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Thread: Chasing bonuses

  1. #1
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    Chasing bonuses

    For about a year now, I have had a monthly routine of going on a low limit bonus run throughout Vegas with a buddy who is a low limit player. Stuff like $5 and $10 matchplays, some from ACG, some other sources. Some free plays from monthly mailers plus deals like the Palms monthly internet deal of $40 worth of play for $25, a few winchip promotions, a couple which are still monthly and some which have gone semi-annually, ect. Small time stuff that usually adds up to EV of anywhere from $80 to $150 for the day, plus of course some free or severely discounted meals. For me it's just a fun day out, a chance to make a little money and it usually doesn't involve my regular rotation of stores.

    Anyway over time this grew from one day a month, and we weren't even doing it every month at the beginning, to where it takes 2 days most months. A number of months ago, we started concentrating a bit more on VP play, giving a number of places that cater to locals a minimum amount of VP play to get some mailers rolling in. And roll in they have. I now get mailers each month from well over a dozen locals type casinos that all have some amount of free play on them, some also have match plays as well as free or discounted meals. Some extremely generous for the very limited amount of play that I give them, for example there is one place far south on LVB that I gave almost exactly $1000 worth of play last month, which cost me about $10 in EV and I received a mailer for March containing $180 in freeplay. That is a pretty nice return. The problem is that $180 in free play is spread out over 9 selected days of $20 per day. Most of the free play offers are either broken up into once a week segments or on selected days. One property, Eastside Cannery, which in my opinion is the most generous of the local type places, gives me something everyday of the week, $10 worth of free play 5 days a week and a free $10 gift card (no play required) to Walmart on the 6th day and a $10 gift card to a local grocery store on the 7th. And don't even get me started on the gifts, shirts, blankets ect, most of which I don't bother with. I have enough shirts to cloth the vegas homeless population. lol

    The offers are so plentiful over the last couple months that I have to set up a schedule so I know what I am doing and where I have to go each day. I just finished setting up my March schedule and I have over $1100 in free play offers, at least some every day, usually at a number of places each day, while still expecting offers from 2 more stores yet. March is even more exaggerated because it is my birthday month which comes with even more offers, plus there are a number of well publicized birthday offers throughout Vegas, like a $25 free table game bet (not a matchplay, but free bet) and $25 birthday cash voucher and about a dozen more.

    Add to this that last weekend, in the mail I received my quarterly local's Palms mailing. This goes to every local resident, not just members and included in the mailer is a $10 BJ matchplay and a $10 Roulette match Play which expires march 31 and a second set of $10 BJ and roulette MP which expires May 20. Upon receiving this mailer, I scoured not only the mail room trash of my building but that of several others and came up with a enough of these that I have been using 2 sets per day the last week and will have at least one set per day for the next 3 months.

    The bottom line is, that in looking at this March schedule that I just printed out, I am pushing 2 grand in EV expectation while still expecting 2 more mailers, which is great, but I don't know when I am going to find time to actually play blackjack this month.
    Last edited by KJ; 02-25-2012 at 01:05 AM. Reason: add-on

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    That sounds like fun. Doesn't your player's card have to gibe with the match play coupons or do they not check?

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    KUDOS ! An excellent comprehensive post.

    This is a prime example of positive equity via thoughtful / organized, [some would say obsessive] frugality.

    Frugality is central to the underworld populated by society's "fringe" members, i.e. those of us who lack "earned income."

    It sounds like you have little reason / need for regular BJ play.

    This is deja vu for those recalling Anthony Curtis' famous "coupon runs"

    I suggest, to all, a reading of James Grosjean's fine paper on
    "Couponomy"

    My link > http://dl.dropbox.com/u/597675/Beyon...y Grosjean.pdf

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    Quote Originally Posted by paymypush View Post
    That sounds like fun. Doesn't your player's card have to gibe with the match play coupons or do they not check?
    No, I have never been asked for my players card when using either their own or ACG MP's coupons at Palms, so their are no limitations.

    Quote Originally Posted by ZenMaster_Flash View Post
    [SIZE=3][COLOR=#000080][FONT=century gothic]
    KUDOS ! An excellent comprehensive post.

    This is a prime example of positive equity via thoughtful / organized, [some would say obsessive] frugality.

    Frugality is central to the underworld populated by society's "fringe" members, i.e. those of us who lack "earned income."

    It sounds like you have little reason / need for regular BJ play.
    Thanx, Flash. Yes organization is required because it can out of hand so quickly. But I do have reason for my 'regular blackjack play. I make much more per use of my time playing blackjack. This bonus chasing is supposed to be a side, 'extra' activity, not overtake my main objective. This month just got a little extreme with the over-doing it with the Palm MP's and the additional Bday bonused, some which are good only on the actual day, others with can be used any time during the month. On the plus side: Variance is 100% positive. There is no chance of negative variance!

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    KJ, have you considered selling bottle of water on the bridges during your off-time?

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    Those "worthless" shirts, blankets and snuggies are all in demand on eBay. People love casino branded merchandise. I recently saw a set of Sahara products- an ashtray, a $1 chip, a coin cup and a few books of matchs sell for $15 on the Bay. I'd fill a closet full and then list them all one week.
    A vintage 1980s Members Only jacket( mid-80s) with an El Cortez patch on it sold for well over $100 not to loong ago. I dropped out of the bidding at around $50.
    Let me die in my sleep like my Grandfather.
    Not screaming in agony like his passengers.

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    Quote Originally Posted by 21forme View Post
    KJ, have you considered selling bottle of water on the bridges during your off-time?
    I have a friend who thinks he is a professional poker player that did that last summer, 21. He actually did pretty well. I think it was more profitable than his poker career.

    Quote Originally Posted by shadroch View Post
    Those "worthless" shirts, blankets and snuggies are all in demand on eBay. People love casino branded merchandise. I recently saw a set of Sahara products- an ashtray, a $1 chip, a coin cup and a few books of matchs sell for $15 on the Bay. I'd fill a closet full and then list them all one week.
    A vintage 1980s Members Only jacket( mid-80s) with an El Cortez patch on it sold for well over $100 not to loong ago. I dropped out of the bidding at around $50.
    I know a few people that sell there casino gifts and items on ebay, Shad. I have never done so and don't need another avenue. I already feel like I am morphing into the frugal gambler lady.

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    Quote Originally Posted by KJ View Post
    I have a friend who thinks he is a professional poker player that did that last summer, 21. He actually did pretty well. I think it was more profitable than his poker career.


    I know a few people that sell there casino gifts and items on ebay, Shad. I have never done so and don't need another avenue. I already feel like I am morphing into the frugal gambler lady.



    Last I looked, Jean Scott had parlayed her Frugal Gambling into a multi-million dollar empire. There are worse things a gambler in Vegas can morph into.
    Let me die in my sleep like my Grandfather.
    Not screaming in agony like his passengers.

  9. #9
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    Who said, "There's no free lunch!" ?
    Sounds like you have a great sideline going.

    Chemyst

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    KJ,

    Did you ever do the bonus chase in AC? This is really good stuff and well written. Another Vegas adavntage for sure. For out of towners coming for a week I wonder what could be planned. I am not sure if all bonus offers and comps are the same (locals/visitors), but here are many.
    Thanks for the excellent info.

    Baberuth

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    I'm a little surprised that this wasn't more of a common knowledge thing. I have several AP friends that reside in Vegas and have been doing it for several years. It's a "no brainer" if you live there. I'm usually only there for 3 or 4 days at a time so it doesn't work with things I'm already committed to.

    muffdiver

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    Its a rare trip to Vegas that I don't have a couple hundred dollars in free play and or MPs lined up. I've given up on WIN cards as they are not worth my time on a short stay. While no longer a major part of my game, these extras go a long way towards my airfare and car rental costs.
    Even if you only hit Vegas once or twice a year, try to time it for the end of one month/beginning of the next and use two months worth of offers for the trip.
    Let me die in my sleep like my Grandfather.
    Not screaming in agony like his passengers.

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    Very informative post, KJ. You have confirmed what I suspected was still possible.

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