I've never seen a casino promotion such as this one, so I thought it was worth mentioning.

Harrah's Rincon Casino in San Diego County is going to have a three day event May 17-19 that features a jewelry buyer on the property, and according to the promotional material that is being sent to players when you "sell your jewelry, diamonds, and watches that you no longer wear" you will receive immediate payment or "a 110% offer in free play."

This comes awfully close to having a gold buyer or even a pawn shop on the property.

You have to think that if you were to sell your jewelry that you wouldn't be getting the "best price" just as you don't expect to find discounted toothpaste in a casino gift shop, or a fairly priced bottle of water in a the casino-hotel's convenience bar inside your room. (Last time I pulled a bottle of water out of the "room bar" it cost me $4.95.)

You also have to wonder what percentage of "sellers" will take advantage of the 10% free play bonus.

If a "seller" is honest that they are really selling the jewelry to get some casino action, then they might as well take the free play instead of the cash.

But if someone were serious about getting the best price for selling their Cartier or Tiffany jewelry or their Rolex or their Gucci watch, I'd think they'd want to price it very carefully before taking it to a casino hotel to sell it.

Of course there is nothing unusual about companies having "jewelry buying events" in hotels -- it's done all the time. What makes this unusual is that the "event" is being held at a casino hotel, and there is the "free play option" for 110% of the cash price being offered by the jewelry buyer.

I hope that 10% bonus doesn't disguise a low-ball offer for the jewelry.