Natedog Long Live TR 1/12 - 2/16

This is the time of year when I do my "longer" trip to Vegas, because it usually spans Super Bowl and Chinese New Year.

This year the plan is to hit Wynn, CP, Cosmo, and Palazzo.

Why no MGM properties? Let me explain how they've lost a customer permanently.

After the last disastrous trip to the MGM, where they took away my private table mid-day, and lowered my credit line for no apparent reason, I naturally wanted assurances if I was to return. I asked the local country office host what the new policies regarding promotional chips were, and they delayed telling me until a week before my trip.

The old policy for MGM casinos is you get 2% promo chips at each casino based upon your highest rated play for that year. This is an once a year promotion and they usually give it out in November. So for instance if your highest rating was 250k theo points (1m level) on a trip to the Bellagio in May of 2012, you would get 20k in promo chips for the Bellagio in November 2012 before you even started playing.

Since this is based upon the previous year's play, it is a recurring draw for customers who have good loyalty and go back repeatedly to the same casinos. This year, the policy has changed to giving you the promo chips once you hit the rating for the current trip, therefore wiping out your loyalty for basically the entire 2012 year.

Another development is they've lowered my betting again. If you had read my previous report, my betting was lowered from 175k/hand to 70k/hand. I try to maximize my airfare rebates that's why I usually stop play at one casino once I hit 125k theo (500k line), which gives about 22k worth of airfare. The next level is 250k theo (1m line), which only gives 50% more, or 33k worth of airfare. So it really makes more sense to leave at 125k theo.

This year they lowered my betting limit to 35k/hand (500k) level because they've reviewed my action and realize that I would only play to 500k line at the MGM before jumping to Bellagio, and so on....

It is their casino group and they can do whatever they want, but since there are much better deals out there at their competitors, why should I stay at the MGM. I've noticed a reduction in their quality in terms of customer service, room cleanliness, player treatment, so will take my action elsewhere.

Thanks for putting up with this semi-rant, I will now continue with the TR.

The first stop will be the Wynn/Encore, have 175k betting limit there, plan on playing Craps, Baccarat, and Roulette. Why Roulette this time? I read Beejay's report and got all excited on 17....which is also my favorite heavy betting number along with 20.

Hopefully this will be a fun trip!

 

I hope you the best on your trip---I always enjoy reading your posts daily

 

Looking forward to hearing about your adventures. A month? Wow! I'm going to be out there in a couple of weeks as well. Would love to say hi for a second if you're playing on the main floor somewhere. I think its a shame what MGM is doing to you and their other big players. They really seem to be actively discouraging the biggest players and heading towards the CET model of focusing more and more on smaller players who can provide a lot of churn over frequent trips.

Good luck and rip them a new one!

 

Travel safe and have a great time! My wife and I will be there 2/15 - 2/20 at CP - I'll be playing in the World Series of Poker circuit Main Event. Maybe we'll run into you at the craps table your last 1-2 days there.

Can't wait to hear more about your trip!
TRN

 

No better way to start 2013 then with an exciting TR from Natedog!

Hope you win big time! And please don't forget some pictures.

PS Any special reason for choosing the cosmo again?

 

It's disappointing but not all that surprising what MGM has done to you considering all the dumb ass changes they've made over the last year or so.

Ever thought of trying out Red Rock or Green Valley Ranch? No idea what kind of action they would take but Red Rock is super nice if you're looking for a change of pace.

Im sad to say we'll miss you on both ends of your trip. We are leaving town this weekend and coming back 2/23 for a concert. Maybe I can talk the wife into letting me make a short stop for an afternoon of craps. I hit the All Tall / All Small / All or Nothing bet yesterday and thought of you. I never played it before but after reading your recent TR I decided to. I only had $3 on each but that turned out to be a sweet $700+ win!

 

Not a rant at all, Natedogg.

I think it applies at any level of play, don't get married to a property. You have to evaluate what you are getting for your money.

It's a different world for me in terms of budget, but that's why I'm downtown. The rules changed on the strip, and I wasn't getting anywhere near the level of comps I once got on the strip for the same play.

My goal is pretty much cheap/free vacations, so the room comps and food comps downtown make this possible.

I think people should carefully evaluate level of play vs what they get for it but that's just the way I think - I love to get something for 'nothing'... not really nothing but you know.

Welcome back, very excited to read another natedogg live report!!!!

Best of luck, Go git 'em!

 

Oh boy oh boy! Beeejay is going to have a half-chub when he sees this.

 

Sweet! Gonna be the best thread of the year and its only January.

 

My anniversary is January 13th, and ironically being able to read this instead of argue with my wife the next month will probably save my marriage, thanks Natedog for the excellent anniversary gift!



Can't say I'm shocked to hear about MGM situation. I've enjoyed many flame wars on the boards of late with the MGM teet-sucking shills. It should say something to the impartial observers when both bookends of the gambling spectrum have sworn off one casino company. The recurrent theme of the pro-MGM lobby seems to be that they are doing what is best for their business as is their right. Of course this assumes they are not just a hot fucking mess like my wife, throwing away the chocolaty cookies of the Oreo and only eating the cream in the middle to justify skipping the treadmill.

I'm glad they won't see a dime of your money Natedog.

I'm really excited to hear about the roulette victories.

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Priapism

 

Damn, the stuff you can learn on VMB:evillaugh

 

This is going to be awesome. Fact.

Don't blame you one bit natedog for telling MGM where to go. Take your play where you feel valued.

 

Good luck Natedog

Beeeejay thanks for a new word. How the heck do you know that word?

Does Caesar's Palace have any staue of Priapus? I suppose not since Caesar was Roman and Priapus is Greek. Hmmm, maybe one of the stores in the Forums is related to this. Longchamp has to be the store, sells handbags in the Forum Shoppes at Caesars.

 

This is like a late Christmas present - a natedogg trip report leading to the very day I arrive in Vegas (2/16).

May the dice be prosperous.

Dare you to go to MGM and place a $5 bet on red!! Just to show how much business they are missing out on!

 

Gaggles and I actually work as stunt men in the adult film industry. This issue"comes up" quite often at work. I do anticipate the next question, so I'll go ahead and say "yes, it is a little embarrasing doing stunt doubles in midget porn as a full sized person". But its a tough economy, gotta take work where you can get it.

Sorry for the hijack. My Wynn offer had been wearing a hole in my pocket but thanks to Nate I can sit back and enjoy live gambling from the comfort of the Sizzler buffet......back to the real show.....

 

number 13 on roulette...im just sayin!!!
your trip reports are awesome!
best of luck!

 

Subscribed and thanks to the good captain and BeeJay another embarrassing google search lurking in my browsing history.

 

Ditto!!!

 

Odd times

Nice Natedog

Might cross paths Wynn, will be there for Bdays & S-Bowl.
This trip, I might pick up the Bones & roll the stones again, for me it's
a Gota feel it thing & table vibe.

Too bad at the downturn of hospitality for you at MGM.

I've read an off site Article, discussing the hostility toward Asian players &
their Interpretation of "social engineering".

This is part of the problem w/a Lack of a good competitive enviornment on the strip, between casinos for players action.
Since basically 2 Companies control 80%+ of the strip, CET & MGM.

http://www.worldgameprotection.com/the-catwalk/casino-ology/BOSVIEW/The-Present-Threat-to-Table-Games-Social-Engineering/

Hell Nate, go to "M" they will probably treat you like a "Sun god" there.
Viva Natedog + epic trips!!!!