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[Mavin1]

I am kind of taken back by the dissapointment people are expressing on this forum about not receiving x-mas bonuses or free gifts? If a player is bummed why don't that player just email the rep or manager or whomever and ask them before posting? Looks like posters are trying to shame casinos into the gifts.

There is a big issue that has been going on for some time about casino's payouts tightening up and such, well maybe delivering fewer free gifts or smaller gifts is just another aspect of this tightening up.
Maybe casino's are seeing a not so sparkling light at the end of the tunnel with the way the economy is headed and they are having to cut back on frivolous rewards that they were accustomed to freely giving out before to try an keep a level of game play that many big money players are used to getting for as long as possible.

My thinking is, just give us some decent RTP again, what more could a player want.

[Casinomeister]

Maybe the casinos are waiting for Christmas

But, yes I agree. To snivel about not getting gifts is something kids do, isn't it?

[Wildfire7]

Originally Posted by Mavin1

I am kind of taken back by the dissapointment people are expressing on this forum about not receiving x-mas bonuses or free gifts? If a player is bummed why don't that player just email the rep or manager or whomever and ask them before posting? Looks like posters are trying to shame casinos into the gifts.

There is a big issue that has been going on for some time about casino's payouts tightening up and such, well maybe delivering fewer free gifts or smaller gifts is just another aspect of this tightening up.
Maybe casino's are seeing a not so sparkling light at the end of the tunnel with the way the economy is headed and they are having to cut back on frivolous rewards that they were accustomed to freely giving out before to try an keep a level of game play that many big money players are used to getting for as long as possible.

My thinking is, just give us some decent RTP again, what more could a player want.

One of the problems I would imagine casinos face with Christmas gifts is that they know players are expecting it now. So if a Christmas passes them by with nothing, then they may feel unappreciated.

Afterall playing online at casinos is just another avenue to spend money. People spend money in shops, bars, cinemas and restraunts etc and would not expect any gifts. I think maybe some players delude themselves into actually believing casinos have a special relationship with the player. All they are doing is providing us with a service over the internet.

Its a bit like an employee, if the boss gives him or her a Christmas bonus then the level of bonus can reflect on the bosses generosity. Too small a bonus and he could be accused of being stingy. So either way the casinos cannot win.

Many years ago I used to regularly go into a Ladbrokes betting shop. The same crowd in their each week. We all knew the cashiers and the manager very well by first name. But I wouldn't have dreamt expecting a freebie on the 2:30 at Haydock park! The relationship with the online casino is very different, there is no personal touch and no face to face contact as such.

You can't judge a casino on the level of its generosity. But you can judge it on its level of customer service and professionalism.

Mike

[missmichelle]

I think people just like to be remebered by a casino that they have been loyal to over the year. Being made to feel special goes a long way. I won't call them out publically if I don't get anything but when I do get a little something it makes me more loyal to that place. Wishing everyone the best!

Michelle

[Jasminebed]

I agree that is not fair to compare online casinos to shops or restaurants. But I do think it is fair to compare them with B&M casinos, most of which give Xmas gifts to regular patrons.

[zippedup]

It would really be interesting to see some data(of course we never will) about the impact the worldwide recession has had on casino betting. It might help answer the question about xmas gifts.

I think there are two possiblities
Like other(for fun) activities like vactions etc the casinos could be getting hit hard just like the resort hotels are. I saw an advertisment last week from Sandals quoting 50% off their normal rates. You don't see Sandals discounting very often. In addtion the number of new casinos seems to be increasing rapidly which may also impact them.

Possiblity 2
People spend more time gambling in the recession in hopes of improving their income. Bad thinking but hey some may do it

So I wonder what the impact has really been

[Wildfire7]

It would really be interesting to see some data(of course we never will) about the impact the worldwide recession has had on casino betting. It might help answer the question about xmas gifts.

I think there are two possiblities
Like other(for fun) activities like vactions etc the casinos could be getting hit hard just like the resort hotels are. I saw an advertisment last week from Sandals quoting 50% off their normal rates. You don't see Sandals discounting very often. In addtion the number of new casinos seems to be increasing rapidly which may also impact them.

Possiblity 2
People spend more time gambling in the recession in hopes of improving their income. Bad thinking but hey some may do it

So I wonder what the impact has really been

To many people gambling is a vice, which means that even in recession times people will still play. The same with cigarettes, drugs and alcohol, people still need their fix, addicted or not. Thats because when times are tough people still need lifes little pleasures.

Originally Posted by Jasminebed
I agree that is not fair to compare online casinos to shops or restaurants. But I do think it is fair to compare them with B&M casinos, most of which give Xmas gifts to regular patrons.

Even at B&M the majority of people won't get anything at Christmas, and at landbased bookmakers nobody will get anything. Why? because these are companys who are running a business and giving away free money to all its customers is just not a viable option.

Much better for casinos to spend their money where it really matters, which is on improving the player experience for 365 days a year. Not just 1 day like Christmas.

Mike

[Mavin1]

To many people gambling is a vice, which means that even in recession times people will still play. The same with cigarettes, drugs and alcohol, people still need their fix, addicted or not. Thats because when times are tough people still need lifes little pleasures.



Even at B&M the majority of people won't get anything at Christmas, and at landbased bookmakers nobody will get anything. Why? because these are companys who are running a business and giving away free money to all its customers is just not a viable option.

Much better for casinos to spend their money where it really matters, which is on improving the player experience for 365 days a year. Not just 1 day like Christmas.

Mike

You are correct in what you say but and there is a but, although there is the die hard gambler that will play to his/her last breath, there is the majority that will come to the crossroads where the decision is to spend on play or spend on bills as there will be no cushion that allows a person to do both.
A regular player may start out big but will taper down small, a smoker will buy name brands and could end up with the roll your own, a drinker may start with the finest wine but will taper down to vino or what ever is at the bottom of the barrel. This is the reality of the majority, the die hards with plenty of cash are the minority. Changing times can very easily change a persons need for certain fixes and for the majority the frivolity of throwing money away can be easily eliminated without a second thought or a look back as there are much more important things in any given persons life.

Yes it would be better if the casinos would take better care of the clientele they have year round and this includes all players, lest they lose 65% of their gravy train. Giving out all these free gifts on birthdays and holidays is what we are paying for all year long, so they truly aren't free and frankly I would rather be treated to good play consistantly rather than a $10 gift at the end of the year.

However this is obviously not to be so I for one after 9+ years of playing have hung up my coin bag and called it a day.

[Mavin1]

I think people just like to be remebered by a casino that they have been loyal to over the year. Being made to feel special goes a long way. I won't call them out publically if I don't get anything but when I do get a little something it makes me more loyal to that place. Wishing everyone the best!

Michelle

Your point is well taken and casinos know this because this is the norm for players thinking and it never changes. Play all year and then be comped at the end of the year to keep your loyalty.

I for one would rather they sent out a card that said, "Because we have so many good and loyal patrons we will be setting our RTP for all who visit and spend their money with us at 97% to 98% from now on", Thank you for keeping us in business and supporting us and our gratitude is shown in our year round return to you the player.
Now that would be a real gift. The gift that keeps on giving.

[Simmo!]

"Because we have so many good and loyal patrons we will be setting our RTP for all who visit and spend their money with us at 97% to 98% from now on"

That would really p!ss off Blackjack players

Seriously though, re. recent threads, we haven't established that any operators can physically do that anyway so it may not even be an option.

It's nice to get an Xmas bonus, and I guess we have come to expect it, but bottom line as pointed out by Wildfire, it is an unusal industry in that regard and it we shouldn't really take it for granted. They are after all businesses and everyone's in economically hard times.