Be Careful at PLAZA… Playing with your wife’s card is Illegal!

Hey guys It is the first time that I’m am writing something here but I have been a member of this forum and reading your post for few years now. Firstly I want to apologize for my poor English (I am French) but the situation was so intense during our last visit at the Plaza that I thought it could be important to let you guys know about it.


My name is Nicolas and I went to Vegas with my girlfriend at least 3-4 times a year for the last 7 years. We are a 25-30 yo cute young couple, really laid back and classy at the same time, and of course we really enjoy Vegas. We are both Canadian and we usually stay at Caesars since I am Diamond there, but I also like coming downtown once in a while. The last trip was with my girlfriends and we got in Vegas Oct 27, staying downtown at that time.


We got downtown before lunch, and on our way to the restaurant my girlfriend saw the advertisement for the $500 on us promotion at the Plaza so since she didn’t have any card there (I had one myself), I recommended her to get one and I told her that with that promo, she could basically play twice with the same money so that it was a nice promotion. (We are not the kind of person who expect to cash out some money from the machine so for us it was just doubling the $500 and more money to play with) We went together at the players club and the person there explain her the rules (mainly that it is not available at the table, for the rest she just have to lose $500 with her card in the machine that day and they are going to get the rebate following the time schedule for the rebates). After the SignUp, we went to the outlet, and you how it is to shop with girl, it took more time than suppose to so we came back to the room only around 6 pm, so by the time she got ready for the evening she realized that she couldn’t do the promo since we had a dinner and show that night and she saw on the paper plaza gave them that she have to do that before the end of that day.


She then ask me if I could go for her (because I was planning to play somewhere for an hour or so while she is getting ready), I told her it could work, but that I still want to have time to play on my card as well since I didn’t give them any play for few months. So she gave me 500$ and she told me she is going to come with me for sure tomorrow to play the rebate. So I put her money and her card in a different pocket and went to the plaza. I started playing, but after 20 minutes I lost everything (500$ on her card and around 1K on my card), it was a really hard session and together we end up losing around 1500$... in only 20 minutes!


I then went to talk to a host and see if we could get a voucher or something to eat there that night since we lost a lot (I learned that it never hurt to ask politely). The first host told me he was busy and didn’t have time to have a look at my play, and after waiting a few minutes, another guy appears this one was quite rude as well, and told me that base on our play we had $2 in comp to eat, and he told me that anyways the girl is eligible for the $500 rebate promotion so he couldn’t anything more for the moment, but seriously 2$ out of 1500 + losses? I didn’t say anything and just left because I never expect comps… so I just reach the room and we went to eat as we originally planned.


The next day at 11:45 am (was the time scheduled on the paper they gave them), we went to the players club and the girl told us that it wouldn’t be before noon finally, so we just told them we are going to get a coffee and come back a bit later. By 12 we came back and asked politely if it is ok now. The girl suddenly asks who I think is the supervisor to come over and a security guard move beside us. The women then told us that they won’t gave them the rebate because I play on her card, and instead of being frustrated we just tried to understand the situation. They said they refuse the rebate to my girlfriend and any other promotions or comps because I was playing with her card (even if we are a couple and It is our money at the end of the day), we stayed really calm but we were on chock and really confuse by the situation. No one ever told us that we couldn’t use others card specially as a couple, not during the SignUp, not when I went to talk the host after the losses (who even confirm their eligibility for the rebate), not in the morning when we got at the players club at first…. and it is not written on the player card and on any papers they gave us, so I don’t know where they keep the rules who say that, but everyone should be aware of it.


Then the women said that the camera caught me using my girlfriend card at the machine and that they called the players club to advise them that I was doing illegal stuff in the casino, and that there is a note in the system saying that they must call security as soon as they see us again and have us escorted to the door by the security. Apparently using your wife card at the Plaza seems to be something really illegal and need you to be escorted by the security. They said it is not permitted to use your wife card and that they could call the police for that. She also told us that the security was waiting for a sign from her if we were arguing about that, but since we seem to be just “confuse” and “nice people” she would let us leave without the security.


We never try to abuse the system or something, we are just using comps and promo as a couple, and I know that a lot of you probably do that, it is why I want to let you know my story. I have been in Vegas for more than 10 years (about 50 times) and I never felt that bad for something I don’t even consider like a crime, but apparently the Plaza do… or it is another way they found to avoid giving the rebate! I never ever been treated like that in 10 years, and maybe I have been naïve all this time because I have been using her card in many casinos to get her more play, and no casino seems to freak out about it.


They even ask us if we were staying at the Plaza, and we were not, but they seemed to have a plan for that particular situation (hopefully not kicking us out of our room). My girlfriend was terrified when she talks about the police, and like I told you we are a really calm and laid back 20ishh couple and for her wellness, we just leave right away… but be sure she won’t go back anymore because she is literally traumatized. We are talking about a cute 25 yo blond girls who enjoy Vegas and have been treated like a princess by ME and the other casinos since they know me. I can’t believe what’s happened, I have been treated so well for years in Vegas (mainly because I am a serious gambler – about $25 000 Coins-in/day), and now being treated like a criminal for using my girlfriend card!


During that visit, Plaza seemed to be empty again, even with all the “efforts” they said they put in their casino…. and I start to honestly understand why nobody goes there, if they treat theirs players like that…. We did something else for that day and I tried making her forget what happened in the morning, but I still can’t believe they did that… And when I came back to our room, I said to myself I can’t imagine how the security have time to watch a legit player on the floor but not the homeless guys who are everywhere around asking for cigarette or money every five minutes! The rebate wasn’t a big deal for us because we have enough money and play way more than that, and even if I have to admit that is a very good promo, the most important for us is the awful way they treated us. It doesn’t make sense to have good promo and on the other side having a bad attitude with theirs gamblers… No wonder why this casino is empty most of the time!


Even more, I still had the decency to message one of the Casino host there at first and let them know the situation. (I wanted to let them the chance to apologize before telling everyone about my experience) She replied to me and said that she will be sure to forward my email to the appropriate superiors. I was expecting this superior to act accordingly, and at least to send her (or me) an apologize email, but now it’s been 1 month and we got absolutely NOTHING from him. Now let me tell you that the Plaza won’t have my money anymore and, by this message, I want to let you all know how they treated us and I also want to advise you not using your wife card, and specially at the Plaza, because you may be escorted out by the security or, even worse, having them calling the police. It is the first time since I go in Vegas that I have to go public with my experience because normally I fixed every (small) problem directly with my host, but this time it is too much and, I want to make sure that nobody here have the same experience.


Shame on the Plaza!


Nicolas

 

In the defense of their actions (but not of their attitude, which sounds shoddy yet again), the $500 on us being a new member promotion, they are likely way more careful than normal about people using another players card, so that existing players don't trot in new signups to take advantage of the deal over and over.

Not your situation obviously, so its a bummer.

 

treatment could have been better. But you were 100% wrong playing on her card for that promo, and got caught. Soon as you said you were going to play on her card, I knew what was coming next. Also for comps the promo loss would not count. Also loss is not as important as coin in and time played.

 

I think this happened due to the $500 promotion. Not a normal situation.
Solution: Just don't go there anymore. There are plenty of places on the strip and downtown. Let it go.

(that was a really long post - in good English)

 

Wow sorry for what you went through sure can dampen a vacation.

TomTWI

 

Thanks for sharing your story in such detail. I can certainly see your side of things. Normally, I don't think playing on your girlfriend's card would be a big deal, but in this case, with the promotion, I can understand why they are unhappy about it, especially since she wasn't with you at the time.

I expect they are watching out for people who are trying to play the promo mutliple times by using other people's cards. Clearly this isn't your case - nobody who was doing this as a scam would ask a host for a comp after!!!

I'm guessing that anyone who met you would know that you had no bad intentions, and that you are really a couple.

Plaza is probably shooting themselves in the foot (again) since you play a decent amount of coin in. I guess you are barred from the casino now. A shame they aren't willing to discuss it with you.

 

Sad part is even if Gary could intervene on the OP behalf I'm sure they wouldn't go back anyway.

TomTWI

 

If it was such a big deal I would think they would come on the floor and say what's up? It seems like a bit of a scam on their part as they let you go ahead and bet and lose knowing they were not honoring the promo if you pursued it. Had you won a big jackpot I am sure it would have been much worse.
Someone will come on the board representing their side of the situation and let you know it was wrong, the attitude you received was wrong and training is underway now to correct those problem areas and give them another chance. Flush i.e. Is correct, amputation of the foot is bound to follow such an errant shot.

 

I have to agree it was the promotion angle that you ran afoul off. My wife and I only play on my card at every casino and never have had problems. I would also commend you on your English writing skills. Better than some USA residents on this board at times.

 

A key point is that even before anything happened regarding the promo, you were treated rudely by not one but 2 hosts, which by the way has been mentioned before here.

To me this is just another example of why places like the Plaza (and the downtown grand) are failing, they have no customers, so they offer promotions that they hope draw in people, but dont really want them to use. Then when they do use them they hassle them. You guys LOST $1500 in no time, that's a lot by downtown standards, they should have treated you like kings hoping to make you permanent customers, instead they treated you like crap(and actually threatened you to boot). When decent places put in good promotions(+ value), they expect there will be some people who just do the promotion, even take advantage of it, etc, that's a given(not a crime). They accept that because they're hoping to gain new players and build good will among everyone who uses it.

What they did is shameful and sadly not surprising, it is common for families to use one card while playing , every casino downtown knows it and doesn't make a big deal about it, it's called "treating your customers with respect".

The hell with the Plaza!

And by the way that $2 comp offer was another insult.

 

I am going to do my best to make this right.

I will go and win $1,500 at the Plaza some time.

 

And if I stay there I'll tell them its illegal to give me a room with another casino hotel's furniture (Fontainebleau) and skip out on my bill.

 

1) Good English. 2) Assuming your version of events is correct, that's a way over the top response by them.

When I started in Vegas, my first two stays were with the Plaza. Glad I left them 3 years ago.

 

In all fairness to the casino - this was all about the $500 promo thing, not about building points on one card. In their mind, they were doing something wrong.

Meanwhile, they were offered $2 in comps. This number was so low because:
a) The host/system did not count all their play
or
b) The comp system at the Plaza is terrible
or
c) The OP was playing at such a low level, he only earned $2. Not exactly the sort of player that hosts deal with.
or
d) Some or all of the above

 

The OP title is confusing. Says wife but really girlfriend(I would presume different last name). Granted , when playing many of us use one card as a couple. But offers must be used by person that it is offered. If I am given an invitation to a slot torny, I must use. Or room reward, I must be present. FP I must go to desk to get loaded(of course I then give it to wife) I am sure if they played as a couple there would be no problem. But she was not there. This promotion could have extra watching because of the return and limitations on who can use. We also know that if you hit a jackpot with your partners card, you still get paid(but you pay taxes), so playing with another persons card is not illegal. Though in this case it could be borderline because it is playing outside the rules.
As mentioned before, they COULD be scammers and casino was looking at them as such, at first. I am sure many locals have tried this, so more watching. Grab a friend and sign them up, and go through $$$. If they win, great. But lose $500 and come back for 1/2 next day and other 1/2 following day. then cash out at the end for whatever is left or a profit. Or better yet. Grab a homeless person and sign them up. Give them $20 and play on their card.

 

Well I am going to do this promo through my mom in Jan, maybr split it if she wants.

Looks like I will have her stand by me when we do it just to be sure! Lol

 

It isn't really illegal to play with another person's card.
It is against casino rules and if you do something they consider out of compliance with a
marketing/comp/free-play offer and you are found out, they will reserve the right to deny you service.
Sorry for the bad experience. Shake it off and take it as a lesson learned.

 

That is absolutely terrible service. If it is that big of a deal, they should have told you that when you signed her up. I try to only take one players card when I sign up, the cards fill my little Vegas purse :/ and everywhere I have been, they try to give me 2 (I have a bunch of 2s for no good reason) and they straight up tell me its so my fiance can play on it. He is always standing next to me, looking bored. He doesn't gamble, so I tell them I don't need the extra and because the extra card is always either just given or pushed, I would assume you can absolutely share with your wife. And if your wife is there to cash in the stupid promotion, it should really be no big deal. I don't understand why people go there. I walked in and walked out 2 trips ago. I won't be back there. Never even bothered to sign up for a card.

 

They treated you poorly. And service definitely seems to be a point of contention in that place. But, given the promotion is worth $500, you have to understand why they would enforce something like this. What's to stop you from playing $500 on lots of cards and cashing in on it?

 

wow, that is ugly of them. they way over reacted. they should be glad that you lost $500 or $1500. I visit the plaza each time that I am downtown, but I don't give them much play. their reviews are always so mixed. I just don't trust them. I have tried to wish them success with their many changes, but I don't feel any love there. I am the type of customer that believes in voting with my feet and / or dollars. however, this does not always work in vegas, because they never run out of tourists and don't have to rely so much on repeat customers.