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Question about drinks / Bar tops v. Floor

Discussion in 'Comps' started by jENBEAU, Oct 13, 2016.

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  1. jENBEAU

    jENBEAU VIP Whale

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    I read pretty much everything on this site as I'm jonesing super hard these days. And the topic of the tickets at the VP machines baffles me. If you HAVE to play a certain amount to get a free drink, why not just play on the casino floor where they have VP and waitresses that will bring you the drinks and no pressure? Are the pay tables better? Are the drinks better? Do people like playing at the bar to be social with the wait staff?

    I play a bit of everything on the casino floor and love to be as antisocial as possible (ear buds, putting at least 2 seats between myself and the next person) but once I get a drink, I tip 2-3$ and the waitress is usually back every 10 minutes. And she's not putting pressure or being obnoxious about my (low) wages. Some of these stories of bartenders bending down to check if it's max bet strikes me as SO invasive!

    So what am I missing?
     
  2. fenway68

    fenway68 VIP Whale

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    for me its a social thing as much as it seems to me I can (sometimes) get a better quality drink, or at least I can assure they are pouring what I ask for. At Aria, in the past, I didn't seem to have any issue asking the floor CW, "what kind of bourbon can I get, do you have Woodford's?" She came back with something that was or pretty close to Woodford's yet other times I have been told, no. I have had issues in the past where that first drink can take upwards of 45 minutes. Yes a tip will get her back faster, but 45 minutes for the first one?

    I think the CW's are checking your play too, it just doesn't have to be so obvious, given where they are already standing.
     
  3. Frankr163

    Frankr163 High-Roller

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    I like sitting at the bar to watch a game or just use it as a place to meet up with others.
    As to the pay tables you are certainly giving up some for the convenience of having a bartender serve you. Before the lights and ticket systems, my drink totals more than made up the difference.
    My trip last month, I felt real pressure, trying to play enough to keep the drinks flowing. Did not enjoy those sessions at all.
    If you can find good cocktail service on the floor (harder & harder to find) and like to be left alone, than that is where you should be.
    It's all about what you like and makes you enjoy your time.

    P.S. As to floor cocktail service, I've found the Cromwell to be top notch. The place is relatively small and the waitresses are there before you can get comfy at your machine.
     
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  4. spdandpwr

    spdandpwr VIP Whale

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    Yea, I find that, especially when it's a busy late night, getting service on the floor is tough. Now, gamble in the high limit section during the day, you'll squeeze out a ton of drinks with modest play. As long as you look like you're playing. When I play VP, I like to consider my options, pray to the gambling Gods, rub my chin, think about my options some more, and then hit. Couple of those and you'll have 5 drinks before you've even gambled $100 in coin-in
     
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  5. Lady Fortuna

    Lady Fortuna Blessed with luck and ignorance...

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    Me too I don’t like to be pressured to play fast or max, so in that case (or when I want to play slots) I will play on the floor.

    What I do is to tip 1$ when the waitress takes my order (to ensure I get what I ask for) and again 1$ when she brings the drink. That usually works for good and fast service.

    For example, if they have it I will always order strawberry daiquiri, but without the whipped cream (yuck, who invented that?!). But a lot of times they'll forget (or not care I guess) and bring it with whipped cream anyway. That has never happened when I tip up front when they take my order.
     
  6. tringlomane

    tringlomane STP Addicted Beer Snob

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    For me, it's mostly about service speed and at least for some casinos, there are better beer/mix drink selections at the bars. And if I'm on the floor, I don't tend to like to stick at one machine, especially if it's a slot machine.
     
  7. LondonCalling

    LondonCalling Low-Roller

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    For me it's about being social with bar staff and/or other players, better drinks, faster drinks, somewhere decent to put your drink and the ability to watch the game. For all of that I am happy to slow play a bad pay table.

    Not sure how much will change given the new light system. If I have to fast play a bad pay table then I'll probably consider giving up the bar tops are certain casinos.
     
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  8. BarelyHangingOn

    BarelyHangingOn VIP Whale

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    Our first trip was two years ago.

    First time in the casino waitress asks me what I want. I say a beer and she stands there looking at me like what kind?

    I tell her that is all me new to me this is my first trip out of the basement in 10 years. Which was kind of true. I didn't know I had a choice I thought it was all just Miller or Bud Light.

    She smiles and says honey I am going to explain to you how it works.

    I basically bring regular beer and cheap booze out on the floor. If you want the high end beers and more expensive drinks head up to the bar and play some VP.
     
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  9. Gator5220

    Gator5220 Low-Roller

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  10. Kobra2848

    Kobra2848 VIP Whale

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    I really like 100 play poker and have never seen that game offered at a bar so most of my play is on the floor. I will suffer playing single line at the TAG lounge and the bars at Cosmo.

    Mark
     
  11. tringlomane

    tringlomane STP Addicted Beer Snob

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    Yeah, I think the most I have ever seen on a bartop is 10-play. Superstars and all star IIs (the most common multigame bartops) don't have 25/50/100 play available on them.
     
  12. Jejas

    Jejas VIP Whale

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    For some players, the biggest advantage at a Bar is getting hookers.
    Well, you do get hookers on the floor, but the chance is way higher at a Bar.
     
  13. jENBEAU

    jENBEAU VIP Whale

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    Interesting. Some rough-looking dude came over to me at 6am when I was playing slots at Planet Hollywood and said, I quote: "Do you want a good time!?". See, you can get a "hooker" (?) on the floor!
     
  14. Multifarious5

    Multifarious5 VIP Whale

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    I'm the opposite of social in Vegas, I go for downtime. I'm not into VP, I like slots, even though I know about the odds

    BUT most people can't get the fancier craft cocktail drinks on the slots floor, just basic drinks, even in better places. (Some can, but I'm not cool enough!)

    I keep wanting to try the bar VP only so I can get a comped craft cocktail!!!! But, I forget to try this every trip. Maybe next time!

    Flora and Fauna, Cosmopolitian, I'm talking to you!
     
  15. Snidely

    Snidely VIP Whale

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    You get better glassware at the bar.
     
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  16. hammie

    hammie VIP Whale

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    I just came back from a short trip to Caesars AC, I love the Toga Bar, but they only have about 12 machines and they are usually all taken. You can get a better quality cocktail at the bar compared to that which is served by the cocktail waitresses (although I like the on screen ordering system at the non-bar tops). However at the Toga bar, you can get a craft beer served in a pint glass. Or, the odd combination of Scotch and Amaretto, aka, The Godfather shown below. They were nice pours.

    IMG_2393.JPG
     
  17. hammie

    hammie VIP Whale

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    But, as we all know, there is no free lunch, so we pay for the nice pour in real glass in the form of a lower payout. Hopefully Mr. T, or tringlomaine can chime in with the difference in odds. Here is a shot of three of my "four to a royal" hands that I received that night. Got many three OAK's, not a single quad that night and I played three Godfathers worth, or about 90 minutes.

    IMG_2392.JPG
     
    Last edited: Oct 15, 2016
  18. hammie

    hammie VIP Whale

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    Here is another four to a Royal I received on a machine on the floor near the entrance to the Diamond Lounge. My Manhattan(s) were served in a plastic cup, a smaller pour, but with three cherries.

    IMG_2394.JPG
     
    Last edited: Oct 15, 2016
  19. Snidely

    Snidely VIP Whale

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    I think Bonus Poker at the Toga bar is also 6/5 but you get a boost higher up on the pay table.
     
  20. irishdave

    irishdave VIP Whale

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    I think the concern about tickets/lights is overblown. My last trip at Cosmo, the tickets came out faster than I could drink. I play at a moderate pace and was drinking the craft cocktails at Chandelier. The only caveat is take your break when the ticket comes out so you don't get an extended break in play that resets the timer. I was getting a ticket about every 15-20 mins at quarters playing max credits, which I always do. The bartended told me demonization doesn't matter.
     
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