planning a vegas trip

[Jeff Dubya]

Your best bet is to make contact with a casino host, tell him your expected bankroll and see what kind of a sweet rate he can get for you.

Maybe I'm too inexperienced, or stupid, or both... but I played to the levels my host indicated I should and come check out day, my buddy (who had played at pretty much the same levels I did and for the same amount of time) got fully comped and I didn't get jack.

I still need to research this issue a bit further to understand how comps really work, perhaps my bankroll is still a bit too small. But for now, it's a lot of smoke and mirrors in my book.

 

[callipygian]

I don't think Bellagio will comp rooms for $100 avg a hand even if the play is 6-8 hours per day. The avg is just too low

Really?

$100/hand x 100 hands/hr x 1% house edge x 7 hrs = $700 for the house

Based on a 1/4 return rate, that's $175 worth of comps, and I think that's pretty much the price of a room on weekdays. The poker rate is $179/weekday, $279/weekend, and I'm guessing that's pretty close to cost.

 

[shadroch]

Really?

$100/hand x 100 hands/hr x 1% house edge x 7 hrs = $700 for the house

Based on a 1/4 return rate, that's $175 worth of comps, and I think that's pretty much the price of a room on weekdays. The poker rate is $179/weekday, $279/weekend, and I'm guessing that's pretty close to cost.

A BS player would have half that house edge,bringing the house take down to $350.
Assuming he's playing at full tables and taking a break every so often,we're now talking 60 hands x $100 X .5% he x 7 hours = $210 for the house. That may get you a buffet or two if the PB is in a good mood.

 

[Doofus]

I don't think Bellagio will comp rooms for $100 avg a hand even if the play is 6-8 hours per day. The avg is just too low

This is correct. However, playing $100 a hand at Bellagio will get you plenty of free room offers from other MGM properties. I've had something like 6 sets of free 3 night stays at MGM Grand that came about solely because I visited Bellagio twice last winter and had a per-hand average of $100 a hand, playing at Bellagio almost exclusively.

A host told me that when you are on a trip, it doesn't matter which MGM shop you gamble at, they will credit your play back to your account.

One nice thing about paying for your own room at Bellagio, however, is the fact that you can bribe a checkin clerk for an upgrade to a suite, with a high level of success. Whenever Mrs. Doofus goes along with me on a trip I forego the free room at MGM Grand and pay a gambler's rate at Bellagio. Then I check in with Mr. Franklin and I am magically upgraded.

 

[Jeff Dubya]

One nice thing about paying for your own room at Bellagio, however, is the fact that you can bribe a checkin clerk for an upgrade to a suite, with a high level of success. Whenever Mrs. Doofus goes along with me on a trip I forego the free room at MGM Grand and pay a gambler's rate at Bellagio. Then I check in with Mr. Franklin and I am magically upgraded.

Depending on the property, much less. I was amazed at what a nice upgrade a $20 can purchase at Harrahs. When I first heard this trick I thought "there's no way this will work" but I was actually encouraged to try it by the casino host who said not only is it usually a winner, but your gratuity will usually be returned if no upgrades are available.

 

[callipygian]

A BS player would have half that house edge,bringing the house take down to $350.

They don't expect everyone to play perfect basic strategy, do they? I've heard the hold for blackjack is something closer to 2%.

One nice thing about paying for your own room at Bellagio, however, is the fact that you can bribe a checkin clerk for an upgrade to a suite, with a high level of success.

You can do this at any number of hotels.

 

[RingyDingy]

Trip thus far

I still do not have dates confirmed as yet, still waiting on some work stuff to go through.

But here is what i will probably do:

At this stage id like to stay in a decent hotel, im thinking Ceasars (i like the health club/spa there) or somthing similar, your opionions very welcome.

Ive got contact details for a Harrah's host so ill probably go through him, seems like a nice enough guy.

in terms of comps or not, well ill let him decide based on my play what they get me, im not expecting much, and its not the main reason for the trip.

So once dates are confirmed, and i book my flights, ill then start the ball rolling, ill post details here with my plans and thoughts.

Thanks everyone for their info and help thus far, you guys are great.

cheers

Ringy