12,000 Gallons of Gas for Free

June 14, 2007 — -- They say there's no free lunch.

But today, there is free gas in Warren, Mich. Allstate insurance is rewarding the town's residents, who are among the safest drivers in the country, with a free tank.

And with gas prices taking a large bite out of people's wallets, Allstate isn't alone. Many companies are turning to free gas promotions as a way to draw customers in, especially in the tourism and hospitality industries.

The nationwide average for a gallon of regular unleaded is $3.08 — almost 6 percent higher than the average price a year ago. As gas prices reach new heights, so do some of the promotions.

Albuquerque, N.M., residents Jeanne and David White drive 150 to 225 miles a week — for free, all year long — thanks to a promotion at their local casino.

Twin River, a Rhode Island gambling hall running a giveaway for its slot machine players, takes things even further. Forget a free tank of gas. Later this month, gamblers there could win a free tanker truck full of gas. That's 12,000 gallons of gas, worth about $36,000.

To put it another way: With that much gas somebody could drive from Washington, D.C., to San Francisco -- and back -- about 60 times.

Only one winner will get the free tanker of gas at the June 30 drawing. And don't expect to drive away with the truck. A close read of the fine print reveals that the gambling establishment is not actually giving away a truck full of gas, but a gas card worth $36,000.

High gas prices hurt the gambling industry, said Cynthia Stern, spokeswoman for Twin River. People have less disposable money to spend on slot machines and think twice about driving to an area casino.

"We're really capitalizing on a market situation. We're rewarding people for coming here," she said.

Besides the tanker, during six days this month Twin River is giving away 55 gallons of gas every 30 minutes to gamblers.

Across the country, Jeanne and David White won vouchers for $30 in gas each week for a year from Casino Hollywood. The casino is on land of the San Felipe tribe halfway between Albuquerque and Santa Fe and the vouchers are only good at the tribe's gas station.

"We're very, very happy," said Jeanne White.