Normally on my 2 trips a year I have a bankroll of at least $10k. This christmas it's going to be around $3-4k as I've had other recent priorities. (actually nearer $5k when you include freeplay) I have 3 nights at Wynn (Tower Suite + $200 per night FB and $1000 FP + 2 show tickets) and 2 nights at Cosmo (Terrace suite + $300 food +$745 FP). I also have rooms at casino rates for my mother. I'm mainly a slot player and with the larger bankroll play a lot of high limit slots, which usually means handpays and a decent coin in. This year I could blow my reduced bankroll in a couple of hours if I play like that, so I need to come up with a new strategy. Ideally, I'd like to keep my rating at Wynn as the offers are decent and regular - not so bothered about Cosmo. Will playing longer hours at lower bets work? Less chance of handpays but should accumulate the points. Max bet on penny machines rather than the larger demons I usually play maybe. Going to take a bit of willpower to ignore the HL room at Wynn.
It should work. I have had handpays outside the Wynn HL room. If you want to put in the time, an periodically walk from Wynn to Encore and back, you should be able to do it.
When you play in high limit, are you playing things like $5 per coin reel slots? If you are then you can try to grind $1 coin reel slots then (but not Megabucks). You could also do max bet pennies, but the reel machines typically give you more of your money back. Even though I love the game, I wouldn't recommend trying something like playing VP to make your money last longer. Takes a lot more coin in to get similar comps with VP.
Mostly videos rather than reels. The 100 line $1 Bombay at $100 a spin has had a good share of my business, but mostly I play around $20 a spin on $1 slots. Giving more time to reels is a good idea. I rarely play VP.
Wynn has quite a few multi denim (.25, .50, $1) machines that have 30 to 50 credit minimum bets. They can provide a lot of play and coin in. You could change the denomination based on how well the machine is paying and maybe stretch your bankroll that way.
Irmster I am probably planning your same strategy next trip also. Sick of blowing through bankroll each trip with nothing to show on the last couple. gonna get checks for any damn handpays so I can atleast take those home.
For slots, longer play at lower limits vs shorter play at high limits - I doubt it matters much. In the end, it is coin in that they track. The exception would be someone that plays the really high machines and is done in minutes - think $100-$500 slots. Those damn W-2s are costing me money, so I try to avoid anything over $10 a pull. I used to play higher, but between giving it all back, the tax implications, I try to avoid them (not always successful)
I just had a friend come back from Vegas where he had a comped room at the Wynn. He stays there a couple of times a year, has a host there and usually gets offers of room, $800 freeplay and food credit. This time he only asked for the room as he was taking a smaller bankroll. I'm A CET girl so not sure how the points work on a red card but over 3 days he put 25,000 points on his card and they wouldn't comp $450 worth of food he'd charged to the room, and his host is on vacation. When he checked in he was also given a letter advising that he was entitled to the buffet for 2 people, and to just charge it to the room and it would be cleared at check out. The host he saw in the HL room didn't even want to comp that, even though he had the letter telling him it was free. She told him they expect you to put 5,000 points on a day just to cover the room comp. He's emailed his host to see if he's willing to do anything but he says he was treated like crap and probably won't go back. I'll update when he hears back from his host.
I have a similar situation where I will do several trips with a 10-15K bankroll and a few trips with a 5K bankroll. I split my play by staying at CET properties on my 5K trips and at MGM Mirage Properties on my 10-15K trips. I did stay at Cosmo 3-4 times on my lower playing trips on free rooms with freeplay offers and those have now dried up. You will see a dramatic drop in future offers from Wynn if you low play them. I personally segregate my play to maintain my offers and host relationships. From the play changes you are describing I think your coin in and theo are going to dramatically decrease. It is tough to drop your play levels and still be as satisfied as when playing higher.
I have sometimes asked for a lower level room than offered- e.g. when travelling solo I really don't need or in fact want a suite. I suspect my host at Wynn may not be too happy at my reduced play, and if I receive lesser offers so be it. I have a budget for this trip for a particular reason and i'm not going to overstretch myself just on the basis I may not get the same offers. I will still put in decent play time and appreciate the suggestions made, but my points will probably be a lot less than usual. In any case, whilst I'd like to keep my rating, having a good time just as important without fretting about points!.
I have been on solo trips and usually tell the host to get me a normal room... not because of comps... but in case someone else can enjoy the suite. As to upfront offers. It is my belief that any upfront offer should be used (freeplay in particular). No matter how little or how high your play is, that offer is not going to come back or be counted. And I would never feel I had to play enough to keep my host happy. Ever. Never. Sure, your low play may reduce future offers. But they are not going to give you a pass just because you did not use your freeplay. In this situation, you do not get the upfront freeplay, and you get lower future offers. Why?
Come out swinging, bet heavy at the start and hipe you hit to get yourself to your usual bankroll. If it doesnt haooen, play hail mary games anx carnues and hope for the prayer to be answered. Atleast if it doesnt come in, you get good rating based off high he games
Agree with the earlier post that re: machines, it's the coin in that matters so you could play lower denominations but if there is more churning and you are playing longer, the points still might come out the same and that's what Wynncore cares about. You might have smaller (but still nice) wins but the swings will also likely be smaller. I was at Wynncore last week and a host confirmed that, generally, for comps beyond a free room and FSP, they are looking for at least 5k in points (forgot what the translation would be to coin in) a day. Even my comped reservation clearly stated that for additional complimentaries at least 5k to 7k in points a day were required. Some days I was above 5k per day and some days in the 3 and 4k points range. I play both penny slots and nickel, dime and quarter multiplay VP (Double STP and Ultimate X are my favorites but require a lot of coins) but I like playing a long time. I had a couple of meals comped off and an unexpected limo ride -- the RR Phantom no less -- to the airport, so i wouldn't sweat the smaller bankroll as you will be giving them decent play and a 5k bankroll, while not your normal, is still a major commitment. If I were you I would do lower level slots and of course if you pick up VP some of the less volatile games would be good. I play pennies but I know the returns on those suck relative to say dollar or even quarter slots, but maybe play $1 machines rather than $5 or $10 machines or play $5 machines where the payout at 1 coin is proportional to the payout at 2 or more coins so you can comfortably play just one coin.
Not using FP comment was in response to another poster - #9 above (usually gets offers of room, $800 freeplay and food credit. This time he only asked for the room as he was taking a smaller bankroll) this thread has a number of posts and mixed responses...