Fewer people paying Vegas a visit

Discussion: 9 comments so far…

1. By Indianadave

   8/11/08 at 5:05 p.m.

   Suggest removal

   Here we sit in Indiana just itchin' to come back to our favorite vacation destination (Vegas of course), but lickin' our wounds from our last visit. We used to be 3 times a year visitors, but last May we had our most unfun trip out there in history. A clue- slot players come to Vegas for one reason, to play slots. Slots that are reasonably calibrated so that the player can play for 2 or 3 hours on a $100. Hell, we know slot odds are against the player and 90% of the time it's empty pockets, but we're willing to spend $400 for the entertainment daily. Last visit, our $400 was down the tubes in an hour or two. No fun, just a bad taste in the mouth. We've got 8 or 10 casinos here in the Chicago area, a two hour drive. Kinda dumb to come out 2000 miles to get skinned. I sincerely hope the Vegas powers see the problem and go back to doing business like the Mob ran it. They were content to wet their beaks and desired happy return customers. Fix it, Vegas, we want to come back.

2. By casinokid

   8/11/08 at 10:46 p.m.

   Suggest removal

   Amen brother before the quarterly profits of the so called upstanding corporations came in to the picture you could actualy win from time to time, How long has it been since you heard of someone winning a major jackpot? A year or so, Ten years ago you would here about someone winning at least every four or five months.
   The owners feel better calling it entertainment but its not its gambling and i want a game that will allow me to win some, i used to go to vegas with 1500.00 and play all week long on it and pay for the room too with meals but the greedy corps want it in two days.
   At least when the mobs owned the place you would win and be payed as long as you didnt cheat.
   So who is stealing from who?

   Casinokid

3. By PatriciaLV

   8/12/08 at 7:37 a.m.

   Suggest removal

   Try being a local & winning. HAH.

   When I first moved here in 2000 it was different. You actually COULD and usually DID win in what they call the "locals' casinos" (e.g., Texas Station, Fiesta, Arizona Charlie's).

   No more.

   It is months (if that) between "wins" and those "wins" pale in comparison to what one used to win.

   They're losing the locals' business, too; not that they care about us anyway.

4. By swaddill

   8/12/08 at 11:05 a.m.

   Suggest removal

   4 times a year now 1..why? blackjack..they thought they would be wise and got cheap..first it was hitting soft 17,then no mid-round entry,then 8 decks..but when they started the 6.5 bj payouts i was done..And heaven help you if you ever get on a roll and bonk them for a couple grand..you will be asked to leave..but they have no problem taking my 2 grand..jerkwads

5. By Canadian

   8/13/08 at 12:55 a.m.

   Suggest removal

   Las Vegas doesn't want me anymore. I'm retired, on a fixed income. Not a big bettor. No clubs for me, no $100+ shows either. Have no interest in big ticket clothing from brand name retailers or fancy food from fancy restaurants. I used to go to play nickels and quarters all night, maybe some low minimum blackjack and buy the graveyard specials. I didn't shop for comps, but I did use the old coupons for some deals.

   I've stayed in just about every hotel on the strip, but now it appears only two are in my price range.

   I love the city, and like to walk thru all the gambling halls, soaking up the sounds and energy of the crowds. The recent passing of Robert Maheu reminded me that the Hughes' era was my favorite. The last decade of giant money sucking corporate greed has reduced my annual visits from four to only one.

   There are now seven casinos within a 30 minute drive of my home. Las Vegas can invite me back with some decent room prices, good machines and tables to play and food deals to talk about when I come back here.

6. By Indianadave

   8/13/08 at 5 p.m.

   Suggest removal

   Casino kid, PatriciaLV, Canadian, & Swaddill...good remarks. I'm no shrinking violet and when we were out there in May I loudly proclaimed to every hotel manager I came in contact with my displeasure over the non-paying slots. It's impossible to BS a veteran of 45 years slot playing. A few of the "suits" sheepishly admitted that payoff has been reduced and that they hoped upper management would come to their senses. My wife and I retired 5 years ago and I had grand visions of entering Slot Heaven and spending a great deal of of our golden years happily indulging in our favorite past-time, mostly at Las Vegas. Why does Bozo Partypooper always have to come around and ruin a good thing? If I was a casino mogul, I'd rather have a house full of happy partygoers, rather than a few high-rolling whales that can afford the high-end suites and meals. Well, we are taking a wait and see attitude. We have been going to local casinos only once a month here in Indiana-Illinois. The Las Vegas funds are accumulating in the bank with interest. Show us the fun, Las Vegas and we'll be back in a heartbeat. Otherwise, I'm on the verge of buying a 60 inch HD TV and calling it quits to slots forever. Peace and good luck!

7. By PatriciaLV

   8/15/08 at 7:31 a.m.

   Suggest removal

   That's just it, Indianadave; the high-rollers DON'T pay for any of that stuff. They IMMEDIATELY get comped just for showing up because the properties know they're going to drop a tidy sum gambling.

   The fabulously wealthy rarely actually pay for anything in this town.

   The strip casinos want the big names in their places because that attracts the rest of the people; the people who actually spend money because they have to pay for everything.

   They don't care. They get their fat pay checks & year-end bonuses (not to mention percentages of the profits). The rest of us can go to hell as far as they're concerned.

   But now it's starting to bite them in their collective asses because we (the little people who pay for everything) aren't spending our money in their places any more. And they're hurting.

   Karma's a beautiful thing sometimes.

8. By Canadian

   8/17/08 at 4:05 a.m.

   Suggest removal

   Casino Moguls should be required to take a trip to Reno. It was buzzing with excitement, customers, celebrities, casino action and ME. Now it's a shell of its glory days. Yes there are reasons for the collapse. The lesson to be learned is that collapse CAN happen, and keeping them (me) coming is more important than increasing the take.

9. By mediamanoz

   8/18/08 at 8:04 p.m.

   Suggest removal

   And there's also a trend for many punters to try their luck in online casinos. I think that the traditional casinos that don't get with the times and also offer something enticing online are up for a challenge. Even Australia's gaming and news media king pin, James Packer, lost a packet overseas trying to get a few casinos off the ground, some a few folks much be hurting even at the big end of town. Here down under in Australia a few insiders are going to check out the Australasian Gaming Expo in Sydney on the 24th of this month. The gaming sector continues to be shaken up all over.

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