Fontainebleu status match is back -- with some decent perks

[Dan Druff]

As some of you know, the disasterous launch of Fontainebleu included a bizarre tier status match program, which lasted for 24 hours before abruptly disappearing.

The exact reason for its disappearance is not fully understood, but rumor has it that they became overly concerned that people would simply exploit them for free stuff and not play, so they wanted to do an "impact study" on the ones they matched the first day, before resuming the program. If that's true, it's incredibly stupid.

In any case, after struggling for the first 2 months, they decided to bring back the status matching.

First off, I want to address the issue with status matching and possible impact on offers you'd get there. As a lot of you know, the tier status and monthly offers have nothing to do with one another. No matter how high of a tier you get matched to, it will not impact the quality of offers you get. Those are only based upon play.

A second concern, especially among advantage players, involves the potential problem of signing up for a card but not being available to play much that first day, thus forever impacting your offers down the road. While it is definitely true that your first day of play on a new card is extremely impactful of offers you get at nearly every casino, you'll be glad to know that your "first day" does not start simply by getting a card. You need to "activate" the card by putting it into a machine or using it at a table, in order for the rating to start.

This is also true for using any of the benefits listed. Your free food and other benefits will not begin until the card is used at least once!



The status match is promised to be done through at least June 2, 2024. That is, you have until June 2 to get down there and do it, and then your match runs through the end of 2024. However, I am hearing from insiders that the status match will continue after June 2, and of course Fontainebleu can remove it at any time, so the June 2 date doesn't mean all that much. If you want it, I suggest getting down there and doing it sooner than later.

Here is the webpage describing their rewards program, which has 4 levels (Bleau, Silver, Gold, Royal): https://www.fontainebleaulasvegas.com/rewards/

Here is the webpage about the status matching program: https://www.fontainebleaulasvegas.co...s/tierupgrade/


All major Vegas casino players cards are being matched to Fontainebleu, as well as a few California Indian casinos. The list is below:


Fontainebleu Silver:
Caesars Diamond or Diamond Plus
MGM Pearl or Gold
Grazie (Venetian) Elite or Sapphire
Genting (Resorts World) Prime
Identity (Cosmopolitan) Gold
Unity (Mirage) Legend
Infinity (Sahara) Legend
24K Select (Golden Nugget) Chairman
Boyd Emerald
Club One (Circa / D / Golden Gate) Maverick or Legend
Serrano (Palms / Yaamava) Emerald or Amber
Mohegan (Virgin) Leap or Ascend
Stations President or Chairman
Penn Play (M) Elite
Pechanga Gold or Platinum


Fontainebleu Gold:
Caesars Diamond Elite
MGM Platinum
Identity (Cosmopolitan) Platinum
Grazie (Venetian) Paiza Gold or Ruby
Genting (Resorts World) Monarch
Unity (Mirage) Icon or X
Infinity (Sahara) Icon or Infinite
Wynn Platinum
24K (Golden Nugget) Elite
Boyd Onyx or Titanium
Serrano (Palms) Diamond
Mohegan (Virgin) Soar
Penn Play (M) Owner's Club
Pechanga Red


Fontainebleu Royal:
Caesars Seven Stars
MGM Noir
Genting (Resorts World) Imperial
Wynn Black or Chairman
Grazie (Venetian) Diamond ***may not be honored after Venetian program converts to new tiers this month
Serrano (Palms / Yaamava) Turquoise



What are the best benefits of each tier? I'll get to that in the next post...

[Dan Druff]

Here is the benefits chart for each tier.

In the next post below it, I will analyze what is the most valuable for each level.

[Dan Druff]

Here are the benefits I find to be most important at each level:

Note that self parking is always free.

Silver:
$100 food credit
10% bonus on Play Points (similar to Caesars Rewards Credits) earned
Free valet parking Sunday-Thursday
1pm Late Checkout
Free upgrade to better view room (of same category)


Gold:
$150 food credit
$150 spa credit
20% bonus on Play Points (similar to Caesars Rewards Credits) earned
$0 ATM fees (on their end)
Free valet parking all days
No resort fee
2pm Late Checkout
Free early checkin
Free upgrade to suite if available
Priority checkin line
Priority valet and priority taxi service
Priority reservations to stuff on property


Royal:
$250 food credit
$250 spa credit
30% bonus on Play Points (similar to Caesars Rewards Credits) earned
$0 ATM fees (on their end)
Free valet parking all days
No resort fee
4pm Late Checkout
Free early checkin
Free upgrade to suite if available
Priority checkin line
Free airport transportation
Priority valet and priority taxi service
Priority reservations to stuff on property

[Dan Druff]

If you wish to earn your status the old fashioned way, you would need the following number of tier credits to get to each tier:

Silver 7,500
Gold 40,000
Royal 90,000


Now, you know what's weird?

According to the rewards page, you supposedly earn "3 credits for every $1 of rated play in slots, video poker, and tables".

Say what?!

So are they really saying you can earn Royal simply by running $30k of coin-in through video poker?

I have a hard time believing that, so definitely verify with the Rewards desk before attempting this. If anyone has any further info here, please let me know.

Supposedly you earn 5 tiers for each $1 spent on property, which I suppose is a bit more believable. But verify that, too.

[Don Perignom]

According to the rewards page, you supposedly earn "3 credits for every $1 of rated play in slots, video poker, and tables".

Say what?!

So are they really saying you can earn Royal simply by running $30k of coin-in through video poker?

They actually mean theo. So $1 of rated play on a 10% slot would require $10 coin-in. On a 1% vp game, $100 c-i.

[cyberbabble]

I assume it is theoretical and not coin in for the 2% Play Points, slot free play, also.
According to VPFREE they have 99%+ machines up to $100.
If it's not theo, they will be full of people until they go broke.

[Dan Druff]

Thanks for the info, guys.

If it really is theo, which might very well be true, that's a very dumb way to put it.

This is especially true regarding video poker, where the theo rating tends to be very difficult to predict, and often has little to do with the actual theoretical loss of the machine.

Mirage has something like this going on, where it's impossible to figure out how much video poker play translates to tier points.

[Don Perignom]

Mirage has something like this going on, where it's impossible to figure out how much video poker play translates to tier points.

That's been the trend on the Vegas strip (looking at you, MGM), but Venetian is reversing course with a revised club supposedly launching today.

https://www.venetianlasvegas.com/ven...wards/faq.html

They've moved away from theo, with defined tier point earn rates of $4 for reels, and $10 vp.

[Don Perignom]

As for the F-bleau tier match, it's nice that they're giving stuff for no effort, but I don't see anything that converts to free play as you could get from the airfare reimbursements at Caesars et al.

Incidentally, a recent episode of Gambling with an Edge trashed F-bleau for crappy mail offers and/or comps. The guests were Anthony and Frank from LVA, but I think it was Richard who said some APs gave heavy initial action and received little in response.

[Dan Druff]

Mirage has something like this going on, where it's impossible to figure out how much video poker play translates to tier points.

That's been the trend on the Vegas strip (looking at you, MGM), but Venetian is reversing course with a revised club supposedly launching today.

https://www.venetianlasvegas.com/ven...wards/faq.html

They've moved away from theo, with defined tier point earn rates of $4 for reels, and $10 vp.

Yeah I noted in my list of matched tiers that Venetian Diamond is going away, and at that point likely will not match to Fontainebleu Royal.

Venetian is going with a simpler tier program where "Paiza Gold" (dumb name) is the highest tier, and relatively easy to achieve. This is the second time in recent years they've revamped their program.

As for the F-bleau tier match, it's nice that they're giving stuff for no effort, but I don't see anything that converts to free play as you could get from the airfare reimbursements at Caesars et al.

Incidentally, a recent episode of Gambling with an Edge trashed F-bleau for crappy mail offers and/or comps. The guests were Anthony and Frank from LVA, but I think it was Richard who said some APs gave heavy initial action and received little in response.

I was wondering about that. Thanks for the info.

Conventional wisdom would lead one to believe that a struggling, high-budget property would give generous offers. But apparently not -- at least not yet.

I might get a new card but stay away from activation until later, provided that there's no time limit to activate it. Maybe they'll improve the offers out of desperation, but that might take a few more months of struggling.

Looks like the casino is especially frugal, given their fear of the status match early on, combined with the shit offers for people giving heavy action.

[Don Perignom]

Looks like the casino is especially frugal, given their fear of the status match early on, combined with the shit offers for people giving heavy action.

Viewpoint on the podcast was that the fired employees tried to implement sensible ideas, but were consistently shot down by uppermost management.

[Dan Druff]

Fontainebleu and Resorts World simply don't understand the concept of "When you're #2, you try harder" -- popularized by AVIS in the 1970s.

It's a great lesson for businesses. If you are new and not going to naturally attract the level of business you need, then you need to go above and beyond compared to the competition. You can't operate with the attitude, "Well, our competitor down the street gets away with this, so we'll do it too!" Then people will stay down the street.

Amazing how billions of dollars can go into these properties, without the proper market research and business strategy analysis. Instead, it seems like these properties are run by out-of-touch dumbasses who don't understand the Vegas market, and basically pull ideas out of their asses how to run the place.

[Rob.Singer]

FB is nothing more than an interior architectural marvel with a few exciting dining options along with being a magnet for foreigners. Their overall pricing on everything is out-of-range for the typical LV local or visitor, property access gets a fail, and that parking garage is a mess. Why anybody is looking for the place to be or become an AP opportunity is a sheer mystery. Nothing--including management--lasts long at a place like that.

If you're an out-of-towner, get over there on your next visit (before it closes down). Tier-matching colorful/beloved player's cards is a joke when the casino has proven they never have had a clue--or a desire to reel in local players.

[MaxPen]

Fontainebleu and Resorts World simply don't understand the concept of "When you're #2, you try harder" -- popularized by AVIS in the 1970s.

It's a great lesson for businesses. If you are new and not going to naturally attract the level of business you need, then you need to go above and beyond compared to the competition. You can't operate with the attitude, "Well, our competitor down the street gets away with this, so we'll do it too!" Then people will stay down the street.

Amazing how billions of dollars can go into these properties, without the proper market research and business strategy analysis. Instead, it seems like these properties are run by out-of-touch dumbasses who don't understand the Vegas market, and basically pull ideas out of their asses how to run the place.

Seems you're just upset that you can't get what you want from them. What you want is not to their benefit. So hard to draw the conclusion that they are wrong in what they are doing. You're not their customer and they're letting you know that.

If they fail it won't be from them not giving you the free ride you're looking for. Why do people complain about nonsense in public?.....RIP

[SLaPiNFuNK]

well I guess I gotta go get my card.

[Dan Druff]

Fontainebleu and Resorts World simply don't understand the concept of "When you're #2, you try harder" -- popularized by AVIS in the 1970s.

It's a great lesson for businesses. If you are new and not going to naturally attract the level of business you need, then you need to go above and beyond compared to the competition. You can't operate with the attitude, "Well, our competitor down the street gets away with this, so we'll do it too!" Then people will stay down the street.

Amazing how billions of dollars can go into these properties, without the proper market research and business strategy analysis. Instead, it seems like these properties are run by out-of-touch dumbasses who don't understand the Vegas market, and basically pull ideas out of their asses how to run the place.

Seems you're just upset that you can't get what you want from them. What you want is not to their benefit. So hard to draw the conclusion that they are wrong in what they are doing. You're not their customer and they're letting you know that.

If they fail it won't be from them not giving you the free ride you're looking for. Why do people complain about nonsense in public?.....RIP

I think you misunderstand.

I do not feel the casinos owe me anything, nor do they owe APs anything in general.

If they can find a way to be successful while also thwarting APs, more power to them, provided they do it ethically.

However, Fontainebleu has been failing all over the place, and some of these were avoidable mistakes.

They cannot afford these failures, as succeeding in the north strip is no easy task.

[jdog]

Looks like the casino is especially frugal, given their fear of the status match early on, combined with the shit offers for people giving heavy action.

I would say tentative and inexperienced.

You need Gold to even get in a priority line?? It appears Caesars Diamond matched to Icon at Mirage will get it.

It's annoying that some operators refuse to disclose exactly what gets you a tier or reward credit.
"3 Credits for Every $1 of Rated Play" vs "Rated play is determined by average bet, game type, and length of play": these two statements would seem to be somewhat contradictory. I have always taken 'rated play' to mean any gambling while a card is active. Unrated is without a card. If it means theo, then wth do most recreational gamblers know about that?? Just say theoretical loss.... why even say 3cr per whatever? Seems like they're intentionally trying to be vague and don't know what they're doing.

[Dan Druff]

Looks like the casino is especially frugal, given their fear of the status match early on, combined with the shit offers for people giving heavy action.

I would say tentative and inexperienced.

You need Gold to even get in a priority line?? It appears Caesars Diamond matched to Icon at Mirage will get it.

It's annoying that some operators refuse to disclose exactly what gets you a tier or reward credit.
"3 Credits for Every $1 of Rated Play" vs "Rated play is determined by average bet, game type, and length of play": these two statements would seem to be somewhat contradictory. I have always taken 'rated play' to mean any gambling while a card is active. Unrated is without a card. If it means theo, then wth do most recreational gamblers know about that?? Just say theoretical loss.... why even say 3cr per whatever? Seems like they're intentionally trying to be vague and don't know what they're doing.

Yeah I have no idea what the fuck they mean by that. There's no way they could mean that you'll get 3 credits for every $1 wagered.

Maybe "rated play" really does mean "theoretical loss" in this case. If that's the situation, they're misuing the term "rated play".

Since theo loss is an inexact science which varies from casino to casino (and is not published to the customer), they shouldn't even pushing this metric if that's what they're using.

Just seems like a lot of incompetence over there, as you mentioned.

[jdog]

Well I got to check this place out earlier this week. Really nice but the pics don't do justice to the amount of space in there. Almost feels like somebody bought a mansion but couldn't afford to buy enough furniture to fill it lol. Not a lot of players either. Much of the place is reminiscent of Resorts World with that bright, upscale mall feel.

I matched my Caesar's Diamond to Silver and got the $100 food credit, which has to be used all at once. It was handy to feed four of us at the Tavern. The food was very good and the prime rib french dip sandwich was outstanding. We'll see how the offers are when they come in.

[Rob.Singer]

Well I got to check this place out earlier this week. Really nice but the pics don't do justice to the amount of space in there. Almost feels like somebody bought a mansion but couldn't afford to buy enough furniture to fill it lol. Not a lot of players either. Much of the place is reminiscent of Resorts World with that bright, upscale mall feel.

I matched my Caesar's Diamond to Silver and got the $100 food credit, which has to be used all at once. It was handy to feed four of us at the Tavern. The food was very good and the prime rib french dip sandwich was outstanding. We'll see how the offers are when they come in.

Your comparison to a mansion/too little furniture is a good one.

Do you really think it'll be worth it to go back there? The food at Papi was also very good, but when you pay for it you realize they care more about money than food.

If you have a Caesar's diamond card, that tells me you're not that particular about which games you play. Perfect approach for the current Fountainbleau. I know two non-AP players who went there from out-of-town and put thru at least $50k apiece just after they opened. One (from Illinois) got a mailer for 2 free nights/no resort fee; and the other (from California) got 2 nights/no resort fee/$100 resort comp. Not very enticing.