This Chumash Casino Billboard Caught My Eye

Below is a picture of a billboard advertising the Chumash Casino near Santa Barbara. The billboard advertises free play for new members of the casino's slot club. Specifically the rules of the promotion say: "Residents of Los Angeles County receive $100, Ventura and San Luis Obispo County residents receive $50 and all other areas receive $5 in Slot Free Play."

Okay, that's pretty clear and the billboard's message is pretty clear. It says "up to $100 in Free Play." So I am not questioning the promotion. In fact, a few months back and I joined their slot club and I received $50 in free play on the spot, with a coupon for $50 in free play when I returned. I am a Los Angeles County resident so I qualified for the $100 free play promotion.

But what really caught my eye -- in addition to free play which draws me like a fly to a bowl of sugar -- is the illustration of two fifty dollar bills.

$50 bills? Hello? Doesn't their advertising agency or marketing company know that gamblers here in the West think $50 bills are unlucky? I know you folks in the East use and spend $50 bills. Heck, $2 bills are popular in Boston but don't dare give a $2 bill to a cab driver in New York City because cabbies think they're unlucky. But in casinos in these parts $50 bills are a no-no. I don't know of any cage in Vegas that would give players a $50 bill. I don't know of any cage at a casino in the L.A. area that would give a player a $50 bill.

If ever a cashier tried to give me a $50 bill I'd refuse it.

I am sure there are others like me, and I wonder if the graphic of the $50 bills on the Chumash billboard makes them think the casino won't be lucky? The casino's ad agency easily could have used the illustration of a $100 bill just as they use a $100 bill on their website.

Huh -- I did not know it was that big a deal. I realize you almost never get a $50 in LV, but figured it was just a business preference. I'm an Easterner, so maybe it's a regional thing. I have a $50 in my wallet right now.

Oh yeah...
Asians (me) are really superstitious.
50's are no-no.
So bad, that I refuse to play with 50 cent chips or 50 cent pieces.

At Rincon, they give 50 cent pieces as change for commission in Pai-Gow.
I will request two quarters.

Same thing at San Manuel, I refuse the 50 cent chips.

I don't play BJ that much, so the $2.50 chips are not a problem.

My selective memory only recalls the start of a huge losing streak when I get the 50 cent pieces.:)

I didn't know this, but I do remember playing $200-$400 limit holdem at Commerce Casino about 10 years ago, and they were using $50 chips.

One Asian guy at the table complained, "I always lose when we use these damn $50 chips. They're unlucky. I hate them."

The game usually runs with $100 chips, but it makes the pots look smaller, and discourages action.

I haven't seen the $50 chips used there for a long time. In fact, they were old and dirty, as if Commerce felt they weren't even worth replacing.

I am shocked to find out that any poker casino in Southern California would have $50 chips since the Asian population of players is so large. What were they thinking? I have never seen a $50 chip, though I have seen fifty-cent chips in use.

On the rare occasion that a player buys into a craps game at Caesars Palace in Vegas with $50 bills I always ask them (if they are near me) are you from the East Coast? Of course they always answer yes. And that leads into a discussion of fifty dollar bills.

$50s are commonly used in the East.

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Originally Posted by Dan Druff

I didn't know this, but I do remember playing $200-$400 limit holdem at Commerce Casino about 10 years ago, and they were using $50 chips.

One Asian guy at the table complained, "I always lose when we use these damn $50 chips. They're unlucky. I hate them."

The game usually runs with $100 chips, but it makes the pots look smaller, and discourages action.

I haven't seen the $50 chips used there for a long time. In fact, they were old and dirty, as if Commerce felt they weren't even worth replacing.

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the $50 chips were routinely used in the $50 Kondition Pan game that use to run regularly at the Commerce.

Eight months ago I started this thread and recently I was traveling on the 101 Freeway and I saw a new Chumash billboard. It mentioned the $100 free play but NO photos of $50 bills.

By the way I was at Chumash once -- probably more than 9 months ago. I did get a players card and did make use of the first $50 of free play, but I never returned for the second $50 of free play. Would I still be eligible? I don't remember if there was a time limit.

I recently moved and Chumash is now the closest casino to my new home -- about 65 minutes away. I don't remember anything there that would get me to make the drive back. If anyone has any updates on changes there, please let me know.

If I recall, my one visit there I was playing 6/5 Bonus at 25-cents -- that's how bad it was.

From the videopoker dot com forum rumors, I heard it is really that bad there. There is a fast moving 1% progressive 7/4 Super Aces progressive that is only playable when the royal flush moves up to $8000 (double its amount). Plus the variance on the game is super high.

I know your experiences at Morongo were bad, but Chumash is so bad that it makes Morongo look good.

You HAD 30 days after the initial sign up day to redeem the remaining $50. After that the FP vanishes into that graveyard in the sky.

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Originally Posted by alpax

From the videopoker dot com forum rumors, I heard it is really that bad there.

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by Boygenius

You HAD 30 days after the initial sign up day to redeem the remaining $50. After that the FP vanishes into that graveyard in the sky.

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Well with these "two strikes" there's no reason to take another pitch. I will save myself an exploratory re-visit. Thanks.

By the way.... I passed that new Chumash billboard on the 101 Freeway today and in the corner was the $100 of a $100 bill.

Chumash has commercials of this on TV now. It definitely goes by so quick where you cannot even catch the fine print unless you own a DVR and like to stare at the TV screen up close.

They sponsor the Los Angeles Clippers basketball team and I see it every 20 minutes.

Thinking back, one of the best things I remember about this casino is how easy it is to get free drinks just by walking by and grabbing a cup already filled with the drink. As good as the in-slot drink ordering service at Harrah's Southern California.

From New York Times, "Donald Trump Means Business in Iowa" (1/24/16):

"Mr. Trump showed up for church here in eastern Iowa, with photographers trailing, sat quietly through the 60-minute service, left two crisp $50 bills in the collection plate and shook hands all around, before resuming his attack on Mr. Cruz at a news conference and rally nearby."

There's your East Coast dead giveaway again, Alan! (not that many people already knew Trump is from NYC)

I missed this post:

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Originally Posted by alpax

Thinking back, one of the best things I remember about this casino is how easy it is to get free drinks just by walking by and grabbing a cup already filled with the drink. As good as the in-slot drink ordering service at Harrah's Southern California.

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Explain this please?

Are there free alcoholic drinks there? (I'm not a drinker, so I don't know the rules. But I thought there were no free alcoholic drinks at Indian casinos?)

I have not been there for 8 years now so it might be different.

Alcoholic drinks are not free in any California casino because of the state's alcohol regulation (the biggest one being that anyone cannot leave a restaurant with a drink) prohibits providing alcohol without a cost. The most likely scenario where people get free alcoholic drinks is when a business is about the close or if someone other than the restaurant paid for it.

Near the main entrance of the casino on the left side, I just recall being able to walk by and pick up a cup with a non-alcoholic drink already filled up. I had like 4 or 5 of them during my stay, thought that was convenient until I saw the on screen options at Harrah's Southern California in front of a slot machine.

Several Indian casinos have free soft drinks -- dispensers etc where you can walk up and take. I thought you were referring to free booze and you're correct that's not allowed.

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Originally Posted by Alan Mendelson

Several Indian casinos have free soft drinks -- dispensers etc where you can walk up and take.

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You'll find these almost everywhere in the country except Vegas.

Nice to know thanks! I would not even take the alcohol even if it was comped.

I've secluded myself to just two casinos due to self discipline issues, but both do not happen to have dispensers so I was not aware. I know Harrah's Southern California @ Rincon has it and San Manuel makes you buy a cup first. Barona has wagons constantly stopping by.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by alpax

I've secluded myself to just two casinos due to self discipline issues,

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You'll have to explain this to me. I'm all in favor of having self-discipline. How does limiting the number of casinos impact self discipline?

I should have elaborated about this since it is possible that one person can blow their life savings at any given one casino.

I seek value out of a casino for playing games where the house has the edge, and one way to achieve it is to earn the higher than basic tier club card. I play just enough at Pechanga to earn their GOLD card status every six months it is steeper than many other places where it requires $100k coin in for video poker (for the high limit room games it is $250k coin in). I feel the extra promotions you get mailed privately every month is actually worth going for.

Thus I do not have the bankroll to risk pursuing good card tier status at many different casinos such as Valley View and Pala. I do not value my Titanium card at Morongo since it is just $10k coin in a year. For Vegas I went with Boyd since $25k coin in of their good VP games got me into Sapphire for 12 months. It is easier to get RFB from them.

alpax I think everyone will agree with you: it's better to concentrate your play with certain companies to maximize your offers and benefits.

Thanks for your understanding Alan. Most games on the casino floor have an edge, the only way to mitigate it is to get as much from the casino as possible. I try to find the perfect balance between amount of play and what is offered for the play.