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Getting upfront comps downtown with no play history? Advice needed.

Discussion in 'Comps' started by mrem3200, Dec 29, 2015.

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  1. mrem3200

    mrem3200 VIP Whale

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    I normally stay on the strip but for my next trip I want to stay downtown for 1 night. I play at CET (BJ and Craps), and have a host but I am small time (just barely meet the criteria to have a host assigned to me). I can get free rooms at any CET property, some upfront free play or resort credit and back end food comps but all basic stuff.

    I would like to see if I can get anything upfront at one of the Downtown places but I have never gambled down there so I have zero history. I don’t really have a preference where I stay but would like to stay at one of the nicer DT places. So my questions are:

    1) Is this something they would even do for just 1 night at my level given my history?
    2) If yes, then how exactly to I go about doing it and what could I reasonably expect?
    3) Are there any places more likely to be accommodating than others?

    Any other advice/thoughts would be appreciated.

    Thanks
     
  2. jimboguy

    jimboguy MIA

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    If you don't have luck with an up-front comp, you may consider asking for the comp on the back end so that a host can review your play.
     
  3. shifter

    shifter Degenerate Gambler

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    you would have to call a host.

    but you have to ask yourself why a host would stick his neck out like that with no play history?

    only because you have a substantial amount of CL/FM that makes a high probability that you will play.

    so if you're interested in setting up a CL there or will be wiring FM ahead of time, call a host and tell him how much you're bringing and see what he'll do.

    otherwise, just book the room and go into the office at the end of your trip.
     
  4. mrem3200

    mrem3200 VIP Whale

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    Thanks. I didn't know if they would or wouldn't and I'm not saying that I expect them to which is why I asked the question. I just remember discussions in the past about some casinos matching offers received at others. I just don't remember the specifics and when they would do something like that.

    I wasn't planning on opening a CL but I am not opposed to it either as I have lines at Paris and Cromwell.
     
  5. RC

    RC Low-Roller

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    For just a 1 night night stay I wouldn't go thru the bother of either a CL or wiring money...I'd just call a host and ask them for the player's rate on the room (which won't be that much) and then talk to him/her at the end and see what they will do for you. Since you said that you want to stay at one of the nicer places DT and that you play BJ & craps I'd just call for a host at GN and go from there
     
  6. mrem3200

    mrem3200 VIP Whale

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    Thanks for the advice, I will probably do something like this.
     
  7. mrem3200

    mrem3200 VIP Whale

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    Thank you, yes I don't have my heart set on an upfront comp just figured I would try. I will just ask them to comp it off on the back end.
     
  8. Char1

    Char1 VIP Whale

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    Just sent you a PM
     
  9. nostresshere

    nostresshere Mr. Anti Debit Card

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    Worse case... you have to pay the $100 for the room?
     
  10. aaisack

    aaisack VIP Whale

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    I would either get a hold of a Plaza host (they regularly offer front end comps to board members who can prove a play history at another property) or I would just pay the $50-$100 to stay at a downtown property. If you give them your full play you can always ask for a comp on the back end. Otherwise spread your action around a bit and get a few future teaser offers. Those are easy to get at most of the downtown properties. If you do this try a few different casinos that aren't linked to the same rewards program.
     
  11. paperposter

    paperposter MIA

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    golden nugget does an offer match
     
  12. Multifarious5

    Multifarious5 VIP Whale

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    Hi paperpost! your comment on GN caught my eye. I hit Laughlin briefly, and really liked the golden nugget. (Didn't stay but played a good chunk)

    I want to work GN into my annual Vegas trip now, but I hate starting from scratch on comps. I get 3 night free room + FP + RC promos at aria and Monte Carlo each, and working GN in between those days would be amazing. (Im not looking for matched RFB, just room promos would be amazing.)

    Does GN just match freeplay comp promos, or do they ever match room comp promos? Once I saw their shark tank pool, I was hooked, and I would LOVE to find a way to get a couple comped nights IF they match comped room promos? I avoid using hosts as I don't want them really analyzing my "coin in" vs "coin in, coin out" as my CI/CO makes me look like I spend more than I actually do, as I like to hunt down games that let you play a long time on a conservative amount of $$$.
     
  13. nostresshere

    nostresshere Mr. Anti Debit Card

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    Coin in is their main tool for comps. Not sure why you are concerned with them looking at that. Especially is you say it makes it look like you spend more?
     
  14. Samstown man

    Samstown man MIA

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    I did the exact same thing and got 4 nights comped ( I didn't choose to accept ) at the GN. Talk to Jason at the GN. [email protected]

    Really nice guy.
     
  15. mrem3200

    mrem3200 VIP Whale

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    Yes. It is not a deal breaker by any means. I will still stay DT either way but figured if I could get something upfront it is worth a try.
     
  16. Grid

    Grid Well-Known Member

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    The more you know about your play the easier it is to get matched at a new property. i do this all the time when i want to go exploring. It certainly helps to have an email offer from another casino in town.

    If I cant find a host directly online, most websites do list their hosts tho, I just email the hotel and say "I'm a rated player in town and I hear good things about your casino. Can you have a host email me please" and I usually get a reply from someone within 48 hours. Chances are its a rookie host but thats still an in.

    Now that I made contact I let them know who I am and what I'm looking for. "Hello Joe, thank you for the fast reply. Currently I am Diamond with CET & Platinum with Mlife. I hear great things about your casino and I'd really like to check it out and possibly switch my play over in the future. I'm a slots player and my coin-in is pretty steady at $7K-$9K per day. I have forwarded over my most recent offer from Caesars Palace. This 2 night stay and $250 in free play is pretty standard for me in town. Is it possible that you can match it to get me in the door?"

    And with that, 9 times out of 10 I'm in with a match. I have done so at the Plaza, Tropicana, SLS, Stratosphere , Treasure Island ETC in town. Once I get on the boards with them I start getting decent normal offers. Sometimes my bounce back offers are better than the up front one I beat out of them!

    Just make sure your offer is current and dont EVER lie about your play to get in. If a host is going to bat for you dont be a jerk to get some freebies. You might end up holding the bag and your host might get in trouble for vouching for you. If you play $5.00 a hand at a BJ table for an hour a day. Dont say you play $50 for 5 hours just to get a better room!
     
  17. Multifarious5

    Multifarious5 VIP Whale

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    Hi all, GREAT answers, and thank you. When I said "coin in" I chose my words poorly. My coin-in is decent because I honestly play slots to decompress, not to "score big," so I am happy with machines that let me cycle through money slowly. I was trying to say that, the money I bring to vegas and spend of that initial money, is much less than the money I actually cycle through while playing. (I still spend, in my book, a good chunk, don't get me wrong, I just sometimes worry that the comps I am winning seem higher than what I use from my actual "coffers.")

    Also Grid, your point on "dont be a jerk to get some freebies" is actually WHY I don't want to include a host. If hotel's analytics' randomly compute that I should get a 3 night free promo with freeplay and resort credits, fantastic. I love it, and I know a host won't get pressure if I don't spend as much as they thought I might. I think being a host would be one of the toughest jobs ever, as, in a way, you're wagering on what players you choose to "back", and this flat makes me uncomfortable. I love promos/comps, but never at the cost of someone getting bit in the butt if they give me too much.

    So, I LOVE the idea of just saying "I usually get x nights free, do you have something similar," as this is absolutely honest. And I have the emails like you've mentioned, and love the idea of using those if they help, as they will see I am not inflating numbers or being weasely. (I even had a good chunk of play from a day at their Laughlin location which they might be able to see on my players card even though the hotels are not linked, I'll find out. It's only a day, but this backed with my competing promos might give a decent snapshot of my spend/play.) Or I might just bite the bullet and pay for a few nights and see if I get comps on the back end.

    Great feedback as always, and thanks!
     
    Last edited: Dec 30, 2015
  18. Grid

    Grid Well-Known Member

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    You will only get an offer directly from the hotel/casino if you have play with them as a rated player. Since you said "but I have never gambled down there" the hotel doesnt know who you are. So there would be no random analytic s to compute. You simply don't exist to them. If we are speaking of the Golden Nugget in particular you are right they arent linked. I asked a host at the GN in Atlantic City if he could find me and he said nope. Same name different owners/system.

    If they just gave out a room and money to everyone that called up saying they are a decent player and got burned they would go under. I would say you have a zero % chance of getting anything with just a phone call to the front desk. Only a host will be able to override the system and get you in up front or with freebies, You tell the host you are Diamond with CET, they might call one of their host buddies at the Flamingo and see what kind of action you play. Again the front desk wont/cant do this.

    Now some properties do promo's every now and then with a simple show us your offer and we will match. The Plaza, old Rivera and SLS come to mind. But even then they will still direct you to a host to set it up. What you want, sadly, just isnt the way to do it. And if you are stressing over your play and disappointing a host you might as well pay for a room and wait for a bounce back offer.

    Like I said I have done this a number of times before. Both in Vegas, locally and in Atlantic City. I have stated my correct coin in and had a bad run before. But I still show the action that I promised I would. So I dont burn anyone. I gamble about a grand a day. Sometimes that will get me $10K of coin. Sometimes it will get me $5K. But thats on luck and most hosts will look at the loss VS the coin and be OK with what they gave you.
     
  19. Multifarious5

    Multifarious5 VIP Whale

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    HI Grid, thanks for such a well thought-out response. I did reach out to a host but with a totally no pressure reach out, as I know they're busy. If I hear back, great, but if not, that's totally ok too. I know the front desk can't do anything, With Mlife they have their VIP Mlife services that I can reach out to (even at new-to-me properties) but GN is new to me, so your advice was greatly appreciated.

    I will probably just stay at the GN (or somewhere else) and then stop by their 24 karat/player card services before checkout, to see if I won any comps for that trip. I've won additional generous RFB comps for current trips that way at other properties. (Even on top of initial promo comps.) But again, that's at Mlife properties. I'll just have to play it by ear with the GN if I stay there.

    I just usually get enough nights free and enough resort credit comps, that now I have been a bit spoiled, but you're right, just playing and seeing if backend comps are viable is probably the best approach for me personally. Worst case scenario, I get nothing back, tried a new hotel, and already have two stellar home bases if a third doesn't pan out.

    Thanks again for the advice, and happy New Year!
     
    Last edited: Jan 1, 2016
  20. mrem3200

    mrem3200 VIP Whale

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    Thanks Grid for the info, I asked the question then Multi jumped in with some good thoughts as well thanks to him also. I agree with Multi, instead of promising $xx of play for x hours, I would probably just say, hey I got this offer from CET, what can you do. In the end I may not try to do anything upfront and just see what they can do on the back end. The more I think about it I am really looking forward to staying DT for a day. I have only ever been there 2x (I think) and only for a few hours, at most, each time. Good luck and thanks again for the info everyone.
     
    Last edited: Jan 1, 2016
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