How to Get the Most from Casino Comps..Part Two the Casino Rate

We're back and I hope to all of you that you had a great Thanksgiving Holiday. I know I'm still stuffed from my meal on Thursday and I'm looking forward to eating my Turkey Day dinner next year. Is that pathetic or what? Well, when I last left you I had started a little series of mini-posts that I'm going to do the next few posts and that is talking about how to get the most out of Casino Comps or Casino Complimentary Give Away Stuff. Things like free food, cash back, free drinks, tickets to a show and stays at the hotel you're gambling. I got into the basics of the casino comps and how important it is to get into contact with the casino host or pit boss at the casino you are gambling. This is the way to get the ball rolling. To introduce yourself and to get your players card. Once you have the players card you can use it while playing slots or if you're playing table games let the pit boss know that you want your play to be rated.

Ah, see how I segweyed into that. The next discussion of this subject matter for casino comps is how to understand the casino rate. Now just so I don't confuse all of you out there, I'm tallking about the rate you can get as a player at a casino on room stays and not the rating process. So I'm sorry if there was some kind of confusion. To that end we have some quick info about how to get the elusive discounted room rates that the casinos offer to their players. First and foremost, casino rates for rooms aren't just thrown out to people for showing up at the casino. The general rule I've seen is that casino hosts and the casino marketing departments that manage the player development process require that gamblers and casino players gamble at least four hours a day and also gamble a minium level of bet. That's half the battle as far as I've seen, because many people believe that just being in the casino should allow them to get the casino comps. Now on the other hand, when it comes to slot and video machines the rule generally changes and the fact is that each casino sets it's own limit as to the amount a player is betting through the machines each day the play. Again, it has to be a minium level of some cash value.

The goal is to understand the rules of the casino comp game to get the casino rate. The ultimate goal, no doubt is to get the elusive free room and or suite at the casino, but as I stated, getting a casino rate where the room is deeply discounted is also an option and a much easier thing to obtain. The strategy is very simple. If you're going on vacation to say a Las Vegas Casino Hotel, call up that hotel and as to speak with a casino host. They will explain to you the rules and the levels of play you need to have in order to qualify for free and or discounted rooms. It really is that easy. Remember, the casino hosts are there to get you into the casinos to gamble and play so you're not putting them out. Being prepared to get the most out of your stay at the casino hotel is the best way to understand how to get the most from your casino comps.

We'll be coming back in a few more days to discuss more perks that come along with casino comps. Don't miss out.

How to Get the Most from Casino Comps...Part One Casino Comp Basics

Today I will begin a series of postings about how to get the most from casino comps. For those of you out there that read my blog that some how don't know what I'm talking about, casino comps are basically complimentary offers provided by casinos. Things such as free rooms, free dining, free shows and everything the mind could imagine. The casino comp strategy is very simple. It is a way to promote good will with the casino's customers and a way to keep them coming back to play. 

Getting casino comps is a process. Understanding that process from it's basic points all the way through to improving the level and sophistication of the comps you can receive and be eligible for will enhance your success at getting the best comps. The first step in getting involved in the casino comp process is to approach a casino host and ask to have your play rates. There are two ways to have your play rated depending on the type of game your playing. If you're a slot player you will use your card by directly inserting it into the machine during play. If you're playing at a table game, you will have to have the areas pit boss rate your play. 

The biggest part of this process is developing a relationship with a casino host. Point blank this is the single most important person to meet and cultivate a relationship in your pursuit of the sweetest of casino comps. 

After making contact with your casino host at your favorite casino resort, the next thing to do and this is ongoing, is to make sure that your play is being rated. Use your card whenever you play and make sure that the pit boss is aware that you're playing when you're at a table game.

The world of Casino Comps comes with many treasures and really can offer an experience. It is well worth looking into these programs if you are a regular player.

2008 Christmas Fun Events...Casino Style..

As far as I'm concerned today is the day that the 2008 Christmas and Greater Holiday season has started. For some it's the day after Halloween. That's just a little too early. To others it's Thanksgiving. Well I have a special friend who has a birthday today and I start the holiday season on this day. Some Happy Holidays !!!

To that end and because this is a casino related blog, let's talk about doing the Holiday Season Casino Style. Around the country many casino properties, if not all, take time to put together great Holiday events. I'd rather give you these updates now so you can have time to plan.

1- Out of Las Vegas the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino has it's annual Holiday Jam Slam. The event is sponsored by 107.9 and Budweiser. It's just a great series of Las Vegas holiday events that go on Friday December 12th, starting at 7pm. 

2- Let's head out to the east coast as the Trans Siberian Orchestra comes to the cold Atlantic City Boardwalk to don it's incredible style of Christmas style and rock music. This is great Atlantic City Entertainment and something worth seeing.

3- Making your way down to sunny Florida for the holiday and or Christmas season? Well if casino fun is what you're looking for the Seminole Hard Rock Casino is showing the Nightmare before Christmas in 3-D. Maybe a little bit out of the Christmas Style of things to do, but if you're a Tim Burton fan you'll know that this movie is made for kids and Christmas. 

I hope this gets you guys into the Christmas Spirit just a little and makes for some fun and memorable things to do. 

2008 Gaming Convention off to Start Amid Bad Economic Times...

The current economic downturn has effected more than Wall Street, Main Street, the Auto Makers and other big industry. The Gaming industry and the casinos in the various jurisdictions are feeling the pain. As most of you have heard I've been on a rant for a few days on many posts about the Atlantic City Casinos and the problems they have been experiencing for almost a year now. The issue is, that these problems are far more reaching than just the Atlantic City areae and that is just what the 2008 Gaming Conference has on it's agenda to discuss. The convention's official name the Globabl Gaming Expo, is expected to bring with it about 30,000 gaming professionals to the city of Las Vegas. Sure the economic times are tough, and even this kind of traveling is expensive to any company's books, but a sign of solidarity and bouncing some ideas off of each other is still a must.

Statistics that have been gathered show that as a whole, industry revenue across the United States in the third quarter was down by 4.6%. Many gaming officials are seeing two general reasons for this issue. The first , the economy is keeping the consumers from coming to the casinos and spending money. The second, due to the tight credit markets financial institutions are less likely to lend money with decent interest rates in order to keep casinos a float and to invest in property and marketing initiatives.

The opinion of this writer is that there is far more issues that face the gaming industry today. No doubt that the economic downturn keeps people from spending money. That's an easy one to analyze. The issues I'm seeing are that for whatever reason, the jursidictions, the states, the very people that have benefited economically from legalizing these businesses are more than half the problem. Tighter legislation, laws that actually negatively effect the industry such as anti-smoking, and other efforts on the part of the populace of many of these jurisdictions just are hindering any rebound.

It is my hope that this conference brings to the forefront these issues a little more and in greater view of the people that are being effected. In times when economic downturn was an issue, the legalization of casinos was a viable option. Why, now are many biting the hand that feeds them?

Ok, One Last Time About the Atlantic City Casino Smoking Ban..

To the pundits, the readers, the members and everyone in between, there is no doubt where my opinion lies when it comes to the effects of the smoking ban on Atlantic City casinos. For those of you not intimately involved with the day to day routine of the Atlantic City New Jersey area, today officially, a suspension of that ban was created. The expected back lash or anti-smoking groups, labor groups and any one else that fits into that category of course is completely irate at this latest step back in there cause. I even heard on a local talk radio station today one caller trying to make the case that anti-smoking laws actually had little to do with contributing to the declining performance of the Atlantic City Casinos. She cited the fact that during the same time the Las Vegas Casinos, which do not have anti-smoking legislation in place, have also reported a decline of 22% during the same time period. No doubt her point being that, overall, the failing economy is the real monster behind all decline and unfortunately, the anti-smoking laws in the Atlantic City casinos is just a spurious correlation.

Well, first and foremost, as I start all my posts about this issue, I deplore smoking, have been personally effected by tragedy caused by disease to family members, and totally understand and agree that second hand smoke is a reality that exists. Then, as I also do, I have no choice but to acknowledge that with casinos and the market of consumer it attracts, an inconvenient truth is evident. With casinos come a whole type of personality. That includes, sad to say, people of vice and overindulgence. And yes, that includes smokers..Poker players like their cigars, old slot veterans love their long cigarettes. These people like to drink and smoke and that's just that.

The correlation of Las Vegas to what is happening in Atlantic City is very low. Yes, the economy is a part of both market's woes. Problem is Atlantic City's woe's started long before the economy's issues reared it's head. Between the smoking ban and increased competition from neighboring states, the effects came quick and powerfully.

So that's it. The ban is lifted at least for the time being. Let's see if the proof truly is in the pudding. 

Poker Tournaments....Info for the Gambling Purists..

Hello and welcome back to my blog. Recently I've been obsessed with posting my opinions relating to the smoking ban legislation and how it is effecting, or to be fair contributing to the negative performance of the overall casino market in Atlantic City. Well, I'm going to take a break and step down from my stump for a bit here and get back to some basics.

One thing I have commented on in some time are the myriad of Poker Tournaments and the overall poker circuit. For anyone even remotely interested in casino action, the subject of poker has to be exciting. In my "travels" online I constantly search for good resources that offer first hand and informed information and for this subject of Poker I've found a great blog. One such blog that is authored by a professional poker player and who reports on Poker Tournaments is a great place to check out.

You'll see updated information about well known players on the circuit, schedules of up and coming tournaments around the country and get an inside feel for the world of professional poker.

So check out this great and informative blog. 

We're Back with More Casino Information..

Sorry for the absence my loyal friends, but I've had to deal with some personal issues over the last week. I come back to the fold with a theme that I've spoken about many times before...The ban of smoking in the casinos of atlantic city and the subsequent temporary repeal of this ban for the next year.

Just in case you've been in a bubble, happened to do missionary work in a part of the world that doesn't get the internet or if this is just the first time you've read one of my blog posts, I'll make it easy. I'm very much against any kind of ban on smoking in the casinos of Atlantic City. Just to re-cap Atlantic City casinos have seen some of the worst declining performances on a month to month basis in almost 30 years. Sure there are lot's of reasons for this, including the infringing competition of local states such as Delaware, Pennsylvania, New York and now I'm hearing Maryland, but in the face of all that taking away a natural and complimentary thing from the core market has always seemed absurd to me.

Yes, let me get this out of the way too. I realize that there are significant reports about the trends of second hand smoking and how bad the employees have it at the casinos. Yes, I can understand because I have had several people close to me, including family that have unfortunately been stricken down, no doubt from second hand smoke. Finally, yes, I want there to be a place where people can work and not have to deal with this kind of thing.

All this pales in the face of a terrifying thought. The thought of a quiet and cold whispering wind blowing down the Boardwalk in a winter not so far off. A quiet that is pierced here and there by the sound of small pockets of facilities that survived to have slots here and there. A place where street after street has boarded up businesses including casinos. For many they feel it's not a reality. To me its' very real.

I often bring up the example of Flint Michigan. If any of you have the stomach go rent a movie called Roger and Me. It's a startling look at how a city and region can fold in the face of a decline of the most contributing industry. This reality is very close to what could happen in Atlantic City.