Ok, random rambling thoughts from Diane, so stop reading now if you haven't much interest in the topic. I obviously have way too much time on my hands which is why my posting level here has increased so much. That, and I *really* like the group here. I feel at home, so thanks to all of you who have created that environment starting with Bryan, Max, Simmo and the others.
As stated in prior postings, 2011 finds me with extra time on my hands due to semi-retirement. When working, online gaming was my primary choice due to limited travle time and work consuming so much of my schedule.
Now for the first time in eons, kids are gone, job is gone and I can schedule time as I wish. As long as I don't push the limits too far with my very tolerant and loving spouse of 36 years. He is not much interested in gambling, preferring his hunting and fishing. He knows I enjoy gambling/playing poker tremendously but only rarely does he want to come along, so I do it mostly solo. Solo at home on computer in new "home office" and solo in terms of travel to B&M.
I am Diamond status with Harrah's, Platinum with MGM - which means I gamble often and the casinos love me and my discretionary income. I have enough offers coming in from casinos through snail mail and online that I am sure I could bounce between hotel to hotel in Las Vegas, Reno, and Tunica without paying a hotel bill for at least a month.
I went on a free charter to Laughlin for 4days earlier this month and then yesterday returned from a week long trip to Vegas. So with 11 recent B&M days under my belt, naturally it makes me start comparing B&M with online.
Except for wanting to vary my environment ---- I think Online gets the nod for preferred method of getting my gambling fix and trying to win money. So far my net wins have all been online and each B&M trip (all two of them for 2011 - have been net losses)
*Dirty - dirty screens, dirty ashtrays, dirty restrooms,
*Rude players - bad hygiene, grumpy, bumping into you, making you feel like you took their machine or influenced their bad luck. Listening to grumbling and even some scary looking people.
*slow cocktail service when you can find it
*machines that don't work consistently either bill acceptors or payout slip printers
* constantly changing paytables, having to check same machine at different denominations to find the most lucrative paytable for dollars I am willing to spend
*hotel rooms that have poor lighting and hard to find outlets for computer power cord, cell phone charger, Ipods etc.
*hotels that charge for internet access. Surprisingly - Bellagio now offers it free and NO resort charge hidden in their free room offers
*hotels with Resort Fees, ie $20/day resort fee on "free" rooms at Mirage and Wynn/Encore
*hassle of travel, airplane delays, trapped in planes with limited leg room and people who snore/smell. It's better with the direct flights and direct charters, but still a hassle with packing bags and security lines at airports
*Wanting to play live poker, but no consistent player base to guarantee that when I show up wanting to play there will be a game at the limits I want to play.
(side note ---- I play at the higher end sites in Vegas; Wynn, Encore, Palazzo, Bellagio, etc. So its not like I am downtown at the El Cortez where I would expect rude, boorish, dirtbags to be more prevalent)
* New and varied interactive games
* Instant pay when you win
*ATM instant access to money
*LInes of credit at casinos so you don't have to pay ATM fees or carry lots of cash
*Beautiful hotels and pleasing environments
*People watching -- Vegas must be the ultimate for that activity!
*Personal hosts who help make your hotel/gaming experience as nice as possible
*Free hotel rooms, free play, and free meals
*Warm weather during the winter (remember what WI is like this time of year)
*No schedule, eat, sleep, and play, or whatever 24/7. Breakfast 24 hours a day if you want
*someone who makes my bed, cooks my meals, and cleans my hotel room with free towels and really nice ameneties with chocolates on my pillow turndown bed service
Likes of Online Gaming
* Stay at home
*24/7 games available
*play in my PJ's, drinking my own coffee
*no noise
*wide range of software platforms to pick from, never get bored
*bounce between poker, VP, and slots in the click of a key
*no travel expense
*no interaction with other players unless I seek it out online such as through this forum
*virtual money doesn't get my hands dirty
*poker games 24/7 all games all limits, more tourneys than you can possibly want to play
Dislikes of Online Gaming
*Occasional struggles to deposit
*Regular worries on how to get paid and how long it takes
*Worries that online gaming will impact my personal financial status with bankj
*Too easy to blow large amounts of time -- hours slip by without my realizing it
*Live Chat that isn't ------- I have been kept waiting up to 45 minutes at some sites "while operators are assisting other players"
*Live chat that is simultaneously helping multiple other customers so you get left hanging waiting for lengthy periods of time in between their responses to your questions.
*calling the sites directly and speaking to people who have such heavy accents that it is difficult to understand to the point that its easier to go back to live chat and type to them than try to understand their spoken word
*poorly informed live chat operators who don't know the offers and details of the site's promos because they work for multiple sites at one time.
*having to keep accurate chat records to ensure that what I have been told is what I get from that site
*rude live chat operators
*questions from my bank on types of international transactions
Weighing out pros and cons of both ? Online wins by a personal margin of 60% over B&M @ 40%.
FWIW ---
Diane
As stated in prior postings, 2011 finds me with extra time on my hands due to semi-retirement. When working, online gaming was my primary choice due to limited travle time and work consuming so much of my schedule.
Now for the first time in eons, kids are gone, job is gone and I can schedule time as I wish. As long as I don't push the limits too far with my very tolerant and loving spouse of 36 years. He is not much interested in gambling, preferring his hunting and fishing. He knows I enjoy gambling/playing poker tremendously but only rarely does he want to come along, so I do it mostly solo. Solo at home on computer in new "home office" and solo in terms of travel to B&M.
I am Diamond status with Harrah's, Platinum with MGM - which means I gamble often and the casinos love me and my discretionary income. I have enough offers coming in from casinos through snail mail and online that I am sure I could bounce between hotel to hotel in Las Vegas, Reno, and Tunica without paying a hotel bill for at least a month.
I went on a free charter to Laughlin for 4days earlier this month and then yesterday returned from a week long trip to Vegas. So with 11 recent B&M days under my belt, naturally it makes me start comparing B&M with online.
Except for wanting to vary my environment ---- I think Online gets the nod for preferred method of getting my gambling fix and trying to win money. So far my net wins have all been online and each B&M trip (all two of them for 2011 - have been net losses)
Dislikes - B&M
*Dirty - dirty screens, dirty ashtrays, dirty restrooms,
*Rude players - bad hygiene, grumpy, bumping into you, making you feel like you took their machine or influenced their bad luck. Listening to grumbling and even some scary looking people.
*slow cocktail service when you can find it
*machines that don't work consistently either bill acceptors or payout slip printers
* constantly changing paytables, having to check same machine at different denominations to find the most lucrative paytable for dollars I am willing to spend
*hotel rooms that have poor lighting and hard to find outlets for computer power cord, cell phone charger, Ipods etc.
*hotels that charge for internet access. Surprisingly - Bellagio now offers it free and NO resort charge hidden in their free room offers
*hotels with Resort Fees, ie $20/day resort fee on "free" rooms at Mirage and Wynn/Encore
*hassle of travel, airplane delays, trapped in planes with limited leg room and people who snore/smell. It's better with the direct flights and direct charters, but still a hassle with packing bags and security lines at airports
*Wanting to play live poker, but no consistent player base to guarantee that when I show up wanting to play there will be a game at the limits I want to play.
(side note ---- I play at the higher end sites in Vegas; Wynn, Encore, Palazzo, Bellagio, etc. So its not like I am downtown at the El Cortez where I would expect rude, boorish, dirtbags to be more prevalent)
Likes from B&M
* New and varied interactive games
* Instant pay when you win
*ATM instant access to money
*LInes of credit at casinos so you don't have to pay ATM fees or carry lots of cash
*Beautiful hotels and pleasing environments
*People watching -- Vegas must be the ultimate for that activity!
*Personal hosts who help make your hotel/gaming experience as nice as possible
*Free hotel rooms, free play, and free meals
*Warm weather during the winter (remember what WI is like this time of year)
*No schedule, eat, sleep, and play, or whatever 24/7. Breakfast 24 hours a day if you want
*someone who makes my bed, cooks my meals, and cleans my hotel room with free towels and really nice ameneties with chocolates on my pillow turndown bed service
Likes of Online Gaming
* Stay at home
*24/7 games available
*play in my PJ's, drinking my own coffee
*no noise
*wide range of software platforms to pick from, never get bored
*bounce between poker, VP, and slots in the click of a key
*no travel expense
*no interaction with other players unless I seek it out online such as through this forum
*virtual money doesn't get my hands dirty
*poker games 24/7 all games all limits, more tourneys than you can possibly want to play
Dislikes of Online Gaming
*Occasional struggles to deposit
*Regular worries on how to get paid and how long it takes
*Worries that online gaming will impact my personal financial status with bankj
*Too easy to blow large amounts of time -- hours slip by without my realizing it
*Live Chat that isn't ------- I have been kept waiting up to 45 minutes at some sites "while operators are assisting other players"
*Live chat that is simultaneously helping multiple other customers so you get left hanging waiting for lengthy periods of time in between their responses to your questions.
*calling the sites directly and speaking to people who have such heavy accents that it is difficult to understand to the point that its easier to go back to live chat and type to them than try to understand their spoken word
*poorly informed live chat operators who don't know the offers and details of the site's promos because they work for multiple sites at one time.
*having to keep accurate chat records to ensure that what I have been told is what I get from that site
*rude live chat operators
*questions from my bank on types of international transactions
Weighing out pros and cons of both ? Online wins by a personal margin of 60% over B&M @ 40%.
FWIW ---
Diane
It really is cyclical IMO....I had a run like that at Rivals a couple of years ago until they became greedy. A RJ at an RTG and a good sized cashout at another RTG but way to far between cashouts. I think it has to be a combination of both as, in my case, they both won't be good all the time.
