Video poker bar comp drink update April 2017

CW's can avoid someone a lot easier than a bar tender. It is unfortunate that stuff changes but things are always changing and I think this ongoing bar top/vp/comp drink issue is going to go on forever. Like I said my wife and I play and don't have a problem and won't so good luck and hope things go better for you...................Rick

 

@DonnyC have you personally had a negative experience with the new systems yet or are all of your responses conjecture? Just curious. It seems that besides a few malfunctioning machines most of the actual VP players have had very few instances when they couldn't get a drink.

To me it just seems like a lot of concern about a very small problem.

 

Fair question.

I have not yet played them.

However, if recent history is an indicator of future events...we can assume that this will become pervasive, and will not be to the customers advantage. Like someone mentioned earlier in this thread, to get drinks you will have to play aggressively and drink recreationally - and those were the words from the mouth of the bar tender.

 

EXACTLY. CET has had the bar top lights on my last 2 or 3 trips, getting a comped drink has never been a problem, and I am not a speed demon. Like others have pointed out, the lights are there to thwart those who put in a $20 when the bartender is looking, then cash out and walk when they get their drink.

And if you do want to take breaks to socialize or watch a game, that's fine! Once your drink is low, just rip thru 6 or 8 hands in a minute to turn your light green, order a comped drink, and carry on.

And if that STILL isn't satisfactory, then go play at one of the hundreds of machines on the floor where there is no light system. Pretty simple.

 

So the guy beating his drum the loudest in this thread actually has zero personal experience with the new systems? LMAO.

 

The guy beating the drum the loudest has LOTS OF experiences with these types of changes in Vegas. LMAO

 

If you don't like the changes, don't go. If Vegas stops comping drinks and rooms to players at my level, I'll stop going.

Or, if you want your voice to be heard, write to the casino executives. Not sure what you think bitching and moaning on a message board is going to accomplish.

 

Writing a casino will go very little.

Making others knowledgeable of how this plays out long term MIGHT cause others to reconsider playing certain types of VP...thus making the changes disappear.

That's the logic, and you can disagree with the thought process...but now you know.

 

I don't really play that much video poker unless I am watching a soccer or NFL game. Planning on watching the final few games of the premier league when I am in Vegas and love sitting at the bars having a drink and a leisurely game of VP.

If I don't play enough to warrant a few free drinks no big deal I'll just buy a couple or my wife will send me one across as she will be getting plenty on the slots no doubt.

 

More SUCKERS the merrier. They can put that light or ticket system where the sun dont shine. I dont need no stinkin system telling me how i should bet with my money. Bartender just do your job and get me a drink. Just like everyone else gets in the casino.

 

It seems to me that the system they have at Cosmo is the tightest. I played at Ballys, PH, NYNY, Aria and others on our last trip and was able to get my drinks, as and when, no problem. But at Cosmo, 20 minutes between drinks isn`t going to cut it.
And as far as stopping people sitting down and putting in their $20, getting a drink and leaving, this system does nothing to stop that.
If I sit at a bar to play, yes I have come to expect a free drink. I tip pretty well, and I would like to get my next drink when I`m ready for it, not when my machine spits a ticket out.

 

We played at Cosmo's sports bar last weekend for several hours and just couldn't keep up with the tickets. at one point, our group would order shots with our drinks to burn up a couple of tickets at a time, but we still ended up with 2 more tickets each left over to use in the next 24 hours.

 

Over several hours, if one every 20 minutes isn't enough, I pity that person's tolerance. I think mine is bad enough.

But if you're totally sober and what l want to get off to a quick start, cosmo's system sucks. Also sucks for me unless I have "buddies" with me.

Here was the gap between tickets that I personally earned. 53 minutes of very slow max quarter play.

 

A couple of "take aways" here. these "drink ticket" policies were put into place as people were abusing the system by walking up to a bar, putting in a $20, playing 1 hand when the bartender was looking and then cashing out when they got there drink (we have all done it).

Remember, there are a limited amount of machines at these bars and the casino and bartenders are there to make money so they would like those machines to be filled with people who are playing. As tring stated, if you are playing even a slow pace at the quarter level you are going to have more tickets than you can drink.

Also, remember that it is always in your best interest to get to know these bartenders. The bars I play at (primarily Flamingo & Bally's, downtown at the 4 queens) the bartenders have been there for a very long time and they will actually remember you (and what you drink!). when you first sit down, just ask them what there drink policy is (doesn't hurt to have slide a $5 or $10 bill there way) - they will explain it to you and probably even joke about it. I play very often near the Bally's bar and when most people sit down the bartenders will explain how their light system works. Play as you normally would play, and tip the bartender and you shouldn't have any problems.

 

Even with the new system you still can walk up put a 20 in get a comped drink the first one only. Cash out walk away. This is what you call price gouging your play.

 

FYI. Drink tickets are only good for 2 hours after time of issuance at Cosmo.

 

The bartenders at Cosmo will take them up to 24 hours after they are issued.

 

I don't know that the cashing out right after you get your drink was the biggest concern. Bar tenders make a good portion of their income off tips and the more drinks they serve the more tips they get. Before the light system I was told the rule of $20 buy in then max bet and we give you a drink right away and then another one every 20 min or so. I go back to the same bar later in the day or the next day and the bar tender is getting me another drink every 5 min if I can drink it that fast since I am tipping a $1 every time. Some bar tenders followed the rules others did not and it and would get rewarded an extra 50% to doubling how much they make in tips. So if you can still get a drink ticket every 20 min at most places the rule has not changed it is just getting enforced better.

 

Fiji waters to go for the room!

 

Those poor casinos are getting killed by them greedy gamblers, the horror!