First glance at 2015 Seven Stars: Signature Events announced

What you guys don't seem to understand -- or perhaps understand but are intentionally avoiding acknowledging -- is that what's good about Total Rewards is also what's bad about Total Rewards.

What do I mean?

Total Rewards (and CET in general) is very disorganized, full of problems, full of contradictions, and suffering from poor communication both between departments and toward players. It is also governed by certain petty rules which can serve as an irritant to the Seven Stars high rollers.

That's what's bad about it, and there's no getting around it. CET is very out of touch with the wants and needs of their best Total Rewards members. Look, it's February 16 and we still have no idea what the 2015 benefits are for a program that began on January 1!

What's good about TR is that the same incompetence that makes the program bad is also what makes it possible to maximize benefits and gain yourself a lot of perks with relatively minimal play.

By contrast, MLife (MGM) is much better organized and much less frustrating for people to deal with, but it's a lot tougher to game, and the top tier benefits are far inferior to Seven Stars.

If I hated CET, I wouldn't stay there. I like certain CET properties a lot, and I especially like that they have a wide network of hotels around the country.

The fact that they own the WSOP is very convenient for me as a poker player, as I get priority lines (important during the WSOP), 30% rakeback on wsop.com, and can stay right there at the Rio where the action takes place.

I made another post here comparing MLife and Total Rewards, and stated clearly that Total Rewards is far superior at the top level.

And do I hate video poker? No. I actually like it, but I don't like it enough to play recreationally and lose a lot of money doing it. But I actually enjoy the VP play when I have to do it to earn my status. If I hated doing it, I wouldn't put all those hours of play into earning Seven Stars.

My complaints here are often from the voice of "normal" Seven Stars players who aren't out to work any system, and aren't bonus whoring. I know many people like that, and they all tell me various forms of the same thing. Even Alan has expressed frustration about many fails of CET's in various posts out here.

Vegas_lover, if you don't like my posts, then don't read them. I don't know what else to tell you. I am stating my true opinion on these matters, as well as providing useful facts. I'm not trolling anyone here, nor am I throwing personal insults around. At the same time, I'm not going to hold back my opinion simply because it bothers some people.

Dan, fewer than 10% of Total Rewards players are 7 stars. Your advice and strategy is meaningless for everyone else -- and in fact could damage them if they made any attempt to follow it.

CET and TR and not disorganized -- they just aren't organized around your preferences.

It's been established for years that the new rules come out about April 1st because that's their fiscal year.

Keep doing what you're doing if you think it's best for you.

Dan, we will probably never see eye to eye on this subject. I said what I wanted to say, you responded with your view on reality, we don't agree, life goes on. Good luck.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Alan Mendelson

Dan, fewer than 10% of Total Rewards players are 7 stars. Your advice and strategy is meaningless for everyone else -- and in fact could damage them if they made any attempt to follow it.

CET and TR and not disorganized -- they just aren't organized around your preferences.

It's been established for years that the new rules come out about April 1st because that's their fiscal year.

Keep doing what you're doing if you think it's best for you.

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Do you really believe what you're writing?

You have complained many times about boneheaded things CET has done.

Yes, the TR benefits year starts April 1, but the earning starts January 1. You don't think people should know what benefits they're playing for?

Of course they do boneheaded things. So does every company. I just want to be sure my transplant surgeon does everything right -- that's what matters.

You face a personal problem about the rules of TR not being made public before April 1, because you have to decide in the first three months of this year if you will be playing for renewing. This is because you didn't play at all in 2014.

Others, however, who already played in 2014 may have already earned their 7 Stars renewal and not seeing the official rules before April 1st doesn't matter.

And then there is the issue of just how important is 7 Stars, anyway?

To me it's not important. To you it appears to be a driving force and this is because you are focused on comps. I am not focused on comps. I am focused on having a good time -- and of course not losing.

There is no pressure on me to play between now and April 1st, but you are feeling the pressure. That's too bad. You should never go to a casino feeling pressure.

Dan, you do things your way because they suit you. But as I said, your way is not a good way for the rest of the world. Really -- the rest of the world.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Alan Mendelson

You should never go to a casino feeling pressure.

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Alan: I don't mean to become a forceful interlocutor in your discussions here with Dan, but I did want to say you bring up a very wise truism about casino visits.

A brief story: During my last year of college I went far away to an Indian casino and went on a 3 month $45-$50,000 winning streak at blackjack (basic strategy & hunches on bet sizing). I was comfortable betting green chips mostly ($25-$150).

A final huge $10,000 winning day inspired me to greedily start betting black and purple chips (generally $100-$1,000). It was outside my comfort zone. Two months later that $50,000 was entirely gone and I was digging into my own pocket to keep playing.

The pressure I was feeling was enormous. I was too young and too impressionable back then!

Count Room,

Thanks for sharing. I didn't read this entire thread however, I just want to say this..... "Scared money never wins."

Good luck in the future.

Quad AAAA's

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Quad AAAA's

Count Room,

Thanks for sharing. I didn't read this entire thread however, I just want to say this..... "Scared money never wins."

Good luck in the future.

Quad AAAA's

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Thanks Quad AAA's, but it was a long, long time ago. 1993-1994. I barely bought my first laptop computer and the internet was starting to come out for the masses. $50,000 was really serious money back then, especially to college kids! Just in over my head at the time. The excitement of winning so much overtook me and I started to feel invincible after scoring the final $10,000.

One blackjack story. I'm not a blackjack player, but years ago I was at the MGM over a 4th of July weekend and I did exceptionally well at craps. I was up more than $5K -- after more than 30 hours of continuous play. (Yes, I made quick runs to the men's room and I subsisted on orange juice.)

Finally, after my 30 hour run at craps I decided it was time to go to sleep. But... right by the elevators was this $5 blackjack game and one seat was open and the folks at the table were laughing and having a good time, so I thought, why not join them for a hundred bucks? After all, I had more than $5K in my pocket.

So I sat down.

FOUR HOURS LATER one of the dealers came back from her shift and said "you're doing well." And I said, "yeah, I'm up a hundred."
"No you're not honey," the dealer said.
"Yes I am," I said. "Let me show you. I have them in stacks of ten." And as I pointed to the stacks I said "here's $50, and here's $50, and...."
And the dealer cut me off and said "honey, those aren't red chips. Those (she points to one stack) are greens, and the others are blacks."

Well, after 34+ hours of play I was so exhausted I couldn't even tell what color chips I was playing. And it was one incredible run. Realizing that it really was time to leave, the other players at the table were telling me that I was pushing out stacks of red and winning and getting greens and betting those, and then blacks.

See what happens when there is NO PRESSURE on you?

Alan: You were so tired you color-blinded your way to a big win? HAH! I need to try that sometime...Just be thankful you didn't have to drive home.

I used to have marathon sessions like that with table games as well when I was young and still a smoker. 24-48 hours. Now with video poker it's seldom more than 4 hours per session, 8 hours or more is very rare. The casino cigarette smoke just kills me after a few hours now and I am left gasping for fresh air.

Not entirely related, but a few months ago I played a hand of online poker in my sleep and won.

I had 66, but had fallen asleep and was not conscious, though my eyes were somehow open and I was still going through the motions of betting the whole way. I got to the river and woke up and saw a board that wasn't great for 66, something like Q9742. I had zero memory of ever having 66 and realized I literally played the hand in my sleep. I did a quick calculation of pot size (it was limit holdem) and realized I had been betting the whole way and was not raised by anyone. I was also out of position. I figured the best move at that point was to still bet, did so, and the only remaining opponent folded.

I seriously played every street of that 66 hand (except the river) in an unconscious-but-eyes-open state, and still WON!

Dan... I have played a lot of online poker (never for money, always free tournaments) and I can tell you that it is nothing but "bluff city." Those online players bet anything and everything -- any two cards. And if any player has an ace they will stay in the hand till the river.

Dates announced for 3 of the events:

New Orleans June 11-14
Atlantic City June 25-28
Las Vegas August 13-16

Tahoe dates in September still up in the air.