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ACG - The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

Discussion in 'Las Vegas for the Frugal (not Cheap)' started by MisterJJ, Jun 21, 2012.

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  1. MisterJJ

    MisterJJ Low-Roller

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    I used most of the Vegas matchplay coupons from the American Casino Guide. Great deal. The only two I didn't use were for the Dive-Horns (Long and Big). I like to "get out" and visit the various casinos and the matchplay coupons are a good excuse. I'll usually sit down and play blackjack for a little while after using the coupon, rarely doing a "hit-and-run" by just using the coupon and leaving.

    The Good:
    Coupons are easily accepted at most places. The 50% off at the Flame got me a decent filet mignon, garlic mashed taters, and an iced tea for $19 and the $5 off from the El Cortez funbook brought it down to $14. Don't pay full price at this mediocre steakhouse!

    The Bad:
    Ellis Island will put the free play on your card after 24 hours so plan accordingly if you use this coupon. At least they have some full pay VP to use the freeplay on. Also, I wish the 2 for 1 coupons had a 50% off option. Or at least a 30% off option. I go alone most of the time.

    The Ugly:
    Most matchplay coupons just get played with your bet. No problem. Some require a players club card along with the bet but this is rarely checked for. No problem (I sort coupons before trip, placing club card with coupon). At Jerry's Nugget you take the coupon to the players club and then get a printed ticket to use, which I like because the dealers instantly recognize what it is and don't have to pull over the pit boss to inspect the coupon and approve it. Still no problem.
    Now the ugly part... I went to the Hard Rock. The coupon states to just play the coupon with your bet so that's what I do. The dealer gives a disapproving look and pushes the coupon back and calls the pit boss. Pit boss takes coupon, gives his disapproving look, and tells me to take it to the players club. So I take it there and they ask for club card, driver's license, and the ACG card that comes with the book (this is the only time I've been asked for it). Now I have to get a printout, like at Jerry's Nugget. I take my printout to the blackjack table, get more disapproving looks by dealer and pit boss and then the pit boss asks to see my I.D. I finally get to play my $10 matchplay coupon. I win so I take my money and get the hell away from there.
     
  2. tapakip

    tapakip Low-Roller

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    All over $10. Disgusting. Actions like that cause reports like yours, which cause people like me to decide NOT to take a trip to Hard Rock. Seems HRH is not so forward thinking.

    Thanks for the info.!
     
  3. theshaah

    theshaah High-Roller

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    Last year The Palms flat out refused to take my coupon unless they saw me physically tear it out of the book. I informed them thats the LVA they're thinking of and thats why I had the member card. But the refused.

    This year I had no problem redeeming the palms coupon but the coupon incident caused me enough of a displeasure with the palms that I hadn't stepped foot in the place to gamble a cent since.
     
  4. letsgotovegas

    letsgotovegas VIP Whale

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    Weird circumstances at the Hard Rock - we used MP coupons there a few weeks ago and just played them at the table - didn't have to show ACG card or even our HR players cards. Just another example of how it all depends on which way the wind is blowing on that particular day in that particular casino.

    We used just about every MP in the book (except Palms and Riviera) with no issues at all. Tuscany is the only one I remember even asking for the ACG card let alone their own players cards. The El Co may have asked for the ACG card as well, I can't remember.

    Thanks for sharing your experiences with us.

    Cheers,
    Kelly
     
  5. KevinSTP

    KevinSTP High-Roller

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    3 years ago I tried using the matchplay at $5 BJ @ Vegas Club (don't know if it's still in the current book or not) and I get this suspicious look by the pit boss, and she tells me I can't use it because "this is counterfeit". That completely enraged me because I hate being accused of something I didn't do, especially in front of an entire table, and especially for something as ridiculous as a counterfeit $5 match play coupon. Seriously, who would go to the trouble, and who would be stupid enough to do so risking getting caught and arrested over $5? It may have been a $10 match play, but I don't remember, and in either case it's still stupid. My girlfriend and I were dressed normally, we weren't some hobos off the street looking for extra dope money.

    So needless to say I lost my cool, and told her that actions like this are why she's working at a dump like this and why I'm staying at the Golden Nugget. Clearly her management worked out the deal with ACG to get foot traffic that they desperately need.

    I cashed out whatever I had bought in with (like $20) and left. It still makes me really mad thinking about it now. Not much angers me, but idiotic stuff like that does.
     
  6. searchin

    searchin Low-Roller

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    I never got good vibes from Hard Rock, Palms or vegas club . I'm all about second chances but not with validation like this. There is so many other places to go.
     
  7. Jimbucc

    Jimbucc VIP Whale

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    This is from a previous trip report I made in 2010.

    I had no problem with Matchplays except at The Hardrock. I plopped the MP along with a ten spot on red at the roulette wheel along with my player's card. The dealer (croupier) or whatever you call the casino employee who spins the wheel told me I had to get the matchplay validated at the Player's Club. The lady stamped it for me and initialed it. I go back to the same roulette wheel and the dealer looks at the MP using his glasses like a microscope for a good 30 seconds. He OK's it and gives me 2 red chips for the ten spot and I bet it on red. The wheel spins round and round and hooray lands on red. After having to jump through hoops, I'm so glad I won that bet. I gave him a buck and went straight to the cage.
     
  8. KKB

    KKB VIP Whale

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    No issues at Vegas club

    Except it used to be (not sure if it still is), you could only use the Plaza freeplay OR the LVClub freeplay, but not both...

    Hard Rock--stupid. Doesn't make me want to go out of my way to go there!
     
  9. letsgotovegas

    letsgotovegas VIP Whale

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    The Plaza didn't include a Free Play coupon for 2012, so that isn't a problem anymore, although we never had an issue doing both in previous years.

    It's all subject to change and it all just depends on the day. It's weird.
     
  10. Jimbo338

    Jimbo338 VIP Whale

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    I hope that those with disappointments or bad experiences with employees wrote the casino to report it. If you just never return, they never realize that there are problems or misinformed employees, or just bad employees. They wouldn't agree to matchplay or other perks if they didn;'t want new customers, and if new customers are being sent away not only dissatisfied but complaining to anyone who will listen, managers want to know. I usually make it a point of sending feedback. I write in praise of employees that go out of their way as well. Good employees never get the praise they deserve, and we all like it when someone appreciates us at work!

    Jimbo338
     
  11. Jimbucc

    Jimbucc VIP Whale

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    good point.
     
  12. sco5123

    sco5123 VIP Whale

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    A similar thing happened to me. I gave them the matchplay and they looked annoyed and before they gave me my chips after I called 'field', they called out the number that had been rolled (and took away my chips)! I disputed it that they never gave me my chips in my hand (even though I had my hand out) and I did not realize the dice was out. So, they grudgingly gave me my money back but took away the matchplay. I definitely wanted to shout the same exact thing you said but just thought it and walked away. Vegas club is a real true-to-life dump and they should not treat customers like that. Even the lady ta the player's club was rude.

    I also hate Hard Rock and Palms for employee attitudes and rude (not being able to use the REAL term) atmosphere . Yet, I go back to Palms and VC for slots because they are not so bad.
     
  13. sco5123

    sco5123 VIP Whale

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    Very good point!
     
  14. KevinSTP

    KevinSTP High-Roller

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    You're 100% correct, and I wish I had. But to be honest this is the first time I've told this story anywhere, ever since it happened 3 years ago, because it got me so upset (irrationally so, I'm sure). I had thought about complaining, but I just wanted to forget it and put it behind me. I just knew I would never go back, and besides the entire casino had MAYBE 50 people playing in it, so I figured it was a lost cause of a business anyway and they were likely just waiting for a buyout from someone with deep pockets. And I'm not sure what the resolution for me would be..a $5 check? Free LVC room? Wasn't appealing, and I was more interested in keeping my sanity. You're right though, I should have.

    Wow, it seems like it's a systematic thing then. I'm glad you shared that! Maybe LVC gets all the people with bad attitudes who were fired from legitimate properties? Like the ex-con island equivalent of a Vegas casino. Their business is hurting and they deserve it above all else. I feel bad for the nice people working there, but I'm sure any eventual change to the property will be good for them as well.
     
  15. da1chifan

    da1chifan High-Roller

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    GREAT info. I wonder if there is going to be a problem with the Western MP coupon? According to the ACG website, it is supposed to be valid at the Plaza or LVC.
     
  16. theshaah

    theshaah High-Roller

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    I will attempt this on one of my upcoming overnights in las vegas and see if they give me a problem.
     
  17. KevinSTP

    KevinSTP High-Roller

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    I forget how it works. Does the ACG get cheaper (retail-wise) later in the year as it nears its expiration? I'm going to be taking a Vegas trip with my girlfriend in mid-December and am wondering if there's an advantage of waiting until then. It's only $11.50-ish on Amazon right now (I get free shipping with Prime), but was wondering if it'll get cheaper as I won't even be able to use it until December anyway. Thanks!
     
  18. Suekel

    Suekel VIP Whale

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    I bought the AGC for the last couple of years, and for 2 years in a row I got attitude at the Palms when I tried to use a MP. Same as above - they insisted I had to tear it out in front of them, and I was like "I am not going to lug that book around, and that is not the rule for AGC anyway."

    This year I have decided not to buy the book, because we are not going to have a car and there just aren't enough coupons for places we go/services we use for it to be worth it for me. With a car, I do think it's still a great value.
     
  19. KevinSTP

    KevinSTP High-Roller

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    I don't think I'll ever try any of the gambling coupons again. It's not worth the stress of the anticipation of any pushback from the ignorant pit bosses. Since it's only around $12 I think it's worth it for the Madame Tussaud's 2-for-1 and the Rio and PHo buffet coupons. Also the NYNY roller coaster 2 for 1. If we were talking about the $40 LVA POV then I don't think I'd even bother.
     
  20. shanecrow99

    shanecrow99 Low-Roller

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    I guess using the MP's from ACG are a hit or miss. For me, it was a hit. Last year was my first Vegas trip ever and I hit up every MP I could and I didn't have any problems at all. The Plaza was the only place that actually asked for the ACG signature card. Nobody else even cared.

    I used a MP at the Palms. My wife laid her MP plus $10 down on black at a roulette table. She lost, BUT when I laid my bet down right after hers I told the dealer "red". The dealer thought I wanted it on my wife's previous bet on "black". Glad she messed it up because it hit on red and I took my $20 and ran.

    I will say that I jumped through more hoops at Hard Rock than any other property. My best turnaround with MP's was at the Silverton. Turned a $20 freeplay into $250 with a win on an Alice slot.

    Oh, before I forget, if you go to Ellis Island's website (HERE) look at the bottom of the page to sign up for their txt promo's. You will get a $5 MP just for signing up. I average about one txt a month and you can cancel any time so no worries there. Throw a $10 MP from the ACG on top of that and you are in business.
     
    Last edited: Jun 26, 2012
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