Black label at the borg

[Jdanz]

I'm under 21 so i don't really go to AC all that much and obviously i haven't signed up for the comp card at the borg, however when i do turn 21 (2 months) i'm probably going to be jumping in at the 40/80+ level and i'm wondering what the deal is to get a black label card.

As i understand it now there is a prety serious hours logged requirement, but i was wondering if you're playing high stakes if there is a way to get around that?

Anyone wanna give me any info about either rewards card?

edit: i looked around the website a bunch but couldn't find anything really detailing which card you'd get when you sign up/ how you'd "advance" to the black label

[playersare]

you need to accumulate $1000 comp points at Borgata to qualify for the Black card first year (renewals are generally the same amount but I've heard as low as $400 - ymmv). however, you will need to put in a LOT of high limit poker play to get there since they generally rate no more than $2 per hour down there. if you already are a +EV player then you will make far more money in the actual games than you need to bother sweating the comp card.

however, some ideas to get there quicker:
- play blackjack. if you can handle $40/$80 limits than you can probably grind fairly close to breakeven at $50/$100 BJ using basic strategy and even a basic level 1 count like KO or hi-lo. the borg is the only casino that uses all 6-deck tables, so the house advantage is as low in AC as you can get. your comp rate will generally be about 20% of your flat average bet size per hour, so figure $10-20 in comp. craps would be a similar deal, but with higher house edge and volatility, but no strategy memorization required.

- video poker. this place was paradise for high volume JoB players when they first opened, but now the comp rates have been knocked down slightly. currently they are offering 0.33% on points with 0.15% cash back (redeemable as free play credits). so on a 9/6 machine that returns 99.54%, you're pretty much playing for free if you know the correct strategy. if you can play max coin $1 machines for 1000 hands per hour (definitely doable on the modern single line IGT models), you're looking at $16.50/hr of comp and $7.50 of free play using a session bankroll of between $500-1000 per pop.

- get a VIP card from a smaller casino. theoretically you'd have to play $300,000 of video poker at Borgata to get Black status. however, over at harrah's and showboat, you only need $30,000 to reach Platinum and $100,000 to reach Diamond, and you may be able to show this at Borg to get an instant upgrade. Trump "Marina Club" qualifies at $40,000, and "Yacht Club" needs $70,000. Resorts also has a Platinum program - it doesn't specify how much you need to play to reach 1,500 comp points there, but I highly doubt it's more than what Borg wants. Same goes for Taj Mahal's Maharajah club.

[poker327]

I read here a long time ago if you play 80/160, they will automatically give you one. I don't know if this is still true or not.

[smoore]

Damn, dude has done his homework. I really need to learn more about VP... sometimes it's nice to play a video game when the morans are grinding you down.

Thanks for that post.

Just got back from the borg where my buddy just got upgraded to black label. They will upgrade you at 500 hours of play at 10/20 and up, but a floor person told me, "we might be able squeeze you in at around 400 to 450" The only really nice thing about it though is free parking and not waiting in line.

[poker327]

Also $10 buffets instead of paying about $28.

That too, but I like the noodle bar better anyway.

[Jdanz]

ok well that's 10/20 anyone know if what the deal is if you're playing 40/80, 80/160?

[ QUOTE ]
morans

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I said 10/20 and UP. There isn't any extra for higher. But considering the Taj started giving extra to 20/40 and up the Borg might start too. No one has said anything about it though.