No they haven’t done anything about it. I just cancelled my January casino shop because it all just wasn’t worth all the hours invested for a couple free meals.

I completed my first casino shop in October. It was an overnight and all 3 shifts. It was ALOT! My limits were $80 for table games, $50 for slots, and $250 for poker room. Most of the tables started out at $25, there was one table that was $15 and it was always full. So pretty much a one bet and done on the table games. It took hours to do the report. I would do alot of things differently if I ever decide to do one again. I am glad for the experience but it was extremely stressful.

@Purplepugs

yeah, it can be alot more work than it's worth at times. If you end up winning and get your shop fee, that certainly makes it a better shop. I have not done overnight visits. I guess I would consider it if it was somewhere I needed to go, but the ones I have done "shift" visits at locally, i will not do overnight stays. There is no benefit to me as I live here and I do not desire the extra work effort for those.

@hbbigdady this will be a slow process. I have spoken about it with our main Casino project manager and as we sign new clients or as contracts renew we are looking to address and improve. But I am nothing if not transparent: It will be over time, and if and when we can convince the end clients that it is the right thing to provide the best quality info to them.

@Dutch55

Thank you for a timely response. Sounds like the current clients wont change (if at all) until it's time to renew. The new clients have a better chance of having higher limits sooner.

I'm hoping you can convince them to monitor their high limit areas as well.

Do you have to be a skilled gambler or are novice players ok for the shop?

@Kob968 wrote:

Do you have to be a skilled gambler or are novice players ok for the shop?

Depends on the shop. If it requires table games you might want to do some learning about what they want you to play, especially if it's poker.

The Indian casino near me shops their restaurants. I used to be able to bring a guest and come out around reimbursements. Now a year or so later, I can only cover my meal and overorder to maximize reimbursement. For instance, soup and salad or an additional appetizer. And then I'm maxed out.

Update to my earlier comments:

Flying to LV from the east coast in a couple weeks...my sister and her husband operate sporting tournaments, so part of the time I will be staying with them since their rooms are covered as part of the tournament.
I will be in LV area for over a month, so looking for things to do besides catch some sun and warmer temps than the winter we've had here so far.
While brother in law is working, sister and I may grab a car rental and head to Valley of Fire, Red Rock park,
Laughlin for an overnight....
If anyone has any tips to share on:
restaurants (any)
sights - is Neon Museum worth it?
poker rooms for inexperienced players (that sounds funny, no? lol)
I got the Lotus of Siam recommendation, will look into it

maybe drive to the Mohave desert just to see it?

@BarefootBliss wrote:

I will be in LV area for over a month...

Thats a long time to be based in Vegas...and it's still pretty cold at night. Hopefully warming up on Feb. I was there last week and it was chilly during the day for hiking, but possible. I still had to bundle up to go out at night. We are back to shorts weather during the day in Los Angeles.

If you have a car, take some time and venture further west. Mojave or Joshua tree for hikes. If you can head down in Palm Springs for a few days, picking up some choice shops can also be relatively easy. They are always in need of shoppers in Palm Springs and that surrounding area.

(From Dan D: COO of HS Brands) Agree with weatherman 100%. You don't need to be a skilled gambler, BUT you should make an effort to read a little and know a little bit about how to bet at some of the tables. And you can always play the simplest bets that don't require expertise. BUT you def want to walk before you run (and most companies will make you do so.). Do a small casino shop first, then graduate to shift visits then eventually overnights. As many people here have said; Casino shops are long and a lot of info is required and not for everyone. BUT they can be awesome if you value the perks that come with them, (Gambling, food, drinks, hotel stays and even spas sometimes). Best of luck!

You could consider going to DEATH VALLEY which is in CA not too far from Vegas. Definitely better to go this time of year than in the summer where people have actually died from the heat.

Depending on what financial status you are...the Bachannal Buffet at Ceasars is definitely a treat...but gonna set you back a big chunk ($65-85 per person depends on lunch/dinner), but certainly worth going to 1x.

If you want a pretty good buffet for a reasonable price then go to SouthPoint. It's a few miles south of strip and it's a big locals place. You missed the big NFR event that happens in December each year there. The blackjack game are better there (3:2) and many double deck tables.

If you like Chef Ramsay...he has many restaurants at different Caesar's properties in town that you could visit.

For a really good deal, another semi-locals place is Ellis Island. They have renovated this place and it's off Koval just behind the strip. The "front yard" has some terrific happy food specials. The BBQ restaurant there is also very popular and a bargain compared to strip hotel pricing.

Steve is right...i was in Vegas for 1 night earlier this week. It's cold at night. Not like LA or PHX weather, but the PHX valley gets colder at night during these months too...but without the blizzards/snow flurries etc.

Might be better to be a novice if you are playing blackjack/roulette or any of the other table games. You can see how friendly/helpful the dealer is to you. I've been playing more than 30 years and I get irritated with certain things, so I am more picky about the games I play. I won't touch anything more than double deck. Either single/double deck blackjack for me. I also don't have much patience for unfriendly dealers when I'm trying to be nice and they are miserable for whatever reason.

My one complaint about Vegas is that the tips are shared...so the friendly/helpful/happy dealers are getting shafted having to share and the miserable/crabby dealers are benefiting.

Some of the Indian Casinos in CA and AZ, the dealers keep their own tips. If you want to be crabby/miserable...then you won't last long or you won't make much money which will cause you to want to leave. The happy/friendly dealers can make a good amount in tip. I play the higher limit tables and see people routinely betting $25 for a dealer on a hand. They win that hand, that's $50 they just made for that 1 hand. My cheap butt is tipping $5 max on a hand.

@Kob968 wrote:

Do you have to be a skilled gambler or are novice players ok for the shop?

Going to Red Rock Canyon was a major disappointment for me. I wouldn't do it again even if I was going to the Red Rock casino.

Locals have told me to check out Mount Charles for snow skiing. Yes in Vegas!

@BarefootBliss wrote:

Update to my earlier comments:

Flying to LV from the east coast in a couple weeks...my sister and her husband operate sporting tournaments, so part of the time I will be staying with them since their rooms are covered as part of the tournament.
I will be in LV area for over a month, so looking for things to do besides catch some sun and warmer temps than the winter we've had here so far.
While brother in law is working, sister and I may grab a car rental and head to Valley of Fire, Red Rock park,
Laughlin for an overnight....
If anyone has any tips to share on:
restaurants (any)
sights - is Neon Museum worth it?
poker rooms for inexperienced players (that sounds funny, no? lol)
I got the Lotus of Siam recommendation, will look into it

maybe drive to the Mohave desert just to see it?

The Hover Dam/Grand Canyon areas aren't too far away either. South Rim only though. The North Rim is not available.

You can't mystery shop in Las Vegas unless you're licensed.

And drive your brother in laaw to work and keep the car. Don't rent one. Am I the only one that missed this?

Are you suggesting they leave the brother in law at work while they travel to Laughlin for an overnight? BIL may not be too happy with that idea.

@wrosie wrote:

And drive your brother in laaw to work and keep the car. Don't rent one. Am I the only one that missed this?

No im suggesting they take him to work and pick him up at the end of the day. I missed the Laughlin part and assumed it was a daily rental.