A Prime Example That Underscores That at CET ADT is King

I'm Seven Stars and had about 350kTC last year, based almost entirely on play in AC.

Years ago, when I was Diamond but before I discovered the wonders of Wynncore (and therefore at that time did most of my LV playing at CET casinos) I had FSP offers as high as 750 a month and I've gotten as much as $2k+ taken off in comps on the back end at Caesars. (That was 3 years ago during my 50th birthday celebration when I stayed and played (hard and actually won a lot and brought most of it home) at Caesars.)

In stark contrast, my most recent CET offers for Vegas for May are $25 in food credit and $100 in FSP. I would not be surprised if they drop further as I've booked a comped room at Flamingo for a week (for my nieces) in April and am redeeming one CET FSP offer of $250. I will give CET some play while in Vegas but I declined my host's offer of multiple comp tickets to Celine Dion and instead just paid for them (I'll get better seats that way anyway). I did this because if I were my host I would have an expectation of major play for a bunch of comped tickets. As I don't plan to do that, I thanked her for the offer but said I'm good. We all know this, of course, but what I paid for some of the best seats in the house is probably thousands less than I would have played (and potentially lost) at CET so that I wouldn't feel "guilty" about getting the comped tickets or feel like the host would get in trouble with her boss for providing the comped tickets.

I won't be playing any less this year but my goal is to play smarter, be more disciplined with the wins (I found a system that worked for me last time in that respect) and to focus my Vegas play almost exclusively at Wynncore so as to maximize my comps there (and because I'm less into moving around now and just love that place. I'd stay there for a vacation even if I didn't gamble at all.).

I do appreciate the transparency of CET's TR program and like that I can get CET comped rooms anywhere in the country pretty much whenever or wherever I want but the greatest value for me at CET at this point is not even the Seven Stars airfare reimbursement (which is such a hassle to book) but the fact that at the height of the summer season on the Jersey shore, I can book comped Caesars rooms for the weekend (and comped summer concerts for family/friends, parties, other promos), when rooms can sometimes be impossible to get, even if you are willing to pay for them. AC has its challenges but, for me, waking up in the morning and walking along the ocean, especially in the summer, never gets old. The gambling odds aren't great for VP but with multipliers and other promos, the Seven Stars lounges, a decent (though small) Qua spa that's comped and being just a $25 bus ride away from NYC, AC still has an appeal and I can get greater value for my play. I also am hopeful that AC comes back. It won't be like it was 15 years ago but hopefully it will be a more new and better (and more diversified economically) AC.

This isn't a rant or a complaint. If I were CET I'd lower my offers significantly in LV too. I just wanted to share my own experiences as a decent level player with CET given the questions that come up regularly on the board about reduced offers, how that can happen, etc. etc. and the significance of ADT (matters a LOT) vs player status (matters LITTLE, except for annual Diamond or Seven Stars benefits once you meet the various 15k, 40k, 80k, 150k TC thresholds).

And regarding my new system for bringing more of my wins back home, for wins at Wynncore over 2k (Wynn won't do it for less than 2k), I ask for a check and immediately sign the back with "for deposit only", which then makes it harder -- though not impossible -- to give back those wins while in Vegas. I'd basically have to trek all the way to my bank in Vegas to deposit and cash the check to use the wins. So I can still access them if I REALLY want to but I have found that's a way for me to bring some moolah back home.

Happy Saturday. Less than 6 weeks to Vegas for me!

 

Sounds like a great strategy! Many times I wish I had taken a check! Lol

 

We also ask for checks for any large hit, after the first one if there is a first one .. It is funny we have not had a hassle with our 7* flights, just give our host the info and have the flight usually by the next day. Though we avoid doing our booking at the last minute so that could be why. We just on Monday booked our 7* this year and the reservations were emailed to us Tuesday morning from passport. I guess we have been lucky. Next year we are going to go to AC have I never been there, however my wife is from upstae New York and had relatives from the area (long since gone) so she has many times. The ocean sounds great.....................Rick

 

Rick, you are really lucky. From the time I give my host the EXACT information for a flight to the time it is booked it typically has taken at least 2 weeks. My experience doesn't seem to be unusual even though I too book way in advance. I am going to give my host information for a short late June/July 4th trip. I'll see how that goes.

I believe you will enjoy AC. Don't expect Vegas because it's far from being Vegas but I think, especially in late Spring through early Fall, it has its own charm.

Good luck to you hoofy next time!

 

BTW Flowers I play mostly in Caesars AC, and I like the 7* Caesars lounge there. There are several $1/$2/$5 9/6 DDB VP @ Caesars AC at $10 per tier point.

About the flights -

I’ve had varied experiences with 7* trip flights. A few years ago were horror stories where flights took weeks to book and flights for two totaled $850 when I sent in the info, and when finally sent me back it was going to cost me $500 over the $1,200. Now it’s much improved and this year’s trip I sent in January and it took a bit over a week. That wasn’t bad because everyone was still sending in their 7* and DA2 trips to be booked or completed by 1/31/2017


I normally go via JetBlue and specifically request Blue Plus, which gives free luggage. I also get extra legroom seats, which usually fall within the $1,200 price. I give all the exact seat numbers etc.

The last two flights Passport did not get the free luggage option, which is not available after initial booking. Last year’s trip I didn’t notice it until much later, this time I asked my host is the Blue Plus, he answered yes. It wasn’t booked and you can only get a $5 discount 24 hours before the flight. I’m nit picking but it’s money that’s $80 out pocket that I lost before I even got to Vegas.


I’ve worked with the passport people and even know some names, but I wish I could talk directly to them from the moment I decide to take my trip because when I work with them after the flight is booked every thing gets done right but the luggage part can’t be fixed unless you cancel the flight and start over, sometimes the price goes up in the interim.


I think CET needs to create a process where people can work directly with the travel service or be reimbursed. I’m absolutely sure that both the hosts and the players would jump at the chance to simplify this whole trip booking.

 

We are very fortunate to have a couple of great hosts. We have had some that give you the I'll get to it when I have time, or not attitude. We have a new host in NOLA and hoping he is good, communicated very quickly and had a Memorial Day trip set up for us, but this is a room only. Yes we will enjoy the ocean next year, Flowers....Thanks

 

I hear you on everything! I have had some bad 7* trip experiences too. It is almost like a game of telephone where what finally gets booked is off somehow. Twice my name was misspelled! Once I had cancelled my 7* trip, but guess what, it never was cancelled. That was fun to take care of

Also your point about 7* ADT is well-founded. I used to play at the 500,000 tier credit level (before the bonuses began even), and because of various low play trips and so on, my offers started to plummet. I don't have that kind of money any more, so I just barely make the 150,000 (with the bonuses). Now I get like 375 dollar freeplay offers and so on. I was getting the 1000 offers.

You are smart to play at Wynncore. I once slammed it in there on the high limit slots (it was one of those dream gambling days where I hit jackpot after jackpot). They gave me 500 a week for two months. So I would drive down and just use the freeplay. Of course, that makes free play end abruptly, but it was worth it. The property is magnificent. I actually prefer Encore to Wynn as it is much more quiet (especially the casino).

Thank you for your very informative post.

 

Totally agree, the shore is my happy place, casinos make it even better. Hope the deal with Hard Rock and the Taj gets done and the proposed renovations become a reality.

 

Oghuman, I agree 100% about how wonderful it would be for everyone if we could book directly.

It's interesting you mentioned Jet Blue as a host (different from the one I have now) told me last year that Passport was no longer booking through Jet Blue. The next time then I booked Virgin America instead, which I really like, but I too fly Jet Blue out of JFK (NYC gal here) and I like that option as I think Jet Blue will soon have Mint service available from JFK to Vegas!!!

Most of all, thank you for the tips about the good DDB. I love DDB (and TBD) in UX in mostly quarters but for really good DDB single line, I'd play that so I will have to check it out when I am next in AC. (I was going today but I decided to clean my messy apartment instead. LOL). I'm looking forward to the 10x multiplier on SUNDAY, March 25th so that will be a good time to pound them. I'm so excited as I can't take advantage of multiplier days during the week. 10x on a Sunday will be sweet!

Localgambler, I like the energy of Wynn but Encore is also my favorite place to stay and play. I like the vibe there, even though it is quieter, and except during club time at night, there are few folks just walking through. My mother prefers it as well and when she joins me in Vegas (she'll be with me during my April trip), I feel more comfortable if she is in Encore on her own. The slot attendants have gotten to know her well. They (as well as the bellman and RFB lounge hosts) even asked me "where's your mother?" when I was in Vegas in December for a trip where she didn't join me. LOL. Yet another reason why I love that place.

 

I hope so too Hammie.

 

Nice post! And I completely, 100%, ALL the way agree with you guys about AC. Sure, sure, sure, it has well known problems. But shore, shore, shore, nothing is like a gambling visit there during shore season. Get up early, hit the boardwalk, grab some breakfast, go play, and maybe later on walk the beach. That's gold, Jerry! And I know the beach isn't like its siblings, but I'm not a beach guy so it's not that big of a deal. Plus, I don't think there are craps tables near the other beaches.

 

Great info. Thanks!

 

Ditto