We’re the Least Profitable Guests for Casinos (And That’s a Good Thing)

So, as it turns out, TravelZork Readers are considered the least profitable guests. How I know this: I’ve been sitting on this topic for a couple of weeks since the most recent round of casino corporation earnings calls. I listen to casino operator earnings calls every quarter for news you won’t hear elsewhere until there’s […]
Getting The Best Vegas Booze For The Buck

Getting the best bang for your buck is one of the things that makes the TravelZork community so great. This is best on a macro level. While many of you are obsessed with always finding the best deal, I’ve been able to learn which specific things fit my life., one of them being the best […]
Vegas News | Goodbye Cromwell, People Rarely Get Comp Hotel Rooms, And Rio Made Jeopardy!

I hate to start the Vegas News on a sour note but longtime Las Vegas writer Norm Clarke passed away this week. He was a great writer with legitimate connections and insight. From what I’m told he was an even better person. Read more here. On another somewhat sour note, the new spring display at […]
Using the MGM Mastercard to Earn Gold and Platinum Status

Following changes in status matching, MGM exiting its partnership with Hyatt, and the lack of status challenges or matches, status with MGM has been more difficult to attain. However, the often overlooked MGM Mastercard offers a promising, guaranteed path to earned status year after year. Although the MGM Mastercard lacks a large signup bonus or […]
Sports in Las Vegas: Is it Changing How And When You Visit?

The LVCVA mentioned Sports in Las Vegas as a draw to the city. Sports vacations aren’t new. Before moving to Las Vegas I took more than a handful of vacations to watch sports in different cities. T-Mobile Arena and Allegiant Stadium have helped assist the growth of sports vacations in Las Vegas. Like it or […]
Vegas News | New Outdoor Bar Opens At Plaza, NBA Con This Summer And New $2 Billion Venue Has Obstructed View Seats

The two-year saga about the Oakland A’s possibly moving to Las Vegas might finally be coming to the finish line. Also, in other sports news, be sure to check out NBA Con!
Vegas News | MGM Rewards Daily Tier Status Accelerator, Caesars Is Busy, Someone Finds A Cat In Their Room And Downtown Gets Hot & Juicy

Caesars didn’t have much information beyond finances during its earnings call. Here’s a quick overview of what the company discussed about Las Vegas. Oh, and a last-minute addition about a new promotion MGM Rewards Daily Tier Status Accelerator, which somewhat mimics the current Caesars Rewards Loyalty Program Daily Tier Promotion.
Gambling | Casino THEO | It’s All About The THEO (Average Daily Theoretical – ADT)

Your theoretical loss to the casino (your casino theo or average daily theoretical – ADT) is the way the casino calculates what you are worth to them. It’s not a theoretical win because every game that the casino offers has a house advantage and the payoff for a bet is always less than the odds of winning that bet.
Casino Loyalty | Casino Comps vs. Cashback

Casino Comps and Cashback are both perks that casinos offer to players to encourage them to gamble. They are related but they are different.
Casino Comps | The Big Play Casino Gambling Day – Part 3

Want more comps? Be Strategic about your casino comps. Learn to get more from your casino gambling. Consider concentrating your play for more casino comps.
[UPGRADED] Promotion Borgata Atlantic City | 5X Slot Dollar Day

Slot Dollar Day Promotion Borgata Atlantic City – This Saturday, June 23rd, the Borgata is running a 5X Slot Dollar day. The upgrades are that the multiplier day is on a weekend, which is rare and the 5X Slot Dollars can be earned for the ENTIRE gaming day.
Casino Comps | The Big Play Casino Gambling Day – Part 2

Want more comps? More play in fewer trips is going to net you the most casino comps. This is just a general statement about casino gambling because the amount of play that will generate marketing offers is not an exact science.
Consequences of Total Rewards 2018 Devaluations

While the upcoming changes, effective 02/01/18, to the Caesars Total Rewards program, is a massive slash in benefits, some of the changes certainly make sense from their perspective. I try to play devil’s advocate and understand the business purpose for these decisions. Some I get, while others baffle me when I try to view them through the bean counter’s eyes.
MGM Resorts | Mlife Rewards MasterCard

I received a pre-approved offer for the Mlife Rewards MasterCard and pulled the trigger after ZorkFest. This is not an overly generous offer, but with no yearly fee and no foreign transaction fees this is an opportunity to build a relationship with Mlife and earn some perks before even stepping into a property.
[Interesting, maybe GREAT] Caesars Las Vegas Hotel Deals + 1000 Tier (per night) Bonus

Currently Caesars is running a New Year, New Empire promotion (Promo Code: NYNE18) that can be combined with an Opt-In Offer for 1000 tier points per night.
[Ouch!] Major Changes to Total Rewards 2018 Benefits

Caesars unveiled their Total Rewards benefits for 2018. While rumors had been circulating of an upcoming degradation of benefits, nobody predicted how steep it would be. Most of the key benefits of the Total Rewards program that made it the best casino loyalty program in the country are all gone. The biggest head-scratcher, is that the higher the tier one attained, the more that was taken away.
Caesars Total Rewards | Part 4 | Generating Casino Offers (Marketing Offers)

How do you alter your play to receive the best casino offers possible based on your bankroll? As I stated in the previous installment, it’s done by the timing of your gaming sessions, which directly affects your Theo (your theoretical loss to the casino, which is the way that the casino calculates what you are worth to them.).
Caesars Total Rewards | Part 3 | What is a Caesars Marketing Offer?

Earning Caesars Marketing Offers (and continuing to receive them) from a large casino loyalty program such as Total Rewards is a very complicated endeavor. There are numerous variables to consider, such as which property you are playing at and how popular that property is, how badly that property wants to drum up business, what games, amenities and restaurants are available, etc., but before I launch into specifics, let me define just what a Marketing Offer is.
Atlantic City | Borgata Slot Dollars Multiplier Days

The Borgata is offering two Slot Dollar Multiplier Days in February: 5X Slot Dollars on Sunday, February 5 and 10X Slot Dollars on Tuesday, February 21. On both days the promotion runs from noon to 7pm. I’ve written about these types of promotions before but there are a lot of changes going on at the Borgata, so I will re-evaluate the situation.
Las Vegas | Free Drinks Were Flowing At The Mirage Lobby Bar

You may know the Mirage Lobby Bar as one of the first bars in Las Vegas to install a free drinks ticket system for their video poker/slot machines.
Score Better Comps – URComped Client Interview

A little while ago we had an in-depth discussion with Craig Shacklett, the co-founder of URComped. He gave us great insight into how the company got started and laid out the kind of comps and other benefits gaming fans could achieve. We liked everything we heard and asked Craig if we could speak with a […]
Achieving Caesars Total Rewards Seven Stars with Video Poker

Seven Stars With Video Poker ? Is video poker a cheaper way to earn Seven Stars status with Total Rewards than baccarat or live poker? That is a very good, though complicated question.
Interview | URComped | Casino Comps Done Right With A Casino Host

Total Rewards? Got it. Wynn Red Card. Got that one too. M life? Right here in my card case. Throw in independent operations like Mohegan Sun and a few others too. Like many other folks reading this, I have credentials and status with one or more of these programs but no single program reflects my […]
URComped | Your Independent Casino Host | Q&A

URComped: your independent casino host. Learn more about this service and how it can improve your gambling experience with this Q&A.
How To Spend Your Summer In Atlantic City

There’s lots of positive news about summer in Atlantic City. As Mark Twain once said, “The rumors of my death are greatly exaggerated.”
Caesars Palace Is Celebrating Its 50th Anniversary All Year Long

The casino & resort opened on August 5, 1966. This year marks its 50th anniversary and Caesars Palace Entertainment is taking the entire year to celebrate.
Caesars Total Rewards | Seven Stars Insider: Here’s What You Can Learn

Despite its name, the Seven Stars Insider is for all Total Rewards cardholders – or anyone considering a visit to a Total Rewards casino.
Getting The Best Out Of The New Mlife MasterCard

In last week’s Sunday News we already gave you a sneak peek at the new M Life MasterCard. In this article you’ll find more about the benefits and earnings.
Video Poker | Listening To My Mentor – 10x Points At Borgata

Video Poker: My mentor (Bob Dancer, unbeknownst to him) made a comment on one of my articles, that I should put myself in a position to bump up to dollars..
Caesars Total Rewards | Everything You Need To Know – Part 2 | TIER STATUS

Total Rewards is a casino loyalty program and its function is to persuade customers to be loyal to (spend more money on) Caesars Entertainment Corporation. You get value from your Total Rewards account but always keep in mind that the niceties offered are to entice you to happily—lose money! Tier Status When you earn the […]
Las Vegas | Paris Las Vegas Classic Room Review

Paris Hotel Las Vegas There is a lot to say about the entire property of Paris Las Vegas but I’d rather focus on the hotel room than the hodgepodge theme and not so great gaming. Paris is considered one of the top mid-tier Caesars Entertainment hotels in Las Vegas behind Caesars Palace and The Cromwell […]
Caesars Total Rewards | Everything You Need To Know – Part 1

The Caesars Casino Loyalty Program Caesars Entertainment Corporation is one of the largest casino companies in the world. Total Rewards, their casino loyalty program (launched in 1997) was the first to offer a system wide comps program, allowing points earned at one casino to be redeemed for goods and services at any of the company’s […]
How To Evaluate Slot Promotions The Right Way

Should You Do A 10X Slot Dollar Day? I opened my email newsletter from the Borgata and read that I could earn 10X Slot Dollars on Sunday, March 20th from noon to 7pm. 10X SLOT DOLLARS! Not five, TEN! Yippee! My knee jerk reaction when I see 10X is that of course I’ve got […]
My Stay At The Borgata With The MyVEGAS Rewards Program

The Borgata recently joined the myVEGAS program and I nabbed a one night Sunday through Thursday room comp before they discontinued that reward. I’m local to Atlantic City and I get mailers from the Borgata (but only room rates). I’m also Black Label via showing my Diamond Card from Total Rewards, obtained by purchasing the […]
Las Vegas | How Casinos Are Reacting To Revenue Trends

How Casinos Are Reacting To Revenue Trends The UNLV Center For Gaming Research recently released a report looking at historical departmental revenue in Nevada casinos. The report shows annual revenue trends in casino-resorts from gaming, hotel rooms, food, beverage and other (shows, retail, etc.) from 1984 through 2015 by dollar and percentage of revenue. The report […]
Overview of Wynn Las Vegas and Encore Red Card

Photo : Blackjacker1979 Introduction Wynn and its adjoining sister tower and casino Encore make up one of the most luxurious properties in Las Vegas. The target guest at Wynn is an affluent traveler that may not care as much about players club points than visitors to some other casinos. Unlike most casinos on the Vegas […]