My point of view as a Seven Star player

Today I was searching for Passport Travel and came across this forum...

I've been a Seven Stars player now for 8 years. I've come to the conclusion that every year they make things worse for us... In fact this year I'm going to play more with Hollywood Casinos and MGM...

I will only make 80,000 tier points NOT one more. When I left Paris Hotel yesterday my 2016 tier score was 27,450.. So two more trips for the year and I'm done with them for 2016..
Last year my score was 574,000 year before it was 867,000.. The higher my score the less I got... So this year just a high diamond...

With Hollywood I'm currently an Executive Producer working on becoming an Icon...
I'm a video poker and blackjack player...

I've been getting some good calls from a Host from MGM in Vegas he must be a former Caesars person who "borrowed" some of the guests who play in Vegas often...When I'm in Vegas again for the NHC and Super Bowl I'm staying at MGM for four nights...

Last year my wife and I traveled to Vegas 9 times... Every trip to a Caesars property...
Our "home" Casino was Horseshoe Cincinnati but now since they are dropping total rewards along with Horseshoe Cleveland and Thistle Downs here in Ohio we no longer have a total rewards property.. Would have to go to Horseshoe Southern Indiana or Chicago....

When we are in Texas we go to Winstar they are very generous with comps...

That's it I'm open to answering any questions... Your forum seems like a good place to hang around

Thanks for joining and for posting LoneStarHorse. Several of us here who have been 7 Stars for a long time share your views about diminishing returns. Last year I was contacted by a former Caesars host who now works for MGM and that's how I was "recruited" to return to MGM play.

Welcome and we will all appreciate your insights.

By the way, that's a lot of tier points for the first five days in January.

Alan

I sat in the High Limit Room for 8 hours on the $5 video poker machines, smoking my cigar.. Taking a time out to play Quick Hits and Top Dollar... Also when you earn 5,000 tier points you get 10,000 bonus

It has not been long since I've joined myself, but I also want to express my welcome to you LoneStarHorse! Based on those tier score figures from Total Rewards, I play less than 5% of the amount you do and from all these stories I hear about T.R. I do not blame you for looking elsewhere. At the moment for Vegas casinos, I've moved on from Platinum tier T.R. to the Boyd Gaming B Connected club.

I had questions for the Marquee Rewards, is it $3 coin in per tier point for video poker and $1 coin in for slots? If that is true, $1.2 million coin in for every 6 months is steep to get into ICON. I know you make many visits to Vegas, but have you been to The M Resort (also part of Marquee Rewards as it is operated by Penn National Gaming)? It is one of my favorites in Vegas because of its ambience and culinary options, but I went with Boyd since I heard it is easier to get RFB from them.

LoneStarHorse, welcome.

As Alan said, Total Rewards has a HUGE law of diminishing returns for Seven Stars past 150,000 tiers.

I have no idea why they do this. Presumably they think that anyone playing past 150k tiers is an addicted gambler and will play despite the reduced rewards, but as we have seen here time and time again, that's simply not true.

Most players -- even those who really enjoy gambling -- know when their business isn't being valued properly.

The amazing thing was that it ALREADY had a diminishing returns problem, and then they made it several times worse starting in 2015.

I would suggest you go up to Seven Stars (150k isn't very hard to get to with the bonuses), and then shut down. That will be your best value play, rather than stopping at Diamond Aspirations 80k.

Their excuse to can the Seven Star Experience Program couple years back (50k tier credit per experience point) was something along the lines that players and the casino hosts did not understand the program. It was the best reason to play past the 150k tier credits.

I wonder if anyone was able to get the top prize of 50 experience points which was guaranteed trip to the Super Bowl. That is something MGM MLife cannot touch (other than the Pacquiao-Mayweather fight).

When the Seven Stars Experience allowed you to get a $500 gift card for every 50,000 points, I was having a great time at Caesars. I think that year I had more than 700,000 tier points and I redeemed all those extra Experience credits as $500 gift cards which I used not only for dining but also in the gift shops for watches, handbags, clothing, luggage and my rationale was it was "gift cards" and not cash out of my pocket.

Then the rules changed to only ONE $500 gift card and that was the end of the really great Seven Stars Experience program. At the same time they were cutting offers -- no more $2500 free play or gift offers. So when the incentives to play went down, my play did go down. It was a self-fulfilling prophecy.

Dan is right that it makes no sense to play above the 150,000 tier points to earn 7 Stars. But get the 7 Stars and then do your additional play elsewhere. I'm not married to Caesars Palace anymore and I get some very nice offers across the street at Bellagio. Caesars still has some advantages but I will not give Caesars my exclusive play in 2016.

Thanks for your comments... Penn Gaming Video Poker is $3/$1 not sure what "regular" slots are. Never play them with Penn...
For four months a year I live 15 mins from a Penn Gaming Casino so I go there daily for 2-4 hours... I have been to the M Resort it's nice, but since I'm also a sports bettor I dislike Cantor Gaming who runs their book. Thus I won't go back

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Originally Posted by alpax

It has not been long since I've joined myself, but I also want to express my welcome to you LoneStarHorse! Based on those tier score figures from Total Rewards, I play less than 5% of the amount you do and from all these stories I hear about T.R. I do not blame you for looking elsewhere. At the moment for Vegas casinos, I've moved on from Platinum tier T.R. to the Boyd Gaming B Connected club.

I had questions for the Marquee Rewards, is it $3 coin in per tier point for video poker and $1 coin in for slots? If that is true, $1.2 million coin in for every 6 months is steep to get into ICON. I know you make many visits to Vegas, but have you been to The M Resort (also part of Marquee Rewards as it is operated by Penn National Gaming)? It is one of my favorites in Vegas because of its ambience and culinary options, but I went with Boyd since I heard it is easier to get RFB from them.

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Dan Druff

I thank you for your comments as well.. Reason why I won't become a Seven Stars this year is basically telling them F YOU... I'm fed up with their lack of respect to their loyal players... I was going to get to 149,900 and stop but then they might just give me the 100 points.. By stopping at 80,000 will prove my point... I will still play there just not with my card...

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Originally Posted by Dan Druff

LoneStarHorse, welcome.

As Alan said, Total Rewards has a HUGE law of diminishing returns for Seven Stars past 150,000 tiers.

I have no idea why they do this. Presumably they think that anyone playing past 150k tiers is an addicted gambler and will play despite the reduced rewards, but as we have seen here time and time again, that's simply not true.

Most players -- even those who really enjoy gambling -- know when their business isn't being valued properly.

The amazing thing was that it ALREADY had a diminishing returns problem, and then they made it several times worse starting in 2015.

I would suggest you go up to Seven Stars (150k isn't very hard to get to with the bonuses), and then shut down. That will be your best value play, rather than stopping at Diamond Aspirations 80k.

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Alan

I'm out again for Super Bowl Weekend, won't gamble one penny with Caesars, yet I'm staying at Paris.....Will play only at MGM and Tropicana...

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Originally Posted by Alan Mendelson

When the Seven Stars Experience allowed you to get a $500 gift card for every 50,000 points, I was having a great time at Caesars. I think that year I had more than 700,000 tier points and I redeemed all those extra Experience credits as $500 gift cards which I used not only for dining but also in the gift shops for watches, handbags, clothing, luggage and my rationale was it was "gift cards" and not cash out of my pocket.

Then the rules changed to only ONE $500 gift card and that was the end of the really great Seven Stars Experience program. At the same time they were cutting offers -- no more $2500 free play or gift offers. So when the incentives to play went down, my play did go down. It was a self-fulfilling prophecy.

Dan is right that it makes no sense to play above the 150,000 tier points to earn 7 Stars. But get the 7 Stars and then do your additional play elsewhere. I'm not married to Caesars Palace anymore and I get some very nice offers across the street at Bellagio. Caesars still has some advantages but I will not give Caesars my exclusive play in 2016.

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Originally Posted by LoneStarHorse

Dan Druff

I thank you for your comments as well.. Reason why I won't become a Seven Stars this year is basically telling them F YOU... I'm fed up with their lack of respect to their loyal players... I was going to get to 149,900 and stop but then they might just give me the 100 points.. By stopping at 80,000 will prove my point... I will still play there just not with my card...

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This makes no sense at all. It reminds me of the phrase: cut off my nose to spite my face.

If you really wanted to go on a "player's strike" then don't play there at all.

Frankly, they'd love it if you played there till 149,900 points or if you played on someone else's card.

Hi LoneStarHorse:

Glad you joined us. You started off the thread by saying you were searching for Passport Travel. I recently booked my Level 2 Diamond $750 flight (good until June 2016) and was forwarded an email chain from Passport Travel (Ceasars' In-house Travel Bureau) which included the following details:


" *Please advise how overage will be paid: guest credit card, Reward Credits (two to one, to be processed at the property level) or property will pay the difference.
* Fares are not guaranteed and are subject to change until purchased. Airlines allow a 24 hour courtesy hold on the seat. This however, does not guarantee the fare. Southwest Airlines does not allow us to hold seats, therefore the prices on Southwest can fluctuate unless ticketed at the time of the original request."

Reading between the lines, it looks like you can pay an overage (more than the budgeted amount) by Reward Credits (2 to 1) or by credit card. Also , Southwest won't allow seats to be held for 24 hours so prices for WN will fluctuate.

In my case because of a delay, my booking price went up since the time when I forwarded the specific itinerary request to my host, who then handed it off to Passport Travel. I was asked to provide a credit card to cover the extra price. I pushed back since the delay was not my fault. CET wound up covering the overage.

FAB

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Originally Posted by LoneStarHorse

Alan

I'm out again for Super Bowl Weekend, won't gamble one penny with Caesars, yet I'm staying at Paris.....Will play only at MGM and Tropicana...

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I will avoid staying anywhere in Vegas Super Bowl Weekend. Table minimums are always jacked up and the crowds will be too much. We'll have to meet up another time.

Alan

My issue is my wife, she loves staying at Paris.. We have a great host so I'll just give them a little effort but not Super Bowl weekend... That's why I played extra hard Fri-Mon to show them what I can do when need be...
You'll understand this I like the Diamond Check In girls, like the servers in Cafe, love Susan who runs racebook.. So I feel obligated to take care of them when in town... I'm loyal to them but NOT Caesars...

Only other card I play is my daughters, make her a diamond every year...

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Originally Posted by Alan Mendelson

This makes no sense at all. It reminds me of the phrase: cut off my nose to spite my face.

If you really wanted to go on a "player's strike" then don't play there at all.

Frankly, they'd love it if you played there till 149,900 points or if you played on someone else's card.

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by FABismonte

Reading between the lines, it looks like you can pay an overage (more than the budgeted amount) by Reward Credits (2 to 1) or by credit card. Also , Southwest won't allow seats to be held for 24 hours so prices for WN will fluctuate.

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Yes this is correct. I have done this on two of my trips - once when I had more than 2 people in my traveling party, and once where my preferred itinerary was more than the allowance. Passport Travel booked all of the tickets, my Seven Stars/Diamond flight credits took care of the two tickets, and I gave Passport Travel my credit card via my host for the other tickets/overage. I didn't want to use RCs at a 2:1.

My host has always covered any overage for my flights for DA2 and 7 stars. It's never been a big amount. The most I've ever been over was $175.

Here is my post from another site regarding the Seven Stars Annual Trip. Much of this also applies to the $750 Diamond Aspirations trip:

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* Updated December 28, 2015

As a benefit of being a Seven Stars member, you get an "annual trip" to any North American Caesar's-owned property, plus airfare and a $500 food credit.

However, it is not easy or convenient to book this. Here are some tips on getting it done fastest:


Hotel Portion

You will probably run into a lot of frustration trying to book this, as hosts love to pass the buck to one another. Call your host, and unless you've been giving them a ton of action lately, they will probably tell you to just call the property you want to visit. Then you'll call your property you want to visit, and they will tell you that you should call your host! This is what computer scientists like me call "an endless loop"!

In reality, it is best to secure the hotel directly with the property you're visiting. Your "home casino" host can also do it, but the process will be slower, they may balk at doing this in the first place, and you will typically get inferior rooms/treatment because your host does not know the other property well.

If you call the casino you're visiting, they will be more excited to have you there, as you are a Seven Stars member (i.e. a big gambler) and they want you there.

Call the casino you're going to visit, ask for the host on duty, and explain that you want to book your Seven Stars trip. Do not let them pass the buck back to your home host. Tell them that you were told it's the destination property's responsibility to arrange this (which it is). Make sure you get an "Executive Casino Host", and not just some scrub.

You will get 4 nights free, plus $500 to spend on food and drinks in their restaurants ONLY. You cannot use the $500 for the spa or anything else. At a few properties like Harrah's New Orleans, you get the $500 in RCs, which is obviously much better. If you get it in RCs, you don't have to spend any of it while on the trip. It's yours to keep. However, most properties will just give you a $500 food-and-beverage credit on your folio. Make sure they have down that they should add the $500 when arranging this on the phone. Get the host's name who is arranging it for you.

Also, try to ask for a suite. They will usually give this to Seven Stars members on their annual trips, unless you're visiting during a holiday or event where they are otherwise booked up.

There are no blackout dates for the Annual Trip. Do not let them deny you the trip just because you want to go over New Year's, or whatever.

Secure the room FIRST, before moving on to the flight stuff.



Booking Your Flight

Caesar's will cover your airfare, up to $600 per person, for two people. You do not get any kind of "change" from the $600, so if you book a cheap flight (like $200), you are just saving Caesar's money. You are only entitled 2 airline tickets on the casino's dime, up to $600 each. If they run over $600, you pay the difference, though often they will forgive small overages (such as under $20). You can book first class, business class, economy plus, etc, so always price these out to see if they will come close to fitting within the $600 budget!

This process is a pain in the ass. DO NOT COUNT ON YOUR HOST TO DO EVERYTHING FOR YOU, as they will not likely do an efficient job with it, and you will get a terrible flight with all kinds of stops (or at a lousy time of day).

1) Research your itinerary on the internet first. Go to kayak.com first, then to southwest.com because they aren't included in kayak's results. You are looking to keep each ticket under $600 (or $1200 for one person). Try to find flights that are nonstop and most convenient for you without breaking over the $600 per person limit. Keep in mind that you can still book flights that cost more than $600, if you agree to pay the difference. If you barely go over, your host might choose to pay for the whole thing rather than force you to cover a difference under $50.

2) Once you have found the flights you want, call Passport at 1-800-984-8004. Select "Total Rewards travel" on their menu. They are open Monday-Friday, 9:00am to 6:00pm Pacific time. Have them quickly verify that your flights can be booked through their system. They will almost always say yes. You will need your host to actually book it, though.

3) E-mail your host your itinerary. The host needs to get involved at this point. Make sure to include the dates/times, flight numbers, airlines, and full passenger information, including first/middle/last names, dates of birth, and frequent flier #s. You should also state seating preferences, such as window/aisle/etc, as well as the fact that you don't want a non-reclining seat. Then call your host and ask him/her to e-mail it to Passport. If you don't want to call your host, you can also just wait for him/her to respond to their e-mail, if time isn't of the essence. However, don't wait too long, as airline prices can change (and move you past the $600 mark!)

4) After your host agrees to e-mail passport, wait 24 hours. If you do not hear back from your host (with a forwarded e-mail from Passport, asking you to verify what they are going to book), call your host and ask if he/she has heard from Passport yet.

5) Once you get the e-mail from Passport, go over it carefully and make sure everything is right. Make sure that you are assigned seats, and check where they are on the plane. If you don't like those seats, they can change them. If everything is fine, e-mail your host back and say that it's all fine.

6) Within another 24 hours, you should get a confirmation that it's all booked. Call your host if you don't.

Other useful flight-related info:

Other useful info:

- You can take your round trip through different airports. For example, if you want to fly to Atlantic City, but want to take your own little trip after that to Boston, you can do that without returning to Atlantic City for the flight home. Just find a flight that goes from your home airport to Atlantic City, and a return flight that goes from Boston back to your home. Provided the whole thing stays under $600, and the first flight is a "reasonable distance" from the casino destination (see below), Passport Travel will not object, and will approve this itinerary. They also don't care what dates you fly (as long as your hotel stay falls somewhere in between).

- You are allowed to fly into any airport "within reasonable distance" from your destination Caesars hotel. For the most part, it means under 300 miles, though they might balk if you choose to fly into an airport which seems nonsensical for the trip (for example, if you fly into Jackson, MS when traveling to Harrah's New Orleans, despite a major New Orleans airport being right there.) Examples of reasonable distances would be flying into San Francisco when traveling to Lake Tahoe, Nashville when traveling to Harrah's Cherokee, NYC when traveling to Atlantic City, etc. That is, you don't have to utilize the closest airport. It does not matter which airport you use for the return flight. You could drive 1000 miles or more from the casino and fly back home from there, and Passport will not object!

- If you want to take additional people, you have to pay. However, Passport will book the whole thing and make sure you get seats together (at your request).

- The 30-day advance notice that they warn you about is BS. You can plan your annual trip much closer than 30 days. However, you should do it at least a few weeks in advance in order to keep the airfares under $600.



Other Important General Info

You already earned this trip. You are not required to play. Just relax and make a non-gambling vacation out of it, if you want. Since you will not be at your "home" property, this won't even affect your regular host.

Some properties apply the $500 food and beverage to AFTER TAX, and some remove the tax entirely. Find out which one for sure, so you can best use your $500.

Once your hotel reservation is done, your $500 disappears, too. Make sure you use it, even if you just visit the snack shop at the end and load up on chips, fruit, etc.

Some restaurants associated with the hotel will allow you to use your $500, but do so at 2:1 (meaning you need to spend $2 to get $1 in value). This sucks, and should be avoided, unless you really have no use for the full $500. Just stick to the restaurants in the hotel that give 1:1.

You will get a limo to and from the airport. This is free. They will NOT pay for any portion of a rental car, though. You need to call the property you're visiting to arrange the limo.

You ARE allowed to combine your Seven Stars Annual Cruise with this trip. If you go to a destination where Norwegian Cruises are nearby, consider "tacking on" the cruise to the end of your Seven Stars Annual Trip, and arrange your flight dates accordingly.

Looking for a place to go? Not all Caesar's destinations are created equal! Check out this page: http://www.sevenstarsinsider.com/ ... Go down the left bar and click on the hotels that interest you, and you will get a great description of each property, aimed at Seven Stars members who are considering taking a trip there. Personally, I would recommend destinations with something to do, or ones that are close to other places you want to visit anyway. For example, last year I took my trip to Atlantic City, and then moved on to do a New York/New England trip, flying back from Boston. Don't waste this trip on some garbage like Kansas City (unless you have family there).

You must travel to a different "market" than what is considered your home (or "dominant") property. That is, if your dominant property is Las Vegas, you cannot take this "trip" to Las Vegas, even if you live hundreds of miles away from Vegas.

If don't want to travel to other casinos, don't waste this trip! You can use this for a free flight, even if you don't use the hotel part at all. Let's say you want to visit your mother in New York. Book your annual trip to Atlantic City, go through the above steps to book the flight, except make the filght in and out of JFK (this is allowed). Then after the flight is booked, call Atlantic City a few days before the trip and tell them you can't make it, and to give up your room to someone else. You can still take the flight, as that will already be booked and paid for! (Technically this isn't allowed, but people do it all the time, and Caesars never enforces it.)

New for 2016: You can "trade in" this entire trip for $500 in RCs.

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Originally Posted by Alan Mendelson

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Originally Posted by LoneStarHorse

Dan Druff

I thank you for your comments as well.. Reason why I won't become a Seven Stars this year is basically telling them F YOU... I'm fed up with their lack of respect to their loyal players... I was going to get to 149,900 and stop but then they might just give me the 100 points.. By stopping at 80,000 will prove my point... I will still play there just not with my card...

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This makes no sense at all. It reminds me of the phrase: cut off my nose to spite my face.

If you really wanted to go on a "player's strike" then don't play there at all.

Frankly, they'd love it if you played there till 149,900 points or if you played on someone else's card.

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I have to agree with Alan here, with a slight modification.

Indeed, making 149,900 points is doing Caesars a FAVOR, as you are giving them Seven Stars level play and earning none of the benefits.

Rather than not play there at all (which I suppose is also an option), you can maximally "stick" it to Caesars by doing the following:

Earn exactly 150,000 tier credits, and never play more than exactly 2,500 tiers or 5,000 tiers in a day (thus earning the maximum bonus for the minimum play). Stop playing at 150,000.

Keep redeeming offers and staying in the hotel. The offers will eventually run out, but the hotel benefit will last the entire time you are Seven Stars.

But it sounds like you are looking more to prove your dissatisfaction than actually stop giving business to them.

If that's the case, get a hold of someone at corporate and make your feelings known. Find out who you can talk to through your host (and make sure you actually reach someone in a position of power -- don't just send the message through your host or send an e-mail).

You have been posting things like, "I just want to prove my point" or "I am playing this weekend to show them what I can do".

The problem is that you're not showing "them", as there is no human actively looking at your play. It's a computer, and it doesn't report back on you individually. Your host will look at your play, but not at your tier credits or when you start/stop play. The host will just look at your ADT (average daily theoretical -- or better known as what they expect you to lose each day based upon your average play.)

So if you really want to send a message to Caesars that their benefits past 150k tiers are terrible (which they are), get a hold of a human being high up on the totem pole and make sure they understand that they are losing you as a frequent customer because of it.

Right now, the suits believe that people like you don't care much about Seven Stars benefits, and are so addicted to gambling that you will play regardless. Let them know that's not true.

hi Dan.. just wanted to note this one correction
A $500 folio credit is included and may be applied to food, beverages and on-property shows for the entire trip, at the member’s option.
http://www.totalrewards.com/sevenstars/rules-2016

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Originally Posted by Dan Druff

Here is my post from another site regarding the Seven Stars Annual Trip. Much of this also applies to the $750 Diamond Aspirations trip:

---------------------------

* Updated December 28, 2015


You will get 4 nights free, plus $500 to spend on food and drinks in their restaurants ONLY. You cannot use the $500 for the spa or anything else.

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Dan

Quite a few very valid points, one problem I have is now in Ohio where I live part time we have NO more Caesars Entertainment Casinos. Rock Gaming is doing their own loyalty program.. They will grant us their top level card and benefits... But now I must either go to Horseshoe Southern Indiana or Chicago... Or the charters from Columbus,Cleveland,Dayton,etc....
It's getting to the point where I can care less about Caesars anymore, they hired a new CEO that couldn't keep the books correct at Hertz so they hire him to run Casinos...
They have no 3-5 year plan... They count on us "loyal jerkoffs" to keep gong week in and week out....
Last year I went to Ameristar St Charles, Pinnacle they opened their arms for us and that opened my eyes... Great rooms,food,nice club free drinks, good rebates.. We ended up going there four times in 2015.
Ever since then I've realized there is a whole new world out there for me and my wife..

I've talked to Tom Jenkins, Eileen Moore and they just give you the things will be getting so much better bullshit story...

I'll be in Vegas for Super Bowl and then to New Orleans for Mardi Gras... Both trips Caesars paying the air... After those trips then I'll see where I'll go next...

It won't be any Caesars property that's for sure, I want three months free of them.. Then I'll see what I've liked better

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Originally Posted by Dan Druff

I have to agree with Alan here, with a slight modification.

Indeed, making 149,900 points is doing Caesars a FAVOR, as you are giving them Seven Stars level play and earning none of the benefits.

Rather than not play there at all (which I suppose is also an option), you can maximally "stick" it to Caesars by doing the following:

Earn exactly 150,000 tier credits, and never play more than exactly 2,500 tiers or 5,000 tiers in a day (thus earning the maximum bonus for the minimum play). Stop playing at 150,000.

Keep redeeming offers and staying in the hotel. The offers will eventually run out, but the hotel benefit will last the entire time you are Seven Stars.

But it sounds like you are looking more to prove your dissatisfaction than actually stop giving business to them.

If that's the case, get a hold of someone at corporate and make your feelings known. Find out who you can talk to through your host (and make sure you actually reach someone in a position of power -- don't just send the message through your host or send an e-mail).

You have been posting things like, "I just want to prove my point" or "I am playing this weekend to show them what I can do".

The problem is that you're not showing "them", as there is no human actively looking at your play. It's a computer, and it doesn't report back on you individually. Your host will look at your play, but not at your tier credits or when you start/stop play. The host will just look at your ADT (average daily theoretical -- or better known as what they expect you to lose each day based upon your average play.)

So if you really want to send a message to Caesars that their benefits past 150k tiers are terrible (which they are), get a hold of a human being high up on the totem pole and make sure they understand that they are losing you as a frequent customer because of it.

Right now, the suits believe that people like you don't care much about Seven Stars benefits, and are so addicted to gambling that you will play regardless. Let them know that's not true.

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I agree -- CET has no three-to-five year plan. LoneStar, I am not a big vp or CET player. I'm 99% a sports player, and we no longer get comped for much of anything (a 5K bet at Harrah's didn't get me a sandwich; neither did a 10K boxing bet at the Venetian), but I still keep tabs on the various programs. Dan is like the Yoda of CET. While I understand your point about stopping at a certain point level to make a point, it kills me that you won't get max value from them. Take the max value, baby.

A friend of mine plays everywhere, but he likes Paris as his home base, so I understand your wife's preferences.

Anyway, welcome and get your max value.

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Originally Posted by LoneStarHorse

Dan

Quite a few very valid points, one problem I have is now in Ohio where I live part time we have NO more Caesars Entertainment Casinos. Rock Gaming is doing their own loyalty program.. They will grant us their top level card and benefits... But now I must either go to Horseshoe Southern Indiana or Chicago... Or the charters from Columbus,Cleveland,Dayton,etc....

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Some of my travels take me to the Cleveland area, where I've played at the 2 CET facilities that are part of Rock Gaming as well as the Hard Rock. From what I've heard from a few people when I've been in the area since this announcement, they're going to be continuing with CET for several months into 2016 before they move to the new program. I'd assumed it was April 1 since that is when the current CET cards expire, but I'm hearing mid summer? So depending on your schedule of Ohio vs Texas, you may have the ability, should you need it, to earn some of your tier credits for 2016 at Cincinnati, assuming all the Rock Gaming facilities are moving at once from CET to the new program.

For what it's worth, all of this was from other players who have CLE based hosts who I talked to while playing at the Hard Rock, where, and again this is scuttlebutt, a lot of the HL slot players from HS CLE have moved due to this decision.

LoneStarHorse - You do have one other Caesars property that's about the same distance from Horseshoe Cincinnati as Horseshoe Cleveland.....Caesars Windsor. I live close to Horseshoe Southern Indiana, but my "home" property is Caesars Windsor. They have BY FAR more and better giveaways, free play, frequent shows and RC multipliers) than ANY of the other CET properties in IN or OH. They have a multiplier generally at least once a week. This month, all seven stars receive 15x RC multiplier every Tuesday, which is capped at 75,000 bonus RCs each day. I also enjoy playing there due to the high exchange rate. Two weeks ago, it was 1.41. Also, Canada does not tax winnings.

RRlover thanks for joining and posting. I'm guessing those RCs can be used in Vegas?

And you still have US taxes to pay.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Alan Mendelson

RRlover thanks for joining and posting. I'm guessing those RCs can be used in Vegas?

And you still have US taxes to pay.

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Hi Alan:

A couple of years ago I went to Ceasar's Windsor and enjoyed the place. One thing that struck me was that both the gambling and the drinking age was 19. If I were a college student under 21, that where I would go.

When I was there, there was a promotion (Sunday) of 10X earned RCs if one were Diamond and 15X if Seven Stars. I wound up stocking up on RCs and I can confirm that they are just as valuable (or non-valuable) as RC earned in Vegas.

I also hit four As on a CAD$2 video poker machine. I am attaching the photo, making CAD$1,600 but not requiring any handpay or any tax documentation. In fact, it just totaled up on the machine and I could just keep playing.

You ask if there are any US taxes to pay. Well, since there is no tax documentation and no one ever asked for my US Social Security Number, there is only the usual requirement that a US citizen declare his or her own worldwide income. :cool:

However, I did not make net money gambling that year so I did not think I needed to do so.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Alan Mendelson

RRlover thanks for joining and posting. I'm guessing those RCs can be used in Vegas?

And you still have US taxes to pay.

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Hello Alan.

Everything FABImonte posted is correct. Border agents ask how much cash you have on you whether coming or going. However, they really only want to know if you have more than $10,000. Since this property is just directly across the river from downtown Detroit, you also have access to three other casinos in Detroit, including an MGM. I go there primarily to play Rapid Roulette. According to the Caesar's table game finder, they are the only property left with the old version of Rapid Roulette that still rates your play as a table game. The attached picture is the view from any of the rooms or suites on the river side.

Not everything FAB posted is correct. When it comes to reporting your wins if you have a net win on the day you have to report it on your 1040... then you offset those wins on your Schedule A. What happened for the full year does not affect this reporting requirement.

I'm not saying that someone at the IRS is going to break a sweat over it -- but that's what you are supposed to do.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Alan Mendelson

Not everything FAB posted is correct. When it comes to reporting your wins if you have a net win on the day you have to report it on your 1040... then you offset those wins on your Schedule A. What happened for the full year does not affect this reporting requirement.

I'm not saying that someone at the IRS is going to break a sweat over it -- but that's what you are supposed to do.

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Hi Alan:

You should consult your own tax professional. But I fear if one listed every day's winnings as income (even if there is no W2-G generated), then even if you offset later, you will be slain by the Alternative Minimum Tax. Also if you live in states like Illinois, where I grew up, you will find you cannot offset on you State tax return. That's bad when you have W2-Gs, but suicidal when you voluntarily list each day's winnings as income (which Illinois does not let you offset).


FAB

Quote:

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Originally Posted by FABismonte

Hi Alan:

You should consult your own tax professional. But I fear if one listed every day's winnings as income (even if there is no W2-G generated), then even if you offset later, you will be slain by the Alternative Minimum Tax. Also if you live in states like Illinois, where I grew up, you will find you cannot offset on you State tax return. That's bad when you have W2-Gs, but suicidal when you voluntarily list each day's winnings as income (which Illinois does not let you offset).


FAB

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Unfortunately that's the way it is. Yes, you run the AMT risk and it also raises your adjusted gross income which will mean that your Schedule A deductions will not be worth as much.

We went over this in the discussion about Arc's tax returns.

The IRS and how it treats gambling winnings sucks.