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StumbleBoyd Gaming changing player loyalty program
Wednesday, June 30, 2010 | 1:14 p.m.
Boyd Gaming announced this week that it is replacing its local Club Coast player loyalty program with a nationwide, multi-property brand.
B Connected will be replacing the Club Coast brand used at the Gold Coast, Suncoast, Sam’s Town and The Orleans. Customers of these properties will keep all of their points and benefits previously earned under the Club Coast program said.
“With a single brand and more consistent rules, customers will find it easier than ever to reap the benefits of the B Connected program,” said Paul Chakmak, executive vice president and chief operating officer of Boyd Gaming.
The B Connected brand will be available at 13 Boyd Gaming properties, which include all of the company’s Las Vegas properties. The membership program does not include the Borgata in Atlantic City.
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My wife and I really like Boyd Gaming's downtown hotel/casino the California. We usually stay there because it is extremely clean and reasonably priced, plus we like the Pasta Pirate and Redwood Grill restaurants in the hotel.
The "B Connected" players card programme is of no use to us, however. As small denomination slot players, we would likely not even qualify for a free t-shirt after several trips' worth of play. My opinion is that if you are earning lots of "freebies" on your players card, then you are probably gambling far too much.
to BellevilleCanada: do you pay for your rooms, food and beverages or are these comped? just curious...
To: ME2CA2NV
We pay for our rooms at the usual price through expedia, and pay also for our own meals, etc. Before players cards, however, I used to get free rooms at El Cortez, Las Vegas Club, and Gold Spike, all owned by Jackie Gaughan, and they had a wonderful system. Just hit a jackpot of at least $100.00, and for the next 3 years you qualified for 3 free nights 4 times a year (once each "season"). I was so disappointed when those hotels discontinued their most generous rewards system. Now that virtually all hotels have the players card systems, small gamblers like myself cannot earn enough points.
When will construction start back on the Echelon Palace?
Loststooge :
Hopefully never! They should just develop the property to mid priced tourists as a new Stardust Hotel with a Wet N Wild type water park attraction, and eateries along the lines of those found in the Orleans.
environprotector --As a big fan of Boyd, do you think they'll sweeten the players reward system?
My experience has been that changes in the reward system usually screw the customer.
Logic -
My guess is that changing the rewards system is NOT going to benefit anyone except Boyd. Their comps have been going down the tubes just like everywhere else in this town.
When I'm in Las Vegas I stay at the Encore. They have a great rewards system . If u hit the jackpot u get to stay at the EL CORTEZ with Belleville Canada!
I like Sam's Town and Gold Coast. Have not been to Sun Coast or The Orleans. Would I stay at the California or Las Vegas Club? No. They do have their clientele. The California caters to the Hawaiian people. People are busting on these properties, remember they support the local economy by employing local people. People can stay where they want and spend what they want. Had good luck playing roulette at the Vegas Club. The El Cortez is a good value, I always here positive comments. I still think the best value and best poker room in Las Vegas is the Golden Nugget.
Boyd gaming has catered to the Hawaiian market for an eternity... They treat US HAWAIIANS very well and in return, we give them our business. I think consolidating the Players Rewards card makes sense since I do visit the Suncoast, Sam's Town, Orleans, and Gold Coast Casinos.
My wife and I have been staying at the Cal for the past 26 years and in the past 10 years, we have not had to pay a penny for our rooms or meals. This is a big plus for us since it cost us at least $450 to fly to Vegas..We are NOT High Rollers, but we do visit Vegas 3 to 4 times a year.
We have visited and stayed for free at the Harrah's properties, all of them, but the treatment we get from the Rio, Harrah's, Paris, Flamingo, Bally's or Ceasar's Palace cannot compare with how the Boyd Group cater to our needs.
The Rewards Program is a LOYALTY program, and if you are not loyal to a Casino, why should they be Loyal to YOU??????? Think about it....
I've been reading a great blog by
the "thebeargrowls.com". He's an old time "advantage gambler" who really knows whats going on in Vegas gambling. As he's reported, as I have seen, people are being kicked out of casinos because they don't play enough on video poker to get a free beer. Fine. No problem.
But I guess I'm an "advantage" player, too. When I get an Ace, a Queen, both off suit, and 3 crap cards, I keep the Ace and Queen. The casinos hate this-they want you to hold the Ace only, hoping for the big hit. People like me last longer at the bar, sometimes break even, and suck up more beer. They want the 6/5 dopes and the tourists drawing to inside straights. This is the world we're living in. The more dopes the merrier for our wonderful casinos.
@TEdBundy
What are you talking about? A-Q suited is the correct holding under standard situation at the bonus poker version, as well as the j-o-b. You may hold the ace alone at a progressive double-double where 4 aces plus kicker pays 3x from what it usually pays and the royal flush has been re-set. Under all other condititions, A-Q suited is a clear hold, and not the ace alone. I don't think even the casino tries to sell you otherwise.
However, this doesn't make you an advantage player at all. As long as you are not sitting in front of a machine that can give you at least 100 per cent payback plus nice comps, then you are far from being an advantage player. In fact, the casinos welcome players who know the basis strategy on b-j and on videopoker, but they don't welcome card counters and computer cheats who may use special tricks to beat the house.
Uusually, before I go to Vegas, I start my videopoker exercise program at home circa 2 months before my trip is scheduled to take place. I do 1000 hands of dd-bonus and 1000 hands of deuces wild and then 1000 hands of downtown deuces, every day just 1000 hands of one kind of game.. This gets me ready for play when I come to Vegas. By avoiding the major mistakes plus by having the little manuals handy when I am playing for real money, this gives me a little help and therefore makes my money last a bit longer. From the countless computer simulations I ran on my cmputer at home I leanred that no matter how good you play during your stay in Vegas, winning or losing is only a matter of whether or not you hit the BIG ONE or not. Without Royal Flush or the 4 aces with kicker or several 4 deuces that I need regularly to stay in action there's no way for me to leave Vegas a winner.
The from what I see "best videopoker in Las Vegas" was the deuces wild progressive bank at the Palms. Full Pay plus progressive, that's a nice set-up. However, the point value you get for playing is "so-so", as you never get any point multiplier. The casinos excluded all good machines from the good promotions, and therefore the players clubs have become basically worthless for me. If you're after some discounts for your play I think you're better of sitting in a poker room in a 1-2 nl or 4/8 limit game and clock your hours. This gives you at least a little discount for your dining and , if you're staying at the hotel where you're playing, a little discount on your room. Plus, if you play tight, you can expect to keep your losses in limits. That's not the same if you play videopoker or slots for hours. These machines can be pretty nasty to you, as we all know....
Greetings from Switzerland
I play freqently at one of Boyd's Indiana properties as well as it's Vegas properties... The Club Coast has always had superior benefits. I am not excited to see how this change will likely put a damper on the comps for the Vegas properties.
some of you sure do think you are "entitled" to everything great in this world because our form of government is giving you "entitlements" to live off of so that you have enough time to write endless comments on nearly every article in EVERY edition. (yes, entitlements are things you expect to get just because "you are you")
Boyd tanked the gold coast, raised prices and reduced quality. The cortez room USED to be our favorite place to eat. The staff was there for years, now it is constantly turning over, prices continue to climb, portions are smaller, etc. I would not doubt if by changing the club it will reduce the amount of rewards one earns. It is all a corporate shuffling of an accountants pen at the expense of the players.
Dont solicit the corporately owned properties. Go to privately owned ones like.............. TI........... are there any more??? so sad
Club Coast is far superior than the much touted ' Stations Card.' Stations touts they have the best players card, which is a complete lie. You cannot get cash back with the Stations card. How can it be the best? I think every casino advertises as being the best and it is up to the player to find out who is lying an who is telling the truth. I know who is lying.
Although I have mentioned it before, and people may assume I am advertising the Southpoint, it has to be stressed out that the value of the South Point Club is by far better than the B-Connected and the Station's Club. It's like it is. The M Club is also pretty good if you take advantage of the special days. When I was there this spring they had half point days for several food facilities, and then your points become pretty valuable. Under normal conditions, the M isn't as good as the Southpoint, and the Stations Club is by far the worst of all clubs mentioned. Once again, the big players have enough comps anyways, and the small players should pick the casino that gives the most return. And that's, from my point of view, clearly the Southpoint Casino.
I play in Atlantic City once a month and the Borgata gives me the best food/room comps over any other Atlantic City casino.
But then again, unlike alot of players, I do not expect too much. Just because I lose 2 hundred bucks doesn't entitle me to a comped suite for a week plus free breakfast, lunch, and dinner. I am happy if I get a few free rooms a month plus some slot dollars, plus food comps. More importantly, when I am there, I want to be treated with exceptional customer service. That's all.
Just a positive post regarding the Borgata and their comps and how I am treated.
Boyd stock is tanking it will not be long until they look like Stations.
I have always been impressed by the Boyd properties, so will be interesting to see how this change affects the results of my gambling. Not a high-limit gambler, usually play penny slots at a few cents each. But got a couple nights of free room comped at Gold Coast from signing up at the BConnected website. And I only had 125 slot points. Hopefully, they will keep point multiplier days and I can get comped something once in a while. Those complaining about the quality, I would take a Gold Coast or Orleans buffet over any on the Strip any day. The pools stay open longer depending on weather, and cocktail waitresses don't mind $1 tip for two drinks when playing the machines. Who would pay full price for a martini or margarita anyhow?
JohnPinNV take a freakin Midol man. People are... entitled...to their opinions. In fact some actually enjoy the interaction. Why get all philosophical and political?!! Refreakinglaxxxx before you die of depression.
The participant in this discussion forum who mentioned that Boyd stocks are in the tank should also take in to consideration that the other "big ones" of the industry, they all went into the tank. Wynn, MGM, LVS, are down pretty much since the most recent economic datas from the U.S.
It's the market that went deep into the tank and the concern that the crisis might last much longer than expeccted that made the stocks drop again. And not the fact that Boyd Gaming changed the name of its players club. Funny enough is that I already have a B-Connected card and had it in play last March. So the news is not that new, at least the name isn't. I don't even know what's the difference between cost club and B-connected. The room offers I get in my mailbox , they seem to be ok, although , the Orleans 3 day tournament stay looks pretty much like a gimmick. Anyway, I'll go to Vegas and need "some" place to stay, so I booked a few days at the Orleans and booked the slot tournament rate. I don't expect to win anything, but the free drinks you get during these tournaments , that's somehting which I count as a "bonus value". From this point of view, it's ok. Whatever the name of the club is.
From Switzerland
My wife and I only come to Las Vegas 4 to 6 times a year and we still get free rooms at the Fremont with free buffets and we are in town to see family. We are low rollers and only play lower denominations on the slots. You don't have to gamble a lot but we have a car and go to all of the Boyd casinos.
I have played a fair amount at BG properties around town. Despite my play, their mail offers were non-existent. Then in March BG mailed what I consider the worst casino promotion I have ever seen. After that, I stopped patronizing BG properties.
If you want to see the promotion, check out my blog:
http://jimmyhoofa-lv.blogspot.com/2010/0...
"This is the end result of all the bright lights... and the comp trips, of all the champagne... and free hotel suites, and all the broads and all the booze. It's all been arranged just for us to get your money. That's the truth about Las Vegas. We're the only winners. The players don't stand a chance. "
-- Sam "Ace" Rothstein, Casino, 1995
I personally do not care for Boyd Gaming's player's club.Nor do I care for the Stations card. Recently I have been playing at the Eastside Cannery andn I have to say that I am impressed w/their player's club. They mail me a monthly calendar & I get weekly free play, weekly free food and a free room once a month. I used to be loyal to the Red Rock Casino and lately they have mailed me SQUAT! I am boycotting them. The Red Rock is a VERY nice place but their player's club stinks.
thebeargrowls is a joke. He is a new comer to Vegas that no one locally would ever take serious.
No one tosses you out of a casino for drinking their free beer while playing machines at any rate.
The bear talks a lot and most casino workers find him funny like an old time cartoon. He is nothing but cheap entertainment in Vegas.
The casino owners are in the gaming business. fun/entertainment is the product they sell and if we like it we pay for it. But what i see happening is that they are crossing the line where people "feel" they are getting something worthwhile for their money. If the customer stops having fun or starts thinking that they are not getting their moneys worth they go else-where...the casinos have to offer "something" for the money we spend...i do not care if you are a low roller or not...casinos are starting to believe that they are entitaled to your money whether you get injoyment or fun out of it or not. The problem is that most casinos are run by group think people not one person...they just do not have the business sense to know that they have crossed the line...
One of the things that I really miss is the chinese food in the Orleans coffee shop. They told me that the same menu is at Koji(also in the Orleans). I tried it and it just totally sucked, never again.
if some people enjoy their stay at a downtown casino, who the heck are you to try to make it sound like these folks are trash. what a freakin rotten country we've become.
If you take the poker comp you can use that money in almost all food facilities of the casino. After all, the Buffet has excellent value and there are some very good items, and also, the late night steak special is a value meal. For the people looking for a quick bite, use your comp and check the food court. The Burger stand is ok and the Subway has also quite a selection.
formervegas76: You are goddam right! Very good comment. People dis-qualify the downtown casinos simply because of the fact that these casinos are older and therefore cater to a different group than the rich MGM visitors.
As a matter of fact, the gaming value in downtown , Las Vegas is better than on the Strip. You can find machines with higher payouts and the drinks are being served much faster than you would expect in a big resort on the Strip.
I always stay a few nights at the El Cortez when I come to Vegas, and for good reason. They don't charge ridiculous resort fees, the rooms are ok, clean, quiet, no Fremont Street Experience noise, and it's not far to the Golden Nugget or Binions where there are very loose Poker games at nights.
There is absolutely no reason to let your anger out on Downtown. To the contrary, I would be mad at MGM and the other resorts for jacking up the room rates and their buffet price every 6 months. What good is a fancy MGM Grand pool if it takes you 25 minutes to get there from your room, just to find out that most chairs are taken and there's a big mess in the water?
hey CANADA,
you are losing already. even at your 'small' play you would be suprized how much free stuff they will give you at the california. with the 2 of you playing on 1 card/account you probably get free rooms every trip. that would of saved you thousands alone the past few years.
its not that you are only putting in say $40 a day its the fact that you may run that thru the machines 10-12 times before losing it. that makes you a $400-$500 a day player. just for fun ask them for a win/loss statement for any given year. you'll be suprized at just how much 'money in, money out' you have actually gambled.
maybe you're afraid of free stuff. i dont know. lust trying to help.
P.S. your casinos in ontario have the worst payouts ever. i guess thats what you get when the government owns them.
lets put back the stardust
To: mbags
I am not afraid of free stuff. Just never get offered any. My wife and I each play on our own players cards, so perhaps that reduces volume of play in the eyes of the casino.
I play only the game Caveman Keno, which I love, but I play just one quarter at a time. My trip gambling limit is $500.00, but my average gambling loss over the last 44 downtown trips is only $53.68 (for many years before that I stayed on the Strip and turned a tiny profit just twice in 37 Strip trips).
As a retired lawyer, I am not destitute, but love downtown Las Vegas, being a frugal guy.
I'll check my B Connected points in September when we are in Las Vegas next, but I don't expect to qualify for much.
I don't mind paying for everything, as long as I perceive reasonably good value.
You are right about the Ontario casinos; they pay about as poorly as those on the Strip, so I rarely go to them. Also, the casinos within driving distance of Belleville have removed all of their Caveman Keno machines, and what they have replaced them with does not interest me.
sometimes it's better to pay for your rooms and food and enjoy your time and decide where and when and how much you decide to play. What's the point in playing 4 hours on a 25 dollar b-j table, just to get your free room and free dinner, in order to find out that after these 4 hours you are stuck 1200 dollars?
hey canada
i wish i had your resolve re: a limit. i spend every dime i have then hit the credit cards. sure i have fun, eat & drink for free but it takes me all year to pay it off. was just in the californis in march (& main street for the first time) i love going downtown for a night almost every trip. use to stay their back a decade or two but with all the money i lose i prefer to stay at the nicer places (at least its all comped) we have been going out there (im from detroit) for ove 25yrs for march madness week. about every 3-4yrs i try to make it for a football week-end but not lately.
i hope i live long enough to retire & enjoy vegas as you do. good luck & go out & hit that elusive 8 of 8 spot!!!!!!!!!
I personally think that a linked reward program is great. We are Harrahs customers and we play most of the time in Shreveport. We came to Vegas last week with approx. $700.00 in comp money. The reward credits can be spent on anything at their property dollar for dollar. We spent no money on anything except gaming. Unless you live in another part of the country you may not appreciate the advantage of casinos being linked across the country.
Boyd Gaming sucks! Use to go to Suncoast and Orleans regularly until Boyd took over. Employees aren't as friendly and the whole atmosphere is gloomy. Now we go the extra miles to The South Point. Gaughan knows how to run gambling joints! We have friends that work (or use to work) @ SC/Orl and they dislike Boyd managment. Employees attitudes are a reflection of their co-workers/superiors and we didn't like the reflection. I can't see Boyd running a high end place like Echeleon was suppose to be. Class is something not in Boyd Gaming.