The Vegas Slice, in 3 ways. What is Your Slice?

This is the Vegas slice, in 3 year periods....

(1) We have the first Vegas slice from 2007- 2009

(1) This period begins in 2007 when Vegas could do no wrong with changing gambling payouts (6:5 BJ, downgrade VP, ALONG WITH Corporate take over of the Vegas Strip) to Corporate board members losing their shirts in the Board Rooms in 2009 after the GREAT RESSESSION!!!!!

(2) We have the second Vegas slice from 2010 - 2012

(2) This is the period of testing the market, to see if CORPORATE Vegas can rebound. And they did!!! So they continued their plan to dismantle Customer gaming margins that was disrupted in 2008-2009. The Strip gaming payouts continue to decline to record levels!!!! TRUE TO TODAY!

But....... with so many states opening up gambling, to survive, they have to change.

(3) We are now in the third slice..... 2013- 2015.

(3) It is all about dropping huge $$, and it appears it is working. I do not know how this is working, but it is working!!

I do not know where 3rd slice Vegas is getting their spending $$$$ customers from, but it is working!!!

Celeb Chiefs, Mega Clubs with Mega Bottle service, Day Clubs with the same spending.
Gambling attention going down, along with 91% Dollar Slots, mid 80% quarters, and pennies down the absolute minimum required by Vegas Regulations, really... OUCH!

And people are flocking to Vegas with Big Bucks... Where are all the people with Big Bucks coming from....?????

Anyways ....

We have some time before the 3rd slice ends in 2015.

What are your opinions of Vegas by the end of the 3rd slice?

1) Who are their market people they want to keep?
2) And the ones they don't want anymore?

This is the New Vegas that we all want, and love.......

 

The fact is if I want to just gamble I don't have to go to Vegas so they are making the right move with their bottle service, clubs, dayclubs, annnnd the gambling.

Right now, I can't get everything altogether in one spot like Vegas.

Since "the change" I've been to Vegas 3 times (twice in 2013 and got married there in Nov) and plan to go 2 more times this year.

 

But we are from the East Coast, and it cost Big time for Airfare.

$400 per couple from the east coast, along with the best gambling odds made the $400 trip worth it back in 2002.

Today, it is $800-900 in airfare alone. And the Vegas Strip is no better than the same gaming odds offered in Biloxi, at 1/3 the flight cost.

I'm not trying to down play Vegas at all.. EXCEPT give me a reason to go now.

Biloxi paid crap, and $400 PER COUPLE to Vegas, with best gambling, justified the airfare to Vegas!

Today, $800-900 airfare to Vegas, and Vegas Strip now has the same gambling odds as Biloxi. In other words, Crappy Biloxi is the same in gaming odds as Vegas.

So why spend the airfare from the East Coast for the same crappy payoff?

Answer is, YOU must be near Vegas.... And travel expenses are cheaper.

My point is.....

In the past, we paid Airfare, for Vegas was better Gaming, Period!!!

Today, Vegas Strip is no better than Biloxi, and food is soooooooo expensive in Vegas.

Today, Airlines, and extra charges, it is expensive to just to get to Vegas.

And once we get there, what is Vegas doing, to make our expensive trip worth it?

Expensive Food Courts, and Expensive food period. (Except Earl of Sandwich at PHo)


I mean, come on...... SHARE (as in Split) a Burger and onion rings + drink + tip and tax is $30 at Gordon Ram Burger
or Paris, or BLT Burger at Mirage, or Harrah's Burger joint = $30, and that is sharing. You both want a burger = $50.

Come on!!! And lets do a $15 Milkshake... Come onnnn! Really?

They want the Big Buck people from California, or abroad.

Vegas has turned their back on the Southeast people... :evillaugh

Yep, they have.. :Þ

Soooooo California, they are your best friend now!

Keep the cash Cow flowing.

 

Vegas is great for me because since that 3rd slice, I've been 3 times and will hit 2 more times this year.

This is in part due to the bottle service/club/dayclub stuff. I can just gamble here but only in Vegas can I have shows, clubs, drinking in public, and gambling with all of it in high quantity and close proximity to each other. Add retail (if that's your thing, not mine).

Vegas has diversified to survive. The problem is that Vegas can go from diversification to saturation.

The big bucks come from regular folk like myself shifting their vacay dollars to Vegas versus somewhere else and in the process gambling away from their home state. Also international shopping....from what I've read.
Things like EDC introduce newer, younger crowds to Vegas every year which will come back other than EDC.

 

I said this in your OTHER thread....

Vegas is great for me because since that 3rd slice, I've been 3 times and will hit 2 more times this year.

This is in part due to the bottle service/club/dayclub stuff. I can just gamble here but only in Vegas can I have shows, clubs, drinking in public, and gambling with all of it in high quantity and close proximity to each other. Add retail (if that's your thing, not mine).

Vegas has diversified to survive. The problem is that Vegas can go from diversification to saturation.

The big bucks come from regular folk like myself shifting their vacay dollars to Vegas versus somewhere else and in the process gambling away from their home state. Also international shopping....from what I've read.
Things like EDC introduce newer, younger crowds to Vegas every year which will come back other than EDC.
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You think solely in a gambling numbers mentality and if all you come to Vegas for is gambling and you are complaining about the numbers, why are you coming to Vegas?

I don't come to Vegas just to gamble and I'm in the DC area. Airfare has run $600 or lower for a couple total. I found airfare in June for less than that.

I also don't care to come to Vegas 6 times a year like many on here but I'm sure they are closer and even driving distance. I like the Caribbean, Florida, and even some closer spots like Deep Creek Lake.

 

Vegas is staying alive via So-Cal as well as Foreign Tourists (stronger dollar vs the US $)
I never really was a "strip" person...but I don't even like Downtown now (too boring; like Reno)
OffStrip is where it's at (Orleans, is my fave).

 

Hey, It is all good, no fights here.

I'm just trying to understand My Vegas is kicking me out, and wants a New different client.

I just don't understand where all the money is coming from, in such a younger age group.

For the New Vegas is targeting the Young.

And the Young do not have the money the New Vegas is after...

How does this work? :confused2:

Does the new Vegas think the Young will blow their future?

Yep, I Think the new Vegas is betting the Young are going to blow their future away in the "Live Now" Mentality.

Corporate America is now raping our Youth! SAD, and Horrible!!!

 

As far as giving you a better reason to go to vegas, outside of base pure gambling, I have been comparing different vacations recently as we are big time cruisers and comparing going to Vegas to similar level of comfort vacations via a Cruise/all inclusive I found that to take a cruise from say Miami, (we live in NJ), we had to fly, ( albeit a bit cheaper flight), then had to have a hotel room for one night so as not to fly in the same day as the cruise. When I added that expense to an additional two meals, dinner and breakfast, along with transport to the ship, along with the cost of the cruise, in a room that was not nearly as nice as what we get in vegas, nor food nearly as good even when we paid extra for their specialty restaurant, along with gaming with some really bad pay-tables, included shows that were poor to mediocre and pay shows that were not much better, and even adding in getting to the beaches on the islands as a plus for cruising, Vegas was by far a better option money wise/entertainment wise/gambling wise.

When I compare Vegas to Atlantic City, ( we are 45 mins drive away), to me there is no comparison outside of the middle of summer between Vegas and AC. We like to stay over in AC and walk the boardwalk and use the beach in the summer or even other times of the year, but comparing the rooms, bars for VP access at all hours, and general vibe regardless of gambling odds which are the same, AC while cheaper by a mile, offers nothing of entertainment value that I find in Vegas. While I can walk from casino to casino in AC on the boardwalk, it is no comparison to walking the strip in vegas on a nice day, except for July and August when the boardwalk is in its glory and the beach is right there. While the restaurants in AC are getting better, I do not find them much cheaper at places like Borgata or Revel than a similar place in Vegas.

So in a long winded way, I know what you are saying about airfare and perceived value of Vegas, however looking critically at the above two options for us, we found Vegas is on the whole equal at worst, and much better total entertainment for us compared to a Cruise or staying in AC, (each of which have their pluses, but in whole fall short for us).

I suggest making a list of all the things you like about vegas and all the things you like about other places value wise and seeing if your perceptions are true about the value you receive. It may be that the things you like to do are not the best value wise in vegas compared to other places, but a similar comparison as I did to Cruising and A/C and the Atlantis in the Bahamas, might shed more light and put vegas in a better light to you.

Either way I hope you enjoy whatever ends up working for you! Happy New Years to everyone again!!

 

For some that live in Cheap distance to Vegas, it is all go, and many times a year.

We would big time. That would be our thing.. But we can't, for airfare is expensive for the same crappy payouts we can find anywhere close to home.

So for Us, the "DRAW" is gone.

Vegas used to have a "DRAW". Best Gambling, food, cheap shows.

Now everything is all Mega Bucks in Vegas.

All I'm saying is the NEW VEGAS has a NEW DRAW. And for $800-900 airfare, from the east coast, we are not feeling the NEW VEGAS DRAW.

So the Draw has to be coming from Cal.

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And it makes sense....

We live in Florida, and have 4 major ports, all within 30 -120 -210 - 240 minutes drive. We have opportunity to Cruise, and West Coast has access to Vegas.

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What I am saying here is.....

Us ... Florida, had a reason to go to Vegas, and we gave up our cheap cruises to go to Vegas. Yea Vegas!
But Now, it cost us Big time in Airfare, and Vegas is all about Big Bucks when we get there, Booo!

WE ARE MORE THAN HAPPY, to give up our cheap cruises to go to Vegas.

But you have to give us a DRAW, to go. We just don't see the New Vegas wanting to give us a DRAW, anymore. They used to, but not now.

So WHAT IS THE DRAW to bring people from the Southeast, to the New Vegas?

And please do not tell me it is for the crappy gaming Odds, the over priced food, or the pretty people you can see.

 

Opps and Big Time apology to above poster..

I got into a rave, and included the above post, where it was not merit

Sorry!!!!

 

This question had been brought up before and is always interesting. I find it fascinating the differences in what drives people to and away from LV. I began going to LV in 2010 with my then wife. She hated the busyness and the anonymous feel LV left her with. I obviously loved it! We gambled very moderately, my VP her some slots. We both won money, its my second luckiest trip to date. My then wife did enjoy the shows and the concert we went too, so there was something to keep her interested, she had found some things we could not do in our home state.............and that leads me to my reason for going again and again.


I am a very small time gambler, just don't overly enjoy risking money. I can afford too, but I see the dollars spend as those that could go towards my Harley or gun collection. I do not mind spending money on partying or good entertainment however. So our trips consist of little gambling, but lots of drinking, shows, pool parties and sight seeing. I have been to almost all the marquee cities in the country and have never found all together in one spot like in LV.

I too wonder where the young get the $$$$??? I also wonder how long the new party theme can last before other locales take a bite out that as they have done gambling. A lot of what appeals to me about LV is we always do a day trip to see the desert. I love the dry atmosphere and the scenery, I don't imagine the kids care about this. I also enjoy the sports gambling, that is what I do mostly nowadays. We have casinos in my state, but cannot bet on sports. Me and a buddy are going to LV Superbowl weekend, the big draw is we can bet on UFC on Sat. night and the "Big Game" on Sunday.

I do wonder if this will get old with me, I turn 40 in March. I drink and party less and less each year. I do very much just enjoy the atmosphere of LV, I don't think that will get old for quite awhile. I think LV is smart to diversify and try to be more to more people. There will always be a place for the hardcore gambler.

 

We all fall out of love once in awhile, its normal and it's ok. You've made up your mind that it's too expensive to come out and you are looking for others to validate your feelings. However, VMB may not be the best forum to get agreement to your "dark side" view.

I worked a trade show in October on my dime, I flew on Spirit for about $220 Round trip and stayed at the Riviera for $19 per night for three nights and $36 for the last night as I had a red eye back. Also stayed Saturday night at the Super 8 adjacent to Ellis Island for $80. Had a sausage burrito and tall coffee at McD's across the street a few days for a cheap $2 breakfast, much cheaper than the fare at the convention center. Free wifi too. Beers at the Riv were $1 or $2. Had some cheap brews at Ellis Island too and wished I didn't get in so late.

I could go on and on about how to visit Mecca on the skinny, there is a forum on VMB about frugal travel. There are folks willing to trade coupons, there are the ACG and LVA books that you could buy.

I'm not sure if you gamble or have any casino loyalty cards, but for minimal play at the Riviera and at Excalibur, I already have several offers for free or reduced rates. I just looked at my total rewards account and have several free days at some of CET's lower end properties like the Quad or Rio. I could probably string together 7 nights for less than $200. Try that in Florida.

Sorry, but I'm not buying what you're sellin'. If you want to talk expensive, how about 6 nights in Miami Beach and Key West, Florida around Easter for a family of four. Flights, rental car, hotels......it was grab my ankles the whole trip, but it was worth it as my wife and daughters said it was their best vacation ever.

Where there's a will there's a way, you just need the desire to make it happen.

 

It is a personal thing.

No equation satisfies everyone.

Most of it has to do with disposable income. If there is a set amount for the trip I see the point---used to be 400 but now 800 which obviously takes 400 from other areas of the budgeted trip to just arrive at the stoop. You either have to increase your vacation budget or remain static, take less or not go at all. Your (or my) disposable income amount does not affect any decisions made by those flying from the east coast or Alaska.

Vegas is looking a bit like the airlines; sorta. Airfares for our trips to Vegas are higher than ever on the surface. You really have to search for a deal to bring down the cost. But the airplane was packed. We went from Dec. 25 returning the 31st. Prices have certainly gone up across the board whether looking at menus or gambling odds. But it was crowded at most venues.

And airlines know this (apparently) as we can fly to NYC or Baltimore which seems as far from Texas as LV but is much cheaper if dates are flexible. Like the price of gasoline, it goes up and if the consumption stays high so does the price. The market is driven by what we will accept and that changes as we grow older and income and taste change.

 

They want to keep everyone, the gamblers both high and low rollers, the shoppers, the partiers. They all contribute to the bottom line.

Vegas doesn't change dramatically, it changes incrementally. For the most part Vegas will stay the course over the next few years with the exception of the High Roller opening and the SLS opening.

Vegas has always had a reliance on the Cali visitors - that's one thing that has stayed the same. Maybe the demographics of the Cali visitor has slightly changed, but they are still coming in mass.

Why should you go? That has to come from within, only you can answer that. You can compare it to other options, but it the only gambling mecca in the US and it's the most unique city in the world.

Cheers.

 

We have not given up on Vegas. We will be there in May.

What troubles us... is..... Our May visit will probably be our last for a long time as long as this new version of Vegas stays in play.

And that is a painful thought. But a necessary one for the direction of Vegas today, is not one of value, but one of blowing money.

We have also discovered having loyalty cards in the machines alter the total outcome.

Yes, you read that right. This has been debated before, and it comes down to a personal choice. So we do not stick it, and no comps.

But we win more, just our observations. And I have a programming/server/hardware background.
So I know they can do it, and our play has proved it.

And you will do as you do for free rooms and comps. Do not even ask me to prove it, for you cannot make a horse drink. We have tried...

We are happy to pay our way. But come-on... Vegas MGM just opened up their food court, and a single scoop at Hagen-daz is $8.95.

Cruise ships are also rip off for ice cream, but not like that.. Vegas, Really?

So do what works for you. We will miss the strip, but Zip lining in Roatan is cool also.

 

I only quoted part of your response, but I will try and make a better more descriptive reasoning why we have cruised a bit less and plan on cruising even less compared to going to Vegas the same number of time, since you live in Florida and that seems to be your best option.

We travel to see sights, have decent meals, ( not always 5 star but Gran Lux and such type of meals along with a meal at a place such as Prime once a trip etc), Gamble, and either have pool access or a day or so at the beach.

We cruised out of New York on NCL's new ship the breakaway, in their haven suite area. No airfare was needed as we drove. Comparing the casino to 90 % of the casinos in Vegas for Gambling Odds, one would have to be delusional to think they are getting a better gamble on a Cruise ship. Unlike land casinos they usually have no regulation so who knows what beyond the 6-5 payouts on VP they are doing.

We saw their production of Rock of Ages and comparing it to the Venetians show, even with the Cruise Lines including that show in the cruise fare, we would have preferred $50 less in fare than to see the show again, especially after having seen such a fine performance in Vegas of the same show, again no comparison in value between the two.

The pools on just about any cruise ship are laughable to say the least, and while Vegas pools can and do get crazy busy, I have not been to one where I did not have plenty of personal space to float or swim a bit except during the extreme middle of the afternoon once in a while. Again given cruise ship pools mostly nothing more than oversized bathtubs, no comparison.

Food for most cruises is included in the fare, however, if you have noticed much of the quality have degraded, ( as referenced on message boards that I am not sure I can quote but search for them), to the point where many Cruise lines have some many added fee restaurants that while less extra cost than a nice meal in Vegas, we found are not comparable in quality. Less of a no brainer as food is subjective, but at worst an equal value between the two.

Rooms, are again subject to a point, however the "suite" we were in on the Breakaway, measured at best just over 250 square feet with a balcony of 56 square feet. More than large enough for me and the wife, however for the price and comparing to some standard rooms in vegas there again is, in our opinion, outside of the views of the passing sea, another plus for Vegas and land based resorts in general.

Drinks on a ship are in most instances not free and while quality in vegas for comped drinks can be argued, paying $11 for a martini or $9 for a rum and coke, is definitely comparable to cost in Vegas, so given the comped drinks available in Vegas, this is again at worst a tie and more than not a better option in Vegas.

When we returned we calculated the total cost of the cruise trip with no Airfare, and even accounting for the beach day at their private Island and a day at the atlantis in the bahamas, ( which cost a good penny for the excursion), we could have had two trips to vegas including the airfare and most of our gambling money included.

So while you may be able to shave costs off a cruise, saying Vegas has no value any longer, really is not taking a hard look at other things out there I believe. Could we cruise cheaper and not spend as much on the cruise? Sure, but so could we in Vegas including finding cheaper airfare.

It maybe you have lost your taste for the things Vegas has to offer, but comparing similar items with other venues, shows, at least in my looking, that Vegas compares favorably in many areas, but I freely admit that there are areas that can be a turnoff, just like cruising and all inclusive's have things that are not ideal for certain people.

Definitely not trying to argue with you, just providing some real world comparisons we have witnessed first hand and compared to hopefully offer some backup to why I believe there is value in Vegas.

On a quick side note, on two separate cruises which included a stop at Roatan, the weather prevented the ship from docking and we had excursions to Mahogony Bay which we never experienced yet so that is up on the list to go back to.

 

And a ton of folks will gladly pay for that, but I would choose to go to Walgreens and a buy a pint. Cones are way over rated. For every tale of an outrageous price, there is an alternative, it's all about how we choose to spend our individual travel budget and I've never been on one place with so many choices ranging from a $1 burrito to $215 for a tasting menu at some French joint.

But one thing can't be substituted, and that's bottle service at a club, I must have somewhere to sit after I disco down, so $1500 for a 750 ml bottle of Grey Goose is acceptable.

 

I've often wondered where the money comes from also. I see the prices of the restaurants, the shows, and the shopping and wonder who can afford it? There's a lot of it, so someone is buying.....

 

My three Vegas slices are:

Phase I 1991-1999: First trip was just after the Mirage opened. Played mostly blackjack and had a profitable Vegas decade. Went about twice every three years, mostly stayed at Harrah's due to riverboat comps.

Phase II 2000-2007: Mega resorts replaced most of the older (non CET) properties. Blackjack conditions became worse, favorite casinos closed (Stardust & Desert Inn) and new favorites opened (Wynn). Live Poker became big and profitable. Mirage and Wynn had plenty of good limit action w/ tourists.

Phase II 2008-2014: Began this period hitting Vegas 3-6 times a year due to free/cheap flights and easy comps. Vegas bounced back the past two years and the easy comps dried up. Switched a lot of my action to VP (exposed to VP based on registering here), trying to limit it to the best machines on a go forward.

My BJ comps are just about dried up, so this play is hit and run. Without the CET free-rolls, I am down to live poker tournament play at Bally's, PHo and sit n gos at The Mirage (the Wynn and Mirage limit games are non existent / little action). I have also used Vegas as the base for exploring the Western US, staying and playing 1-2 days on the way in/out. I'm back down to 1-2 trips per year, landing in the middle of frequency between Phase I and Phase 2.

Still enjoy gambling, drinking and having a good time with friends and family during all three slices. I've evolved over the years just like Vegas. My gambling has changed as conditions changed. I stopped gambling locally before Phase II. I bet less, my trips are less stressful and more enjoyable. I learned playing for comps is a very expensive way to pay for hotels. It's best to play as you wish, let comps fall as they may, and pay for rooms to save money is the best route.

I'm sure Vegas will change as time rolls on and hopefully I will continue to change, evolve and enjoy what Vegas has to offer, regardless of the current Phase.

 

Being single helps alot! I have no wife or kids, very low cost of living, and have a decent job. I also just got done paying off my car and a student loan so that's an extra $400 a month right there all for Vegas fun if I choose.