M Resort and Casino steals locals from Station, Boyd
Some friends were in town for Easter weekend, so we took them to the new M Resort way down south of Las Vegas Blvd. (so far south -- about 14 miles from the Strip -- that it's in Henderson and actually on St. Rose Pkwy.).
M is the latest billion-dollar casino to enter Las Vegas but is independent and caters to locals.
Station and Boyd have something to worry about. Despite the economy, M was completely packed, with all restaurants at capacity and long lines to the buffet (which requires purchasing a ticket with a seating time before queuing up).
And what of the offers? M is strategically eschewing standard discounts, buy 1 get 1, etc. that their local counterparts are offering. Instead, they're saying you want to come to us for us and not our freebies. (Although this month they're offering 2x points every day.)
It of course helps that M just opened last month and is still drawing in newcomers heading into Vegas on the I-15 or locals who want to see a casino done right. A year from now after the newlywed period, we expect to see similar discounts.
Long a staple of Native American casinos, M is the first Las Vegas casino to offer a complimentary beverage station. Anyone can fill up on a variety of sodas and nonalcoholic drinks and drink to their heart's content. Saves us a couple bucks when we take the drink into a restaurant, however gauche that may be.
How does its player's club stack up to others in town? Very nicely. Every $333 playthrough in slots and non-optimum play video poker (normally vp is 2x) earns $1 that can be used as freeplay or comps or cashback. Regular slot clubs don't comp $1 until $1000 of coin-in.
Other unique niceties include a pharmacy (insurance co-pays) and an on-site gas station and car wash, all of which can be paid for by points.
We didn't have the patience to stand in the long line to the well-reviewed Studio B buffet, but all slot club members receive $2 off.
We'll report back if we receive any free offers from our slot play session of a few hours. We're jonesing to check out their hotel rooms.
