American Casino Guide

April 5, 2009 Vegas Values Report

Here’s what we found for the week of April 5, 2009...

Here are great Las Vegas coupons, discounts, savings and offers we have for you this week...

Rio: The Rio is offering customers a FREE mobile marketing campaign that sends customers text message alerts for real-time promotions to their cell phone during their stay at the hotel-casino. Visitors to the Rio text message the word “Rio” to 227466.  The customer will receive up to 12 text messages during the next four days, the average length of a visitor’s stay. The customer also can send “stop” to the same number to halt the flow of messages. The messages inform customers about special deals at the Rio as well as other Harrah’s properties with offers such as food and beverage discounts or show tickets at a discount, etc.

Sam’s Town: 30th Anniversary Celebration:  In March 1979, Sam’s Town Hotel and Gambling Hall opened to the public and became Las Vegas’ first true “locals” casino. Honoring its history, FREE Cake and champagne (21 and older) will be served near the Race and Sports Book Deli on Saturday, April 11 beginning at 12 noon. Throughout April, photographs and memorabilia collected over the 30-year history of Sam’s Town will be on display near the Poker Bar in the casino.

Silverton Casino Lodge: Giving players the chance to play “Kerplinko” for a share of $1,000,000.  Each Saturday in April players will have the opportunity to win up to $250,000. Starting at 8:00 p.m. every Saturday during the promotion, 10 names will be drawn, 9 of those will win a cash prize up $1,000. The remaining individual will be given the opportunity to play “Kerplinko” and win between $6,000 and $250,000. Discovery Club members earn entries into the drawings by playing their favorite reel slots or video poker machines. Fifty (50) points equals one entry. In all, 40 players will win a cash prize over the course of the promotion. Visit the Discovery Club for complete details.

Palms Resort and Casino: Will be offering WIN CARDS by the end of April. They are handy plastic dial cards, with simplified instructions for learning the basics of how to play Blackjack, Craps and Roulette, and are available for $20 per set. Those who buy a set of WIN CARDS will receive $30 in FREE-play, non-negotiable chips. These chips stay up until actually lost. There will be a strict limit on this exclusive offer of one per person, every six months.

Monte Carlo/New York-New York: Now through April 12, sun-seekers are invited to enjoy one big party as Monte Carlo and New York-New York celebrate Spring Break, Vegas style.  From bikini contests to poolside massages, the resorts are partnering to host the ultimate bash. While escape packages filled with incredible 2-for-1 offers are available from $59 per night, you don’t need to be a guest to join the fun.  Access to poolside parties – featuring everything from beer pong to dance contests – can be had for just $20 per person. Most activities are available only to guests 21 years of age or older. Calls the hotels for more information.

Texas Station: Earth Day Tote Bag Giveaway- Wednesday, April 22, from Noon-8 pm in the giveaway area near the Food Court. Invited guests will receive one FREE tote bag. Guests who were not eligible or invited may earn 100 points the day of the promotion and receive the gift. No points are deducted.

Plaza and Vegas Club: Earn points every Thursday and Sunday throughout the month of April to receive FREE gifts…and you keep the points. 250 points earns a Logo Hat. 500 points earns a Logo Duffle Bag, and 1,500 points earns a Logo Shirt.  Limit three items per person, per day.

Jerry’s Nugget: Neighborhood Merchant Program (NMP.) The casino has partnered with local businesses so players can redeem points for shopping certificates. The Neighborhood Merchant Program (NMP) launched on Monday, March 23 with five participating business partners, each offering different services. These are King Ranch Market grocery chain, with its 1570 N. Eastern Ave. location nearest to the casino; Hahn’s Military Surplus, 2908 E. Lake Mead Blvd.; La Corona Furniture, 2111 Civic Center Dr.; Mundo Musical, 1560 N. Eastern Ave., #4; and Nevada Flowers, 2446 Las Vegas Blvd. North #101. Players will be able to redeem More Club points in denominations of $10 or $25 and can spend these at the participating locations as they would spend cash. Players can choose which shopping certificates they redeem at The More Club. They must exchange 6,000 points for a $10 certificate and 15,000 points for a $25 certificate to the merchant of their choice. A complete list of Neighborhood Merchant Program rules is available at The More Club.

That's it for this week.
Luck, Royals, Good Food and Jackpots to all..... Regards, H.  Scot  Krause
Author not responsible for omissions, changes and/or errors.

Ongoing April Promotions

Vegas Values Updates: The American Casino Guide web site has a discussion board where you can read about any updates to each week's Vegas Values report. You can also post any questions or comments you have about any casino promotions. Go to - http://forum.americancasinoguide.com/

Riviera: New player’s club sign-ups who show a current airline ticket or players club card from any Strip property receive your choice of FREE slot play or a FREE show ticket. Details at club booth. (Ongoing until further notice.)

Cannery (North): FREE All New “Trinkets of Treasure” – Saturdays in April. Earn 999 base points the same day on Saturdays in April and receive one FREE “Trinket of Treasure”.  Win your share of $10,000 in cash each Saturday. Everyone is a cash prize winner up to $1,000. New feature: $5 cash prize winners may exchange for $10 in FREE slot play at the player’s club. There is a limit of one trinket and one cash/free play prize per customer per day, while supplies last and customers keep their points.

Rampart Casino: Rampart Anniversary Tuesday April 7. FREE cake and champagne in Addison’s 2pm – 6pm. FREE T-shirt for players from 2pm – 6pm. 2x points all day. Party Patrol from 2pm – 6pm. $7,000 will be given out in random drawings from 2pm – 6pm. $700 in slots and $700 in tables each hour. $7.00 buffet all day and $7.77 café specials. FREE sliders and beer in Valet from 11am – 2pm.

Station Casinos: Caddy’s & Cash promotion through April 25. Guests earn entries by playing video poker, video reel, video keno, slot machines, Bingo, Table games and Poker. Drawings held every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday at 8:15 p.m. at every Station Casino & Fiesta property. Entries must be activated at any My Rewards or Amigo Play Kiosk beginning at 4 p.m. up until 8 p.m. on the day of the drawing. Entries can be earned at any property but will count towards that property’s drawing only.  Guests may receive 10 bonus entries each day by swiping their card at any Kiosk valid for that week’s Thursday, Friday and Saturday drawings. Entries must be earned week to week and do not roll over. New earning periods begin Saturday at 8:15 p.m. Guests must be present to win and will have 3 minutes to claim any prize.  Participants may win once per drawing, but may win multiple times through the promotion. Chairman/El Presidente guests receive 5X, President/Macho guests receive 4X, and Platinum guests receive 3 X on earned entries. Nine winners will win $1,000 in cash and one winner will win $1,000 in cash and a chance to win a 2009 2 WD Hybrid Cadillac Escalade.  One Escalade will be given away each day.  Guest may take $1,200 in FREE slot play instead of the $1,000 cash.

Bighorn/Longhorn Casinos: Cash drawings and Pepsi giveaway in April. Earn drawing tickets for a natural 4-of-a-kind or any winning hand over $50 playing video poker. Players must be playing a minimum of 5 coins on quarters and higher denominations. Players playing less than a quarter denomination must play at least 10 coins to receive a ticket for a 4-of-a -ind. Tickets will be given only on first line of multi-line video poker games. Players playing slot or keno must hit a jackpot of $50 or more to receive a ticket. Blackjack players earn tickets for any blackjack in diamonds with $5 minimum bet. Drawings will be held at 7:00 p.m. for $1,000 every Monday and Thursday and $2,500 drawings on Saturdays. Winners must be present. Bigshot members will also receive a FREE six pack of Pepsi product along with a drawing ticket for the same qualifying hands.

El Cortez: Between April 1 and April 12, Club Cortez players winning a jackpot of $200+ on a slot machine, a $200+ jackpot on a video poker five-cent or lower denomination machine, a $300+ jackpot on a video poker ten-cent or high denomination machine, or a $200+ jackpot on live keno will receive a prize ticket redeemable for a FREE one pound of See’s Candy or will be able to select from an assortment of Easter candies (while supplies last.)

Arizona Charlie’s Boulder: Half-price buffets on Mondays in April when paying with your club points, for member and 1 guest.

Mandalay Bay: Ivan Kane’s Forty Deuce at Mandalay Bay closed on March 30. A new bar & lounge is slated to open in late summer.

April Gambling Podcast - Visitng Reno and Lake Tahoe . The American Casino Guide has a monthly podcast hosted by the book's author, Steve Bourie, who talks about topics of interest to travelers who like to visit casinos and during the course of each show he  interviews a special guest from the world of casino travel or gambling.

For the March podcast Steve interviews Ellen Oppenheim, President and CEO of the Reno-Tahoe Convention and Visitors Bureau. They discuss things for visitors to see and do when visiting Reno-Tahoe, including a property-by-property description of all casino hotels, plus a suggested travel route for visiting all areas of interest. To visit the podcast page, go to: americancasinoguide.com/podcasts.shtml

On that page you can also access past interviews with noted gaming authorities, including: Jean Scott, Max Rubin, Bob Dancer, Stanford Wong, Arnold Snyder, John Grochowski, Henry Tamburin, John Robison, The Wizard of Odds, Bill Burton, Jeffrey Compton, Anthony Curtis and Linda Boyd.

Red Rock Resort: 75-cent beer with the purchase of any entrée at LBS-A Burger Joint, now thru April 15.

Las Vegas Hilton: Great Gift Grab 3 thru April 30. Choose a prize from the drawing drum for every 50 Reward Dollars earned (or 25 hours of table game play) and take home a special gift. The promotion is floor-wide and open to all guests, although one prize is a slot machine and by state law can only be given away to Nevada residents. See the Resorts Destination Casino Club for complete details.

Binion’s Gambling Hall: Guests who join Club Binion’s now receive a variety of FREE gifts and offers upon signing up. New members receive FREE match play, two-for-one food and drink offers, a souvenir gift and more. Club Binion’s is open daily from 8 a.m. to midnight.  (Ongoing promotion until further notice.)

Gambling and Taxes Podcast with Jean Scott - Tax time is here! American Casino Guide author Steve Bourie interviewed Jean Scott, author of Tax Help for Gamblers, last year about the tax implications for gamblers. They discussed what ID is needed to claim winnings; which forms you receive from the casinos, how to keep a gambling diary; how to declare wins and losses on your tax forms; state tax liabilities; and more. To listen, go here - http://americancasinoguide.com/podcasts.shtml#0308

Atlantic City Blog - The American Casino Guide web site has a new Atlantic City blog with information about promotions and events at all Atlantic City casinos. To visit the blog, go to: http://atlanticcity.americancasinoguide.com/

California/Fremont/Main Street Station: $2 Heineken’s at all casino bars. (Ongoing until further notice.)

Flamingo: 20% off breakfast or retail items at Margaritaville for all Total Rewards members from 7 am to 11 am daily. (Ongoing until further notice.)

Excalibur: There are currently two buffet deals that are offered at Excalibur: First special is guests can pay $25 per day for all-you-can-eat, as many times as you want at the buffet. The second special is 2-for-1 buffet special between 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. (Both ongoing until further notice.)

See a list of ongoing casino promotions! Las Vegas casino promotions