Anyone take junkets?

When I moved to this area about 10 yrs ago, I started to receive postcards from Harrah's Tunica offering me and a guest a flight and room nights for certain dates at a cost of maybe $200 based on double occupancy. I remember calling them and saying I would love to go but I didn't have anyone to bring with me. They said, "Oh no, you are welcome alone and you are free. The guest is the reason for the charge." Sweet! Tunica here I come! This was my first experience with a junket and I had a blast. Chartered plane full of gamblers. I did 2 more trips until they caught on that I was a real lowroller and stopped inviting me. Anyone else ever take advantage of these kinds of offers?

 

I did Tunica on a junket about 5 years ago out of midway in Chicago. Had a great time

 

I used to to The Dunes courtesy of DaBoyz from the Springfield MA mobbed up crew. All you needed was $2,000 to play with and everything you could imagine was just sign your name. wild times


Several years ago the wife and I decided at the last minute to take a junket from Westover AFB to AC. Got to the counter and took out my credit card and the guy says "no charge, Mario took care of you"

 

It's been a long time (like over 20 years), but I've been on 35 junkets to Atlantic City, 2 to New Orleans, a bunch to Biloxi, Gulf Port, Bay St. Louis, and Tunica, MS, 1 to Freeport, and 2 to Aruba. With only minor foul-ups, they were all very positive experiences.

 

I have done junkets from Florida to Biloxi for years. They used to be run by companies separate from MGM or CET. MGM caught on and now runs their own at $50 or $199 RT depending on day and location you fly from. All gave $50 free play in the past and that still continues today.
Nice way to travel as they do all luggage handling and delivery to and from room.
Hope that resumes as Biloxi reopens.

 

I've done two CET trips from NYC to Harrah's NOLA with a good friend. They picked us up at the the airport and back when we left. They had 10 people on a regular jet on one. The other was also on a regular jet but a bit smaller plane.

 

I've done Tunica and Biloxi. Tunica is sorta a waste as it's a 5 hour drive vs. 1 hour to airport, 2 hours in airport, 1 hour on plane, then on to the resort, and parking at the aiport costs more then the gas to drive there. (And the two hours at the airport is a stretch anymore)

 

We have done junkets to AC, Vegas, Laughlin, Reno and Gulf Coast.

Always a good deal

Any questions?

 

We do Georgia to Biloxi. Usually $50 each with $50 free play.

 

I took my first Junket last year to Harrah’s Laughlin. They gave us ticket packages upon arrival at the airport which did not include our TSA Pre status, so we overloaded the security screening. Seating was pre-assigned, flight was full. I expected some fun and games, at least on the flight out, but nothing more than snacks and one comped alcoholic beverage. Exited the plane, boarded several buses, exited the bus and were given our room keys at a table before entering the property. This is were we experienced the main benefit: no need to check in, our bags were being delivered to our room, so we could head straight to the bar. I was hoping to take one to Biloxi, but June 6 is too soon for me.

 

We have taken several junkets from Ohio to Atlantic City. Always a great time! We plan on taking more Atlantic City junkets and also going to try one to Biloxi in the future. So nice because all you have to do is show up at the airport and the rest is all planned.

 

Was all set until the Wuhan Virus ended our plans. Will probably wait until things normalize before trying again.

 

Was hoping someone did the Wendover one. They seem to have quite good gaming conditions and that old school Peppermill cheesy neon pink and mirrors everywhere.

They do a decent amount of these out of Texas. Only problem is making the sell to my wife.

 

We did one long ago. To Elko, of all places.

 

Haha, wow and I thought Wendover was a stretch.

 

IIRC, Wendover is in Elko county. To the best of my knowledge, the Wendover junkets are the only ones that go anywhere near that part of the state.

Are we talking about the same thing Ken?

 

I guess Ken can reply reply but Elko is almost two hours from Wendover. I think Elko gets a lot of Idaho traffic, while Wendover gets the SLC crowd.

Not surprised it’s the same county, not a whole lot out there.

 

I've done two. The first was long ago to Wendover. One night hotel stay if I recall. I'm not an all out gambler, so it got boring in time. Nothing else to do.
The other was to Laughlin for a two night stay. This was much better as we played golf twice, so it was more like a LV trip. We stayed at the Riverside though and rooms didn't impress me.

 

The first junket I did was with a girlfriend at least 15 years ago to Elko. We had a blast, but it turned out that it was the last junket ever out of Duluth, MN. About 10 years ago, my sister and I did a junket to Wendover. I remember it cost around $200 for air and three nights lodging. I still laugh at our amazement when we landed in this little town in the middle of nowhere. We have been hooked since. Two of the gals that also go are huge gamblers so they get go free and bring a friend free. It works out that one of them is my BFF. The comps for food are the best I have ever seen. I paid for my first meal there with my sister and haven’t paid for food since.

Our Wendover trips always seemed to cure my gambling itch in between my annual August Vegas trip.

We had trips booked to Wendover for the end of March and also the end of July. Both trips were cancelled by Wendover. I can’t help but wonder what will happen to this town with a population of 4500 in the middle of the desert. I am sure the majority of the population is employed in some way with the casino industry there. Other than that, there is like a dollar store, a grocery store, few gas stations, etc.

 

Elko and Bendover are rather different critters, even if only 100+ miles apart.