How Real Are Perks

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February 2nd, 2017
Back How Real Are Perks

'Dear Geno,' a member writes. 'A couple of college buddies and I plan to spend a long weekend in Las Vegas. We know you have lived there and are wondering about those casino perks we hear about. Are they real or are they just a scam to pull people into the casino?' Josh E., Seattle, WA.

Ah, Seattle! Land of crab cakes, beer, and great seafood. I well remember the city where the sun rarely shines but the forests and lakes and wildlife are magnificent.

Let me relate a person story involving perks that should interest Josh and his friends. Many years ago my friend Dave Molina and I visited Las Vegas. We were basically between paydays (both of us worked in the editorial department of the Los Angeles Herald-Examiner) and we didn't have much money to spend. We were planning to play blackjack and thought we could quickly triple or quadruple our money.

Boy, were we wrong!

We had paid for our room at a downtown motel in advance so we at least had lodging that night. In the morning, we had two choices. Head back for Los Angeles with a full tank of gas or find some way to make money so we could continue having fun gambling.

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As we were walking along Las Vegas Boulevard around 9 a.m., we ran into a guy who was giving away free coupon books to Stupak's World. Bob Stupak, the owner, was born in a small town along the Monongahela River about 10 miles from my hometown of Sutersville, PA.

'What do you say, partner?' I told Molina. 'Shall we try our luck at Stupak's World?''

Dave shrugged. 'Might as well,' he said. 'What do we have to lose?'

Clutching our coupon books, we walked three blocks to the casino. Stupak's World had been built as a sort of rival to the Eiffel Tower in France. It was not a beautiful casino, but the architecture was interesting.

I looked through my coupon book. There were several coupons good for free pulls on special slot machines. I realized the odds were long against our making money, but decided to take a chance.

Dave went first, putting in his coupons and pulling the handle while an attractive girl in shorts, a sequined blouse, and high boots watched as a representative of the House. Nothing.

It was my turn. I put in the coupon, closed my eyes, and pulled the handle. Bells rang, a siren went off, and my eyes flew open.

The girl smiled at me. 'Congratulations,' she said. 'You won.'

I collected my $50 at the cashier's window. Dave and I were back in business. I managed to parlay the $50 into $600 playing blackjack and we went back to Los Angeles with considerably more money than what we had started out with.

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Perks or preferential treatment are relatively easy to find in Las Vegas. All of the major casinos have players clubs where, for the price of an identification card, you can get a Players Club card.

The card may entitle you to free play on designated slot machines and it registers your play so you can become rated. Your rating entitles you to free meals, stage show tickets and even rooms. It doesn't matter if you are playing slots, poker, blackjack, keno or any of the other table games. All of your action registers and it can add up quickly.

An organization called Las Vegas Perks is listed on the Internet. For $21.95, you can purchase a book full of discount coupons that offer you up to 50 percent discounts on shows, dinners and other perks.

Each casino has different perks and it's up to you to do some shopping around to find the most generous ones. I wish Josh and his friends the best. Las Vegas perks are real and they can benefit the astute player. Good luck and let the games begin.

“Las Vegas perks are real and they can benefit the astute player.”

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