Total Rewards Diamond/Seven Stars changes for 2018 -- goodbye free room benefit , goodbye Diamond Aspirations, goodbye 1.25:1 RC freeplay conversion

[Dan Druff]

Gotta love the "new" Seven Stars.

So I was e-mailing back and forth with my host, who is a nice, older lady. Doesn't treat me like a bother like other hosts do, but of course since she's a CET host, her power is still limited. She's also sometimes a bit confused at times, maybe because of her age.

Here's how our exchange went....


Me: I know about the changes to the Seven Stars benefit, but I need a lot of nights in June. Could you look up which nights you could comp me, and let me know?

Her: I can't do a bunch of consecutive nights for you in June, sorry.

Me: I wasn't asking for consecutive nights. Just any nights you could comp, could you list them to me, and I will choose them? It's fine if there is a break in between them.

Her: Okay, I can do June 3-8.

Me: Any other dates in June or early July? I may not need June 3-8.

Her: Check your offers, and call the 800 number, and see what they can book for you.

Me: No, I know how to book offers, and in fact I don't like to bother you with offer bookings, since I can do those myself. I'm asking if there's any non-offer bookings in June or early July you can do comp?

Her: Sorry, you are already maxed out on comp June bookings. Here is what you've booked: (She lists 4 stays -- two of which I'm PAYING for, and two which are comped through offers.)

Me: No, those were either paid stays or offer stays. You offered June 3-8. Can I cancel all of those bookings, and you just book me June 3-8?

Her: No, they said you don't qualify for any comps based upon your play. Sorry.


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I gave up.

[Dan Druff]

Not a mistake.

All statuses last until January 31, two calendar years from when you earned them.

So 1/31/19 is correct for all statuses earned in 2017.

Thanks Dan! Except with the downgrades to Diamond, I don't know how valuable the status is anymore. No more Diamond Lounge access? That sucks.

You have until March 31 to access the Diamond lounge if you earned Diamond but fewer than 25k tiers in 2017 or 2018.

After that, you need to either have 25k tiers in 2017, or a complicated formula of tiers earned in 2018.

[Dan Druff]

The 'My TR' page on totalrewards.com just made a change.

See if you can spot the difference!

Old is on the left, new is on the right.

[FABismonte]

Hi Dan:

One does not have to play “Where’s Waldo “ to see that complimentary stays have been deleted. I wonder what their actual practice will be come Feb 1.

[Dan Druff]

FAB, I can guarantee you that, come Feb 1, the comp stays for Seven Stars will be gone (except for those who have earned them through play, which doesn't require being Seven Stars!)

I can tell you this because it's January 29, and the internal code for Seven Stars comp bookings has NOT been generated, and employees have been informed that it will not be.

The "best news" I have heard thus far is the claim (from one rep) that this is experimental. If enough valued customers complain (and I mean valued customers, not comp whores), they will consider putting the benefit back.

This is why it's important to let your host know (politely) that you are unhappy about this loss of benefit, and that you feel the main advantage of the Seven Stars program over other programs is gone.

I'm addressing the above to everyone, not just FAB.

However, if you're a comp whore, you're probably better off NOT complaining, because you don't want to help give the impression to Caesars that it's only comp whores who are unhappy with this.

If you're just a regular player who casually gambles at CET, and you're Seven Stars, I urge you to contact your host and gently lament the loss of this benefit.

[The Boz]

FAB, I can guarantee you that, come Feb 1, the comp stays for Seven Stars will be gone (except for those who have earned them through play, which doesn't require being Seven Stars!)

I can tell you this because it's January 29, and the internal code for Seven Stars comp bookings has NOT been generated, and employees have been informed that it will not be.

The "best news" I have heard thus far is the claim (from one rep) that this is experimental. If enough valued customers complain (and I mean valued customers, not comp whores), they will consider putting the benefit back.

This is why it's important to let your host know (politely) that you are unhappy about this loss of benefit, and that you feel the main advantage of the Seven Stars program over other programs is gone.

I'm addressing the above to everyone, not just FAB.

However, if you're a comp whore, you're probably better off NOT complaining, because you don't want to help give the impression to Caesars that it's only comp whores who are unhappy with this.

If you're just a regular player who casually gambles at CET, and you're Seven Stars, I urge you to contact your host and gently lament the loss of this benefit.

The problem still is, if you are a regular player who casually gambles at CZR and you’re Seven Stars, odds are this won’t affect you. Those players probably have a high enough ADT that this isn’t an issue. They will continue to get comp rooms like always and never notice the difference.

Sadly it will do exactly what CZR expects it to do, eliminate what they consider comp abuse by players they feel they don’t need.

[redietz]

I have a suggestion. To me it seems eminently logical.

Let's eliminate phrases like "comp abuse" or "abusing their comps."

I don't think such things exist.

If a system supports particular strategies for earning comps, there are always going to be people who optimize their returns. "Comp abuse" or "abusing comps" sounds like a casino-framed jargon designed to suggest that the people who optimize are doing something wrong. They are not. And since comps don't have nerve endings, they really cannot be abused. So why use this kind of weird lingo?

You don't find the phrase "player abuse" in common casino phraseology, and certainly it should be. Players whose judgement or discipline is undeveloped, or who are addicted to whatever degree, and who spend a disproportionate amount on the "fun and recreation" of casino gaming are not referred to as "abused" by the casinos. Yet certainly "player abuse" is more accurate than "comp abuse."

I'd stick to "comp optimizer." "Comp abuse" could easily slide into that strange inaccurate gray zone in common parlance currently occupied by "card counter." Casinos have somehow made "card counter" connotatively negative. More people think it's illegal than legal. That's no accident.

So the next time someone mentions a person "abusing their comps," stop them and ask, "You mean optimizing their comps?"

Language is everything.

[Dan Druff]

FAB, I can guarantee you that, come Feb 1, the comp stays for Seven Stars will be gone (except for those who have earned them through play, which doesn't require being Seven Stars!)

I can tell you this because it's January 29, and the internal code for Seven Stars comp bookings has NOT been generated, and employees have been informed that it will not be.

The "best news" I have heard thus far is the claim (from one rep) that this is experimental. If enough valued customers complain (and I mean valued customers, not comp whores), they will consider putting the benefit back.

This is why it's important to let your host know (politely) that you are unhappy about this loss of benefit, and that you feel the main advantage of the Seven Stars program over other programs is gone.

I'm addressing the above to everyone, not just FAB.

However, if you're a comp whore, you're probably better off NOT complaining, because you don't want to help give the impression to Caesars that it's only comp whores who are unhappy with this.

If you're just a regular player who casually gambles at CET, and you're Seven Stars, I urge you to contact your host and gently lament the loss of this benefit.

The problem still is, if you are a regular player who casually gambles at CZR and you’re Seven Stars, odds are this won’t affect you. Those players probably have a high enough ADT that this isn’t an issue. They will continue to get comp rooms like always and never notice the difference.

Sadly it will do exactly what CZR expects it to do, eliminate what they consider comp abuse by players they feel they don’t need.

I understand what you're saying, but this isn't completely accurate.

For regular, active, high and middle-high-limit players, you're correct that they will continue to get comped.

For comp whores, you're correct that they will no longer get comped, which is what CET wants.

However, many Seven Stars fall into that middle ground -- casual players who don't gamble every trip, and stick to low house edge VP machines when they do gamble.

These players will also be affected, even if they aren't trying to comp whore or milk the system. This will especially be true for high-priced periods such as New Years, certain conventions, Thanksgiving, etc.

This is why Caesars is making a big mistake by this blanket "no more Seven Stars getting comped" policy. They are going to piss off some casual gamblers who should otherwise be worth money to them.

[regnis]

Druff--My hi roller days are long behind me now and I barely make Diamond anymore, and that is basically in one weekend in Vegas every year. I probably won't even make Diamond this years as I didn't qualify for the NHC so I wont be in Vegas for that one weekend. But between e-mail and mailers, I get at least 5 different offers every day for 3-5 nights at the various caesars properties.

I assume 7 star are getting these, and better offers. So is it really going to impact that many people? Or am I wrong and 7 stars are not getting these kinds of offers if they have otherwise hit them pretty hard on other benefits.

[The Boz]

Dan, I think we will have to agree to disagree on this. I do believe CZR doesn’t provide much incentive to become 7 Stars for the player compared to Diamond. But I don’t believe there are many people who fail into the group you list above who are casual 7 Star players that will not get rooms. Even one trip without much play should not hurt someone who plays regularly.

Do you feel there are many 7 Star players who only play low HA VP that CZR cares about? I don’t and still believe they feel they are losing money on these customers with comps added in.

In any change there will also be a few who fall between the cracks but this change will overall do exactly what they wanted it to do and will not hurt their bottom line at all. Which is their obligation to their shareholders period.

Time will tell who is right but for once I agree with Alan, this isn’t a big deal at all for the players Caesar’s wants. And I believe if you took your situation out of it, and looked at it as a continuation of how the comp game has changed over the years, you would see it as well.

[thisisnevermind]

Is today the last day for 1.25 to 1 conversion for sevenstars, or was it december 31st? Thanks for help.

[Dan Druff]

Today is the last day.

[thisisnevermind]

Ty Druff. You are the best. Big fan.

[Dan Druff]

LOL

So it's February 1, and they still have the 2017 program details up there. Only one quick blurb about how the 2018 benefits e-book is coming soon.

It also still states the Complimentary Rooms are a benefit. Uh huh.

What a fail.

[Dan Druff]

Darryl from Seven Stars Insider has now changed his tune.

In reference to the elimination of the comp room benefit and the degradation of the RC-to-freeplay exchange rate, he wrote, "These first two changes mean that Seven Stars cardholders are being treated no differently
than entry-level Gold cardholders."

That's a far cry form his initial position that it's no big deal, and that 95% of Seven Stars won't be affected.

[Dan Druff]

Dan, I think we will have to agree to disagree on this. I do believe CZR doesn’t provide much incentive to become 7 Stars for the player compared to Diamond. But I don’t believe there are many people who fail into the group you list above who are casual 7 Star players that will not get rooms. Even one trip without much play should not hurt someone who plays regularly.

Do you feel there are many 7 Star players who only play low HA VP that CZR cares about? I don’t and still believe they feel they are losing money on these customers with comps added in.

In any change there will also be a few who fall between the cracks but this change will overall do exactly what they wanted it to do and will not hurt their bottom line at all. Which is their obligation to their shareholders period.

Time will tell who is right but for once I agree with Alan, this isn’t a big deal at all for the players Caesar’s wants. And I believe if you took your situation out of it, and looked at it as a continuation of how the comp game has changed over the years, you would see it as well.

I think you underestimate the number of casual players at Caesars who know that the magic number is 150k tier credits, and they seriously ramp down their play once they reach it.

Even Alan has discussed doing this before (though he sometimes can't help himself and keeps coming back!)

Others WILL qualify for ongoing free rooms, but will be angered by the loss of that guarantee. One guy was interacting with me on Twitter who felt exactly that way. He was a slots player and not at all a comp whore, but he said that he wasn't going to continue giving Caesars his action if he had no guarantee that these comps would be there for him.

[Dan Druff]

2018 Rules and Regulations for Seven Stars is out now: https://www.caesars.com/content/cet-...ules-2018.html

As expected, there is nothing mentioned about the complimentary room, as it's gone.

Also missing (as expected) are references to the 1.25:1 RC exchange rate (gone), as well as Diamond Aspirations (gone).

Regarding the Seven Stars/Diamond Lounges, members may bring up to 3 guests, but a person with a companion card cannot bring any guests.

Signature event is only Las Vegas or Atlantic City, as expected, unless you have 500k tiers.


And while this is NOT in the rules, they added something to the TR benefits page, claiming that Diamonds and Seven Stars get 15% off "best advertised rates": https://www.caesars.com/total-rewards/benefits-overview

So Seven Stars went from 100% off to 15% off room rates.

No big deal.

LOL

[The Boz]

I still wonder how many people care about the changes when you see scores like were posted from the Leaderboard contest. Time will tell if it hurts their overall numbers but I agree there is little incentive to become 7 Star anymore. For years ADT has been far more important than your Tier when it came to offers and value to them. This just takes that to another level. Diamond's who only visit a few times a year will be treated much better than the weekly 7 Star, but that has been the case in AC for years.

I still believe their goal was to eliminate what they consider "optimizing comps" as RE calls it. Now the question will be did they go to far? But this trend is nothing new in the CZR world and the sheep keep coming in the doors.

[LarryS]

I lump sports fans in with gamblers as far as their ability to take whatever is given to them because they need their "fix".....and "the man" knows it.

For example, you used to be able to set your watch to 2 hours if you were to watch a NHL or NBA game. Now it could be 2.5 hours or more. You dont get an extra 30 min of entertainment. You get 30 min more of commercials. But no one complains, or hits the leagues and advertisers where it counts...in the pocketbook. So it continues. The extra 30 min didnt occur overnight. It crept up on you..little by little. But sports viewers need their fix. In baseball people are complaining that the games are too long....and they talk about a pitch clock....but of course no one is talking about shortening the time between innings..because thats prime commercial time.

So casinos know that gamblers are like sports fans. They will continue to reduce benerfits little by little just like sports leagues increased intrusive commercials little by little. Yes in all cases it makes their product less enjoyable.....but we all know from history that gamblers and sports fans dont care if u make the product less enjoyable.....just give them the product and they are happy.

The only time that the fans revolted and maybe caused some heads to look up at them was when MLB had a shortened season due to a strike/lockout. So if you take the game totally away....fans may stop coming to the ballbark when you reopen. But if you reduce the quality but keep the doors open...then the sheep keep coming. without complaint

Just face it....the only way that the reduction in benefits for 7 stars and the like at other casinos would be reversed partially or fully.....is for a massive consumer action by the patrons. Thats what corporate america understands. They dont jump to sporadic consumer phone calls or emails that complain. They dont jump to threats like.."if these reductions continue I am going to take my business elsewhere". Because they know that "elsewhere" is doing the same thing. They know that you probably originally came from "elsewhere" to begin with.

[Dan Druff]

Larry, I agree with all of this EXCEPT in this case.

Why?

Because I was actually told by an employee at the Caesars call center that they were "still evaluating" the situation, and might change it back if players were unhappy. And this wasn't one of those canned excuses which employees were given to hand out to customers. I slowly dragged it out of the guy, and he reluctantly told me this.

It also makes sense.

This is a major degradation of 7 Stars, but they didn't publicize it, and are hoping people don't notice (aside from the comp whores).

So during this experimental phase, if they get word that a lot of decent-ADT Seven Stars are unhappy, they may reverse it. Otherwise, they won't.

I'm actually surprised it took this long for them to finally make this change, given that, as Boz said, they have long valued ADT over tier.