Printable View
Got a call from a viewer:
Viewer stayed at the Westgate once before and got an offer in the mail to check in today for $600 free play, each day, for two days.
Viewer arrives and checks in but only $200 of free play.
Viewer on phone with host and waiting for resolution.
Problem resolved. Customer called a host and it was fixed.
See... just talk to a host.
Good to know. I'll probably be staying at Westgate sometime in the next two weeks.
Sportsbook renovation is extremely well done. Beautiful, in fact. They have their best video poker in the same area (in the back) as the sportsbook.
They moved Man-o-War statue inside. That's good. Don't like pigeons on Man-o-War.
Alan, maybe your contact could give a quick trip report regarding any renovations to rooms and such at the Westgate. The buffet's been redone, but I haven't tried it. New restaurants. The Elvis tour thing has some legal action going on, but I'm not up to snuff.
I haven't been there in decades. At one time it was great for horse players. Also, I used to stay there when the ill- fated Sport of Kings was across the street. Redietz probably remembers the Sport of Kings--anyone else?
I'm a strip walker so it's just too out of the way for me.
Wait---the viewer was at the hotel and CALLED a host instead of going to see one? And if the viewer had a written offer, why didn't they just go to the slot club with paper-in-hand first?
My girlfriend was a regular at the Sport of Kings. She said she was seated next to Pete Rose there on a couple of occasions. I was in the place a few times, but don't have much recollection of it.Quote:
Originally Posted by regnis
I don't have an answer. But when I go to Bellagio I call my host there to tell him I've arrived and then he activates my free play. I've never been to the Westgate and I don't know their procedures.Quote:
Originally Posted by Rob.Singer
Lots of times it's easier to call a host than go find one. Especially after hours. Sometimes your host isn't at the property. Not sure about Westgate, but sometimes there's a phone at player's club area (or nearby) where you can pickup a phone and it calls a host or something like that. But I'm sure Rob knew all of this already!Quote:
Originally Posted by Rob.Singer
I understand why some people regularly contact hosts, even though I have always stayed away from them unless 100% necessary. But in this case, why would someone go looking for a host BEFORE they took their written free play offer to the slot club for resolution? They always have all the info on offers of free play that go out. Just seems the quickest, easiest, more efficient way to clear this up.
Are you saying the only way to use your free play at Bellagio is to have a host activate it? What?Quote:
Originally Posted by Alan Mendelson
What Rob knows is if you're inside a casino the easiest way to talk to a host during normal hours is to either go to the VIP office if they have one, or ask a slot club boothling to get you one. After hours and if the club is closed, the quickest way is to do the same thing you do if you lost or forgot your player's card: ask a pit boss to get you one.Quote:
Originally Posted by RS__
why stand in line at the players club when you can call the host?Quote:
Originally Posted by Rob.Singer
The few times I've been to Bellagio (and it has been just a few times) my host asked me to call him to let him know I am on the property and then he activates my free play. I don't see why that's a problem. He usually also lets me know about other offers such as free dining and asks what refreshments I'd like sent to my room. I have no fear of speaking to hosts. They are human and generally nice, normal people.Quote:
Originally Posted by Rob.Singer
Did I tell you I had a host who offered me his kidney when I needed a transplant? Same blood type, too.
Because there may not be a long line, and in this case, he couldn't have had a host that he knew of to call if he just went in once and came back because of the free play offer. But I never wait in those long club lines, and if it were a choice between waiting or calling some host, I'd call.Quote:
Originally Posted by Alan Mendelson
Things must be different these days at Bellagio. Whenever I've had an offer of free play anywhere, it's already on my card, it's obtainable from a kiosk, or it tells you that you must go to the slot club where they will activate it.Quote:
Originally Posted by Alan Mendelson
That's the easiest way to do it. Yes a host could do it in the slot club case, but all you're doing is alerting him or her that you're there out of from under the radar, and you're ready to be tracked. As a gambler, that is not smart.
I can only think of ONE single reason why your host would ever offer up one of his kidneys to you, and it isn't a pleasant thought. (But I'm probably right)
Of course I'm being tracked whether I call my host or not because my card is in the machine or I gave it to the floor person at the craps pit.
Rob I don't understand your problem with calling a host? I call as soon as I'm approaching the valet. Sometimes he's met me and takes me for dinner following check in.
By the way there's always a line for the players clubs at Bellagio and Caesars. If you can call to avoid it, why wouldn't you?
You really are making a silly argument.
Regarding your kidney comment Rob: sometimes you really are an ass.
LOL -- that's the thing about the word "sometimes." It has a wide range of interpretations.Quote:
Originally Posted by Alan Mendelson
The truth can "sometimes" be like a punch in the gut....
Alan, you've never seemed to get this. You are the balls-on perfect casino visitor--always have and always will be. You have lost lifetime gambling, and one of the chief reasons is absolutely because you continue to do exactly as the casinos want and expect you to do--and you feel so GOOD about it! God bless you. In fact, I cannot think of one thing you do and/or how you do it, that goes against the wishes of the casinos. For this reason, of course you allow yourself to be manipulated by any host who comes along and makes you feel oh-so-special in any way. And why you would EVER want to have dinner with a host is beyond me. I'll bet you even gift these people at Christmas, just as you gift hand pays to people who have no right to get tipped. I know you look a host as your "good friend" at your "home away from home"----just as they want you to see them and EXACTLY like they're trained to present themselves to players like you. It would be interesting, however, for you to be able to justify these relationships with the fact that their only intention in their contacts with you is to see how fast they can move the maximum amount of funds from your bank account to their employer's bank account.
Sad that you cannot be educated on this very important but also very simple casino fact. And all you can look forward to now is for some other misled gamblers to come on and support you just to make you feel good about your misguided steps. At this point, there is nothing else I can do for you.
Rob, there is nothing I can do for you either.
The jealousy is coming across strong in this thread. Hope it all works out for you Alan.
Hate to tell you, Rob, but by deviating from mathematically correct strategies at video poker, you are also doing exactly what the casinos want.Quote:
Originally Posted by Rob.Singer
Oh boy. I can see it now: Rob will tell you that by not deviating from mathematically correct strategies you can't beat the casinos. And, since most if not all VP games offered now are negative expectation, he's right: you can't beat the casinos playing by the math. All you can do is lose by the amount of the paytable.Quote:
Originally Posted by Dan Druff
Unless you're blessed by God. Or have super powers. Like Rob.
Back to the Westgate. Alan, did your viewer have any report on the state of the Westgate rooms? Any recommendations on tower location or anything? Last time I stayed, there was a wide variance in the state of allegedly similar rooms.
I had no other contact.
I just made a reservation for Bellagio. Here's what the host sent me along with the confirmation number:
Here is your confirmation number for Sunday. Please call me after you arrive, and I will activate your free play. See you soon!