Wynn machine players will have to ante up for drinks

[Actionbrett]

Cuts and Paste job from majorwager.

12:01 AM CST on Sunday, November 11, 2007 By ANTHONY CURTIS / Special Contributor to The Dallas Morning News

Wynn Las Vegas has taken a bold step in backing off one of gambling's longest-standing traditions: The casino is no longer comping drinks at its bars for machine players. For many years the deal has been that if you play a roll of quarters, you get a free drink. But now players must pay like everyone else (and drinks aren't cheap at the Wynn). The same move was tried before by MGM Grand and Mandalay Bay but was reversed when customers rebelled and deserted the bars.

[bigboydan]

Thats the way it is at all the casinos where I live, however here is quite different than Vegas.

[BigBollocks]

My uncle's had a few ventures with Steve Wynn in the past, and I just don't have the energy to get started on how God awful Vegas has become. If you love dry heat, a barren landscape, no customer appreciation, tight comps, rudeness at every corner, a city full of wiggers pretending to be big shots, and having a suicide on your street every week, you'll love Las Vegas. Vegas is so untrendy now it's ridiculous...

[tacomax]

If they have examined their business model and found out that giving away free drinks is a greater cost than the revenue that they receive from greater casino business and (the more lucrative) greater drunk casino business then good luck to them. Obviously MGM Grand and Mandalay Bay didn't find that is the case.

You pay a lot (in comparison to other Vegas hotels) to stay at the Wynn. You'd expect to get a little something back. It's like paying a premium to fly first class and not get any complimentary drinks. But, as I said, if they've examined their business model and it will work then go for it.

[jon13009]

Yes, most of the slot players are there because of the addictive nature of the machine itself - not to get a few drinks at the bar.

However, I still think Casino's still have plenty of other comps for their slot players if they keep sticking that card in the slot because those machines are at the heart of the Casino's business.....

[louis]

From one extreme to another

As noted, drinks arn't cheap at the Wynn. What will happen is a combination of less people playing at the Wynn bar, and less drinks being sold. That will result in less need for, and tips for bar tenders.

I'm surprised they would go from one extreme to another, with no intermediate move.

They will be one of the only casinos in the world that charge machine players at the bar for drinks. There are some casinos that are required by law to charge patrons, but those that are not required to, almost always do not.