COSTS
Transportation - Round trip from Dallas on American cost $227 arriving in LV on Friday 3 PM and departing Tuesday at 5PM. One day senior bus pass on arrival cost $2. Cab to airport on departure $20 with tip. I used the free shuttle from Bill’s to Gold Coast (Palms) to Orleans while in Vegas. Total transportation cost $249.

Hotel - I had booked Friday and Saturday at Palms using their cyber offer $56 per night including tax. They waived the normal resort fee of $15 per night. I stayed at Bally’s on Sunday and Monday under a comp offer. Front desk upgrade to North tower diamond for $20 tip. Total hotel cost $132.

Meals - I had 4 buffet comps at Palms that needed to be used by Nov 30. Also used one food court comp at Palms. Used one buffet comp and 3 food court comps at Orleans. Out of pocket food costs about $30.

Miscellaneous - Gave $5 to panhandler who had his dog with him. Lost $25 in VP at Cosmopolitan chasing their $100 insurance promotion for second time. I had won $100 back in September. Total miscellaneous $30

Total trip costs $441

POKER RESULTS
Palms- Played 4 hours of 4-8 HE Friday evening. Tough table similar to Winstar where I normally play. Drop $3 + $2 but freeroll promotion caters to locals. Held my own but then two draw outs and I lost a rack. Net -$100.

Orleans- Played 32 hours over several days 4-8 mostly HE but some O8. Good action mixture of weak tight and loose with a few solid players. Drop is $3 + $1 and nice bad beat plus royal promotions in effect at the time. I netted +$550 over 4 days.

Bally’s- late one night played 2 hours of 3-6 HE. Short handed table of tourists. Drop is $5 + $1 but did hit quads for $50 bonus. Net +$69.

Total poker results net +$519.

DISCUSSION POKER RAKE SAVINGS VERSUS TRAVEL COSTS
I play at Winstar in Thackerville OK at a nine-handed table and the rake is $5 plus $1. They also drop the $1 even with a chop. I assume a $1 tip per hand and 1 seat open on average. In 4-8 limit HE 30-35 hands per hour get dealt. There is an occasional chop and a few don’t reach full rake but most of them do so I use 32 hands per hour for rake.

At Orleans Vegas 4-8 limit is a ten-handed table and the rake is $3 plus $1. I assume a $1 tip and 1 seat open on average. A chop results in no jackpot drop so I adjust the hands per to 31.5 for rake.

For Winstar I calculate 32 x $7 = $224 divided by 8 players w net cost $28 per hour.

For Orleans I calculate 31.5 x 5 = $157.5 divided by 9 players w net cost $17.5 per hour.

For Palms I calculate 31.5 x 6 = $189 divided by 9 players w net cost $21 per hour.

I played 32 hours x $10.50 at Orleans so I saved $336 in rake.
I played 4 hours x $7 at Palms so I saved $28 in rake.

Travel cost (transport plus hotel) $381 - $354 rake savings = $27

Notes:
Booze free in Vegas versus not free at Winstar.
Limit play softer in Vegas compared to Winstar.