Mr. AC Casino: A.C. casinos begin to offer ‘Powerbucks’ at slots

Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa, Caesars Atlantic City and Harrah’s Resort are among the first in the country to offer Powerbucks, the nation’s first multi-state progressive jackpot network.
Powerbucks is a “bolt-on” progressive, meaning casinos can digitally connect it to any IGT slot machine to make it a progressive. When Powerbucks is enabled, a progressive tracker appears at the top of the screen.
In addition to Atlantic City, Powerbucks is also available in select casinos in Deadwood, S.D. Nevada is expected to approve Powerbucks later this year and eventually it will be expanded to other jurisdictions, including Canada, as well.
IGT touts Powerbucks as “dramatically increasing” jackpot potential and “the chance for all players to win big and more frequently.”
At Borgata, play Powerbucks on Twilight Zone near Noodles Of the World, with more machines expected to be connected in the near future.
At Caesars, play Powerbucks on the five-seat Avatar by the Boardwalk entrance across from the The Pier Shops at Caesars; at Harrah’s, it’s also on Avatar, but on a two-seat version between the Diamond Cove high limit slot area and Keno.
Cruise control
You have only a few more days, but Tropicana Casino and Resort Atlantic City Casino Online is giving away more than 50 cruises through the end of April.
Gamblers who play on Tropicana Atlantic City Online during this month automatically will be entered in the “Get Online to Get Onboard” contest. The top players on the leader boards will be given a certificate for a free cruise of their choice courtesy of Carnival Cruise Lines.
Winners will have the opportunity to choose their city of departure for a wide variety of four- to eight-day cruises to the Caribbean, Mexico and the Bahamas.
In addition, qualifying contestants will receive an invitation to pick up their Carnival Cruise Lines certificate and enjoy a complimentary overnight stay at the Tropicana Casino and Resort. For additional rules and regulations, go to TropicanaCasino.com. For more details about eligible cruises and destinations, go to Carnival.com.
‘Pay Out in Paradise’
No, this is not a player loyalty program for the afterlife. Yet another offshore casino is trying to steal your business from Atlantic City.
The Marriott Aruba Resort will give three comped nights, including breakfast for two daily, and a Platinum tier card and front line access in its Stellaris Casino.
Rooms must be booked by May 30 for travel May 26 through Dec. 20, though May 27 through 30 is already sold out. Average daily rates during this period run from $209 to $289, plus taxes and fees.
While the billboards around town tell you to go to PayOutInParadise.com, there’s really not a lot of detail there, but here are some key facts:
To qualify for this promotion, you need to have one of the following valid player cards:
• Borgata: Black Label or Titanium
• Golden Nugget Atlantic City: Elite
• Resorts Casino Hotel: Paramount or Red Carpet
• Revel Casino-Hotel: Black or Radiance
• Total Rewards (Bally’s, Caesars, Harrah’s, Showboat): Seven Stars
• Tropicana: Black
• Trump Taj Mahal Casino Resort or Trump Plaza Hotel and Casino: Signature
You will need to tell them what card you have, and give them the name and contact information of your host so they can verify you actually have the card you say you do.
In order to redeem comps/points you earn while you’re there, during your stay you must do one of the following:
• Earn 1,500 points daily.
• Lose $8,000 or more on slot play.
• Place an average bet of $250 at the tables for a minimum of four hours per day.
Touchdown!
Caesars Entertainment’s proprietary Total Touch system — already in place for several years at Bally’s Atlantic City, Harrah’s Resort and other casinos around the country — is now being installed at Caesars Atlantic City. Total Touch allows customers to order drinks, redeem free play, check their Total Rewards account balances, and receive real-time offers based on their play.
Compared to other Total Rewards casinos I’ve visited, this is the fastest Total Touch system I’ve experienced. It’s a mere second or two before your player information displays on the small screen imbedded in the slot machine case.
Recreational gambler Darryl D. McEwen, a former professional journalist, is president of his own consulting firm that manages several small national and international trade associations, and provides public relations and fundraising services for a number of charitable organizations. Have a comment on this or a question specifically related to an Atlantic City casino, players club or other promotion? Email Mr. AC Casino at MrACCasino@gmail.com and he’ll try to respond to you personally. Your question — without your name — may appear in a future column.