Attention Caesars Total Rewards Members: Don't waste your RCs
When you are assigned a casino host, it is natural to want him to do something for you.
After losing a lot in the blackjack pits, it's tempting to walk up to your host and ask for something -- a nice meal, front row show tickets, or perhaps a day at the spa.
Back in the 20th century, that's the way it worked, and you were smart to approach your host for these things after either losing a lot or playing a long session.
This is no longer true in 2013, especially at Caesars properties.
Nowadays, everything is done by computer.
As you probably know, you earn "Reward Credits", or RCs, whenever you gamble at Caesars properties.
You can then spend these RCs on virtually anything at Caesars properties. You can even exchange them for free play (though you will pay a premium -- you won't get a 1-to-1 exchange rate if you do this, so I don't suggest it).
If you approach your host and ask for something "free", such as a meal, spa session, or show, you will get the following answer:
"Well, I see you have some rewards credits. So I'll need to use those first, and then when you get to zero, just come to me, and I'll keep taking care of you by comping things without rewards credits!"
At first glance, this sounds like a great deal. Not only do you get to spend your rewards credits, but you continue getting comps even when you're out of them. What could possibly be the reason NOT to do this?
Simply put, it leaves you at your host's mercy.
Hosts are the ultimate in "what-have-you-done-for-me-lately" syndrome. They don't care how much you lost two months ago. They don't even care how much you lost last week. They only care what you mean to them in the present and future. The past is only relevant if it predicts your future play.
So let's say you lose $20,000 during a trip from April 1-5, after a lot of heavy, medium-high limit play.
Your host will be generous comping you that trip, and might even comp you for your next trip, anticipating you will do the same.
But say that, on your next trip on April 18-22, you decide to just relax by the pool.
Your host will actually be angry that he gave you comps and you didn't "earn" him anything. He will not care that you earned him plenty just two weeks earlier. He will only be thinking that he wasted his comp power on you this time around, and you didn't produce.
If you try to ask him for comps on the next trip, you will typically get turned down, and will be told that your play will be evaluated and you will be comped after-the-fact.
This is a mess, and you want to avoid it.
So unless you do a very constant level of gambling on EACH trip, I would suggest saving your RCs and using them only when needed. Hosts want you to blow them all right away, so you are dependent upon them to comp you.
What do I mean by "saving" your RCs?
I mean only spending them on things you really want.
So let's say you've built up $800 in RCs.
Your host might encourage you to go to an extravagant meal and blow the entire $800 in one shot, spending them freely and ordering expensive wine.
The smarter play is to spend the RCs as if they're real money. Get what you want, but don't be wasteful. Remember, they will still be there next time, provided you earn at least 1 RC in a period of 6 months. If you don't go to Vegas every 6 months, make sure to get a Total Rewards credit card where you earn RCs from expenditures.
You should also avoid using RCs to get rooms. You should be able to get at least one room comped if you play a decent amount (even if you haven't played all that much lately), so don't blow your RCs on rooms unnecessarily. If you have to, stay in a lower-tier Caesars property. For example, you might be able to get comped at Paris while Caesars will want $150 RCs per night. Taking Paris in this spot is the smarter play.
The best thing about hoarding your RCs is that you don't need to impress hosts to get comps when you want/need them. You just use them when you feel like. Want to take a trip where you don't gamble? No problem. Your RCs won't get mad at you, and they won't force you to gamble before using them.
