Room comps at Fallsview?

[halcyon1234]

Hey,

Has anyone gotten a room comp'd at Fallsview? I'm going to be going on a Thursday, a day where it's presumably less busy. Is there any chance of getting a room comp'd while playing Blackjack and Poker. Any idea of how much I should be betting, etc?

Thanks!

[KenSmith]

I don't have any data on what kind of action they expect, but I can warn you about one gotcha. When I was headed there for the first time ever about a year ago, I booked a special room rate on their website, assuming that I would be able to get it comped before checking out. Well, I played enough, but their policies don't allow any special room rates to be comped. Once you book a special, you're paying for it. If I had booked at the normal rate, the room would have been comped.

I've noticed that the Canadian casinos have a lot of restrictive government regulations which they must comply with.

[halcyon1234]

Thanks for the reply, Ken.

My brother and I are driving down from Toronto, so it's really only a ~2 hour drive. We're planning on just driving back after our session, but I figure that if I can weasle a free room out of the casino, I wouldn't mind staying a while and seeing the Falls.

If I may ask, how much had you wagered (roughly)? I'll admit we aren't going in with massive-o-mungus bankrolls, so I might be entirely outclassed and won't even bother asking for a room. (Or I'll ask for a room and settle for a free lunch =) )

[KenSmith]

I was there for two nights for last year's Canadian Masters of Blackjack championship. I figured that playing blackjack on that trip wouldn't necessarily be a good idea, so I played video poker instead. (They offer full-pay Pick'em at the $5 level. It's a 99.92% return plus cashback.) I can't remember what kind of action I gave them, but it was a lot of VP coin-in. Probably more than $50K.

FWIW, I just got off the phone with them now, booking this year's event. It's March 23rd. $1500 CDN entry fee, $125K CDN first place. Limited to 168 players. I'm playing in the 3 PM session.

[halcyon1234]

Originally Posted by KenSmith

I was there for two nights for last year's Canadian Masters of Blackjack championship. I figured that playing blackjack on that trip wouldn't necessarily be a good idea, so I played video poker instead. (They offer full-pay Pick'em at the $5 level. It's a 99.92% return plus cashback.) I can't remember what kind of action I gave them, but it was a lot of VP coin-in. Probably more than $50K.

Gotcha. Depending on how long I play (and how many positive shoes I see), I might be in that range. Thanks.

FWIW, I just got off the phone with them now, booking this year's event. It's March 23rd. $1500 CDN entry fee, $125K CDN first place. Limited to 168 players. I'm playing in the 3 PM session.

Nice. Good luck! (I'll be at the casino earlier in the month, or I'd drop in for a "hi" =) )

[halcyon1234]

Just got back from the casino (see my report in the Counting forum). I didn't get a room comped-- though I dearly would have loved to. The region was hit by a massive ice storm, and I'd have rather stayed in a free room than drive home. C'est la vive.

It wasn't for lack of trying, let me tell you. I first played two shoes of blackjack, then hours of poker, then more shoes of blackjack. If I had to guess, I'd say I wagered ~$3600.

Attempt 1: At the Blackjack pit, after playing two shoes and ratholing a bunch of chips I talked to a critter. This was the first time I'd used my p-card, so that is why he (said he) couldn't give me the room. But he did comp my buffet.

Attempt 2: In the poker pit, after 4 hours, went to Pit Shift 2 and asked "because of the weather-- would like to play more-- blah blah-- oh, and that nice lady on Pit Crew 1 was mentioning something about a room?" Alas, they couldn't comp the room. Basically, they only comp poker players ~$0.40 an hour. No love, man. Regardless, I tried to hit up Pit Crew 3 after my next poker session before dinner. No luck.

Attempt 3: Played about 6 shoes at the end of the night. Got to talking with one of the critters-- real nice guy-- and he really tried to finagle a room for me. But for rooms the crits have to put in a request to players services or something, and they denied me. Oh well. (And I was even ratholing chips and playfully going on about how "well, even when I lose, your dealers still make the game fun...")

Maybe by next time, I'll have enough points/rep/whatever to get a room. Or I'll increase my spread, win, and get a $50 fleabag across the street =)