Ellis Island casino not accepting ACG coupons

[pokerkoo]

Re: Ellis Island casino not accepting ACG coupons

Ellis Island's rule on matchplay coupon use (in previous years) : "1-matchplay coupon per day".

Being an LV-locals, I used to visit them about almost everyday (once a day) to use only 1-matchplay coupon per day (per their rule), but now that they don't want business from an LV-locals, I won't be visiting that often.

And I don't just go there to just use a matchplay coupon & leave, I do visit their sportsbook & make bets (greater than $100 but less than $1000 bets) on sports (football & basketball games) if their lines look good. Their sportsbook employees know this, but I guess they don't want any business from an LV-locals (or others like me), so I won't be visiting them that often to make those sportsbets.

So good luck to Ellis Island (a local casino) that now only wants to cater to "non-LV locals".

The way you describe yourself, you used to visit EI with match play maybe 4 x week. That $40.00 weekly match play action translates to about $2000.00 "action" per year, for a profit to you in excess of $700.00 annually. This more than pays for your sports book "vig". As far as the casino is concerned, you cost them money annually, and therefor are probably considered "undesirable" with your current customer practices.

Can you really "blame" EI for making changes to protect their assets?

With this economy, we will be seeing tremendous changes in Casino Marketing, Comps, and Coupons in the future.

[Ben Jammin]

Re: Ellis Island casino not accepting ACG coupons

Ellis Island has changed for the worse that's for sure. They have some new management that has been removing the perks one by one.

Like a full sized Craps table $5 minimum. Raising the minimums on Black Jack and and surreptitiously changing the nickel Video Poker progressives to 10 coins max play.

Prices are also up on many of the restaurant items.

It's the little things that get annoying. Like grinding patrons on using ACG coupons, when they are legitimately trying to use them, especially if they are a new customer.

I'll agree there was coupon abuse but it wasn't from the members of the ACG.

This is one reason I frown on coupon trading, especially match plays. It really Pizzes off a casino when one abuser comes in with a bunch of match plays and plays them hit and run.

Like I had said, match play coupons are designed to generate new business, not give away the profit of the establishment that was participating in the promotion.

You know who you are!

):

[Ben Jammin]

Re: Ellis Island casino not accepting ACG coupons

Due to abuse Ellis Island has had to modify it's coupon usage policy. Out of state ID and a player's club card are required to use all coupons, including ACG and LVA.

Management reserves all rights to deny acceptance of any coupon. So, if you're a coupon trader and you go in there with a bunch of match plays they should, in my opinion, throw your butt out!

A few bad apple coupon abusers ruin it for everyone else.

To you coupon abusers, and you know who you are.....FOAD.

[SteveBourieOLD]

Re: Ellis Island casino not accepting ACG coupons

Well, the Hard Rock has now joined Ellis Island in requiring an out-of-state ID in order to use any of their coupons from the American Casino Guide.

Evidently, they had problems with coupon abusers and they are trying to limit usage to non-Nevadans.

Hopefully, that will resolve the problem for them.

[Ben Jammin]

Re: Ellis Island casino not accepting ACG coupons

Looks like the locals know the true value of match play coupons. I've seen on the coupon trading categories on other LV message boards how they trade the used books on e bay and craig's list, and then hit the casinos on coupon runs to play the match plays.

You'd be surprised at what the old books go for, sometimes as low a three dollars.

Perhaps a disclaimer might be in order. Limiting to out of state users does negate the possibility of usage by legitimate purchasers of the book who live in Nevada.

Some of the older casinos can't facilitate tracking usage by player's card yet, or don't want to go to the trouble to do so. Seems like it shouldn't be that difficult with a tweak to the software, and requiring a visit to the promo/player's club to get the voucher.

Station Casinos do that as well as some others. Only one coupon per year per player, tracked with the player's club card which requires an in or out of state ID to get.

Problem solved.

Then legitimate users would be able to continue to enjoy the benefit of the book.

[dewey089]

Re: Ellis Island casino not accepting ACG coupons

Seems simple for them to connect this coupon or any coupon to one or two a year per card and just insist they are validated. Other places do this.
This attitude crops up at Ellis every so often and it just causes so much hard feeling.
I had no trouble with menu coupons for the prime rib or my one BJ matchplay that I used this past trip in April.
I had trouble finding where I put the ID in my wallet, and took a while looking. The pitboss just said, "You are looking so long and hard that I believe you."
But then I carry the entire book with me to the casino for Ellis Island and ask about the coupon before I take it out of the book.
This past trip I took a piece of my used plastic shaver and broke it so one blade tip was exposed ans attached to a half inch of plastic for a handle. This little cutter fit nicely in the binding of the book so I could cut as I went and leave the rest of the book in tact.
I also suggest that solo travelers carry the book to Ellis. You know that you are going to eat something there. The book gives you something to read while you eat.
Carrying the book may have made a difference in how the coupon was received by the BJ pitboss.
I was not asked to prove I was out of state.

I am a hit and run MP user everywhere, but I always ask if it is a problem first if I just play off one coupon. Generally I do it on a craps table and at most places dealers are almost always helpful and friendly about it, even if it is early morning and I am the only craps player.

Ellis gets my VP 9/6 JOB bets after the BJ coupon. They would have got a good bit of my money this last trip, but quad kings followed by a two card draw to a straight flush brought me up to even and I cashed out.
Had they hassled me about the coupon, I'd have walked with no play. I've done it other trips. I'm not playing anywhere that I feel annoyed. I am playing where they are offering me something for free.

Coupons give the casino an opportunity to make us feel welcome and lure us into gambling. For every hit and run user there are a dozen who stay to play. Casinos need to really take a look at how they promote using coupons. To offer a promotion and then snatch it away may be their right, but if we have taken a couple buses or walked a mile to see the casino, following the coupon as the carrot, only to find a hassle or rescinded promotion, it is natural for us to feel cheated and not stay to play and not come back in the future,promo or not.

[MizzouMary]

Re: Ellis Island casino not accepting ACG coupons

We go to Las Vegas BECAUSE of Ellis Island!

We buy 3-4 ACG books each year so we have coupons for the restaurants there. We love both the main restaurant and BBQ, plus Metro Pizza. In addition, we also love the micro beer and root beer they make there.

If they were to quit accepting ACG coupons, we probably will stop going to Vegas since we live in Missouri and have KC, St. Louis and Tunica all within a few hours drive. The air prices have gone up so much, that without the added benefit of the coupons, we won't go. We receive lots of coupons for our local casinos.

We always eat breakfast at EI, then play all day and eat either BBQ or in the main restaurant, so to quit taking the ACG coupons would be a lose/lose for them. We easily give them back any amount they are losing by accepting our coupons.

Ellis Island: If you read this, please don't quit taking the ACG coupons!

[Matt Bourie]

Re: Ellis Island casino not accepting ACG coupons

They are still accepting all of their coupons, but only with an out-of-state ID. They had a problem with Las Vegas Locals abusing the coupons so they had to make some restrictions. They will also be renewing their coupon offers for the 2011 guide, so no need to worry!

[dewey089]

Re: Ellis Island casino not accepting ACG coupons

Great to hear, Frugal.

MizzouMary, I wonder if you would email your post to Ellis Island directly to let them know how their use of coupons generate interest and business? Sometimes I think they get the idea that all coupon users are hit and run.

Also, perhaps you could post your Ellis Island experiences here when you return from your next trip. If you are welcomed to use Ellis Island coupons from 3 books in the same trip, that information would be valuable to those of us who some years buy multiple books and would like to feel comfortable doing that as well.

I have not had difficulty using my BJ matchplay, but I generally bring the entire book so I can have interesting reading while I eat my solo half priced coupon supper. Last time I passed the book around the BJ table and stimulated some interest. The pitboss thought I was giving the book away, but I assured him that I was just answering the curiosity of the other players by showing the contents.
I don't stay to play BJ, but I do to play JOB 9/6 VP.

I am especially interested in Ellis Island lately because I have developed an appreciation for the Super 8 next door and may spend a week there next Vegas trip, so as to take advantage of amenities like

*free transport from the airport,
*free wifi in the rooms,
*guest laundromat,
*and television that has commercial free stations like HBO and TCM.

All this comes I might add without any resort fees.

Having a frugal place to eat right next door at Ellis is a great benefit as well.

[MizzouMary]

Re: Ellis Island casino not accepting ACG coupons

I did write to Ellis Island and got the following response:

Hello Mary,

We did experience some fraudulent coupon use and worked with ACG and did get everything resolved

We are accepting all ACG coupons as printed in the ACG book

Thank you and hope to see you soon.

Marcus G. Zavala
General Manager
Ellis Island Casino & Brewery

[dewey089]

Re: Ellis Island casino not accepting ACG coupons

Thanks so much for doing the writing and sharing the response. Folks can print this response out and take it in to redeem coupons as evidence that things are back to normal.
And it gives us a good reference to whom to complain if things get dicey again.
Thanks, Mary.

[MizzouMary]

Re: Ellis Island casino not accepting ACG coupons

You are welcome! I'm very glad they are still honoring the coupons since we'll be leaving in a week! Ellis Island is our first stop before we even get to the hotel.

[JAYCISM]

Re: Ellis Island casino not accepting ACG coupons

So does ACG have coupons for all casinos or just ones that they have talked to? Not quite clear on how that works.

[dewey089]

Re: Ellis Island casino not accepting ACG coupons

The best way to check out the coupons is to go to this list

A Complete Casino Coupon Publication, includes Las Vegas Coupons | American Casino Guide - 2010 Edition
Also, the next time you are in a bookstore, just check out the book itself.
Coupons are a popular part of the book, but there are gambling articles and detailed information on what is offered by casinos across the country including maps and correct addresses for the GPS or telephone numbers for checking for rooms or other details as you travel.

When I drove up the Mississippi with the intent of playing live poker everywhere it was offered, for example, I could evaluate the casinos, tell which casinos had poker, call for poker rates for those that offered rooms or to check current hours, and plug the addresses into the GPS, so as to get to all the little places.
You might think finding casinos is easy and many are located in areas easy to navigate, but getting to the Silver Slipper in Louisiana is quite a crazy winding experience. My buddy from St. Charles sent me detailed directions but the address was what got me there and when my GPS sent me just a bit South, having the guide with a phone number when Even Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun can be hard to find since Connecticutt does not have large billboards pointing the way. You might also think that the GPS would list casinos, but some are just not in the points of interest or it is unreliable.

[JupiterFL]

Re: Ellis Island casino not accepting ACG coupons

I have had problems in the past with other coupons for drinks at the Ellis Island bar. In this instance the bartender griped about how the drinks are not really free for them and they are losing money.

I tried to tell him that it was a way to market the casino and a "loss leader" but that concept was too hard to grasp. Guess he did not take Introduction to Business in college.

However, the second time we went it was a great experience and everyone was very friendly. Cannot wait to use my 4 drink coupon in September.