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New England Casinos on a $250 Bankroll

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New England States

New England Casinos on a $250 Bankroll  “If you had a limited budget/bankroll of $250, which New England casino would you choose and what games would you play and why?”
Someone asked me this question a few months ago and I keep revisiting it in my mind. But I couldn’t take that question for face value….. oh, noooooh……I needed more info, some criteria to base my opinion on.

Criteria – 2 Players, $250 Bankroll

So, I came up with two different players, both variations of myself: 
  1. Player 1 (we’ll call him Rob) is inexperienced, has no particular affiliation to any New England Casino, but has a players card from all of them.
  2. Player 2 (we’ll call him Bin) favors a few, has been playing for years and also has played at the all with a players card from them all, but favors two.
  3. Both players, amazingly, know how to play table games, video poker and like playing slots in the same way.  Favorite table games include Pai Gow Poker, Craps & Blackjack in that order.
  4. Both players are looking to play in New England Casinos on a $250 Bankroll
Here are a few personal notes about Rob & Bin:
  • They like to play for long periods of time.
  • They also enjoy short daily bursts (which is not good for their Average  Daily Theoretical ).
  • Both enjoy relaxing individual play, but at times  prefer the camaraderie Craps & Pai Gow Poker.
  • The goal is to play as long as possible on a bankroll of $250
  • Finally, the most important criteria is kinda right out of the Sci-Fi channel. Each one owns a worm hole to transport themselves to any of the eight casinos instantly. (Pretty cool, huh?)
So let’s begin.

Rob (Player 1)

Rob doesn’t favor one New England Casino over another. Rob believes each has its advantages and disadvantages. But where to play…….hmmmmmm…..

With no loyalty to any casino Rewards Clubs playing long and a chance of winning big is the priority. Food options or playing for comps is secondary. Rob prefers to play at:

#1 (preferred) – Foxwoods.

The wonder of it all

The wonder of it all

“The Wonder of It All” –  Rob enjoys starting in the Asian Gaming area in the Rainmaker Casino for $15 Pai Gow Poker. Another great option is $5 craps in the Cedars Casino (beware, odds bets now have a 5X limit instead of 10X).  If that didn’t work out, two possible plans with what was left – play bar top machines with Double Super Times Pay with decent pay tables at $.05 for Triple-Play & Five-play at Play Bar in the Cedars Casino or the Racebook with a good bar with great service.  Cedars Casino also has stadium gaming.
When a break was needed, the dining options at Foxwoods run the gamut from casual to classy.

#2 (Runner-up) MGM Springfield

MGM Springfield from I-91

MGM Springfield from I-91

This property can be  a lot of fun. The slots are new and plentiful. Rob prefers to visit the craps table first.  Midweek, you can find $10 craps tables, not the best for a $250 bankroll, but playable. Also, MGM Springfield offers the “The Morning Deal”. Every Monday-Friday from 6am – 9am $5 minimums are available on Black Jack, Three Card Poker, Four Card Poker, Ultimate Texas Hold’Em, Let it Ride Poker.
Plan B would be slots, slots, and more slots. Rob would not bother with video poker, unless it was at the bar for socializing and free drinks. The video poker pay tables are terrible. The fact that all Massachusetts casinos are non-smoking is a plus. In addition, the fact that the rewards club, MLife, is connected to many other properties across the country is a perk Rob enjoys as one of his casino players cards.

Bin (Player 2)

Only one choice for Bin –

Mohegan Sun. 

Mohegan Sun Resort Casino

Mohegan Sun, CT

Why?
A. Best gambling odds.
Full-Pay JOB Video Poker, with 9/6 Double Double Bonus available also.
$15 Pai Gow Poker tables
$5 Craps tables
One of the largest assortment of slots in the East Coast.
B.Amenities
Best New England Player lounges.
Great Spas
Point Promotions – 2X (Momentum & Status), 3X (Status), Status Mayhem of 2X-5X
Special parking for upper tier status levels, starting at Leap, 3rd level out of 5)
Entertainment options and offers are beyond special and plentiful, with new entertainment venues opening all the time.  Comix Roadhouse, Nouvelle, and Game On! are examples of special entertainment options.  The Mohegan Sun Arena has been voted best concert venue 5 out of the last 8 years.
C. Dining options – especially best at the low to mid dining cost.
D. Mohegan Sun Players Rewards – while the Rewards Club  is not easy to work with for low and mid rollers, Mohegan Sun is connected to other casinos such as Mohegan Sun Poconos,  Resorts in Atlantic City and soon the new Virgin Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. (Formerly the Hard Rock.)
E. The Property – Mohegan Sun’s two casinos’ design incorporates tribal decor with an enjoyable spaciousness.  It’s comfy, besides beautiful, unique, and awesome.
So, those are the New England Casinos that Bin & Rob would visit with a bankroll of  a $250.  It might be different if the bankrolls were $100 or $1000.  But, that’s for another post.
Remember, when gambling,” Embrace the Math, Not the Myth.”
Binbin, Bin, & Rob

7 Crucial Habits for Slot, Keno and VP Players

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senior-playing-slotsIf you love to play slots at your casino of choice, then you love the excitement that precedes that first pull. Subsequently, if you If you love to play electronic casino games, 7 Crucial Habits for Slot, Keno and VP Players is  what you need. You rush to it like a long lost friend. But in the rush to play, many players forget to be mindful of certain important events that precede that play – there are things you need to check before that first push of the button. So many slot players get caught up in the excitement of playing, the anticipation of winning or even the disappointment of a losing session, that they forget the following checklist before they play. Forgetting any one of the following items could cost you money and/or comps. Remember this Pre-Play Checklist

1. Get a Rewards Card

MLife Rewards Club of MGM

MLife Rewards Club of MGM

It’s free. It reduces the casino edge by earning comps on dining, shows, and giveaways. That free hotel room might not feel free with losses, but if you’re going to play, get something for it, no matter how little you may play. And, always get two cards. How many times do you lose your card or forget it in a machine? Lots! Before you regret sitting at that favorite machine and finding your card is missing, always ask for more than one card at the rewards desk.

2. Check the Game Denomination

Have you ever played a penny slot machine, only to realize it was a dollar, not a penny? It happens when slot and video poker players mistake the basic denomination of the machine. Be sure you’re spending the correct amount you intend for your bankroll.  Some machines have denomination options, like nickel, quarter, or dollar video poker.  Be careful on these machines after you have chosen which game to play – you still may have to check and choose the correct denomination for your play.

3. Check Your Players Card

Being More Careful with your Players Card is just one of the things to be careful with in the casino

If I only had a dollar for every time I made a player aware that their players card needed to be re-inserted, I could double my bankroll. Before you play, insert your card and wait to see that it registers your name. If it starts blinking, take it out completely and try it again. Some casinos, like Mohegan Sun, only process one event at a time.  If you love to put in your money or TITO at the same time as the card, the card usually doesn’t register. Take your time and insert one, then the other.

By the way, don’t be a “conspiracy Charlie” (or Charlene) concerning what the card does. It is not connected to changes in denomination, it doesn’t change payoff percentage because “it knows you won” and it doesn’t hold back jackpots. Don’t play without your Card, it’s the only way you can earn comps these days with the new casino players clubs. Most casinos only comp you only according to the playing data registered by your card.

Related Post – Casino Players Club Cards – The Truth to Correct the Myths

4. Be Sure Your Money or TITO Ticket registers in the Machine

Ticket In, Ticket Out! TITO

Ticket In, Ticket Out! TITO

Sometimes in your rush, you have trouble with your money or your ticket. One trick is to use a machine next to you if you have trouble. Some slots just have trouble reading what you add. Use that machine to get a fresh TITO Ticket.

5. One Last Check BEFORE YOU PLAY

Money in, players card registering, the denomination is correct. Ready to go.

6. Leaving the Machine

Before you leave that machine, win or lose, follow these easy quick Habits for Leaving the Machine. This habit will stop leaving your players cards in the machine as well as your money.  Yes, it does happen!  And there are people in the casino watching for just that mistake.  It only takes a moment with you looking the other way to happen someone snatch your ticket without you noticing.  It happened to me one morning at Red Rock Resort in Las Vegas, it can happen to you, too.

7. When cashing out, get in the following habit

This is personal NETG part of 7 Crucial Habits:

  1. Push cash out button.
  2. Right hand takes card
  3. Left hand positioned at TITO dispenser.
  4. Check for both in hand before leaving.

Remember, CARD & TICKET, CARD & TICKET.

Make these 7 Crucial Habits for Slot, Keno and VP Players part of your every session practice.Now, go get that jackpot.

Binbin

Casino Industry Rewards, ADT and ITV

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Casino Industry Rewards, ADT and ITV should all go hand in hand. Loyalty Programs needs more than just ADT to decide players comps. ADT, or Average Daily Theoretical, is what drives the casino industry comp system. ADT measures your worth to the casino. With local casinos so close to so many Americans, gambling has never been more popular. But the loyalty system based on ADT needs something more  – it needs ITV.  We know about casinos and your ADT, but what’s ITV you ask? Read on….

Related Post – Casino Comps and “Average Daily Theoretical”

TravelZork’s Michael Trager recently wrote an article “Why Vegas Casino Loyalty Is Broken.” It looked at what is happening in Las Vegas with casino rewards and casino fees. And previously, in his TwitPic of the Week Monologue (360 Vegas Podcast Episode #282) Mark Wojtowic referred to it as well. Both inspired me.  So, I ask you, “what is the casino industry missing in offering a better recreational gambling experience?”

What motivates our recreational Gambling experience?

 

Intrinsic motivation refers to behavior that is driven by internal rewards. It’s something that arises within the individual because the behavior is naturally satisfying. This contrasts with extrinsic motivation, which involves a behavior to earn external rewards.

ADT is built on extrinsic rewards – comped dining, entertainment and free slot play. The physical casino also offers extrinsic motivation. Sounds, chair comfort, colors and casino design all aid to offer some form of endorphin release. Even the scent of casino air is sometimes artificially enhanced for the gambler’s benefit.

Recreational gambling offers lots of extrinsic rewards. But the gaming industry has forgotten, or chose to disregard, the most important part. The chance of winning and the time spent in the chase is more important than all of that.  In other words, the intrinsic incentive of fun in recreational gambling is ceasing to be a factor.

Average Daily Theoretical and Intrinsic Motivation

Average Daily Theoretical is your value to the casino. The math to determine your ADT is based on the above.

ADT (Average Daily Theoretical) is how the casino measures your worth. It considers how much you play, the denomination of your play, and the length of time you play in a day. I suggest it’s time we, the casino guest, measure the casino’s worth by developing a new measurement called IVT (Intrinsic Theoretical Value). It would be a measure of bankroll length, gaming rules, rewards club comparisons and winnings.

Seriously, an ITV sounds crazy, but, it could work. The player would log the following when gambling:

  • comparing length of bankroll,
  • gaming rules
  • awarded comps  “over time”
  • and maybe an ambiance/fun quotient

We then would compare casino value in a vaguely measurable way. Think how cool it would be to visit a casino on the basis of their “ITV.”  Casino Industry Rewards, ADT and ITV – are they a future consideration?

Lower slots odds, 6:5 Blackjack, automatic shuffle machines, less odds at the Craps table, and unplayable video poker, have damaged our intrinsic motivation. Give the player less “bells and whistles.” Increase the hope of winning and the length of time our bankroll lasts. The ever-present greed in the gambling industry is causing a feeling  of “why bother?” This is your recreational gambling ITV taking a hit.

las Vegas data misunderstood?

Las Vegas

Resort Fees, Low Gambling Value Increses in Las Vegas & the rest of the U.S.

In Las Vegas, gambling CEO’s seem puzzled by the dip in gambling revenue. But most months have a higher visitor stat. One main reason is that the total gambling bankroll is shackled. Parking fees, resort fees, CSN fees, higher food and drink prices, and less player comps are all the culprits. Add a bigger house edge with game rules and pay out percentages like 6:5 BJ and 7/5 video poker and “why bother?” That response is an internal feeling of hopelessness in the experience of gambling, a decreased ITV.

Casino Rewards Clubs are also squeezing the fun out of the experience.  Cut backs in comps and rewards, such as in CET’s Total Rewards and Boyd’s B Connected, are changing where we gamble. One example is shortened periods for accruing rewards points . Another is the tightening of casino rewards programs, making it harder to rise in tier level.

Conclusion

IVT will increase with greater hospitality, gambling options, and less “nickel & dining.” CEO’s wouldn’t need to be looking for skill-based games, stadium gaming and sports betting as THE panacea for their misappropriated understanding of getting guests of all ages through the doors.

It’s really so simple. I feel good when my gambling experience lasts longer and is potentially better financially. I will visit more, stay longer, and take in more amenities at the casino property inner motivation has been met.

Binbin