m h ... the questions you pose basically all revolve around the concept of ADT (average daily theoretical) -- the measure that drives most of the Caesars offers you receive.
In general terms, where possible, you want to maximize your ADT for any given amount of play.
ADT is calculated by taking the imputed value of your trip play to the casino and dividing it by the number of active days recorded. ("Activity" is not limited to play, but includes most any other transaction that impacts your RC balance, involves a card swipe, or otherwise signals to the Caesars system that you're present in the casino on a given day.)
By way of example, if you gave $x of coin-in on the 1st and 3rd days of a 2 night trip, and spent the 2nd day of the trip in bed with the covers pulled over your head the entire day, then the value of the play would be divided by 2.
So, on an extended stay, it can be worthwhile to concentrate your play into as few days as possible ... provided that on the "off" days you don't show other forms of casino activity.
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What triggers "activity" is a rather vague science, and sometimes I think it's best to simply enjoy your stay in the manner that's most enjoyable and not sweat showing "activity".
Still, for example, if on check out day you have no charges to offset with RC's and don't intend to play, it might make sense to pay cash for a $10 breakfast rather than using RC's ... thus avoiding activity on check-out day.
Card swipes tend to record activity, but not always. I've been told that Diamond lounge visits in LV and many other venues won't record activity from a swipe ... but that's not true in AC.
I find most kiosk swipes to be "activity" free (unless they result in the posting of RC's or issuance of a voucher of some type). But this should be regard "at your own risk".
A checkout, where there's no RC activity as a consequence, tends to be activity free ... but I've been told at Biloxi Grand it's impossible to avoid recording of activity on check-out day (even if you check out before the day starts).
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Hope that helps on the question of how best to structure your play. Let me address your other questions, starting with the last:
-- Forget about asking a host for clarification re any of these questions. Occasionally you'll come across the exceptional Caesars host who truly understands the ins/outs of the system and can adequately explain them. But much more often than not, they don't have a clue and yet will give an inaccurate reply rather than betray their ignorance. (A loose application of the adage, "Don't try to teach a pig to sing ..." applies here.)
-- Caesars extends offers based upon past play, but you're generally under no obligation to play on any given trip. Failure to record play, or playing at below past established play, will merely dilute future offers.
-- There is no set relationship between denomination and game theoretical. Generally speaking, machines which earn bonus RC's (RC's over and above tier credits) on play will generate a higher theoretical per $ coin-in than machines earning no bonus RC's.
-- As to the question of whether it sometimes can be advantageous to play a lower return machine for the sake of a higher theo (paraphrasing), it varies. In isolated circumstances, this might be the case. However, without knowing hard theo numbers it's a crapshoot to guess whether what you might give up in EV will be compensated for in stronger offers.
- H.
--- In vpFREE@yahoogroups.com, m h <kickboyface@...> wrote:
>
> Hi there,
>
>
> I've got a (comped) trip coming up to a Caesars property in N NV and would like to know how they currently record/"reward" play. Really, all I'm trying to do is optimize the way they view my coin in.
>
> If I stay for three nights, and plan on putting a total of $X through VP, how do the biases fall in relation to things such as ...
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> * Is it better to do all my play on one day, spread X across three or four days?
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> * Is it better to spend X in multiple smaller denomination plays, or push it through on fewer larger denomination plays?
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> * Is there any advantage to playing a smaller theoretical payback machine (say 8/5 bonus) over one that is theoretically better (e.g. 9/6 JoB).
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> * Is Caesars expecting/assuming a certain amount of coin in?
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> * Can/should I just ask a host these questions directly?
>
> I'm sure you get the idea of what I'm looking for here ... It all feels very black-boxy to me ... I welcome, and thank in advance, any educated opinion or informed guesses you collectively have.
>
> Feel free to email me directly if you'd rather not share your insight with the list,
> m.
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
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