Traveling the country / minimizing expenses

[RCJH]

If i plan to travel the country, expenses will add up and maybe even nullify the gain from playing, so i think its time i play rated and try to get as many comps as i can to cover these expenses as much as i can that will come from flights, hotels, and cars. I have my own car but i rather not depreciate the vehicle by driving thousands of miles and going through these long road trips.

Does anyone have an idea of what i can do that can minmize expenses but also be able to travel the country and maximize ev? Should i get a Total Rewards Caesars card and blast away at their comps and try to get Diamond Status?

That's not a half-bad idea, just don't play BJ there. I try to stay comped in one casino and play elsewhere, and generally speaking the Empire doesn't offer the best games. (I said generally, I'm sure we all know some locations with great games.) You are smart not to play rated everywhere.

If every casino in an area has great games, get a hotel with breakfast. You'll make enough EV to cover the night. Then eat breakfast, and use the fixings to pack a lunch (there is always at least bread, peanut butter and jelly, fruit). Seriously. I bring ziplock bags and a small lunch box on trips. This means you'll only pay for one meal.

if you play professionally, you can deduct travel expenses. Driving is better than flying for many reasons. You can come and go. Imagine being flyered, and unable to leave due to a flight. Or imagine finding a game you could tombstone, only to have to leave to make a flight.

Just some thoughts...

[ZeeBabar]

Good points RCJH. The problem, and here is another admission, is that plans go awry when on road trip. For instance, I planned a 4-5 day, 6-7 casino trip. I sort of aimed and hoped for returning home with a $3k win. Reached my first stop 3 hours later, ended up winning $4.2k by bed time around 2:00 a.m. Next morning, I went home happy to preserve my win. Another time, similar trip, First 4 sessions were losses, I cancelled trip and returned home as I was concerned having lost half my trip roll.

[tomf23]

Good points RCJH. The problem, and here is another admission, is that plans go awry when on road trip. For instance, I planned a 4-5 day, 6-7 casino trip. I sort of aimed and hoped for returning home with a $3k win. Reached my first stop 3 hours later, ended up winning $4.2k by bed time around 2:00 a.m. Next morning, I went home happy to preserve my win. Another time, similar trip, First 4 sessions were losses, I cancelled trip and returned home as I was concerned having lost half my trip roll.

both of these show a serious flaw in your thinking.

[ZeeBabar]

both of these show a serious flaw in your thinking.

I agree. However, being a recreational player, not needing wins to pay for bills, I value other things besides maximizing wins. When it's work, you can't leave for the day, when it's leasure, you can stop and start as you please.

[Dbs6582]

I agree. However, being a recreational player, not needing wins to pay for bills, I value other things besides maximizing wins. When it's work, you can't leave for the day, when it's leasure, you can stop and start as you please.

I'm with you on this one Zee. I fully understand that we can't fool long term variance by stopping and starting arbitrarily. But for us recreational weekend APs, we probably have different goals in mind. Our goal isn't to win as much money as possible. Once I get to my win goal for the weekend, I quite. It allows me to enjoy doing other things with my weekend.

I also do this since I don't want to take my favorite casinos for too much money. I know they are the ones providing value to society and I'm the parasite (providing no value to society while playing bj) so I feel a little guilty when I win what I consider an excessive amount money, especially at the casinos that comp me generously with free rooms and meals and other goodies. I always try to stay on good terms with all the employees at these casinos. It makes for a fun and rewarding weekend, even when I lose, which isn't often.

[Freightman]

I'm with you on this one Zee. I fully understand that we can't fool long term variance by stopping and starting arbitrarily. But for us recreational weekend APs, we probably have different goals in mind. Our goal isn't to win as much money as possible. Once I get to my win goal for the weekend, I quite. It allows me to enjoy doing other things with my weekend.

I also do this since I don't want to take my favorite casinos for too much money. I know they are the ones providing value to society and I'm the parasite (providing no value to society while playing bj) so I feel a little guilty when I win what I consider an excessive amount money, especially at the casinos that comp me generously with free rooms and meals and other goodies. I always try to stay on good terms with all the employees at these casinos. It makes for a fun and rewarding weekend, even when I lose, which isn't often.

Here we ago. Another festering subset of useless manufactured trivia. Think ill sit this one out.

[Ryemo]

I also do this since I don't want to take my favorite casinos for too much money. I know they are the ones providing value to society and I'm the parasite (providing no value to society while playing bj) so I feel a little guilty when I win what I consider an excessive amount money, especially at the casinos that comp me generously with free rooms and meals and other goodies. I always try to stay on good terms with all the employees at these casinos. It makes for a fun and rewarding weekend, even when I lose, which isn't often.

I’m not sure I’ve ever heard an AP express this viewpoint. Interesting...

I get additional gratification just by swiping a free coffee from the drink station before heading out the door; knowing that I took everything that could before leaving.

[What me worry]

Join the chain motel rewards programs such as choice privleges. They often run month long promotions stay 2 nights get one free. I stay in a particular one use a State Farm type discount code brings a Midwest $80 room down to $50 and the motel offers a $6 shuttle to area stores.

[stopgambling]

I get additional gratification just by swiping a free coffee from the drink station before heading out the door; knowing that I took everything that could before leaving.

same here. i go more than that though.

[RCJH]

I also do this since I don't want to take my favorite casinos for too much money. I know they are the ones providing value to society and I'm the parasite (providing no value to society while playing bj)

OMG what?

CASINOS provide a VALUE to society? Casinos prey on the hopeless, offering free rides / free government check cashing to people willing to gamble away their last penny for a chance to win a "life changing" jackpot. They ban and bar people the feel capable of winning--is that fair? Only let the losers play?

And you're (we're) the parasite? If everyone stopped going to casinos, they wouldn't exist. Your presence ensures their existence, so in some small way you're helping provide employment for someone...

Do you think your favorite casino sheds a tear when you lose a lot? Yet you feel guilty winning? They don't give two shits if you lose your house, family, retirement, they ONLY care if you win too much. Ever hear of someone getting barred by a casino for losing their rent money or mortgage payment? Nope, they bar people who can beat them fairly.

They are a collective bully. I feel no remorse taking their money.

[tomf23]

OMG what?

CASINOS provide a VALUE to society? Casinos prey on the hopeless, offering free rides / free government check cashing to people willing to gamble away their last penny for a chance to win a "life changing" jackpot. They ban and bar people the feel capable of winning--is that fair? Only let the losers play?

And you're (we're) the parasite? If everyone stopped going to casinos, they wouldn't exist. Your presence ensures their existence, so in some small way you're helping provide employment for someone...

Do you think your favorite casino sheds a tear when you lose a lot? Yet you feel guilty winning? They don't give two shits if you lose your house, family, retirement, they ONLY care if you win too much. Ever hear of someone getting barred by a casino for losing their rent money or mortgage payment? Nope, they bar people who can beat them fairly.

They are a collective bully. I feel no remorse taking their money.

+1 to all of this

honestly part of the reason i've gotten back into card counting is the genuine satisfaction from taking the casino's money.

[Dbs6582]

OMG what?

CASINOS provide a VALUE to society? Casinos prey on the hopeless, offering free rides / free government check cashing to people willing to gamble away their last penny for a chance to win a "life changing" jackpot. They ban and bar people the feel capable of winning--is that fair? Only let the losers play?

And you're (we're) the parasite? If everyone stopped going to casinos, they wouldn't exist. Your presence ensures their existence, so in some small way you're helping provide employment for someone...

Do you think your favorite casino sheds a tear when you lose a lot? Yet you feel guilty winning? They don't give two shits if you lose your house, family, retirement, they ONLY care if you win too much. Ever hear of someone getting barred by a casino for losing their rent money or mortgage payment? Nope, they bar people who can beat them fairly.

They are a collective bully. I feel no remorse taking their money.

I'll admit I did make some of these comments to see what kind of response I'd get. This is the feedback I thought I'd get. I do mean what I said but I wouldn't want a casino in my city and I think they can hurt a community.

First about your comment that an AP provides employment for someone. We all know that's not true. If everybody played like an AP, a casino would either go out of business and shut down, or have to change their games. The only reason we can play the games the way we do is because most people don't play our way. It's the ploppies that provide the jobs for casino employees and allow us to make some money at casino. We're basically scavengers making some money off casinos due to the ploppies. We owe our existence to the ploppies. Everytime we sit next to a ploppy, we should turn to them and thank them for being there.

Here's why I believe a strong case can be made that casinos bring value to our society. It depends on how you define value. If entertainment is included in your definition of value then casinos are the No. 1 entertainment destination for the general public. The general public would rather spend money at casinos than at all pro sports and movies combined. The general public knows all games in the casino have a built in house edge. Let's not pretend this isn't the case. I get that many people think they have some system to overcome this long term edge, but most just enjoy the experience and want to get lucky in the short run. Contrary to what some APs believe, casinos don't falsely advertise, anymore than any company trying to sell a product. Do you think a certain cologne gets the girls all the time or drinking beer is cool? That's what these companies advertise.

Casinos are like alcohol and tobacco companies. They are legal companies that add value to the lives of the people that use their products but they can also be destructive if used to an excess. This is also true with McDonald's if you eat there too much. You will die a slow death. Does McDonald's add value to society?

Charles Barkley has said he'd rather lose millions playing in a casino than handing out money to his family. He has admitted to losing millions in a casino. Why? Because he earned the money and he enjoys the casino experience. It's his money and his choice on how he wants to spend it. I have a couple friends who make millions and enjoy going to casinos. They get comped well, and sometimes they get me comped. I once got a comped in a private suite. One of my friends is a big time lawyer who will get million dollar bonus checks (when he wins a big class action lawsuit). He has actually read "million dollar blackjack" and we've discussed counting. He liked the book and enjoys playing bj. For him it's not worth the time to learn how to play with an advantage. His time is better spent at work. He enjoys going to casinos to blow off steam. Based on what I've seen with his play and what his wife told my former gf, he probably loses $100,000 to $200,000/yr. Did I say he gets comped well? Lol

This made me think. What's a better way to look at a casino? Like a person who makes big money who goes to a casino and loses big money. Or like an AP who struggles to make $100,000/yr but is constantly under attack from people at casinos? I've seen the other side. Limos, private planes coming to pick you up, having my own private elevator and suite, always going to the front of the line at nice restaurants. Trust me, it's nice! The key is you need to work hard, make millions/yr and willing to play like the casino wants you to play.

I like being an AP but I know this isn't my road to riches. I also know I'm bringing no value to society while I'm an AP. My job is what gives me satisfaction. The road to riches and satisfaction is hard work, and I believe being a productive memeber of society. It helps when you have a job you enjoy, which is my case.

Bottom line is I stand by my comments. A casino adds value to society as entertainment. Just look at the facts and how much people spend there. That pretty much says it all. People spend money on things they enjoy.

[Freightman]

I'll admit I did make some of these comments to see what kind of response I'd get. This is the feedback I thought I'd get. I do mean what I said but I wouldn't want a casino in my city and I think they can hurt a community.

First about your comment that an AP provides employment for someone. We all know that's not true. If everybody played like an AP, a casino would either go out of business and shut down, or have to change their games. The only reason we can play the games the way we do is because most people don't play our way. It's the ploppies that provide the jobs for casino employees and allow us to make some money at casino. We're basically scavengers making some money off casinos due to the ploppies. We owe our existence to the ploppies. Everytime we sit next to a ploppy, we should turn to them and thank them for being there.

Here's why I believe a strong case can be made that casinos bring value to our society. It depends on how you define value. If entertainment is included in your definition of value then casinos are the No. 1 entertainment destination for the general public. The general public would rather spend money at casinos than at all pro sports and movies combined. The general public knows all games in the casino have a built in house edge. Let's not pretend this isn't the case. I get that many people think they have some system to overcome this long term edge, but most just enjoy the experience and want to get lucky in the short run. Contrary to what some APs believe, casinos don't falsely advertise, anymore than any company trying to sell a product. Do you think a certain cologne gets the girls all the time or drinking beer is cool? That's what these companies advertise.

Casinos are like alcohol and tobacco companies. They are legal companies that add value to the lives of the people that use their products but they can also be destructive if used to an excess. This is also true with McDonald's if you eat there too much. You will die a slow death. Does McDonald's add value to society?

Charles Barkley has said he'd rather lose millions playing in a casino than handing out money to his family. He has admitted to losing millions in a casino. Why? Because he earned the money and he enjoys the casino experience. It's his money and his choice on how he wants to spend it. I have a couple friends who make millions and enjoy going to casinos. They get comped well, and sometimes they get me comped. I once got a comped in a private suite. One of my friends is a big time lawyer who will get million dollar bonus checks (when he wins a big class action lawsuit). He has actually read "million dollar blackjack" and we've discussed counting. He liked the book and enjoys playing bj. For him it's not worth the time to learn how to play with an advantage. His time is better spent at work. He enjoys going to casinos to blow off steam. Based on what I've seen with his play and what his wife told my former gf, he probably loses $100,000 to $200,000/yr. Did I say he gets comped well? Lol

This made me think. What's a better way to look at a casino? Like a person who makes big money who goes to a casino and loses big money. Or like an AP who struggles to make $100,000/yr but is constantly under attack from people at casinos? I've seen the other side. Limos, private planes coming to pick you up, having my own private elevator and suite, always going to the front of the line at nice restaurants. Trust me, it's nice! The key is you need to work hard, make millions/yr and willing to play like the casino wants you to play.

I like being an AP but I know this isn't my road to riches. I also know I'm bringing no value to society while I'm an AP. My job is what gives me satisfaction. The road to riches and satisfaction is hard work, and I believe being a productive memeber of society. It helps when you have a job you enjoy, which is my case.

Bottom line is I stand by my comments. A casino adds value to society as entertainment. Just look at the facts and how much people spend there. That pretty much says it all. People spend money on things they enjoy.

Spin Doctor.