This site is incredible. It is the Mirage Hotel Group. You go there and gamble - no money. You're gambling for points. You can play BJ, slots, and some VP. When you get a certain amount of points you get something from the hotel you choose - Bellagio, Mirage, NYNY etc. For example, you need 1500 pts for a buffet to one of the above places. They are having some problems with the site freezing up, but it's getting better. Try
it - it's fun!

I found something sorta similar called Pogo, you can play slots for tokens, that you cash in for free draws for real cash and as you play the ali baba slot machine for free, if you hit 3 genies you get the jackpot which when I was there this evening was around $500.00!! There was an article in Time magazine about it last issue. So I tried it, and was online when someone actually won just over $2000. Its a little boring, but they have a chat thing as well that you can participate in if you wish as you play your slot machine, I've noticed some folks get pretty nasty with each other on the chat thing so I've not had too much to say there. We're not allowed I understand according to Talk Vegas boards rules to list the url here, perhaps if you are interested a search thing might find it or of course the March 26th Time Magazine Article will provide everything you need to know.

Kui,
Larry (a friend of mine that posts here from tiem to time), his wife is hooked on pogoDOTcom
I've visited the site a couple of times at his wife Loretta's suggestion. I played, but I too found it sort of slow. Warning....if you sign up, they keep sending you e-mail to come back.
I get a kick out of the prize list....when it gets to the bottom, I keep expecting to see "winner of one peice of used chewing gum....Bob Smith" LOL
Your also correct the chat I had visited was real rough and unfriendly, and I'm a long time chatter, and didn't go for that treatment.
Beleive it or not (some might remember) we even tried chat here on TalkVegas in the early days. It wasn't well received because we all seem to be on differnt schedules.

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Lee-PA
Moderator, What's New Forum
lee@talkvegas.com

I've been hooked on wagerworks this entire week and so far accumulated enough points for 8 Bellagio buffets and 4 Mirage buffets. We haven't tried to use them yet so I will post our results next week when we try to pick up the buffets. The game is only a beta version with lots of problems and it takes lots of your time, but being retired we have nothing but time. lol

Blossom, Please do keep us updated!
For me a free buffet in exchange for my time doesn't work. You know how I feel about them (buffets) but I know plenty of people here love them! I'd be moreinterested in a $5 off coupon for a coffee shop.
Lee-PA

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Lee-PA
Moderator, What's New Forum
lee@talkvegas.com

Blos - how do you get to the Bellagio buffet? I'm playing on their site, but everytime I go to "prizes" it brings up the MGM prize screen.

there is a task bar top of page and click on strip,click on bell,click on prizes.it's become boring since they cut down on the points per spin but working on the bell buffets

It is boring but we take turns doing it while one of us is doing chores. Hal hooked up a mirror on top of the computer so we can watch tv while on line so we watch tv while we play. Of course we are retired so our time is our own. We are getting out of town house guests next week so we are picking up 4 Mirage buffet comps and 4 Bellagio buffet comps tomorrow. How's that for impressing visitors?
Lee, you said you don't like buffets. Have you ever tried the one at the Bellagio? Dinner is awesome!


[This message has been edited by blosinlv (edited 28 March 2001).]

Blos--let us know when you get them in hand so we can know they are legit!!

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D.A.G.SEATTLE
furdoo3@aol.com

Article from today's Sun:
IGT of Reno announced Tuesday it has closed on its buyout of Silicon Gaming Inc., a slot manufacturer with offices in Palo Alto, Calif., and Las Vegas.
Silicon shareholders will receive 11.9 cents per share in csh, up from the 8.25 cents to 9.5 cents per share originally contemplated. The incresed value came from the sale of most of Silicon's holdings in WagerWorks Inc., a not-for-cash gaming entity developed with MGM MIRAGE.
The WagerWorks shares were sold for $6.2 million with proceeds being distributed directly to Silicon shareholders. The company listed the buyers as B III Capital Partners and Carl Berg, an individual investor. Both were creditors and shareholders of Silicon. Silicon retained a 4.9 percent stake in WagerWorks

When I play regular 5 card draw, JOB, the two of clubs has 3 marks (clubs) on it. It confused me the first couple of times.

Picked them up today. We now have 4 comps for the Sunday brunch at the Mirage for April 1st. We also picked up 4 comps for the Bellagio buffet. They have to be used in seven days. They both state that they are line passes. Everyone was extremely pleasant and helpful and it was a very easy process.

Blos--picked them up from??

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D.A.G.SEATTLE
furdoo3@aol.com

From the club booths of Mirage and Bellagio. In Mirage, they had the comp waiting with our names on them. In Bellagio it was printed up while we waited on a computer.

Blosinlv:
I'll be in LV soon, so I've been trying to earn some of those buffet nights, but, Wagerworks keeps crashing/or the wheels go spinning madly, requiring retries. How were you able to accumulate so many points, I've been playing any chance I get since Joyce 1st mentioned this site and have only accumulated just over 2000 points, 1 buffet I guess. Where have you found the best results.

Just got to say, this is such a nice site, everyone seems so helpful and so well informed thanks again Lee for guiding me here!

Blossom,
I have never tried the Belagio buffet. All buffets suffer from the same problem....everyone touches the big serving spoons! As stated before, 1/2 the guys using the restroom don't wash when finished...then they touch the serving spoon then I have to butter my bread holding it my hand after I touched that same serving spoon! Everytime I eat at a buffet it is s leap of faith! And don't even get me started on sneeze sheilds, or steam table food in general.
I know everyone here seems to love buffets, and if that is what you like, GREAT. I don't judge anyone for it, I just don't like them.

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Lee-PA
Moderator, What's New Forum
lee@talkvegas.com

Lee, I know what you mean, if I think about it too much it does become difficult to enjoy a buffet. But.... one thing we always try to do is be first in to be among the first to enjoy it. Before it is picked over so to speak.

Thanks for the update, Blos ...that part about line passes sounds great! Kui's moving at light speed compared to me; I've only got 800+ points<g>.

kui, it's a really buggy software package. I guess it's hard to complain about a free service that lets you play games and get comps.

It has been my experience that I get a lot of lock-ups when I use the orange circle icon to make a max bet. I get much fewer crashes when using the white square to the left of the orange circle. I'm not sure why, and I'm still taking down notes of the bug I find. And like most everyone else, I'm looking for the fastest way to build points.

Lee, I learned a lot about what goes on in the back room of MOST restaurants because my 4 kids all worked their way through college waiting on tables or working in the kitchens. If you knew how food was handled even in the best restaurant, you would always eat at home. My brother-in-law was a meter reader on LI in New York and since then he will not eat in any ethnic restaurant. The least of your problems is the serving spoon at a buffet. As far as freshness is concerned, we always go out to dinner at about 4:30 before the crowd gets there. If you used to watch Seinfeld, you would know that is what we seniors do. lol