Video poker bar comp drink update April 2017

In Michigan the law says you can not comp drinks or I am sure the casinos would offer this. We had one that be grandfathered to allow drinks in the Soo area and they were packed (not sure if they still are grandfathered but a few years ago it was great). So you can't blame the Casino for state laws. Windsor is the same, so for us comped drinks are great but not the reason we play and I can't believe they will disappear

 

Locals casinos are generally ok with the idea that drinks aren't free - they want the revenue and the liability issues are astronomical when your average customer drives home after they are done playing. Getting legislation that makes this the law for their state is generally ok by them - they just don't want to have an issue where the casino down the road can comp drinks whereas they can't.

It's a fundamentally different clientele than the Vegas Strip or Downtown. Their average customer is spending the night there or taking a taxi to the airport. Liability risk is much less and they can see free alcohol as a competitive advantage. It just needs to pay for itself in gaming return.

I gotta be honest, I think the way the lights work is generally reasonable, people who are real players still can get all the hooch their heart desires.

 

Didn't think about the liability piece for the locals but it makes sense. Always wondered why I was buying them while gambling.

 

That's a very, very slow pace. I'm sure the system timed out on you. Think about the numbers from the casino's perspective. 10 identity pts = $60 coin-in = $3 theo or less, even on really bad (95%) pay tables.

I play at what I think is a fairly moderate pace of about 400-500 hands per hour and the drink tickets spit out at 15-20min intervals for me, which is actually about as fast as I can drink the cocktails at Chandelier. I take a break when the ticket comes out and they're making the next drink. If you include the first comped drink generally served when when first starting to play, four drinks for $500-$600 coin-in isn't a bad deal...especially as good as Cosmo's cocktails are. Even four beers for that kind of theo isn't bad!

 

I would AVOID any Light System or Ticket System at all costs. There are to many UNKNOWNS how these casinos have their systems set up. You can bet its not even close to being reasonable for the gambler.

 

The 20 point rule ($120 coin-in) definitely applied to me. On Friday night at Chandelier while having some random guys card in, I got 20 points on it in 53 minutes and a ticket spit out. At the sports book bar on Saturday, I played a little faster and it spit out after about 45 minutes. I had good friends willing to gift me drink tickets all weekend though.

And you can still game the system a bit with the first drink being on them for buying in. There are still 3 bars to go to at cosmo at least.

I think the 20 point threshold is fair, especially with the quality of the drinks they make. I am craving another "Mr. Miyagi" already. [emoji5]

 

I said long ago when these systems first came out and the reviews were that they weren't a big issue, that this was just a first step, and they were just getting their foot in the door. I said that in the future, the screws would be tightened, requiring more play to get a free drink. Here we are just a year or so later, and the first reports of this tightening are already in.

 

Winers... play and you'll receive what youre entitled too... if not don't complain and just pay for your drink...

 

I had no real problem with the system at Kramer's (Cosmo). It was usually printing tickets faster than I can usually drink the drink, but it didn't seem to be consistent at all. I ended up giving a couple to a guy next to me, but I wasn't trying to get completely hammered, either.

 

I agree, the drink quality is awesome. Maybe you could dip some girl scout thin mints in vodka, would that work??

 

I think the person reporting tightening had a bum machine at Cosmo (which I hear happens) or timed out at some point. It behaved exactly how it did in September (the first week they were activated) for me last week.

Generally speaking though you're right, there is room to tighten the screws. Casinos don't like players like me; I drink more than I play. Lol

 

1--most CET bars will give you a free drink if you sit down & pop in a $20. I am usually digging out cash ($20 to put in & $1 for tip) & players card when approached. You COULD just bar hop...
2--I play .25 full play. Fairly quickly I suppose, but I pause to visit, check Facebook. I NEVER EVER had any issues getting drinks over 8 days in Vegas in March. I also tend to go to the same bars--can't hurt.

 

I'd give downtown or off strip casinos a shot. Drinks are always comp'd, rooms are cheaper, comps are easier, atmosphere is better (IMO). I was a strip guy for years but their austerity measures chased me out and I couldn't be happier. If you want to "ease" yourself into off strip properties start with Red Rock or GVR. Easily as nice as Cosmo and you'll be getting free drinks and comps thrown at you.

Just my 2 cents.

 

All

All the CET bar tops? Even at that place in the LINQ that had craft beer?

 

This is the type of response that the casinos count on...and you wouldn't hear this from many visitors (which leads me to think you a casino executive in disguise).

I see that you have 5 trips to Vegas. You must admit that part of the allure is getting comps...as small as drinks. Let's be honest about how little the casino actually gets charged for the drinks. They are starting to do the same thing that stadiums do, charge as much as they can until there is enough push back.

What 'you're entitled to' is a sliding scale over the years, and it's not sliding in the favor of the Vegas traveler, or even staying value neutral.

 

People make too much of the bar top comps. You still get them if you play, if you don't I guess you pay. All of the floor machines you can get comp drinks and the drink service is very good. So you want to sit at the bar not pay and or play you don't drink I guess. You know comp means getting a complimentary for your "play". I have many more trips for many more years I am sure and don't sit at the bar so don't understand the big deal but understand on the businesses end. Lastly, no I don't work for a casino just play a lot................Rick

 

O sure, I love getting freebies or comps. I wouldnt travel from Belgium if I did not adore the city. But I don't understand why so many people are just whining About something theyve gotten in the past. Those who live in the past are certain to miss the future. Adapt, enjoy, but be reasonable. Business is going great in Vegas and casino revenue is getting less important than it once was. The mid and highrollers Will always be pampered according to their level. But lowrollers, who cares nowadays from A business point of view? Personally I think it would make more sense to comp A room for people who buy premium tables in resort owned clubs. That would be 100% certainty of Getting 5k$+ in return of 5 rooms for A night (10 people). And no chance they walk out as winners.
(And I say this as A lowroller

 

People are 'whining' becasue we've seen where this leads. It won't be long until this is a standard on all machines, IF the customers are willing to be ok with it now. Think of resort fees, parking, 6/5 BJ, less on the numbers in the circle on the field in craps...etc.

 

Just stay in your bubble and refuse to See the bigger picture. Of course there is gonna be some drink system in the future on Every machine. Play and you get your comp, don't play and pay for your drink. Just be happy that you receive A free drink playing. Thats something we don't know over here. And we are all,the winers still going back to Vegas if they are so unhappy with all the (correct business) changes? Just stay away and make your point. But if you keep going, just stop complaining and accept whatever changes.

 

I actually would prefer to run a tab and charge drinks to my room, rather than even let the when/where/if/how casinos do a comp drink system affect my Vegasing in any way. I know I play enough to warrant those Bar tabs being comped on the backend at check out and I'm already staying in a very nice FREE hotel room. There's only so much these places can give away "free" with just an expectation that you are going to gamble. There are too many people that just take advantage of the system. The same people whom upon receiving a free drink won't give the bartender/cocktail waitress a $1 tip for bringing/preparing it.