Rincon hourly drawings -- rule change

Just heard that Rincon changed the rules for its end of the month hourly drawings for $1,000 of free play. I was told the free play must be claimed within 5 minutes of your name being called.

Previously players had until midnight.

Anyone hear about this change before?

EDITED TO ADD: I called and found out that the rule was changed STARTING THIS MONTH, JULY. In effect, you have to be on the casino floor for each hourly drawing from 1pm to 11pm -- and 11pm is the big $50,000 drawing.

Just talked to a player who said this means you can't even be in your hotel room -- because you are likely not to be able to get to the promotions desk in time even if someone on the casino floor called you to say you won. And don't even think about getting there in time if you are in Fiore or the buffet or even the poker room where you can't hear the announcements, and there is no screen with the winners' names.

I am also told that there are no "redraws." This means Rincon will not be awarding all of the fifty-thousand of free play that they've been advertising.

Alan, did I hear right, your name got called for $1,000 in free play?
P.S. sorry I hogged the only 8-5 Aces and Faces game left at Rincon
Tonight, but I did hit an $8,000 Royal on it. I'd post it but I don't know how.
Jim

Shaaaady.

This is now looking more like a bait and switch than anything else.

5 minutes to claim? No redraws? Hilarious.

Every day it's looking more and more like Rincon is simply looking to appeal to idiots, and doesn't mind driving away anyone with two brain cells to rub together.

There's also a problem here, given that this is not a CET-owned property, and thus has its own property interests over the interests of the Total Rewards program. So you're more likely to see shady promotions like this at Rincon, whereas other CET properties are corporate and more concerned about hurting the brand image with crap like this.

Maybe the person reporting this to Alan was wrong, but I'm guessing it's true.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by fly2rei

Alan, did I hear right, your name got called for $1,000 in free play?
P.S. sorry I hogged the only 8-5 Aces and Faces game left at Rincon
Tonight, but I did hit an $8,000 Royal on it. I'd post it but I don't know how.
Jim

---

Good job on the royal.

Did Alan Mendelson really get called for $1000 freeplay?

Would be ironic if, just a day after starting this thread, Alan himself falls victim to the "5 minute rule" and it costs him $1000.

Pala draws another name after 5 minutes if the person doesn't show. This has actually kept me on the floor a little while longer as it's fun to hear "30 seconds for Joe Smith to receive their $500 in moreplay". I don't recall seeing monitors with names on them. Valley View does have monitors all around including the buffet and café. I 'think' they call replacement names when someone doesn't show, but they don't do it all day long, only in 3 hour windows, 2 times a day.

I have a confession: I've had friends swipe my card to enter me in monthly drawings and if my name was called early enough in the day I would drive down to pick up the free play by midnight. One time about a year ago I was swiped and I was picked twice -- for $2000 of free play. This was when I played heavily at Rincon. It's possible I was called yesterday -- I don't know. But even if I was called there was no way to get there in five minutes even if I was in a hotel room. I've heard of players who had TEN MINUTES to claim the $50,000 who barely got to the promotions desk in time from their hotel room.

Now, a friend and I did drive down to Rincon late Friday night for some "over night" play. I had a great run in the high limit room on $5 Aces and Faces -- never hit a session-ending jackpot (no royals, and no quad aces for $2,000) but had a lot of small winners which kept me going a long, long time.

I just sent the following email to my host:

Hi Elaine, thanks for taking my call Saturday afternoon and discussing the new "rule" about claiming the free play in the monthly drawings.

As it turned out, I was called for $1,000 of free play on Saturday, but because I was "off property" I couldn't get to the promotions desk within 5 minutes to claim it -- and the free play that I won was lost.

For the record: I stopped by at Rincon late night Friday for an overnight drop-in visit with a buddy and I put on more than FIVE THOUSAND tier points at video poker (more than $50,000 coin-in) and early Saturday morning before the hourly drawings I put on more than FIVE THOUSAND tier points at video poker (more than $50,000 coin-in). In all, I played more than $100,000 of coin-in over a period of about TWELVE HOURS. Then I left.

As you know, most of my visits to Rincon are in the overnight hours.

In the past, when my name was called for these drawings I would have returned to the casino to claim the free play by midnight.

But because of your rule change returning to the casino was impossible this time.

Is that any way to treat a player who put in more than $100-THOUSAND of coin-in during a 12-hour period?

I think you owe me $1,000 of free play. Otherwise you'll never see me again.

Regards, Alan

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Dan Druff

Shaaaady.

This is now looking more like a bait and switch than anything else.

---

A very interesting observation. I wasn't at Rincon for its July 4th drawings, but a player told me that certain players who were chosen for the "big prizes" actually didn't automatically win the "big prizes." What happened is they won the chance to play a second "game" that offered multiple prizes which included the "big prize." I don't know any more details than that and now that you mentioned the "bait and switch" I need to see what the original mailers said about the July 4th promotion and what actually happened.

But Dan, you are right, I don't think this would happen in Vegas.

Last year I won $500 of free play during a weekend event at Caesars -- and I was not at the drawing. But when I stopped by the Total Rewards desk during my visit, a rep at the desk said "did you check to see if you won a drawing?" Then he -- on his own -- checked the prize list and saw that I won the $500 of free play, which I received right then and there.

I can understand a ten minute time limit for the $50,000 cash prize. But remember -- at the first million dollar drawing at Rincon you didn't even have to be in the casino!

The $1,000 free play awards are based on a full month of play. What a shame for a player who was a regular at Rincon all month (and there are players like that) who happened to be in a restaurant or in his hotel room or in a rest room and couldn't make it to the promotions desk within five minutes.

Although you may not like them, the rules are the rules. It was clearly stated on the mailer that the winners would have five minutes to claim. If you are not on property it is your own fault. If you in a restaurant or restroom or hotel room and do not listen or watch a screen for the names called then it is your own fault.

If a host gives a $1000 free play to someone who was not there that is unfair to all of the people who were there and ready to be at the promotions desk in five minutes. Why should you win if you didn't play by the rules?

If your name was called for the $50,000 drawing but you weren't "on property" should you get it anyway? It's no different than thinking you should get the $1000 in free play.

If you don't like the rules of a game then don't play it. But don't expect to have the rules broken for you.

Can't argue with you Chimp. Rules are Rules. But I didn't see the "five minute rule" in the mailer -- and that can be my fault. But I was also at the Total Rewards desk Friday night and while they reminded me about the drawings on Saturday they said nothing about a rule change. Sure, you could argue they didn't have to go into details about a rule change either. Nor was there a sign at the kiosk to swipe your card -- and you can argue that there was no need for a sign there either. Ya know, you could just say "tough luck" to everyone and let the casino change all the rules they want to and there's not much you can do about it.

But let's face reality: Rincon is a casino company that has been making it worse -- and not better -- for its players. New players wouldn't know the difference. But those of us who have been going there for some time have seen the changes.

It takes me about 2.5 hours (with moderate traffic) to drive to Rincon. It takes me 3.5 hours to drive to Caesars Palace. Guess what? Caesars has real craps, actually gives me better offers, and offers the same 7/5 Bonus game at $1 and $2 that I'd play at Rincon. And while the $5 Bonus game at Caesars is $25 per tier point, I'd rather play craps. I'm not addicted to Rincon and I play there by choice -- but the reasons for choosing Rincon have pretty much disappeared.

Anytime you want to take a quick trip to Caesars let me know.

There was a sign (maybe 2' by 3') by the kiosk when I swiped my card.
Pala allows 10 minutes to claim your prize. And if no one claims the prize
then another name is called until the prize is claimed. They also have a
large monitor (~15' by 20') on the west wall near the parking garage, and at least
one more in the Infinity Showroom that shows the names of the winners. The
drawing's are on the last Wednesday of the month. Top prize is $50,000.

I'm surprised this didn't get changed a long time ago...
The casino I used to frequent in Reno (JANugget) had the monthly drawing, where they gave away $1000 to 10 people. They had a 7pm drawing (5 names) and a 9pm drawing (5 more names).
They gave you 3 minutes (rather than 5), else forfeit the money and it "rolls over" to the 9pm drawing, where they have an "unclaimed" drawing (in case more than 1 person didn't show up). Most I'd EVER seen in 5 years of being there for every one of them, was a $2000 roll over (2 unclaimed prizes).
I actually won a $1000 one ONCE. Funny thing was, I was all the way up on the 20th floor in my jacuzzi watching the drawing on the CCTV (aka: Hotel/Casino Channel). You'd never seen a guy in swim trunks run so fast, LOL. (Grabbed a towel, threw on flip-flops and a t-shirt and dashed to the elevator and through the casino)

I honestly think they thought I was off-property, since I hadn't really been down on the casino floor that day..surprised them, and never again did my name get called! hahaha

We did not go to Rincon for the drawing this weekend. We got free tickets to see AMERICA at Agua Caliente so we drove to the desert instead.
Davo was sitting at a slot machine just after 11 and got a text from our friend Maria saying she won the $50 K at Rincon. She said the first name called
was a no show and they called her name next. WOW, nice to finally see someone we know win.

A couple of years ago Rincon tried to change the "rules" when it came to video poker -- it slaughtered the pay tables. The night it happened I wrote about it on my main website and a couple of days later the changes were rescinded.

We are now seeing another "slaughter" of the rules both in the video poker pay tables AND in other promotions and of course in the casino's offers to regular players.

Tyrants will always try to change the rules. It doesn't mean we have to accept them.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ce6nf-xoS5M

In my case, I am happy to call them on their latest. And to make more frequent trips to Caesars Palace instead of going to Rincon.

EDITED TO ADD:

I heard from my host this morning who didn't hesitate to say that she heard from others as well. What I said in my follow-up:

I understand and I am not blaming you. But as you know I visit at night and the new "rule" in effect says "sorry Alan, tough luck."

In previous months I'd play at night and then return before midnight. I've done that several times. Anyone who plays at night is now automatically blocked from winning.

There are so many other offers and gifts I can't claim because I play at night.

For example, there is an offer for this Saturday -- if I show up during daytime hours I can pick up cash without any play at all. It is simply "show up money." I can't get to Rincon during the day, during the hours of the promotion, just as I can't get there to pick up other "daytime offers" including watches and coffee makers and dish sets and blankets and towels -- or the free play equivalent.

Now I am sure Chimp will jump all over this and say again, "rules are rules." Yes they are. But I want Rincon to know I won't play under the new rules.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Alan Mendelson

A couple of years ago Rincon tried to change the "rules" when it came to video poker -- it slaughtered the pay tables. The night it happened I wrote about it on my main website and a couple of days later the changes were rescinded.

We are now seeing another "slaughter" of the rules both in the video poker pay tables AND in other promotions and of course in the casino's offers to regular players.

Tyrants will always try to change the rules. It doesn't mean we have to accept them.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ce6nf-xoS5M

In my case, I am happy to call them on their latest. And to make more frequent trips to Caesars Palace instead of going to Rincon.

EDITED TO ADD:

I heard from my host this morning who didn't hesitate to say that she heard from others as well. What I said in my follow-up:

I understand and I am not blaming you. But as you know I visit at night and the new "rule" in effect says "sorry Alan, tough luck."

In previous months I'd play at night and then return before midnight. I've done that several times. Anyone who plays at night is now automatically blocked from winning.

There are so many other offers and gifts I can't claim because I play at night.

For example, there is an offer for this Saturday -- if I show up during daytime hours I can pick up cash without any play at all. It is simply "show up money." I can't get to Rincon during the day, during the hours of the promotion, just as I can't get there to pick up other "daytime offers" including watches and coffee makers and dish sets and blankets and towels -- or the free play equivalent.

Now I am sure Chimp will jump all over this and say again, "rules are rules." Yes they are. But I want Rincon to know I won't play under the new rules.

---

Alan,

Is that all your host said? Is she going to give you the free play? Did she say anything about losing you after you had that much coin in or don't they care?

She said she forwarded my email to management, marketing and promotions. Really -- what do you expect her to say?? She can't say anything and management won't say or do anything. I know that. You know that too.

Zero chance they are going to give you your $1,000 in freeplay.

You also shouldn't have admitted publicly that friends were swiping your card, for reasons I won't bother mentioning.

But even if you were swiping your own card and happened to miss the calling of your name, Rincon doesn't care.

They don't want players like you anymore. That's why paytables are being degraded.

Rincon is trying to push out the knowledgeable, low-casino-edge players, and appeal to the casual players who don't know the difference between 6-5 and 8-5.

Rincon knew all about the swiping by "friends" because so many were doing it. This was why they moved some of the swiping kiosks to a manned counter and why they required certain minimum play on some promotions. Do you really think they'd care if someone else swiped my card in the morning after I had just put $50 - thousand or $100 - thousand coin-in? I doubt it.

Dan I have less than zero chance of getting that free play. But maybe, just maybe, I can get them to reverse this rule change the same way I got them to reverse their previous cut in the pay tables.

By the way they won't restore the pay tables now-- they have that underused Convention Center to pay for.

Rincon just emailed me. Starting with the August Year of the Millionaire drawing winners will have ONE HOUR to claim their prize. I will post the email shortly.

EDITED TO ADD: Here's the email from Rincon:

With your feedback and also many other upset guests have shared their disappointment, they have changed the claiming period for the hourly drawings so starting August the Year of the Millionaire drawing which August 29th, you will have (1) one hour to claim your prize.

Yeah but what happens to the unclaimed prize money (free play)?
ANSWER: Rincon keeps it.
At least at Pala they keep calling a name until they have a winner.