tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8283462864090963789.post6082372668959597329..comments2024-01-31T14:12:23.950-08:00Comments on Rob's Vegas and Poker Blog: Vegas Ain't What it Used to Be (Part 2)Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05767080296489122846noreply@blogger.comBlogger45125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8283462864090963789.post-84572363711018135662016-04-28T18:31:41.574-07:002016-04-28T18:31:41.574-07:00My guess is that for some of the casinos that have...My guess is that for some of the casinos that have the most popular clubs, over 50% of their profits come from them.Robhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05767080296489122846noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8283462864090963789.post-60785201090189438422016-04-28T17:51:37.762-07:002016-04-28T17:51:37.762-07:00Hi Rob I used to get free one day flights out of B...Hi Rob I used to get free one day flights out of Burbank and get flown downtown. Had to play $ 5 dollar a bet craps for 2 hours to qualify for flights. Yeah and I used to have a players card at The Las Vegas Club for rooms and free meals. Its fun to reminisce. I think the whole point of your story is Vegas used to have a low and a high roller vibe to it. Now not so much. It seems to me Vegas wants people flying in for the shows and restaurants and be willing to drop bigger sums for just that. I heard the clubs make up to 30 percent of the casinos profits now. Its just the way of the world. edh530https://www.blogger.com/profile/17350460500843652702noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8283462864090963789.post-64251844494025919862016-04-25T17:16:59.425-07:002016-04-25T17:16:59.425-07:00Thanks for the comment,...Yes...they are making mo...Thanks for the comment,...Yes...they are making more money on pickles and onions than on gambling, apparently.Robhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05767080296489122846noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8283462864090963789.post-52730956580861598522016-04-25T17:16:00.966-07:002016-04-25T17:16:00.966-07:00What's funny about that is that everytime I go...What's funny about that is that everytime I go downtown, I see a huge sign at Main Street Station that says "Free Parking with Validation."<br /><br />And if you mean Las Vegas Club, well as I said, we parked there all the time.....50-60 times easy over the years....and you always had a take a ticket and get it validated. There was a sign saying how much per hour but I don't remember it and we never paid it, but presumably, they sure did charge for parking.Robhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05767080296489122846noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8283462864090963789.post-31837781379928582292016-04-25T17:13:44.262-07:002016-04-25T17:13:44.262-07:00Looking at the way they have it set up and what I&...Looking at the way they have it set up and what I've heard,they are gonna charge every single time you exit, but we'll see.Robhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05767080296489122846noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8283462864090963789.post-71138604328139335022016-04-25T15:46:21.578-07:002016-04-25T15:46:21.578-07:00I think for now they will only get you once if you...I think for now they will only get you once if you drive to other MGM properties. But what happens when Caesars and others start charging? You might start at Aria, pay $10, drive to Bally's, pay another $10, and then drive to Wynn and pay another $10.<br /><br />Steve007Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8283462864090963789.post-16141772676949044112016-04-25T15:21:25.937-07:002016-04-25T15:21:25.937-07:00Corporations are like plague of Locusts.. They loo...Corporations are like plague of Locusts.. They look for anything green, destroy it, then move on. I tend to stay away from Vegas Strip hotels due to how they milking money from people for anything they can! The 'resort fees' are just ridiculous hidden fees. And now parking fees? :) Ehhh, It seems like casinos are slowly moving away from gambling as their source of revenue.. StayAwayFromTheStripnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8283462864090963789.post-66572416500894931762016-04-25T14:20:11.461-07:002016-04-25T14:20:11.461-07:00I have stayed at El Cortez, Main Street Station, V...I have stayed at El Cortez, Main Street Station, Vegas Club, and I believe the hotel that the D became. Not once was there a charge for parking in any of those lots/garages, and at only one was I ever asked for a room key before I could enter, and that was ElCo. And I never needed any sort of validation to exit any of them.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8283462864090963789.post-14329378224192173692016-04-25T13:47:58.224-07:002016-04-25T13:47:58.224-07:00Thanks again, LG....yeah Vegas is still unique, b...Thanks again, LG....yeah Vegas is still unique, but they are still trying hard to kill that golden egg laying goose.Robhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05767080296489122846noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8283462864090963789.post-71759459834792686002016-04-25T13:47:12.867-07:002016-04-25T13:47:12.867-07:00Here's a direct quote and a link to the articl...Here's a direct quote and a link to the article:<br /><br />"* On MGM Resorts' controversial move toward adopting a pay-to-park policy, Ruffin said he's going to "wait and see if it spreads. If it spreads, I'm sure I'll join the party.""<br /><br />http://www.reviewjournal.com/opinion/columns-blogs/norm-clarke/ti-owner-ruffin-talks-trump-the-nfl-and-paying-park-las-vegas<br /><br />Steve007Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8283462864090963789.post-65661515180779041802016-04-25T13:42:52.504-07:002016-04-25T13:42:52.504-07:00Thanks, Steve...I do remember that now.
There you...Thanks, Steve...I do remember that now.<br /><br />There you go, Woody....Robhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05767080296489122846noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8283462864090963789.post-46052256141190342672016-04-25T13:40:58.614-07:002016-04-25T13:40:58.614-07:00The owner of Treasure Island said in an article th...The owner of Treasure Island said in an article that if the other properties start charging, that you bet Treasure Island will join the party. And the words "you bet we'll join the party" were his words, not mine. It still annoys me how excited he sounded at the possibility of charging and bringing in some extra money. <br /><br />Steve007Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8283462864090963789.post-38989199637797564242016-04-25T13:28:26.575-07:002016-04-25T13:28:26.575-07:00I'm pretty sure that all the garages and lots ...I'm pretty sure that all the garages and lots for the casinos on Fremont have charged for parking for a long time, but they also validate. I mentioned that last post. And if you were staying there, of course it was free.<br /><br />I recall when I first met Tony, I drove him back to 4 Queens where he was staying, we parked in their garage, and he had to get my ticket stamped so we didn't have to pay when we left.Robhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05767080296489122846noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8283462864090963789.post-19414810650690868292016-04-25T13:25:01.908-07:002016-04-25T13:25:01.908-07:00Thanks, Woody. I hope you're right, but what ...Thanks, Woody. I hope you're right, but what is gonna happen is that Treasure Island parking STRUCTURE will fill up with people going to Mirage to avoid paying the fee and they will have to charge too. Bet on it.Robhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05767080296489122846noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8283462864090963789.post-41732191593754600462016-04-25T13:18:43.880-07:002016-04-25T13:18:43.880-07:00On the other hand there is something about Vegas, ...On the other hand there is something about Vegas, I am just getting old and grumpy :)<br />Still makes you think about options. It feels like gamblers aren't necessarily needed. If you think about it as long as they get my money the casinos don't care how.<br /><br />LG<br />PS thanks for the blog, great readAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8283462864090963789.post-32958260193604911392016-04-25T12:07:37.423-07:002016-04-25T12:07:37.423-07:00I started going to Vegas regularly in 2009, when I...I started going to Vegas regularly in 2009, when I got laid off. On many of my trips (which were often weekday, Monday-through-Friday trips where I'd drive down on Monday and back on Friday), I stayed downtown. In fact, my first 2 of those trips I stayed at the fabulous El Cortez. The first trip, I got a room in their motel-like space on the top floor of the garage for $5/night, and on the second trip a couple of weeks later, I got a "real" room in the "tower" for $9/night. Over the next couple of years, I got many cheap rooms at Imperial Palace, where I found the Sunday night mixed game and started encouraging others to play in that game there when I was there. <br /><br />But I never paid to park in any of the garages of any of the downtown hotels. In fact, the only hotel that I knew had paid parking did so because they leased their garage from the city. So no charge, but just sometimes on a bust Saturday night, I had to show a room key when I came back from playing poker elsewhere. <br /><br />What's interesting about downtown is now they have put parking meters on many of the streets. I suspect it's so Zappos employees won't take all the street parking. That may be why some of hte hotels charge too, although I've not stayed downtown in a long time (even ElCo charges a "resort" fee, although they have nothing "resort" like on the property, not even a pool), so I don't know what's changed re: parking there recently.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8283462864090963789.post-37486020596337038822016-04-25T11:57:04.149-07:002016-04-25T11:57:04.149-07:00Rob, I got nostalgic reading your post. The part I...Rob, I got nostalgic reading your post. The part I liked best was the story of your aunt and uncle going up to Vegas in the early 50's. They would have taken the old US 91 up through Riverside is my guess. They may have also gone up through Newhall to the 14, then used the Pear blossom Highway to dogleg over to Victorville, then up the 91. My father talks about going to Vegas in the late 40s with his parents. 8 hours from LA up the 91 the whole way. He remembers seeing a row of red lights and a row of white lights as you'd crest a hill at night. Pretty much the same story today on the 15. Next issue is that the best food in Vegas is either at the Orleans or the Gold Coast, both just off the strip. Get the Internet email promos for a fancy room on the strip (I am writing you this from an upgrade room on the 37th floor of the Aria. Unreal room.) but eat at the Gold Coast Chinese food, wok cooked at Ping Pang Pong. Amazing food for reasonable prices. Always remember: The way to win in Vegas is to NOT GAMBLE. With that in mind, it is easy to beat the Vegas system. Next, with respect to the (boning you) parking charges at the MGM Hotels, it won't last. Watch for new billboards driving up from LA start to read: FREE PARKING at the Treasure Island. Hmmm... ya thing Treasure Island will steal business away from the MGM? I think yes. If I were a casino exec I'd already be contracting to advertise that message on those signs! Walmart didn't become the dominant US retailer by boning it's customers with parking fees. They became the biggest retailer by providing a perceived bargain to their shoppers. MGM is being stupid on this charge for parking issue. There is NO WAY I will personally EVER pay for parking at a casino. Cheers Woodywoody_gentryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02693160108830304602noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8283462864090963789.post-32096268556308766432016-04-25T09:37:24.558-07:002016-04-25T09:37:24.558-07:00PS, I mostly hear that it is impossible to get the...PS, I mostly hear that it is impossible to get them to waive resort fees these days. I also was told that unless you qualify under the program, they are going to be really hard ass about not waiving parking fees. We'll see.Robhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05767080296489122846noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8283462864090963789.post-28055296489568033892016-04-25T09:36:20.572-07:002016-04-25T09:36:20.572-07:00Listen, you punk kid, didn't your mother ever ...Listen, you punk kid, didn't your mother ever tell you to respect your elders?<br /><br />STAY OFF MY LAWN, YOU SLACKER!Robhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05767080296489122846noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8283462864090963789.post-57408393511937711012016-04-25T09:32:31.366-07:002016-04-25T09:32:31.366-07:00Thanks, PM...yeah, they've basically given up ...Thanks, PM...yeah, they've basically given up trying to get visitors by keeping Vegas unique and just want to squeeze the last penny out of everyone who does show up. Maybe when there is so much competition around the country, that business model does make sense. <br /><br />It's a damn shame, tho.<br /><br />I think I mentioned this somewhere, don't know the details but I do know it was pointed out by one of the Vegas oriented twitter accounts that well over half the visitors to Vegas each year either get to town by car or rent when when they get here.Robhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05767080296489122846noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8283462864090963789.post-85424849588594592472016-04-25T09:29:24.428-07:002016-04-25T09:29:24.428-07:00Well, I already responded to some of your criticis...Well, I already responded to some of your criticisms of resort fees in my post, Nick.<br /><br />But I will admit that you made a very valid point I didn't think of....they charge you resort fees on so called comped rooms. Outrageous.<br /><br />So in my scenario, if they outlawed resort fees, all they could do is say that they are reducing the charge on a $100/nite room to $30, and call it "almost comped." Heh. Or actually comp you the room and mean it, which they don't want to do.<br /><br />So yeah, when they charge those fees on comped rooms, it really and truly is a ripoff. No two ways about it.<br /><br />I didn't think of it because in all the years I've been going in Vegas, I've NEVER gotten a comped room. Even after I started working in the poker biz. Never.Robhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05767080296489122846noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8283462864090963789.post-43743362413138628722016-04-25T09:25:15.992-07:002016-04-25T09:25:15.992-07:00Very well said, angryshortguy! Rather than try to...Very well said, angryshortguy! Rather than try to find new ways to make Vegas unique so it will still be a target destination resort city, they've just decided to give and take whatever they can get and squeeze the last penny out of everyone who does show up. Sad.Robhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05767080296489122846noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8283462864090963789.post-37215094091454884432016-04-25T09:15:36.294-07:002016-04-25T09:15:36.294-07:00Thanks, Lester, wise decision to avoid drinking an...Thanks, Lester, wise decision to avoid drinking and driving.Robhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05767080296489122846noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8283462864090963789.post-27661990887719279502016-04-25T09:14:38.974-07:002016-04-25T09:14:38.974-07:00Thanks, Steve...yeah, thirty bucks a day could onl...Thanks, Steve...yeah, thirty bucks a day could only be the beginning. What if you start out at MGM and then go to Aria by car and end up at the Mirage? Do they ding you three times. It adds up fast.Robhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05767080296489122846noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8283462864090963789.post-40157425016066919832016-04-25T09:13:12.207-07:002016-04-25T09:13:12.207-07:00Snow now? That should be unconstitutional, Norm.
...Snow now? That should be unconstitutional, Norm.<br /><br />Nick, yes what Norm said. I'm not sure you get to be a high level exec at a big Casino corporation if you're not an MBA. Or at the very least, they bring in these MBA's as consultants who tell them to do shit like this.Robhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05767080296489122846noreply@blogger.com