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 a press release. While writing about all the things you can do in Las Vegas, I’m also tuned in to the financials to see if anything stands out.
Whenever operators dig into the numbers, I can’t help but think about the TravelZork community. It’s no secret that casinos want to increase profits.
There are only two ways to do that: increase revenue or reduce expenses. Not exactly groundbreaking stuff. We all learned this in high school economics.
You can see this playing out throughout Las Vegas casinos. What many don’t realize is that it also means focusing on the most profitable guests.
The Least Profitable Guests? That’s Us.
Guess who ranks at the bottom in terms of profitability? Pretty much everyone reading this, or anyone active in the TravelZork community.
This community thrives on maximizing value—using rewards, finding the best odds, tracking promotions, and seeking out the best bang for their buck. That’s not the kind of customer casinos are optimizing for.
According to the most recent Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) Visitor Profile, nearly 60% of Las Vegas visitors paid regular hotel rates. Only 12% stayed in a comped room, and 7% received a discounted casino rate.
Casinos want more of the 60%. TravelZork readers are typically in the 19%—not exactly their favorite demographic.
High-Margin Customers Are the Priority
On earnings calls, operators repeatedly emphasize marketing toward “high-margin” guests. These are the customers who spend the most and expect the least.
This isn’t a new strategy. Back in 2016, Steve Wynn talked about reconfiguring casino floors to highlight higher-profit games. MGM Resorts soon followed, echoing similar goals.
In 2018, Boyd Gaming revamped its B Connected program to focus more heavily on rewarding high-margin customers. I used to visit Suncoast about every 10 days. I’ve barely visited their properties since 2020, and I rarely gamble when I do.
Boyd, in particular, seems to spend a lot of time during the earnings calls discussing how they are strategizing how to maximize profit per guest. That’s my wording—not theirs—but it’s not hard to read between the lines.
The truth is, the TravelZork community is public enemy #1 to casino execs chasing higher margins.
But that’s also what makes this community so valuable: staying ahead of changes, finding the best promotions, and figuring out how to get more for less.
If You Don’t Like the Prices, Don’t Pay Them
Let me vent for a minute. I spend much less time on the socials than ever but I see this topic discussed often, and it makes me cranky.
When Boyd essentially eliminated my rewards, I didn’t make a fuss. I just took my modest bankroll somewhere else. No drama. I understood the game and quietly adjusted.
I don’t live for rewards (GASP!). But I appreciate them when they’re baked into my normal habits. These days, I spend my time and money at Red Rock, Rampart, and now Durango. They suit me just fine.
The core of it is this: businesses, including casinos, will raise prices until customers stop paying them. And they’ll keep doing it until something changes.
When customers finally push back and stop paying inflated rates or reject weak rewards, prices will stop climbing. They might even drop. That’s how capitalism works.
It’s not just casinos. This is how I’ve run my own businesses over the years.
So if you hate high prices, bad games, or shrinking comps, do something about it and just walk away. Blame the people still paying full price and happily accepting worse odds.
That’s why I mostly avoid Boyd now (aside from my annual trip to Ping Pang Pong). And until enough people start doing the same, prices will probably keep rising.
There are plenty of deals and fair prices in Las Vegas. Most of you know how to find them. If you don’t, this community will help you find them!
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