Has Total Rewards changed Tier Score/Comps for Poker Players?

As you probably know by now, Caesars Entertainment has overhauled its Total Rewards system which is how comps are awarded at its casinos. I just took a look at the new info on the Caesars website and I noticed something about how tier points are "earned" that makes me think a big change has been made that will benefit poker players.

In the section about how tier points are earned for Poker I saw this:

"Tier credits are earned based on your average buy-in and how long you play."

Well, I don't play much poker at Caesars properties but I have played a few hours of cash games at Caesars Palace as well as tournaments at Caesars and Rincon.

Until now, I didn't think there was any "tier score" attached to poker play. And until now I thought that cash game players earned only $1 (one dollar) of comps per hour of play.

If now, however, "tier credits are earned based on your average buy-in and how long you play" then it is possible that the old "dollar an hour" system has been changed. It seems to me that if your buy-ins are big enough, and if you play enough hours, you are able to earn a higher tier score for "Diamond" or "7 Stars" status and there are additional comps attached to those tiers.

If any of the regular poker players at Caesars properties have more info on this, please share it.

My fear is that this might be somewhat arbitrary. I think how tier points and comps for table players are determined in general is arbitrary. When you play a machine, the computers can keep track of every push of the button and every coin bet. But with table play, the players are depending on a floor person or dealers to correctly monitor the amount bet and the time spent at the table.

This is a particular problem with craps because the amount of money on the table or being bet can literally change from roll to roll. A player might start with $10 on the layout, then quickly bet $50 and then press bets during a hot roll to the point where hundreds or even thousands of dollars are on the layout. But if the floor person fails to record the correct amount bet or the correct time that the bets were at risk on the table then the player might not get the true comps or tier score they deserve.

I no longer seem to have a tier score. Did it just disappear? Not that it matters -- somehow when I ate at Paula Dean's kitchen and the buffet (very good, by the way) at Cherokee last time, my tier score went way up. Now it's gone.

Just when I thought I had Harrah's figured out, they throw me a curve.

Your "fear" is?

See what I mean about players playing for the points instead of for the money? You have the ability, the knowledge, and the resources to spread your play around, thereby getting better comp value and a better opportunity of winning money at a variety of high-end casinos as I have done. Why stay immersed in Harrahs, when after you attained diamond level probably in January, the massive amount off play for 7-Stars--which is not all that more beneficial than diamond except to flaunt status--you could be collecting better benefits as well as more cash from other properties?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by redietz

I no longer seem to have a tier score. Did it just disappear? Not that it matters -- somehow when I ate at Paula Dean's kitchen and the buffet (very good, by the way) at Cherokee last time, my tier score went way up. Now it's gone.

Just when I thought I had Harrah's figured out, they throw me a curve.

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Every January 1st, the tier score resets to zero under the Total Rewards system. Your "comp balance" stays live as long as you add at least one "play point" or "tier point" every six months.

The tier score you earn this year (2012) will automatically continue through the end of March 2014, but can increase if you play at a higher level in 2013.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Rob.Singer

Your "fear" is?

See what I mean about players playing for the points instead of for the money? You have the ability, the knowledge, and the resources to spread your play around, thereby getting better comp value and a better opportunity of winning money at a variety of high-end casinos as I have done. Why stay immersed in Harrahs, when after you attained diamond level probably in January, the massive amount off play for 7-Stars--which is not all that more beneficial than diamond except to flaunt status--you could be collecting better benefits as well as more cash from other properties?

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Rob, I am going to disagree with you on one point: I think if a player concentrates their play at one casino or group they can get a higher level of comps. If I were to spread my play among Caesars and MGM and Wynn and Las Vegas Sands and Station, I probably wouldn't have enough "action" at any one casino to get the comps and offers that I'm looking for.

Rob-- your bankroll is a lot higher than mine. I don't show up with $50-thousand+ to play video poker. So I have to be more selective about trying to maximize my comps.

And there are some extra benefits that I get with 7 Stars that I wouldn't get with Diamond. And those extra benefits are worth $$ and not status or ego.

With the downgrade at the local Harrah's, and general continual downgrades in play quality and comps chain-wide, is there any reason to stay? I used to play at Harrah's, despite the extra drive, primarily for point portability. But at the low recreational level that I am playing it I'm thinking of finding a convenient, comfortable place locally that's a quick drive where I can test my skills for a couple of hours without being too expensive. I do wish MGM were in this market. That would give more options for players to earn comps with a nationwide chain. However, I think we're saturated with casinos in the Southern California market.