Poker News

H. Scot Krause

Following Thanksgiving and the National Finals Rodeo, the tourist population drops off a bit in Las Vegas, but those who come to stay and play will find some great bargains, promotions and perks!

Holiday gift shops and fairs are running this month. You may be entitled to free gifts! Throughout this past year, MGM Mirage Players Club members have been receiving one Holiday Gift Shoppe point for every Players Club point earned at MGM Mirage Las Vegas properties (NY NY, MGM Las Vegas, Bellagio, Mirage, and TI.) Holiday Gift Shoppe points are earned in addition to regular cash back points and comps. Gift Shoppe points are only redeemable at the Gift Shoppe locations inside each hotel and must be redeemed in person by the Players Club member who earned them. Unredeemed Gift Shoppe points are lost forever. Participants can select gift items based on their points that include electronics, cameras, toys, sporting goods, jewelry and watches. Exact details and rules may be reviewed on the MGM Mirage Players Club web site at: http://www.holidaygiftshoppecatalog. com/homepage/home.asp The MGM Mirage spree runs from November 27-December 4, 2005.

Similar to the MGM Mirage, the Aladdin’s Dream Bazaar will be held from December 8-14. Players have been earning one Dream Bazaar dollar for every 15 Club Aladdin points earned. The earning dates began May 1 and end on December 14. Again, you must be present to redeem Dream Bazaar points. The Aladdin has also made some improvements to its “free pull” promotional machine. The new and improved “free pull” machine is now open to all Club Aladdin members with a chance to win up to a million bucks and a carhas been added to the list of possible prizes. The new prize structure for winners also includes free slot play, show tickets and merchandise prizes.

Paris and Bally’s rewards players with extra holiday cash back, but you must pick it up in person, only during the month of December. This one-time holiday cash back is in addition to regular points that you earn throughout the year and expires on December 25. Bonus Holiday/Christmas cash is earned for all slot play at Bally’s and Paris and the minimum redemption amount is $10.

At the Las Vegas Hilton, any poker player who logs 40 hours of play from November 15 to December 15 will receive a softball-style navy blue jacket with a Las Vegas Hilton logo. “Presents for Points” is the current promotion running through December 23 at the Palms. All Club Palms points earned from November 1 through December 23 can be redeemed for gift certificates from Omaha Steaks, Applebee’s, Fry’s Electronics, Sears, Nordstrom, Albertson’s/ Sav-On, 7-Eleven, Honeybaked Ham and Brenden Theatres. Every 440 points equals one gift dollar.

Downtown, Binion’s Gambling Hall will be running a similar promotion in December. Players can cash in both currently earned slot club points as well as past earned points for gift cards that can be used for a variety of national stores and gas stations. Look for complete rules and details posted at Binion’s Club.

On a final note, the ProJo Poker tournaments originally scheduled to be held at the Tropicana Casino and Resort in Atlantic City (reported about here several weeks ago) have been cancelled without explanation. Sorry ’bout that folks! That’s it for this week!

Filed under: Poker News