Poker Poker Poker!: Re: [vpFREE] Re: Free Play

In a message dated 1/17/08 7:59:42 PM US Mountain Standard Time,
harry.porter@verizon.net writes:

> Skip/57 Ethel/46 wrote:
> > Is it better to cash points in for Free Play or actual Dollars (Cash
> > Back) when you are trying to increase your Bankroll to play higher
> > denomination VP?
>
> I'll argue the cash back is marginally advantageous over Free Play.
>
> When playing through Free Play credits, you don't typically earn
> points/cb. If you instead insert cash to buy the initial credits, you
> earn points from the first hand of play.
>
> Second, Free Play is somewhat inconvenient in the case you find that
> you want to move machines shortly after you begin play (e.g. the
> buttons stick, or a loud or smoking player sits next to you). You
> can't cash out until you play through the initial Free Play credits
> once (i.e. place wagers equal in total to the FP amount downloaded
> into the machine).
>
> Unfortunately, I've never encountered a Free Play opportunity where I
> had cash as an alternative.
>
> - Harry
>
>
>
>
>

*****
I read BD's response too. The original inquiry was about banked cashback
points/$, but Free-play can be part of a promotion too, like a bounceback,
drawing, a Card of the Day, hot seat or in-place of about anything.

The taking of banked cashback in bucks or Free-play thing first...didn't the
Venetian just roll out a new slot club where you get a significant premium
taking cashback in Free-play versus cash?

My play is centered around Laughlin where the Free-play has crept in into
various casinos for cashback and promos.

The Pioneer (using the Acres system) introduced free-play to me several years
ago. There was a player revolt when they tried to issue banked cashback
exclusively in free-play. They give you a choice now. Trouble with the Acres
system is you don't earn points/comps while doing free-play and still have to go
through the slot club to load it.

The River Palms went to a free-play system in Demember for their bounceback.
Personally I preferred the old coupons which you could cash at the cage or
even on the floor without play. My understanding is free-play is only usuable
on the new (crummy VP) platforms and must be loaded through the slotclub.

The Golden Nugget-L used to send out bounceback postcards that could be
cashed at a cage. Now it is free-play loaded at the club. Just like River Palms
sometimes you don't want to generate a play day in a casino, but still want the
bucks, on your riverview walkabout.

The Riverside now issues free-play for their Card of the Day 125 coin promos.
Frankly, I do not know if the floor person can load it or one must endure
another slot club line. Either way, cash on the barrelhead worked for me.

The Marnell casinos, Edgewater and Colorado Belle actually made it easier for
players to access their banked cashback. No walking through the slotclub.
You can load your cashback in $1 increments as free-play right at any machine.

Harry made a point about being stuck on a machine while doing free-play. So
far I am able to load any amount in $1 increments from the banked free-play
promo account. I guess there are bar coded free-play tickets out there that
require a complete once through, but I have not experienced that version yet.

BD's point is free-play could be conveinent for players (and partners) and
doesn't matter if you are going to play anyway. I agree that at least in Vegas
if you make the trip to a casino, you probably will be playing.

*****
So has free-play crept into the major tournament prizes and drawings? Any
"win this car " or take "$20k free-play" top prizes yet?

Bluestreak

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