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Drink ticket and poker machine light experiences on the strip Saturday, 10/1/16

Discussion in 'Comps' started by ref59405, Oct 4, 2016.

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  1. LB9

    LB9 PH Blackjack Degen

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    I'm staying at Ballys in 13 days and before I hit the tables (and slots this trip) I hit the bar near the jubilee towers for a quick drink while playing quarter max VP usually before I venture elsewhere. When I went in May my girlfriend and I got a drink pretty quickly after entering a 20 in and playing, this now has me worried that ill have to sit there for a while possibly and play- I also have a platinum card but I doubt that will help. I only play bar top shitty rule VP frankly to get a few drinks before I begin playing BJ to loosen me up a bit lol

    Hopefully this was somewhat isolated at Ballys as it sounds like other CET properties are better about this...
     
    Last edited: Oct 6, 2016
  2. C0usineddie

    C0usineddie VIP Whale

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    I wonder how many drinks you would have had in that time without the ticket machine? i am sure they have done the math. Interesting that the bartenders tips are down 75% makes me wonder if the casinos think they would end up with that 75% instead with the ticket machines.
     
  3. CJ's

    CJ's Plumbing the depths of debauchery

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    Anyone know if Aria have brought this in?
     
  4. ripper

    ripper High-Roller

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    I drink considerably quicker than 3 drinks and hour most of the time in Vegas. Every 20 will not cut it. I have sat at Aria spots bar for 3 hours or more a lot of the time drinking lets say every 10 minutes. In that 3 hours i would be pumping 100's in quite quick at times. My question is if its every 20 for a full quarter bet is it quicker for full dollat bets or full 5 dollar bets??
     
    Little mans 21st birthday!
  5. Grid

    Grid Well-Known Member

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    I was playing VP at Mirage a few years ago. Normally I don't play at the bar since the pay tables usually suck. But I was waiting for the wife to come down from the room. So it was an easy spot to meet up.

    Random Dude walks up to the bar and orders a beer. Hands the barkeep a 10 spot and says keep it. I think beers were like $6-$7 if you actually pay for them. The bartender takes the Hamilton and drops it right in the tip cup.

    Not that it was any of my business so obviously I dont care. But I saw it. Outside of casinos being cheap, and the bean counters watching everything, this might have something to do with it as well.

    Maybe they count the tickets and inventory the bottles at each shift change? I don't know. But maybe its more than being stingy.
     
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  6. Grid

    Grid Well-Known Member

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    I assume they mean that if enough bartenders get mad and complain it might cause the casino to reverse course.
     
    • Agree Agree x 1
  7. TXactuarial

    TXactuarial VIP Whale

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    Yes, the only way the system can change is if it creates a material negative effect. Obviously this is not great for the bartender, but when the staff decides to leave en masse then maybe they can get rid of the system.
     
    • Disagree Disagree x 1
  8. shokhead

    shokhead No big spender unless eating drinking having fun!

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    Sure. For every bartender that might leave, there are 10 waiting to take their place. I'm pretty sure if indeed their tips are down 75% which I don't believe, CP or MGM or anyplace could care less.
     
    • Agree Agree x 1
  9. ShelbyCharger

    ShelbyCharger MIA

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    Perfect description. So in a short time Vegas needs money for resort fees, parking , and now waiting for a light to give us a drink on an absurdly tighter machine is the next revenue.
     
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  10. Chicken Dinner

    Chicken Dinner Low-Roller

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    I agree. Casino ain't gonna listen to average Joe. Might listen if staff makes it an issue.
     
    • Disagree Disagree x 1
  11. chitownjohn

    chitownjohn High-Roller

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    I agree with this, it's a bad system for everyone including the CW's / bartender. Unfortunately if every CW/bartender complained to management and/or quit it would not change the system, they can be replaced. The players are the only ones that change this by avoiding casinos that are implementing this.
     
    Last edited: Oct 6, 2016
  12. rgrif57

    rgrif57 VIP Whale

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    What do cocktail waitresses have to do with the bar video poker??? That is all that is being talked about, the drink service at machines is not changing it is the bar top vp machine area and according to reports in this thread it isn't that bad. Actually the people who are just sitting at vp bar-top machines drinking probably aren't the best of tippers anyway, some probably are alright but as a whole the bartender is the one who might lose out............Rick
     
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  13. TXactuarial

    TXactuarial VIP Whale

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    I think that's what they meant - the bartender is not getting as good of tips.

    In general I actually think tips in the BC era of the light system were higher just on a uunique player volume basis. I really don't think it has to do with the tipping behavior of the average individual. It's just a function of fewer drinks = fewer opportunities to tip. Although I could see the argument where players feel more 'entitled' to a drink rather than 'comped', which could at least theoretically make people feel less compelled to leave an extra dollar.
     
  14. thecarve

    thecarve Misanthrope

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    OP: Thanks for the update! The info is much appreciated.

    Sadly, these threads always degenerate into, well... :rolleyes:
     
  15. KKB

    KKB VIP Whale

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    I had heard from locals that THIS is the reason casinos have begun doing this--which, actually, makes more sense. You could lose A LOT of money if bartenders did this...
     
  16. shokhead

    shokhead No big spender unless eating drinking having fun!

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    Bartender at CP said it was the people that put money in the machine, got their free drink and then cashed out is why they are doing this.
     
    • Agree Agree x 1
  17. FullPay

    FullPay When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro

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    Fifteen years ago at El Cortez most of their bartop players were slow playing VP and Keno and tipping for drinks. Management said stop serving these people or we will fire you. Tips went down, bartenders stayed. Then they turned their best VP bar into The Parlour. All the VP became fifty cent minimum and they routinely ejected anyone who looked a bit shady. They had about sixteen machines turn into seven, and tips went down. Bartenders complained. Bartenders pleaded for the return of twenty five cents VP to get more customers. The suits put it in at the single low access machine (I no longer know how to say it PC). When revenue didn't change at that machine the suits declared themselves correct. They read spreadsheets. Kenny Epstein shakes my hand. But they don't care.
     
  18. archie

    archie Tourist

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    just returned from cosmo' and this is my take on it
    sports/chandelier bar tickets every 15 mins with playing approx. 7-8 hands a minute.i'm a quick drinker and this did not seem any different from the "old " system.the only difference for me is that you do your looking around/talking after the ticket comes out you are aware on some level of the clock ticking.that said I had more tickets than I could use!
    ticket states 2 hour validity at bar where issued but had different info from bartenders.
    some said it was 2 hours others said 24 hours.i used tickets from the day before and had no problem but think this is selective on bartender/tip/time at bar.
    "the first drink is on us and then you need a ticket" this is the standard explanation from the staff.i saw plenty of people accept this then cash out and take drink elsewhere,so whether this stops people getting drinks for no or little play who knows.
    thanks
     
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  19. mike mc

    mike mc High-Roller

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    I was at Gustavs at the Paris last Sept, barkeep were telling me of light system coming, like many have said, they are looking for the hit and run guy's. I got nothing to worry about I play, I tip well. I will get drinks no problem
     
  20. KKB

    KKB VIP Whale

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    If I am not playing poker, I am mostly playing bartop VP, variety of locations. (and I hit Vegas about 4x/year--probably about 21 days/yr) Honestly, I have seen very few "hit & run" customers. Most are either playing at a reasonable clip or they are walking up & paying ridiculous prices for drink. Watching how much customers pay for a drink, there is potential for a huge loss of revenue if bartenders are pocketing drink charges.
    That being said--it is certainly for both. But of course, bartenders aren't going to say it is because any of them are pocketing $...
    I am sure that most are honest, but we all know how a few bad apples can screw it for the rest of us.
     
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