Cash Back vs. Comps -- It's Not Always a Clear Choice

The other night I was at Rampart Casino, and it was steak night at the buffet. I knew I had $42 in cash or comps so I headed to the Player's club to get a buffet voucher. Well, it was much easier said than done.

The woman behind the counter told me they were not issueing food vouchers that day. I didn't really understand, but had a vague awareness of an offer where if you get 600 points in a day you will get a free buffet on your next visit.

I told her I wanted to use my regular points to pay for my meal. At Station Casinos this is a pretty simple system, merely swiping my card and entering my pin at the cashier.

She offered me the Rampart/Cannery newspaper and told me there was a coupon in there. I was still rather confused, and finally she told me I could get my cash back and pay cash at the buffet.

So I was issued a voucher for $20 -- roughly half my points, and went to the cashier to get $20 in cold hard cash. I then took my cash and coupon to the buffet.

Sometimes I'm tempted just to cash out all my points around town and be done with it. I'll go back to watching TV and movies at night and eating at In-n-Out burgers.

New Slots on the Floor - Hitchcock Theatre and Up, Up, and Away

I made the rounds at Suncoast and Rampart casino this week and was pleasantly surprised to see that Wizard of Oz and Monopoly Up, Up and Away are creeping onto the casino floors.

I was amazed to see a new slot WMS' "Hitchcock Theatre" similar (meaning it fits into the same cabinets and has surprise bonuses bases on an extra bet) to "Gold Fish" and "Mermaid's Gold." I went to WMS' website (as I always do to provide a link) but couldn't find anything on this machine.

That left me to my own devices to play the darn thing and figure it out for myself. This of course, was easier said than done, as slot players are geniuses at sniffing out the new machines and testing their luck -- suffice it to say, I had competition.

At Suncoast this was difficult, but I did get a little time and hit a couple of bonus rounds with Alfred Hitchcock as my guide.

Like "Gold Fish" and "Mermaid's Gold" an extra bet of 10 credits is needed to activate the famed director popping up with a "Bird's Bonus" where the reels spin and the birds add wilds to the mix, an intermission bonus where sodas add wilds to three free spins, the popcorn machine adds credits, or a candy bar bonus, which I haven't hit so I don't know what it does.

Already that is three different bonuses . . . but wait . . . there is more!

If you hit three scattered tickets you get 10 free spins with more bonus opportunities. During the free spins if you get three film reels you get to pick one of three classic Hitchcock films and see how the audience reacts. There is also a stacked wild with a multiplier available in the free spins.

Well, it sure does sound like there are many opportunities to win, the trouble of course, is that I lost $25 at the Suncoast on Hitchcock, and won $5 at Rampart, only to quickly escape with my winnings.

I'm not sure how volatile this machine is, but so far, I'm reluctant to spend much time with it. Many of the bonuses give small results, and if you don't get a bonus at all, then you will run through your money very quickly.

Monopoly Up, Up, and Away doesn't seem to fare much better -- it's problem is having lots of bonus possibilities once you hit the cannon shoot gateway, but getting to that point (with three consecutive cannons (sometimes stacked) left to right is very difficult.

All and all, I've learned my lesson and will play these machines very selectively and carefully. I always love a new slot machine, but I'm not going to invest much financially in the experience.

Boredom Gets the Better of Me, IGT's Dragonfly Slots

Last night I got pretty bored with the routine of the same ole slots, and the same ole casino, and decided to try a new (same ole boring) IGT slot -- Dragonfly.

As I've said over and over, IGT slots are gettting simpler instead of more interesting and Dragonfly is no exception. To prove my point, check out the IGT webpage http://www.igt.com/GamingGroup/Games/game_detail.asp?toggle=ovr&pid=5.113.120&type_id=5115&pl=#cnt -- no graphics, no nothing, just a bare bones description of the slot with the allusion that Dragonflies are good luck to Asians. I wonder what Mr. Lucky would have to say about that? You want some Dragon Fly Rice? But I digress . . .

Anyway, the slot is a 243 way, meaning it pays like a scatter (consecutively) left to right, not line pays. It is AVP (IGT's code for server-based ready) -- you know and come to think of it, that might be the reason the IGT slots are simplified, so that all the bells and whistles don't overload the server??? It's a thought . . .

The graphics on this machine aren't bad. The symbols are done in the style of Art Nouveau artists like Mucha, including lovely ladies and a wild symbol of a lady as a dragonfly.

Three consecutive dragonflies give you 15 free spins at 3X and I was lucky enough to win around $10 on my free spins and break even on the machine I chose.

I may try Dragonfly again, just as I've succomb to Super Happy Fortune Cat -- the Asian trend continues, but I still pine for an updated version of Mr. Lucky's Fortune Cookie -- I just might like Dragon Fly Rice.

The R Word, and the S Word

So do you want the bad news, or do you want the bad news? The Review Journal and the Las Vegas Sun is full of it today. The first on a two-part column about the R-E-C-E-S-S-I-O-N called "The R Word" http://www.lvrj.com/business/15713402.html was lengthy and sugar-coated the real story, which is -- Yes, of course, we are in a RECESSION, and it's going to be bad -- with statements such as "With Strip construction booming, a building executive says he has a hard time seeing the Las Vegas economy heading into a recession." and "Las Vegas Sands Chairman Sheldon Adelson is confident the convention business will weather any downturn."

Okay, so the muckety-mucks gotta talk confident so their stocks don't plummet further. Meanwhile Wynn stock fell by $9 on a poor fourth quarter. http://www.lvrj.com/business/15713417.html

But let's move on the slots, and the bad news there. The S Word, Server Based Gaming is being tested at TI (formerly known as Treasure Island). http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2008/feb/17/dont-worry-your-slot-bets-are-still-safe/

Don't you just love the title of this article and the photo of the smiling slot player? Sure -- Don't Worry, Be Happy! -- Your Slot Bet is Still Safe!!!

What is good about this article is the large photo that gives you a good view of what server-based machines look like. Check out the cabinet, and the sure fire give away -- a video screen where the glass graphics used to be.

Knock on wood, um, I mean glass, and you will be sure of playing a traditional slot. The video screen can be changed at whim, the glass printed panel would have to be manually switched out to change the game. I've already written about the demise of wild sculptural toppers like the Dukes of Hazzard General Lee, and the Green Acres pig -- surely these won't survive in the new age of server based games.

Las Vegas Officially Recession Proof . . . NOT !!!

Well, the big news from Las Vegas this week is LAYOFFS and HIRING FREEZES!!! Can you spell R-E-C-E-S-S-I-O-N ??!! -- it's kinda like D-I-V-O-R-C-E . . . a dirty little word that should be spelled out so the kids don't freak out and think the world is coming to an end.

Of course, the world, or more specifically THEIR world IS coming to an end, and if you didn't get a pink slip this week, well, just wait -- no one safe when the gravy train wrecks.

Yep, the sky is falling . . . but not for the muckety mucks in the corner office -- they'll hang on to their jobs and ride out the down cycle if they can just keep the pesky front line from eating into their little utopia.

The big word here is IF . . . and as I've reported before, when the head honchos are losing billions in stock value, heads are gonna roll faster than video reels.

Here is how the local media sums it up -- http://www.lvrj.com/business/15697987.html
"Harrah's Responds to Slowdown with Labor Reductions"

This is 9/11 Bull Sh*t all over again. They will all wave the flag as they screw the working man. Another prime example of the f*cked up world we live in. God Bless America.

Of course what the brilliant minds in the conference room never understand is that the grinders will keep grinding if they present us with true value and a fair shake.

Loosen up the slots, and keep the free buffets coming -- 'cuz we do need to console ourselves with food, drink, and slots in these troubled times.

Yeah, like THAT is gonna happen.

The Casino Loves Me

Well, Silverton wins again for the best player's card giveaway. I will visit for a free box of Russell Stouffer's chocolate -- in a heart shaped box of course.

I might even use my free birthday buffet -- I only wish it were steak night, but I believe that is Friday and Saturday.

Yesterday, the Orleans was giving away Valentine's chocolate, but you had to earn 100 points between 11 am and 7 pm -- which was too restricting for me.

Meanwhile, Station Casinos is offering 7X points the 14-18 to promote their new free play for points system. My normal cautious play might get me a buffet or two (or perhaps $10 free play depending how I want to spend it) -- I'll probably spend some time there each day.

Players LOVE WMS' Wizard of Oz Slots

I was walking through the Orleans yesterday, past the two Wizard of Oz slots that they have, when I heard a woman stop, and positively gush "Oh look, they have IT!" pointing to the Oz slots like it was truly her heart's desire.

She didn't have much chance to play the slots, as they are so popular, people are usually two or three deep in their vicinity watching others play, and hoping to get a turn.

The same is true at Red Rock.

I just don't understand why slot managers don't put in more of these machines. Over the past few months they have proven to be more than a passing interest, like Top Gun or Monopoly Top Box.

For whatever reason, people really love to play the Wizard of Oz.

I've played it enough to know that it gets dull real quick as my credits vanish -- like pretty much every other slot machine. It is fairly volatile, and if you don't get a nice visit from Glinda the Good Witch, or pick well in the Oz bonus, you can kiss your money goodbye.

I'm not sure exactly why this machine is so successful -- maybe it is because there are so few of them, or people just love to hate those flying monkeys.