Las Vegas is famous for comping high rollers, but Sin City’s new approach is catching the attention of travelers all over the world — or at least those who can get to Nevada without having to jump through quarantine hoops and tight border restrictions.
After being forced to close due to Covid-19, Las Vegas properties are rolling out the red carpet to lure poker players with rooms as low as $10 — a far cry from typical hotel prices. According to the Las Vegas tourism bureau, the average daily rate in 2019 was $132. The savings mean more money for the poker tables, which are reopening slowly but steadily.
While completely anecdotal, a Poker.org staff member signed into his Caesars account to find 3-night comps for every property on the strip, including Caesars Palace, Planet Hollywood, Paris, Flamingo, Bally’s, Cromwell, Rio, Harrah’s, The Linq, and more. Our staff member isn’t a high roller and visits Vegas about once every two years.
On the MGM Resorts site, 3-night comps were available at Mandalay Bay, Delano, MGM Grand, Park MGM, NoMad, and The Mirage. 4-night comps were available at Luxor, New York New York, and Excalibur. And 1-night comps were offered at Bellagio, Aria, and Vdara.
But it’s not entirely free. Most properties charge the dreaded Resort Fee, which means a 3-night stay could easily run you $150 or more. And now there’s a new charge to worry about as you enjoy everything Sin City has to offer.
A new COVID-19 surcharge of around 4% is popping up on receipts at restaurants dotting the strip. The fee, however, seems to be optional, with patrons finding success when asking for it to be removed.
A similar Tourism Tax has been a part of the Niagara Falls, Canada experience for years, showing up on restaurant and hotel receipts. For the most part, patrons can ask for the surcharge to be removed.
