Casino loyalty deserves
slot club compensation
14 January 2000
By Mark Pilarski
Dear Mark,
I understand the latest rave in slot play is
joining a slot club. Numerous casino slot hosts
continue to approach me asking if I would be
interested in participating. I don't want to
waste my time filling out applications, but, I
reward myself by searching out 9/6 video poker
machines that pay a decent return. Am I missing
something? George R.
Missing something? Yes! Just by being a
certified card-carrying member of a slot club
you can receive up to a one percent cash rebate
while playing video poker. On a full-pay Jacks
or better 9/6 video poker machine with an
expected return of 99.6%, you now command a
positive expectation of 100.1%. Yes, George,
this is a mathematical edge against a cybernetic
one-armed bandit the whole time you're playing.
Though the equation for perks differs from
casino to casino, this is what I typically
receive with my Tropicana's Island Winner Club
card after eight hours of play on a 25¢ video
poker machine: four free meal comps, a $60 room
discount and at least an $80 cash rebate. In
addition, they send me goodies in the
mail-two-for-one buffet coupons, room discounts,
invitations to casino events and even free
gifts. The Tropicana pays me for my loyalty. And
what are you getting? ZIPPO!
In the future, George, make yourself a
sought-after guest. Simply fill out as many slot
club application cards as you can get your hands
on and start making the casinos compete for your
business. Join me in the VIP line at the buffet.
Dear Mark,
Please end a discussion among friends. When
using your club card in any game machine or
slot, exactly what does it track? Paper or coins
in, payment out, time and date? R. H.
Most casino slots today have a fully automated
player tracking system, or SMART-Slot Marketing
and Revenue Tracking. With the swipe of your
slot club card, onboard software knows your
name, address, interests, denomination of play,
favorite machines, how much you have invested,
your winnings at any given hour and if you have
a dog named Sparky. Tell a slot host any
pertinent information about yourself and it's
fair game for the casino's computer database.
On the plus side, your information helps them
with direct-mail campaigns informing you of
promotions, upcoming slot tournaments, parties,
reduced room rates, casino events and most
importantly, comps, comps, comps.
Shades of 1984? Probably, but player gratuities
far outweigh Big Brother knowing the date of
your wedding anniversary.
Dear Mark,
I have been going to my local casino for about
six months, and I mostly play blackjack, but
recently have been playing the electronic
roulette machines. Is the sequence of numbers
pre-programmed, or is it a random number
determined by the machine at the time of the
roll? Also, what is the best bet to make when
playing roulette? I have seen players blanket
the whole board, and some just keep betting on
the same numbers until they come up. Barry S.
Assuming programming integrity, all spins are
random, which, Barry, is what you can expect in
regulated casinos as there is no reason for the
house to risk breaking the law and lose their
valuable casino license by programming the
machines to beat you.
As for the best bet in roulette, there really
isn't any. All bets on a double zero roulette
table hold the same 5.26% house advantage, with
one exception; the five-number bet (0, 00, 1, 2,
3). The casino edge on that wager is 7.9%.
Dear Mark,
What are some of the advantages the casino holds
over the player in blackjack? Bart D.
The ONLY advantage the casino has over the
player in blackjack is that the casino plays
last. If you bust and so does the dealer, the
house already has your money in the tray. Player
skills, or lack of them, are really what are
going to determine your success in a casino. The
casino, Bart, doesn't beat you; it merely gives
you the opportunity to beat yourself.
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