Total Rewards to change tier levels in 2013?

[calwatch]

Call it inflation. Alan, you would continue to make 7 Stars at your play level, but many others may reconsider going for Diamond or 7 Stars. After all even at Gold level I get more mid-tier rooms than I could ever need. As most savvy Total Rewarders know, it's based on average daily theoretical, not necessarily based on status, although line cutting privileges are always nice. I am near the current Platinum threshold for the year so will try to make that through normal play.

http://www.vegastripping.com/news/bl...-levels-jan-1/

Tier level requirements are jumping between 20 and 36% depending on tier, with Diamond making the largest proportional jump. It has been about four years since Total Rewards last adjusted their tier requirements. With non-gaming spend slowly being added to Total Rewards portfolio and instant (albeit puny) dining discounts for any card holder, this adjustment has probably been overdue.

Here's the break out:

Level Current New Change %
Gold 0 0 -- 0%
Platinum 4,000 5,000 +1,000 25%
Diamond 11,000 15,000 +4,000 36%
Seven Stars 100,000 120,000 +20,000 20%


These new level requirements probably mean that the 3,000 point Diamond in a Day probably expands as well. We can surmise that margin change is directly proportional to the change in Diamond status - roughly 36%, rounded to 1000 tier credits.



Of course Caesars has not formally released this information, but it's good to get a heads up. I'll ask when I'm around Vegas in December how much DIAD would be, which would be an indicator of what the new levels are.

[Alan Mendelson]

Thanks for posting. I haven't heard anything about that. But to be honest, I don't think that is much of a change at all, especially for 7 Stars players. I thought you were going to tell me they pumped up 7 Stars to 200,000. But only a 20% increase? That's not going to make a dent in the 7 Stars population.

I would like to find out how many people "squeak" into the Diamond tier? I have spoken to several hosts at Caesars who openly complain about "low level Diamonds" demanding big comps and offers that are well above their "reward balances."

Personally, I don't like the whole "caste system" that Caesars has. I don't think anyone should have a "line preference" at restaurants. Either you made a reservation or you didn't. And if you didn't, wait your turn. And at the cage, I think it's ridiculous for the 7 Stars line to have one person waiting while there are 20 waiting in the "other" lines. And it makes me angry to see a cashier chatting it up with a 7 Stars player while others are waiting. I always let the ladies and older folks go ahead of me -- it's just common courtesy even if the "caste system" doesn't see it that way.

[jatki]

I've never played enough in Total Rewards for any highup level, but this change doesn't come as much of a surprise. Caesars has financial issues and all this is is making those who can't really afford to improve their status just fork over more money to cling to where they were. If this change goes through I will cut up my card and not play there again.

[JamieV]

That's not much of a jump at all. I was thinking maybe diamond would be 60,000 which would eliminate quite a bit of lower level diamonds but 15,000 is still quite small. I'm with Allen regarding the caste system, I always let a couple guest go ahead of me when the line is crowded, it is common sense. Although I do enjoy the private Diamond cashier in Laughlin, it's awesome!

[Vegas Vic]

I've never played enough in Total Rewards for any highup level, but this change doesn't come as much of a surprise. Caesars has financial issues and all this is is making those who can't really afford to improve their status just fork over more money to cling to where they were. If this change goes through I will cut up my card and not play there again.

If the system change doesn't effect your level, that's no reason to quit. You're not really losing anything. Anyone who is borderline Diamond now and finds themselves being "demoted" to Platinum is precisely the perfect candidate for someone who shouldn't be chasing comps in the first place.

[bigfoot66]

That describes me. I am at 10940 right now and need to get to 11,000 to be diamond. I was done gaming for the year but I have to make one more trip to get the diamond card...

[jatki]

Vic, I haven't been happy with Caesars cutbacks for some time now and this one will be the nail in the,coffin for me. Even if the change doesn't affect my status or status opportunity, it's my way of protesting.

[Vegas Vic]

Vic, I haven't been happy with Caesars cutbacks for some time now and this one will be the nail in the,coffin for me. Even if the change doesn't affect my status or status opportunity, it's my way of protesting.

So, you only play for comps?

[jatki]

No but they are as important to me as anyone else I suppose. I'm mostly talking about how they've gutted the diamond lounges, of which I only went to as a guest.

[Alan Mendelson]

So, you only play for comps?

While we don't play for comps, I have to agree with jatki that they are as important to me as they are to everyone. Why not do business with the casino that is going to give you the best deal? I stopped going to Pechanga because they cut my free play down as low as $5 a month. And I became angry with Caesars when they cut my comps as well. If a casino offers a better deal then they'll get my business. I might have been married at Caesars, but I'm not married to Caesars.

[Alan Mendelson]

I just checked the Caesars/Total Rewards site to see if there is any announcement about Tier Point requirements changing in the new year... and as of this morning, December 18th, there is not. On my last two trips to Rincon I asked the floor folks if they had heard anything, and I also asked at the Total Rewards desk and no one said they knew anything about this. Of course, it could be one of those "company secrets" that will be announced New Year's morning. While Rincon confirmed via their Facebook page that the Total Rewards credit card with Bank of America is ending, I haven't seen any announcement of this either on the company website. Rincon did say an announcement about the TR credit card will be made at the end of March... at the same time when the BofA relationship ends. So I guess "last minute" announcements are the norm.

[Alan Mendelson]

I just got confirmation that the tier point requirements are going up in 2013, but I did not get the exact numbers.

[Alan Mendelson]

I guess Caesars isn't going to reveal what the new tier point levels are until Jan. 1, 2013 at the earliest. I did get confirmation that the point requirements for Diamond and 7Stars are both going up.

Tonight I was checking the Total Rewards web pages and there is no mention yet of the new higher tier point requirements. But in the official rules of the program I noticed a rule that highlights something we have all discussed before -- how table game players may not be properly scored:

17. Caesars uses reasonable efforts to track a Member’s average bet and length of play; however, as a condition of receiving Reward Credits for table games play, keno, race and sports betting, or other non-slot games, Members agree that such Reward Credits are granted based on the personal observation of Caesars employees, which is subject to error. The determination of Caesars shall be final with respect to any discrepancies.

[slingshot]

They've already cut my buffets in half, and the food selection is blase compared to what it was. And the casino action is almost down to the point of silliness. I could care less what level they put me. So if I'm no longer Diamond, I'll consider short trips and greatly reduced play a big relief.

[JoyAd]

I have a Total Rewards credit card thru Bank If America and they sent me a letter telling me they had terminated their alliance with Total Rewards and that I would be receiving a new card at the beginning of the year.

[Alan Mendelson]

Welcome to the forum JoyAd and thanks for posting. I started a thread about BofA dropping the Total Rewards credit card program here:

http://vegascasinotalk.com/forum/showth...ds-Credit-Card

Caesars Total Rewards says they will make an announcement at the end of March and they are probably making arrangements for another bank to offer the program... at least I hope so. It is a good benefit.

Also, I started another thread with what a manager told me the tier point changes are going to be. You will find that here:

http://vegascasinotalk.com/forum/showth...levels-in-2013

Thanks again for joining us!