I Know Why Casino Loyalty Programs Hate Me

by joeheg

I recently wrote about how an email from MGM Rewards offering comp rooms got me to book a trip to Las Vegas. This offer made me look at other casino loyalty programs and how signing up for them could provide additional benefits.

Last week we were in New Orleans for the Freddie Awards and decided to stay for the weekend, which was a great idea because my local friend informed me this was the French Quarter Festival weekend.

One night I had a few hours with nothing to do so I headed to Harrah’s New Orleans (soon to become the Caesars New Orleans). Regardless of how I did at the casino, I figured I could sign up for Caesars Rewards, which had just won two Freddie Awards.

I stood in line to enroll and handed my Florida drivers licence to the casino agent. She typed for a bit and asked if I still lived at my New Jersey address. I laughed and said that’s from when I lived with my parents. She then asked if I still had my old landline phone number.

I provided my new info, which she updated. She then told me that I enrolled in Atlantic City soon after I was legal to gamble in NJ and then in Reno, NV, followed by Las Vegas. With a smile, she asked what took me so long to get to New Orleans?

I just smiled and said that things in my life had changed. She processed my card, to which I said I probably still had my old Harrah’s card from NJ in the drawer. She said it should still work and that the old cards work better than the new ones.

Wouldn’t you know, I still have that Harrah’s card in the drawer and the member number is the same as the number on my new Caesars Rewards number. By previously having an account, I lost out on the match play offered to new program members. 🙁

a close up of a card

Since Caesars knows I only visit once every decade, I’m not counting on them to offer me any huge comps. However, that same information didn’t keep MGM Rewards from offering me a free room in Las Vegas.

Hey Caesars, it’s your turn to offer me a free room as a valued customer. I did play Video Poker and Slots for two hours in New Orleans and at least that’s something. Let’s forget that I managed to break even for my play and decided it was time to leave.

No wonder I’m not the biggest target for casino loyalty programs.

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1 comment

Christian April 26, 2022 - 1:03 am

Even for people who bet a fair bit of money, comps simply aren’t what they used to be. I used to be able to get a free room, unlimited drinks, and some meals for me and my wife by playing several hours of blackjack at $50 – $100 a hand. Nowadays I can’t get anywhere near those comps while betting that or more. Without the value proposition of getting those freebies there’s no consolation prize for losing a fair chunk of change anymore. That makes gambling a whole lot less appealing.

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