Great Gift Wrap Up at the Flamingo -- Report

I went to the GGWU at the Flamingo twice -- once on Saturday and again on Sunday. While I did most of my shopping on Saturday, I intentionally went back on Sunday just to see if the crowd was any different or if the "flow" was any different.

Again, you will find that GGWU is handled exceptionally well. There are plenty of attendants from Total Rewards who will quickly check your point balance and give you a print out with your points total and a large calculator with a large display and large keys to help you maximize the use of your points.

Nothing is priced under 3,000 points which will get you a $10 gift card for Shell gas or Starbucks. Most gift cards are $100 cards and require 30,000 points.

Apple does not have the new iPads there. However, I was told that if the older models are all sold out, there is a chance that the newer models will be at the Caesars even in December.

Customer service at the GGWU is outstanding expecially if you have a question for a big ticket item and that is because the "sales people" are actually district managers.

When I was asking questions about a 55-inch 3-D "smart TV" the district manager from LG who flew in from the Midwest was there to answer my questions. By the way the 3-D effects are amazing and these work with "plain" 3-D glasses and the days of buying expensive 3-D glasses are over. This TV comes with 20 pair of 3-D glasses and they only cost a couple of bucks each. And this TV is not "just shipped" to you. Installers bring it to your home and set it up -- all included.

And when I was checking out Dyson vacuums, the district manager from Salt Lake City happily spent a lot of time with me showing me the features. The regional manager told me that the "low end" Dyson model I was looking at actually was $100 lower than what it was selling for in stores (when you convert the price into "gas cards") and that is because a newer model has a higher price point.

Last year, when I purchased some autographed sports items as gifts, the owner of the company was there to talk to customers.

In fact, the GGWU is filled with regional managers and always has been. Caesars requires "regional managers" and top level execs to be there so that Caesars TR members get the right info and the best service.

I am glad that the regional manager for Garmin was there. I bought a new Garmin but I told the regional manager that the one I got three years ago "died" on me and he said that shouldn't have happened. He actually wanted info about what happened and he spent time showing me and several others the newest features of the newest models.

I was disappointed that many jewelry companies of the past were not there. No Tiffany, no Tourneau, no Michael Kors, no David Yurman.

There was no delay in checking out, but the "check out process" is a bit time consuming because there is so much double-checking and printing of receipts and shipping orders.

Free play is available for a minimum 15,000 points for $50 or 30,000 points for $100 which is the same points for a $100 gift card.

Be sure to swipe your card for the million dollar giveaway, with the announcement made on December 9th and the winner need not be present. Yes, the more "play" you have during the events at the Flamingo and at Caesars the more entries you will have in the million dollar drawing.

If for some reason you think you are missing points, or you are "shy" some points for a purchase, there are casino hosts in a "player assistance room" to talk to you. I was shy about 1,100 points for another $10 gas card but while my own host was in the "player assistance room" (she asked me to stop by to say hello) she made no effort to "round up my points" for the extra $10 gas card. Darn it. But two years ago I was short about 80 points and a host gave me the 80 points.

Here's an interesting GGWU piece of trivia: as of Sunday, the player with the most GGWU points had a little more than 55-MILLION. One of the things purchased by this player was the "hovercraft" which is on display. I didn't look at the hovercraft myself but I was told it was about 15-million points. The only reason why I didn't consider the hovercraft is that it is too large for my bathtub. Really, that was the only reason. If they had a hovercraft that fit my bathtub I would have been interested in it... and I probably could have afforded one, too.

It was fairly crowded on Saturday and on Friday I was told it was pretty empty. It was very busy on Sunday and I stopped by at about 4:30pm which was about 90-minutes before closing time.

I was told that the Caesars event will be in a larger ballroom and might actually have more items on display and bigger display areas. For example -- more rooms for the sports games like basketball hoops and swinging golf clubs.

Thanks for the write up Alan.

What was your haul? It sounds like you spent everything but 1,100 points. Is that all you will start with before building up for December or do you have any more?

Alan, thanks for all that.

Do you remember how much the iPads were!

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Originally Posted by Dan Druff

Do you remember how much the iPads were!

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Sorry, I forgot to check. I was more concerned with finding out about the new model.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Perdition

sounds like you spent everything but 1,100 points.

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Yes, that's it. Can't do anything with 1100 points. I do not plan on being at the December event.

Too bad these events are of little to no value of overseas customers. Mlife has a similar system and I always get invites to the events. Biggest problem: I'll have to spend around $2000 to get there and I can't really get big items like TV's because I can't take them back with me on the flight home. So I'd have to ship those items back home (more cost) and customs will tax me like a madman for the stuff I ship home. In other words, no value for overseas customers (except free play) but I do enjoy reading stories of people like you Alan. Thanks for sharing!

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Originally Posted by Vegas_lover

no value for overseas customers (except free play)

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I think you will find that free play is perhaps one of the better values. There is another option you might consider: having the gifts shipped to friends in the United States as actual "holiday gifts." You can designate individual shipping addresses for each item you purchase, even with individual $10 Starbucks cards.

That's some solid advice Alan, I never thought about that. Is there a way to do GGWU purchases online or do you have to be present at the events?

You must be present to exchange your points.

Hi Alan,

I am new hear but have been reading for a while :) I am going to the GGWU @ Ceaser's in Dec. I frequent Rincon and have related to a lot of your posts :)

I was down there today and got $200.00 in the "Take It or Leave It" Promo, same as last week....I wanted to try and double it up but I just took it both times ;)

I also am doing the UChoose, last month I was getting $245.00 Tues/Thurs. This time it is $180.00, but I experimented last week and got $180.00 all three days.

I will see if it continues to work out that way. I have been learning how to play VP, practicing a lot on the computer and using my FP at Rincon. Since I started

learning when I began reading your Blog I only really play 3-10 Play DDB Poker so far. I saw in the High Roller area today the machines that have the Progressive

and the "Pie" above the screen. I could not quite understand if the "wheel spins" when all pieces are " full" or of it randomly spins when a certain hand is hit.

I saw two machines with some pie pieces revealed (no one was playing) and a man playing one where all the pieces had values and he kept looking up..I think

he was trying to get a certain hand to make it spin? I would like to try this, but still do not understand how the wheel or progressives work.

I normally play slots, but I am enjoying splitting time now with VP half the time I am there. I think I saw you one night when you hit a Royal several months

back, because I recognized your picture from here ;P Anyway, thank you for having the Forum. I appreciate a place where there are others who are

going to the same places I am and have some of the same questions/experiences to share. Next year I will try to follow more of your tips on here as

I have already learned some things regarding CET from reading and about VP and other offers, playing for the 5000 bonus points etc. I earned 20,000 Tier

Credits in 2 day or so after not going to Rincon for a year, I have no idea if I got the bonus points as I didn't know to look, until I read here.

Do you know if they are keeping this Program ( the 5000 bonus points for 2500 in a gaming day) for next year? Thanks so much! e.

PS Sorry forgot to ask. Do they charge shipping at the GGWU or is that included in the point cost? I live in Southern CA, so will ship here. I am assuming you

don't get to take things with you, even gift cards correct? Thank you :)

Hi LizzyM and thanks for joining. Shipping is free or "included." Either way, you don't pay extra.

That "pie" machine at Rincon is a video poker bonus game. Two slices of the pie have amounts revealed. To reveal the other slices of the pie you must be dealt certain hands which I think are staights or better. I am not sure because I never played it. As you get these dealt hands the pie slices light up. Light up the entire pie and you get all of the "credits." But you can also cash out the "pie credits" at any time. The pie doesn't actually spin.

The games have reduced pay tables so it can be rough on your budget.

Your free play and UChoose offers are higher than mine so you must be a "good player." You also play DDB which has a higher edge for the casino which also could account for more free play offers than what I get.

The 5,000 bonus tier points after you earn 2,500 of tier points will show up in your TR account in about 24 hours.

Don't ever take the "try to double up" option on Caesar's promos.

The odds are stacked WAY against you, and usually you'll get nothing.

Just take the base promo offered to you.

Here is some other advice for Lizzy and everyone else:

Stay away from any "gimmick" video poker games, unless you have fully analyzed them mathematically (or read reports from those who have).

These games are specifically designed to make your odds MUCH worse by your lack of understanding of the right plays.

You even need to watch out for double-double bonus.

Here's a question for you:

Do you know how you're supposed to play differently on Double Double Bonus as compared to Jacks or Better? If not, never play Double Double Bonus, as you will be playing the wrong strategy for it!

It's best to stick to Jacks of Better, Bonus Poker, or Aces and Faces if you just know straightforward video poker strategy.

Hi Alan,

Thank you for replying. So based on that "pie" game, the man I saw had every single slice lit up so what was he waiting for if he could cash out? :) Although I think

you start with the two highest ones lit up, so he was probably waiting for a certain hand. I think I temporarily got higher offers as I played a lot of slots in high roller

and I got lucky and won right off the bat a large Progressive and rolled a lot of it over. I ended up ahead, but I should of left and not stayed the night as I would have

had twice as much as I did leave with :) Once I realized that Poker was at a slower pace if you will and not as boring as slots I have really started to enjoy playing it.

I am doing "ok" but I won't risk any real amount of money for a very long time, its more take the slot budget and play poker 50% of the time and practice at home also.

I find it more enjoyable than slots. Thank you for the heads up on the shipping for the GGWU, I was wondering about that.

Hi Dan,

Thank you for replying :) I will take your advice and look at pay tables on VP that has gimmicks. If I do play it will be limited and at lower denominations just to

give it a shot and have fun. Thanks for telling me not to double up, I did see pretty much everyone in line ahead of me doing that and no one I saw ( except on

Alan's previous post) got twice the amount :)

I do understand the DDB is different than JOB, I seem to like it more as you have a chance at the other combinations instead of just waiting for a Royal.

Which, from reading I can see happens every once in a blue moon. I do like Aces and Faces too.

I do need to study it all much more, I take my time right now when I play. I watch others and see them flying through hands..and I think "wow!"...

They must do 10 hands to my one time wise :) Although, do you think that taking your time is better overall? As I have noticed after about half

an hour, you can't even see a pair sometimes in front of you as your brain seems to get tired..Well, mine does anyway LOL! It's like looking at

one of those brain puzzles on paper that seem to play tricks on you :)

PS: Alan,

If you get "all of the credits" one of the revealed pie slices were 13,000 plus quarters. The others were lower, but still quite a bit.


I will investigate, but may be you need a Royal Flush? As it is 15 quarters plus 5 for the hands..I think there are 5 hands?

May be the other hands reveal smaller amounts? I will go and try to find out and see what says :)

The higher amounts were on the machines facing the cage in High Roller. There was one that was this high.

I will look again and be back :) e.

LizzyM the player on the "pie" game is entitled to cash out the lit slices. I thought that as soon as all the slices are lit up the credits are paid out. But like I said I never played before.

Dan is correct about being careful about these games. The payouts are "tough" with a high house advantage.

I have never played the pie game but pretty sure it is "build a wheel" poker. You do indeed light up slices and then spin the wheel once it is full, I am pretty sure you don't get all the slices. Frankly it doesn't make a ton of sense, why have the wheel at all instead of just giving the player an extra bonus on select dealt hands?

Hi Guys,

I looked at the machine today, I still do not understand it completely. I think you do get to spin on certain hands, not sure what it means when you

have it all lit up still? Will try to find someone when I am there to explain it better and report back :)

I am going this weekend for the $100,000.00 Slot Tournament, meeting friends for fun anyway and it's free as host invited event.

This is the only real tournament I have played in, do you guys think it is worth it? It's a $200/$400 buy in, but free if invited.....


Not sure if that means much or not in the scheme of things :) But, I want to see what its all about and I will let you know what happens.

The only downside of this is that there are three top prizes f cash : 1st $40,000.00 2nd $ 10,000.00 3rd $5,000.00 the rest 4th-10th $2500.00 Free play


11th-25th $1000.00 Free Play 26th-50th $500.00 Free Play. I am just wondering if this is worth it or not because even though it was

"Invitation" there is no dinner, or door prizes or anything else and I wonder if they are just making money as opposed to an "Invitation Only"

as people can pay to enter in general...I am not complaining about being "Invited" so it's Free LOL! I am just saying it is a two day

time commitment that, yes I will hang out with friends and I know they (casino) knows I will play...But if this event was not on

would anyone else think it was worth the time? Or are these a general waste of time? I know this is a VP Forum, but in terms

of "Comps" so to speak what do you think? My room is Comped so that's cool...But I can stay anytime comped. Thanks All!

Hope you are having a nice evening/day :)

I will report back if I go to this :) e.

Lizzy--the mathematicians can tell you the expected value of this contest, but I don't look at it that way. It is a free contest, and you have an equal chance as anyone else to win a prize. As to your 2 day time commitment, you love to be there anyway, so how can that be bad. If you happen to play and lose, that is still something you would have done another day without the contest, so again, how can that be bad.

Now, as to the contest, I am a veteran of slot, BJ, and craps contests. In a slot contest, you need to determine if the slots are "souped up" (in other words set for a lot of big payoffs) as opposed to the regular 92.6% (or whatever) payback. If they are souped up, spin hard and fast and don't stop. In Illinois, for whatever reason, they can't soup em up, even for tournaments. In that case, if you hit a jackpot early, you sit on the lead and don't spin anymore. Usually in Vegas they are souped up and you just keep spinning.

good luck

Alan did you get any pictures of the prizes you got or did you just do freeplay this time around?