I would suggest the Boyd properties downtown which gives you the choice of 3 casinos all with the same card. Main Street Station, Fremont & The Cal.

I think what you will find is that most places will initially send you offers after first play, but eventually the offers dry up unless you give them consistent play in the future.

 

Pretty much any downtown property except the Golden Nugget will probably send you future offers based on that level of play. Go with the place you want to stay. Like Joe said, Fremont/Cal/MSS are the same club. Same ith LVC/Plaza. Golden Gate and the D have the same owners, not sure how the clubs work there. If you like Four Queens then play at either Binions or Four Queens will get you offers there. Binions hotel is currently closed. The offers from Binions for Four Queens seem to be separate from the Four Queens offers, not combined, so concentrate play at one or the other for best effect.

 

Thanks for the responses! I think I might end up doing most of my playing at the ElCo. The friends I am coming with are really poor college kids so $3 blackjack will likely be super appealing to them. I'm glad to hear that the ElCo sends out decent offers because I have enjoyed playing there the couple of times I have stopped by, and I hear that their Cabana Suites are actually pretty nice.

I might also consider the Boyd properties since that would allow us to bounce around a bit more while still being under the same players card. Plus, for whatever reason I really like the feel of MSS.

From what I have heard recently about the Plaza, it sounds like its not the most enjoyable place downtown so we will probably just skip it all together.

 

Before rennovations, the Golden Gate used to give VERY GOOD offers. I'm a low roller and every quarter I would get a flyer for free rooms (I love the Nugget, so never took them up on the offer). Since the rennovations, I played very little at the Gate and when I did, I forgot to use the players card...so I don't know how the rates currently work. But, it won't hurt to ask.

 

Golden Gate still sends out offers but most people find their rooms pretty small. We got 2 nights in a suite there and it was nice (based on my husbands BJ and craps play, not my blackjack play). The D is sending out good offers for blackjack low rollers.

The 4 Queens and Binion's send consistently good offers but their BJ rules are the pits.

 

If you are looking for possible offers then it would be best if you gambled at mostly one place. If you are staying there it might be possible that you could get your bill (room, etc.) discounted at the end of your stay also.

Usually when you are a new member and sign up and give them your play many casinos will send you initial offers to get you established on their system, once you get yourself established they will either send you more offers or not send you any offers depending on your level of play.

The problem you have is that you may already be established on their system. If you already signed up for a casino's players card and have given your players card when you played the tables and machines then they already have you on their system and you should have already been receiving offers. Since you didn't mention that you are getting offers I think that you are probably not offerring enough play (or playing below the limits required for comps).

Usually in order to be rated playing bj you should have the minimum $25 average bet on the table at any time (even downtown at the el cortez). By playing longer it can offset the $10-$15 a hand but you need to stay and play consistently for a period of time. If you play short sessions and hop around a lot (and vary your bets below the $25 average hand) you probably won't be rated well, IMHO you would be better rated if you stayed at the table for at least an hour or two or longer per session to be rated enough to get something.

If you and your friends only play $3 - $5 you should NOT expect any comps or credits, playing bj you need to have an average bet of $25 for 3 hours to get some comps (I asked).

I play craps and bj and normally spend $2000 over a 4 to 5 day period downtown at places like the el cortez, MSS and 4 Q (I don't play much machines). I never get any offers and I hardly qualify for any free meal comps because I don't keep the $25 minimum over 3 hours (I hop around also and play short sessions). Since I don't play long enough and the minimums I don't bother about comps.

Now, if you are playing the machines playing max credits for 3 hours a day you will probably qualify for some comps but if you are again hopping around and playing short sessions you may still not qualify for comps until you can get your casino points up for your sessions. This is JMHO as some people mentioned that they get comps playing short sessions on the machines.

I know that other posters have given you positive vibes on getting comps but I wanted to make sure you don't get your hopes up because while it appears you may be spending a lot in coin in it may not be enough consistent play to earn you comps, especially for casinos where you already have a player's card. You may want to give your play to a new casino that you don't have a player's card for since they don't know you and you don't have a betting history there.

Just wondering, to the other posters, for places that you are already established (not new sign ups), what kind of play to you give the casinos to get comps? Do you get comps only playing $10-15 bj over a period of time or do you fluctuate your bets so they average the $25 a hand? Many of the posters get comps based on their play on the machines, much easier to get comps on the machines over the tables because the tables have the $25 a hand average requirement.

One last thing, while you may gamble at one groups properties (like boyd group - at the MSS, fremont, and the cal) each casino will give you comps only based on your play at their property, not on how you play at all the boyd properties.

 

I get good offers from the Four Queens.

One thing I advise is not to try to get cards and play in every single casino. Those newbie offers come once in a lifetime. Better to concentrate on a few places and then on a later trip, seed other casinos for newbie offers.

 

Dewey (and others who get offers from casinos), can you be specific on what you play and your level of play when you get offers from casinos?

I think that most of us know that offers do come when you play the machines but I was wondering how much we need to play to get offers.

I also know that new signups also get offers but I wanted to know what a regular guy who already has a players card needs to play to get the offers. Like on average, what denomination machine and how much you put in per spin, how long you play the machines (on average) every day and for your entire stay.

For table players, how much is your average bet, how long do you play, which casinos regularly allow comp meals and rooms if you play less than the $25 average bet (I have gotten comps for less play but not guaranteed and not regularly, lots of times it depends on the pit crew and boss, time of the year, how busy the table is, etc.).

The reason I ask is because I don't get a lot of comps, a number of people mention that it is easy to get comps but I just don't get em. But then I mostly play craps and some bj but don't play the $25 minimums.

 

I never thought i would play enough to be sent offers but this last trip did the trick..LOL We get good offers from the Cal, Golden Nugget and EL Co. The hard part for me is that i would like to stay on the strip next time. Our next trip might have to be a split again, with a few nights on the strip and downtown.

 

I don't know exactly how much coin in I do at the Four Queens. However, I do play a good bit whether I win or lose. And yet I don't play enough to rate comps by a host. I can't just call and get free nights. I have to wait for mailings. I'll guess and say I run 5-6 grand through the machine over a couple days, although it depends on whether I am winning or not. I don't want to lose more than a few hundred dollars, but because the game I play is near to a break even game, it is easier to expect that the risk of ruin is low for me in spite of the volatility. My game, being in my advantage, is not just automatically grinding away a few cents of every dollar put at risk. In fact, I am the one doing the grinding.
I play only one game, the full pay 10/7 DB with a royal progressive. It is in my favor, especially with cash back and the rooms tossed in. They let me play the freeplay on those machines as well. No Double Bonus exists in Vegas, or anywhere for that matter, with a better pay table. Last trip I had the royal dealt to me there.

What I like is the mailings are for 3 nights, rather than two, and I can use them on the weekends. How often I might be able to use them I can't say. I do always split my 25 day visits to Vegas between two months and generally I get two three night bookings at the Four Queens, one in each month. One will be a mailed comp. The other will be a mailed slot tournament. I also will get freeplay and sometimes some free food.
I also might play a bit of Megabucks. I don't buy local lottery tickets, but I want the Fantasy, so I run a few dollars through the machine. Maybe I run through Forty Two dollars one time at most. If I do get an urge to play a slot, I'll play one there, and sometimes a buddy will play for silver strikes on my card or I have played for the strikes using a collector's money at a time when he could not get to Vegas.
That is great play because basically the collector is just taking the coins that drop regardless of how much they cost. The casino makes money on the losses, but also makes money because the face value of the coins is not what it costs to mint them now that they are not made with real silver.
I don't play anything except on the days when I am there with the free rooms. Basically, I concentrate my VP bankroll and use it at the Four Queens to generate free weekend nights.
I would call and ask for the host line and just ask a host to give you an idea of how much play they are looking for on table games. They have always been straight with me on those questions, telling me how much more I should gamble if I want to get comped other than by promotional mailers.

Four Queens is the only place I play like that. I play a bit at the D but only have gotten 2 for 1 offers. There I play the 8/5 bonus poker when the progressives are high and a full pay nickle machine at other times. I like getting 4 nights at the D and then just rolling into the 4 Queens, thus having 7 nights in one area with little luggage hassle.
I am frugal about rooms and everything, but I am less likely these days to take two free nights from a place unless those are weekend nights. I have two at the orleans, but I'll probably add one more. I hate the check in and check out for only 2 nights and I am getting too old to be riding buses with 85 pounds of luggage. Downtown is easy. I just roll from place to place. In between 4 Queens I pay a cheap rate at the Gold Spike and stay 5 nights. This next trip I'm going to go out to the Eastside Cannery and pay for at least 5 nights there. I don't gamble enough for any free nights at either of those places.

 

My first trip to Vegas back in May we stayed at the Golden Nugget, I brought $5,000 with, 2nd day I hit $3,000 on a slot machine. I jumped around casinos downtown and played a night at the Cosmo, but a lot of my late night play was at the Golden Nugget. I ended up leaving around even, but they are now sending me offers of free play from $600-$1200 depending on the time of the month I go, with free rooms and food also. So IMO the Nugget gives out great offers, the only other offers I have from downtown are Golden Gate $75 free play and that was from about an hour of play there, so they probably have decent offers as well.

 

I receive monthly offers from Fremont and my typical bets are $10 at blackjack. My offers always include two (sometimes 3) free room nights & a $10 meal credit. I do give them (Boyd) quite a bit of my play - but regarding Boyd Group & comps? My points accumulate at all three casinos, but all of my free room offers are for Fremont... so, yeah - my play at MSS & Cal do count toward my 'comps'.

I also still get free room offers from golden gate & "theD"... never from the Nugget, and my Four Queens offers stopped a few years ago.

I've received free room offers from Plaza, but I know that was from my play at LVC (back when they had a two-deck game with DAS).
Have not received anything from them since my last trip in August.

 

In downtown I've gotten tons of freebies for a few hundred coin in a day and way shorter sessions of play. You must be used to the strip where they gouge gamblers lol. I prefer the rewards program from Boyd gaming because they treat me really well as a low roller. Boyd also has 3 casinos in downtown, all with great hotels and restaurants. They also have 4 great casinos in Vegas.

Most places require your adt to be at about $300-400. Remember that your daily is split between the days you stay. If you play a lot one day, you need to keep it up the other days so your adt stays the same.

If you don't have the money to play 15-25 per hand on the felt, about 60 times per hour I would suggest video poker. Sure you can do regular slots, but VP allows you to play longer on the same initial bankroll. I play 25c VP machines at max bet for about 4 hours per day of my trip. In their system it shows I play about $600 a day, but I never use more than $100 of my own cash. They count the bets placed, not wins or losses. The VP machine pays back 99percent of the time in the long run.

I get free room offers, match play, dining credits and discounts. I play a lot less than some table players. Boyd gaming takes great care of low rollers, stick to mainly one of their properties per visit though. Main Street has really nice staff, well appointed rooms, good VP pay tables and great food!!!

Learn video poker and you'll get more for your gambling buck.
http://wizardofodds.com/games/video-poker/

Good luck!

 

Dewey, thanks for the info. Yes I agree, if you put 5 to 6 grand through the machines I would also expect to get some comps, surprising that you aren't able to get some comped rooms when you call based on your play.

Gosh, if you have to wait for mailers for offers I won't expect anything for my play!


Topcard, how long do you play $10 bj to get comps? Do you spend a lot of hours playing? I heard that a player would need to at least put in 3 hours of play a day to get comps, do you play that long or longer on your vegas visits? Guess I fluctuate my bets from $5 to $20 (or more if the deck is rich) and hop around tables and don't play for hours and because of that I don't get rated very well to get any comps.

As for combining comps at the boyd properties, I apologize, your play at all the boyd properties can be used towards your total boyd comps. I just wasn't sure if your play at the MSS and Cal (still not sure) would also help in you qualifying for free nights at the Fremont, I was thinking that you were getting free nights at the Fremont based more on your play at the Fremont than your total play at MSS, Cal and Fremont. That's why I thought it would be best to put the bulk of your play at one casino to qualify for free nights. Any other boyd patrons care to comment on getting free nights by playing at multiple boyd properties? Has anyone spoken to a host and got this information about getting free nights by playing at multiple casinos? Of course I know if you gamble big enough (or long enough) you should be able to get comps all over, but if you only play $10 bj and spread them out between the 3 downtown boyd casinos if a player could still get free night offers.

Sorry, hope I'm not coming across as too obnoxious but I am curious as to what I have to do to qualify for free nights, seems that others have an easier time getting the offers so I was wondering what needs to be done to get the offers if you are a "small time" gambler.

 

Can you give some more information about what games you were playing and at what denominations? This will help people see if they should expect the same comps, thanks.

 

To answer your question about Boyd downtown Casinos. You do have to concentrate on mainly one casino to get direct mail and web offers automatically. Your club points and ADT will increase at all of them.

You don't need a ton of cash to get some good freebies. Check out my last post, I explained how on that post.

If your confused about what ADT means, check this link out. http://www.hundredblackout.com/?page_id=842

Good luck!

 

Sorry, Yes I play strictly penny slots but max bet so thats usually $3-$5 or I occasionally play $5 Pinball so a $10 bet. I would say an average day I would cycle atleast a $1000 of my own money through machines, some days a little more some a little less, but that is probably showing them over 30k coin in coin out.