How to Select a Casino Loyalty Program
By Sherril Steele-Carlin
Do you love to place a bet or two in your favorite casino? How would you like to be rewarded whenever you pop a quarter into a slot machine, or double down on the blackjack table?
If you join a loyalty program at just about any casino, you could cash in on more than just jackpots, and reap rewards that used to be only available to the biggest bettors. Casino loyalty programs are the biggest sensation sweeping casinos across the country, and loyal casino patrons just like you are the people who can really benefit from these great opportunities.
What is a Loyalty Program?
Casino loyalty programs reward patrons who enjoy gambling. After a patron joins a program, the casino tallies how much time they spend gambling, how much money they spend, and then rewards the player with various free gifts, cash, or complimentary hotel stays or restaurant meals. (These are called "comps" in the casino industry.) The more you play your favorite casino game, the more rewards you'll pile up. Many casinos reward players at different levels according to their play.
What to Look for in a Loyalty Program
Loyalty programs are not all the same, and it pays to look for a program that has the most to offer. Usually, finding the best program is simple, just look for a plan that offers the most amenities, like a four-diamond hotel, a salon and/or spa, fashion boutique, exclusive VIP lounge, valuable promotions, events, concerts, and complimentary food and rooms and the like. In addition, a program should be easy to use, and easy to understand. It's also great to look for programs where earning the rewards is easy. For example, if your membership card does not fit in all the card readers, or not all machines have card readers, it will be more difficult for you to play your favorite machines and earn more points.
Reaping the Rewards
So, what does joining a loyalty program really get you, besides another credit-sized card in your wallet? Many loyalty programs offer much more than just discounts and comps. In many programs, members can also get VIP seating in shows and restaurants, advance notice to play in tournaments, entrance to exclusive clubs, restaurants and lounges only for members, and VIP valet parking. Most programs offer members a percentage of their play, too. So, if you play $200 in slot machines or table games, you'll get a percentage of that back to play again, and this is what keeps many program members returning to their favorite casinos again and again.
Reaping the Rewards – Part II
The best reward programs have easy to understand formulas that explain how comps are earned. The worst will tell you, "it depends on your play." That means the customer has to go to the slot club and grovel for a comp rather than rely on an electronic system that tells them what they have earned. Knowing what to look for before you join a program can help you find the best program for your particular gaming style, and the program that will pay you the most in return.
Getting the Biggest Bang for your Buck
Experts recommend looking at the reward structure of the plan you choose, and asking yourself these questions:
- What do you get in return?
- Are the things you get what you really want?
- Are the rewards obtainable, given your level of play?
- Do you actually want what you can get at your level?
- How are points earned?
- Are points earned the same at every machine, or do different machines pay out different levels?
These questions can help you evaluate the casino's plan, and find the loyalty plan that's just right for you. Loyalty programs exist to improve your gaming experience, and to provide added value to your play. If you're going to gamble, don't gamble without joining a program, or you won't get anything back for your wagers, and remember, gamble with your head, not above your head.
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