I just put in for a casino shop and I doubt that I will get it but I'd like to know how the shop works out. Below is the blurb from the scheduler. I understand that if there are 4 forms then it's similar to doing 4 separate shops and they will let the shopper know which areas they want shopped. And I understand that when I complete the shop (and all the forms) I would be paid the $250 if done within 48 hours. But how does the reimbursement work - I am assuming part of that $1000 will be for the hotel, food, drinks (if required to purchase) but how does it work for shopping slots, cashiers, etc. How would you be able to provide proof of money spent in slots, etc.


"XXX Casino $200.00, up to $1000.00 reimbursement and offers a $50.00 bonus IF you complete and submit your report within 48 hours.

These shops require an experienced shopper with a strong history in shops with multiple interactions.

You will be assigned multiple form for these shops – each one must be completed for reimbursement.

Areas you will be evaluating include but are not limited to:

Facilities
Player's Card
Slots
Cashiers
Bingo
Food and Beverage
Beverage Service
Bar
Sports Bar"

Without knowing which company it's hard to answer. On my overnights most reimbursable expenses have required a receipt. There are exceptions in areas where a receipt is not normally available or asked for and including that in the totals has been fine. I've never had one that actually reimbursed for gambling. The probably require you use some type of Player's card. That will provide a record of activity accessible to the casino.

I hadn't thought about the player's card but that makes sense. I have them for a few casinos which are closer to me. The one I put in for is 100 miles away and I'd definitely want to spend the night as the weather can be unpredictable in that area.

That is a really big reimbursement. You should check to be sure it includes hotel since I don't see any evaluations directly related to the hotel experience. There would normally be something regarding check-in/check-out and possibly even room service, housekeeping or maintenance.

The particular company in question does sometime include the hotel in the reimbursements on their casino shops - even when the hotel itself is not evaluated. They have several casino shops in the state I live in (and I have also done them in a couple of other states) and one I have done is like this - I presume that they do it because you are required to evaluate all of the shift (including late night and early morning) and it would be difficult/impossible to get someone willing to drive there without the hotel included multiple times over the course of 1-2 days.

There is no other "proof" of money won/lost in slots or at tables needed other than the ever present cameras and the use of the Player's Card.

Mickey - How bad are the reports to do?

Depends on what you are used to - but you will earn your money. I would not recommend this assignment if all you are interested in is the fee, it isn't worth it. But if you enjoy gambeling and the casino enviornment, and you do not mind narratives (there are a lot and they are pretty detailed) then it can be worthwhile. Also note this companies payment policy - they are not a particularly fast paying company, so be sure you are okay with being out of pocket for some time.

Mickey, glad you chimed in on this. It makes sense to have hotel covered for evaluations covering so many shifts. The ones I've had have also combined an evaluation of at least some of the positions in the hotel itself.

I do like the casinos and have never been to this particular one. I really do not think I will get it and suspect it will go to someone who's done them before.

I'll check their payment policy. I've been signing up with so many the past few weeks that they have a tendency to run together.

The casino shops I do give you $120 to gamble with. Enough for a cheapskate such as myself! I just did one that included the hotel, and was kicking myself--the hotel was sold out for the Friday night I was planning on, so I had to go on a Sunday night and get back in time for my friend to pick up her kids from school. For a hotel PLUS seven shops (casino, three restaurants, three bars), I would not do it with just a one night anymore (they do sometimes offer it for two nights).

AND it's a LOT of work. I got through it, but I think it was worse this time because I didn't have enough time to prep. And yet, I'm still here trying to figure out how to get MORE casino shops...SMH

I would love to do a casino; however, the shops I've seen all want two people to go and my friends and family are all working or tied up with kids so I'm limited. It's probably a good thing though as I'd probably spend more than was reimbursed since I looove those penny slots!

I have my first Casino shop tomorrow (Sat.)

No hotel though, just the Casino! I have to admit, I'm nervous about it, so thankfully my husband can go along.

I'm NOT a gambler. I go with $20 - and leave with the same $20 I walked into the Casino with! Yup - that's the extent of my gambling. When I do those convenience stores where I have to buy a lottery ticket - I cringe - but at least I'm getting reimbursed. So, that's what I'm telling myself about the Casino.. "reimbursed, reimbursed!"

Fortunately, the Valet, Cage, Bar, Restaurant, Restroom, Floor Drink Service, and the Slots will be easy. It's the two table games I have to figure out!

I know the company that does these casinos (CA) and reports are rough. Be prepared, pay is slow.

So... I am just getting online after doing my first Casino Shop last night.

Wow - now I know why they are rough! First of all, I am not a gambler. Never was! I think it's because my dad had a huge problem with it; and my first husband was a scratch-off/greyhound gambler. Normally, as I stated above, I walk into a Casino with $20 and walk out with the exact same $20 bill! That's the extent of my "gambling".

It's a LOT of work! DH and I first hit up the "easy peasy" locations - Valet, Got my Players Card, Security, Cage Interaction, Gift Shop (keychain, fits in purse, don't have a bag), Restroom, Bar, & Restaurant. (Restaurant service was sketchy at best). Then we hit up the Tables. We are already 2.5 hours into the "supposed" 4 hour limit it should take to complete the shop (um, yeah, okay)!

Now mind you, I know how to play BlackJack on the computer. But sitting at a table trying to play, figuring out how - I am SO a Fish Out of Water! Thankfully, the Dealer was kind enough and funny enough and I was the only person at this particular table. My husband would text me the "times" we arrived at the tables and slots so that was a DEFINITE help!

Supposed to get Bar/Gaming Drink Service... We saw ONE Girl the entire time we were seated - I managed to snag a drink. But, she never came back, and I was supposed to see if she did. Nope.

Hit up the next Table. Well, unfortunately, there are only Black Jack Tables - and variations of it - available. Poker Tables & Bingo we don't get reimbursed. According to what the Bartender told us, Vegas has the dibs on Craps & Roulette! So we are at the next table - and NO Bar/Server at all. Didn't see a one around. Never came by. DH and I actually walked around the table area FOUR times to try and find a Floor Bar Server - nada. The tables are situated in the center of the Casino and the different gaming rooms and slot rooms go off in "wheel spikes".

Then, we hit up the Slots - 2 High Limit interactions - Nope, No Bar/Floor Server. Never saw one, we were in that room for 20 minutes! We did get the required "assistance" - but only because we were playing a slot by the cash desk!

Went to the "normal" slots - 4 Interactions required! First try, we sat on one side of the room - Turned on the light & after 20 minutes, I finally had to go get someone to "help". Saw ONE bar/floor server again, and I had to flag her down. Okay, good there, so we hustle over to the other side of the room and sit down at Slot #2. Again, had to wait 20 minutes before we could get assistance, and AGAIN, I had to find someone - turns out it's the SAME guy who helped me on the OTHER side of the room! Oy Vey! The kicker? Not ONE bar/floor server on this side of the room! Guys, I looked EVERYWHERE! I only saw the same girl who was over by the 1st machine working that side of the room!

Now... if you managed to read through that, and if you are contemplating doing a Casino here's a few suggestions that I'm definitely changing for the next attempt!

1. Take care of the "easy-peasy" stuff first like I did - EXCEPT the Restaurant. Get it out of the way, run into the restroom, write down your information, or, as I did, I repeated it all into my DVR (1 party here).

2. Hit up the Slots Next. Get those 6 total interactions completely out of the way. The longer we were there last night, the more people were in the Casino. I think had DH and I done the slots/interactions right at the beginning, I would have gotten all of my drink servers in, AND I wouldn't have had to wait so long for floor assistance.

3. Hit up the Restaurant/meal requirement. Ask for a "private table". We did this, but did it too soon. Had I gotten all of my slots done/floor servers done I could have discreetly taken out my little note cards and written down time & information while DH and I were enjoying dinner. Then, all I would have had to do was the Table Games.

4. Do the Table Games last. Do your LEAST favorite Table Game first out of the 2. "Get it over with". Sure, the tables filled up at later, but, we could still find seats. We ended up going back to the Black Jack Dealer from earlier in the night, just to stay and "have some FUN."

Finally.. take the money your spouse wins. LMAO! DH wanted to keep playing.

It was fun, it was somewhat relaxing, but I was paranoid I wasn't getting all of my interactions done - even though I couldn't FIND the people I was supposed to interact with!

Thankfully, I have a 48 hour window to do the report, so I'm ready to start on it.

We started with $260 in Cash. We came home with $145. So out of the $115 - we paid for our drinks (8.75), dinner (41), tips (4) and gambling.

Glad you enjoyed the shop! I know the company that you did it for - and they can be rough. I enjoy them becuase I truly LOVE to gamble, so that is the reason I do them.

Your advice is really great and thank you for taking the time to document it all for other newer shoppers - that is very kind of you.

I am trying to guess the location you did and I cannot - as all of the ones I have done had roulette as an option. I like roulette cause it is slow paced and a good one to do at the end of the night when you are tired.

I have done A LOT of those shops. The Washington and California area casinos that this company shops are generally (IME) pretty easy to get service, but I swear the midwest casinos are the WORST to try and get the interactions. I can remember chasing down slot attendants and literally throwing myself in front of them to get the interaction.

Hi Mickey -

Our casinos down here are all on Tribal land in the SW USA. They did have some kind of electronic roulette game, and it was in the Black Jack table area, but when we went over to try it, all of the seats were filled.

I was leery though, because it wasn't actually a "table" game. It had a big electronic wheel and then in an oval around it were computer stations. So even though my husband wanted to try it, I'm glad that the area was full.

Thanks for the warning about this MSC. I knew they took awhile to pay, which is fine. I hope that my report is great. My tendency is to actually write TOO MUCH narrative, and I have Editors telling me all the time I don't have to write so much. Hopefully for this report/company it will be a good thing!

I also hope that I don't get dinged for not having those floor service interactions. It's kind of hard to get the service when you cannot FIND the server! We ended up being at the Casino for almost 5.5 hours for the shop and spent another 30 minutes for our own enjoyment/fun.

If you can PM me any tips for the report, I would be extremely appreciative and grateful!


MickeyB Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Glad you enjoyed the shop! I know the company that
> you did it for - and they can be rough. I enjoy
> them becuase I truly LOVE to gamble, so that is
> the reason I do them.
>
> Your advice is really great and thank you for
> taking the time to document it all for other newer
> shoppers - that is very kind of you.
>
> I am trying to guess the location you did and I
> cannot - as all of the ones I have done had
> roulette as an option. I like roulette cause it
> is slow paced and a good one to do at the end of
> the night when you are tired.
>
> I have done A LOT of those shops. The Washington
> and California area casinos that this company
> shops are generally (IME) pretty easy to get
> service, but I swear the midwest casinos are the
> WORST to try and get the interactions. I can
> remember chasing down slot attendants and
> literally throwing myself in front of them to get
> the interaction.