It can be extremely difficult for players to choose the best rewards programs for them. There are too many reward clubs out there and they all cater to different players and different goals. With that said, let’s talk through a couple of the bigger options and why they may or may not be the best place to spend your hard earned dollars. This is not an all-inclusive, complete look at any of these clubs. I have zero desire to give you a thousand words on MGM Rewards, but if that is something you are looking for I recommend you give Michael Trager a follow @TravelZork on twitter (awesome dude and he has all the details). As a general disclaimer, all opinions are mine alone. I am almost exclusively a table game player, so I avoid clubs like Cosmo’s Identity program that do not reward table players.

Benefits of a Player’s Club

The goal of any player’s club is to gather as much information about a player as the Casino can, and in exchange, offer certain benefits to entice that player into continued (hopefully increasing) play. Almost all players clubs will offer benefits along the lines of:

• Hotel Stays
• Dining Credit
• Spa/Golf Credit
• Free play & comp dollars
• Tier status benefits, i.e. faster lines, free valet parking, etc.
• Free Giveaways/Cruises

The value of the player’s club can range in value depending on the specific player and what they seek. It’s easiest to look at the clubs individually and what they are known best for. Worth noting, each person is unique in what they want from a player’s club and their value to the casino. If you want individual feedback, just message one of us on Twitter or the forums and we would be glad to help guide you.

It should also be known that table games players are at the unique disadvantage of not knowing how many tier points are earned for their play. Every casino uses a different calculation; however, it is always based on time played, bet per round and how many rounds per hour. Some properties will also have a component that factors in actual loss, but that is very rare. Pro tip: ALWAYS TIP YOUR DEALERS, but try to also do so when the floor notices. You will almost always be rated higher than your actual play deserves if you are recognized of a heavy tipping customer that the dealers enjoy playing with. Make them smile and talk to the floor and watch your TC’s earned go up.

Caesars Entertainment (CET) – Caesars Rewards

If you are a moderately low roller and your goal is to get a free hotel room, then you should look no further than CET properties. Caesars is willing to throw free or extremely discounted rooms at almost any player that gives them moderate action at a property. Do you play $15-25 blackjack and get a few hours of play in a day? Caesars has a free room available for you. I think CET’s best feature is their online booking calendar that lets you see your price (or comp) at all CET properties in an area on a single screen.

No promo code required (unless you want to book a special offer) – it is all based on your value to them. Of course CET ranks their properties from a value perspective, with Caesars Palace , Nobu (which isn’t really a separate property) and Cromwell being the heaviest swing and The Linq, Rio and Flamingo bringing up the bottom. With locations across the country, it is easy to score a free room in a city you have not visited and are desiring something new.

CET properties are a very good program for many lower level players for a few reasons:

• Free/Discounted rooms a plenty
• No resort fees after reaching Diamond
• Properties in 16 states, Canada and Dubai
• Frequent promotions, monthly mailers and incentives for visiting the Vegas market and your local market.
• Tier statutes are relatively easy to upgrade through single day tier bonus awards and “Tier Credit Multiplier Weekends”

Players who advance up to the $50-100 action level or higher may want to stay clear from CET. They assign hosts at the Diamond level by default and to higher players before if it is merited, but most are not that useful compared to other competitors. It is common for them to assign a “marketing rep” who will simply book an existing offer you have and not go beyond it. I reached 7 Star status in 2019 with CET and other than the promised tier benefits, at no point did my local host or Vegas host go beyond the normal offering. This is extremely different from almost all other player’s clubs. From my personal experiences, it just isn’t a place for high limit table game players.

MGM Resorts Intl. (MGM) – MGM Rewards

Not so long ago, MLife rewards were a poor option for most table game players. Getting a free room was much more difficult than with CET, their booking system was not friendly and always required you select an offer before determining your best deal. Although dining and free play is offered, it was typically less than competitors and they put a high value on their flagship properties (Bellagio and Aria) and significantly reduced offers if you chose to stay at either of those two. Fast forward to the present, MGM Rewards is announced and with it came many beneficial changes for most players. They changed their program to effectively mirror CET, offering a $100 celebration dinner upon hitting Gold, no resort fees after Gold and even air travel credit upon hitting Platinum. Most players I have spoken to are happy with the changes, bringing MGM more inline with their competitors. A couple bright spots for MGM Rewards are:

• Higher quality hotel offerings than CET
• Better app/technology than CET.
• Better tier point earning rate than CET on table games

There isn’t a ton that separate MGM and CET now a days, but MGM does expect more play for its offers. They have invested a lot more time ad money into their website and phone app, which is a pleasant change. A lower level, inconsistent player will do better at CET. At higher levels, MGM seems to take better care of their players, assigning hosts quicker, and generally offering better service and support than available at CET. The biggest drawback in my eyes for MGM Rewards is the lack of presence outside of Las Vegas. MGM properties outside Nevada include Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, and New Jersey. Mid-rollers would strive in the MGM Rewards system and I think they are a strong option for most players.

Wynn Resorts – Wynn Rewards

Ahhh, the Wynn/Encore combination is a real doozy. It is one of the most beautiful properties/hotel combos on the strip, offers an East-Coast location in Boston that is every bit as beautiful, and no place in Vegas treats you as well as they do from the ground up. Whether it’s the bellhops, the front desk, the room service staff, maids, dealers, floor supervisors, etc… nothing is like the Wynn. There is a culture at the Wynn that starts from the top down that every guest interaction is important. World class dining options, a golf course, Master Classes and so much more set Wynn apart from all the others. With all that said, Wynn Rewards is not a program for all table players. As a craps player, you will find it almost impossible to find a table under $25, with $50 being the most common on nights and weekends. Black chip blackjack seems to be treated like green chip action at other properties. You really have to earn your welcome at Wynn.

As a player seeking comps, I think it’s important to know that there seems to be two things that Wynn values more than anything – the value of their rooms and transportation. With an average weekend rate of $500-800/night, Wynn does not give out rooms easily. Although it feels strange compared to a CET or MGM property, a room comp itself at Wynn is very valuable. A room + food offer shows you are definitely on their radar and they value your play. Once transportation is offered, you have either hit Black status, or you have a host that really wants to take care of you. So many times people have complained about table limits and room prices, but honestly, those are not the players that Wynn wants. They cater to a big-player market and will treat those people royally to get them back. As stated before, a couple big benefits of Wynn comparatively are:

• The absolute best dealers in Las Vegas (not even close)
• Unique experiences like Master Classes
• A beautiful golf course
• Unmatched customer service and attentiveness
• Beautiful properties with impeccable rooms and dining options.

I would not recommend anyone chase Wynn status that isn’t a relatively large player (at least $200/hand on blackjack or a consistent $50 min. crap player). Anything less, I don’t think you will get any real return on your money. You would be much better off at one of the other large properties in town. For those that do fit that criteria, go crazy at Wynn. It is one of the few places I never want to leave and every time I visit I learn or see something new that pulls me in even closer.

Want to learn more about Josh’s journey to black status at Wynn? Click here for more!

TL:DR

Caesars – free rooms across the country for most players. Visit Caesars for more information.

MGM – better properties, slightly stingier at low levels, more Vegas-centric. Visit MGM Rewards for more information.

Wynn – biggest players, best service, not for low rollers. Visit Wynn for more information.

Casino hosts are some of the most mysterious and misunderstood staff of any casino. They may hold one of fifty different titles that casino management creates to instill importance, but they are all working towards the same end goal. A casino host’s primary job is to get big players in the casino and keep them gambling for as long as possible. Every gambler has different expectations for what they deserve in return for their play. It’s the casino host’s job to satisfy the customer, while ensuring they are only receiving what is appropriate for a player of their size. Let’s dive into some of the basics before we discuss the best and the worst, shall we?

Casino Host vs. Marketing/Sales Reps

So as I mentioned in the first paragraph, casino hosts are given a bevy of titles that typically have no meaning. However, for purposes of this article, I am going to split these player liaisons into two groups – actual “hosts” and “marketing reps”. A marketing rep is who most people will hear from well before they are truly hosted. Larger companies like MGM and Caesars love using mid-level marketers to reach out directly to players (typically through mass mailers/emails) offering assistance on their next trip. These marketing reps typically have no more available tools than the player has at their own disposal; they are simply booking your casino offers on your behalf. Although this may be helpful occasionally when an offer isn’t showing as available online, they mostly offer no real value to players. These marketing reps almost always receive zero compensation based on the player’s play and will not be available in person to assist with anything while you are on property.

On the other hand, casino hosts are much more valuable and have a lot more arrows in their quiver. True casino hosts are employed by a specific property (with exceptions like Steve Cyr who are independant and rep multiple casinos) to generate business and increase top-line revenue. Hosts have the ability to not only book a standard casino offer that marketing generated, but also go beyond and offer additional services and benefits beyond what your offer or your tier level has granted you. A host can get you tickets to a sold-out show, dinner reservations to the best restaurant on a Friday night, a round of golf for you or your buddies, room upgrades, or even something as simple as a ride from the airport.

How Do I Get Hosted?

Probably the most common question people ask regarding casino gambling is how a person gets assigned a casino host. The truth is, it varies wildly by property. Each casino will have their own expectations for a hosted player. Downtown, a property may be interested in hosting a $100 average bet player, while on the strip it may fluctuate from $150-300, just depending on the casino. What they would like to see is sustained play (4+ hours a day) at a level that supporst the comps you are seeking. Let’s take for example a blackjack player that has an average bet of $200/hand for 4 hours. That player would generate a theoretical loss of 4 (hours) x $200 (avg. bet) x 60 (hands per hour) x .02 (house edge estimate) = $960. Of this theo loss, maybe the casino will offer 30% back as a comp, so the player would have available $288. Please note these calculations are not exact and every casino evaluates play differently. So let’s continue…

There are a few ways to end up being a hosted player, but the most common are:

• Achieving a Tier Status that includes a personal host
• A host approaching you during play, based on your action
• Visiting the host desk on-property

You can visit the player’s club website of any casino and almost all of them will list a certain level where a casino host is automatically assigned. By reaching Black card status at Wynn, for example, a host is automatically assigned. Although this is the easiest way to get a host to work with you, I personally find it much more advantageous to be proactive and reach out to a host yourself. Numerous times I have walked up to the host desk of a property and explained who I am, how I play, and asked what they can do to help on my next visit. If you meet the criteria for a room, they will likely grant it and determine what else you deserve after you are on-site and actively playing. Not going to be on-site before your visit and looking for assistance? Visit their website and try to find a casino host’s email/phone to reach out to in advance. Nothing on their website? Check Linked In or hop on the phone, call their main number and ask to be transferred to the host desk. The absolute worst response that can happen is they say they aren’t able to help at this time, but nothing is lost in these situations. So let’s discuss what makes a good, bad or horrible host.

What Makes A Good Host

As a player, when I am connected with a good host, I am instantly likely to transfer as much of my play as I can to that property. Even to this day, I have certain properties that I love that I just won’t visit anymore because my assigned hosts (or lack there of sometimes) lesson my value as a player to that casino. Good hosts do a few things that set them apart from all their competitors.

#1 – They ensure the player feels valued, appreciated and welcome at their property

In my opinion, this is the most important function of casino hosts. A good casino host is proactive in communication, prompt to respond to emails/texts, and attempts to visit you on the casino floor upon your arrival (when possible). Too many times a player will have a host that they never see and have a hard time connecting with. Casino hosts are compensated based off your theo loss (or actual in some cases), so your play absolutely does matter to them. Taking the time to talk with you for a few minutes, or respond to a text in a timely fashion just ensures you know they are doing what they can to help you. Good casino hosts will recognize when a player is having a rough trip financially and offer an unexpected perk to keep you engaged and happy. If a player feels appreciated, they will return over and over again.

#2 – They get you the comps that you deserve

Casino marketing offers are great as a baseline, but they don’t always capture a player’s value to the casino. Did you get absolutely killed on your last trip and lose all your bankroll in an hour? Your ADT (average daily theoretical) will take a hit for the short play duration and marketing offers will decrease. Are you any less valuable as a player? No, but in the computer’s eyes you are. A good host will recognize your true value, factoring in your game of choice, average bet, normal length of play and not to be forgotten, your bankroll. A $300/hand blackjack player is valuable if they have the bankroll to play at that level for 4+ hours a day. A $300/hand blackjack player who can’t survive more than 30 minutes because a limited bankroll has extremely limited value in the long run. Hosts that recognize the value of the player will do all they can to get you what you deserve, including but not limited to:

• Rooms & Suites
• Food & Beverage
• Airport Transportation
• Show Tickets
• Spa Treatments / Rounds of Golf
• Free Play (table or slot)

All these perks have tremendous value and should be factored in when deciding the best place to spend your hard earned money. It is usually easy to judge which hosts are generous with their assistance and which are not.

#3 – They surprise you!

This is the one that I think many good hosts miss a lot of the time. A great casino host will do something beyond the norm to make a trip extra special, without you having to prompt them. Maybe they know you are a big fan of bourbon and have a nice bottle in your room upon arrival. They may have heard you are a big sports fan and get you tickets to a big event in town. Maybe they know your significant other is with you this trip so they book you a nicer room than usual to impress her. All of these things aren’t expected by the players, but show the hosts actually cares and wants to keep you coming back to his/her property.

I have a great example from this past week of how a good host is invaluable. On Monday of this week, I decided that I wanted to visit Encore Boston for the first time. I have no play history there and their website has no host information to easily be found. I reached out via email to my host at Wynn Vegas and in less than a day, I had a response telling me he would reach out on my behalf and have someone contact me. That evening, a host from their Boston property reached out, had my profile in front of him, and had setup everything I needed for this weekend and more. The same host followed up the next day just to confirm nothing else was needed. It was top notch service and I already feel great about the trip before I arrive. Not only did it strengthen my relationship with my Vegas host, but also increased brand loyalty to Wynn from the experience, win or lose.

What Makes A Bad Host?

A lot of the time, a host appears poor at their duties because they are stretched too thin and you fell below their line of attention. A bad host ignores your texts/emails, or takes 3-4 days to respond. Bad hosts books the absolute minimum offer available, or even worse, doesn’t even offer the F&B or free play available if you booked yourself. A bad hosts never makes face to face contact with you while on-site and doesn’t review your folio on exit to make sure there isn’t something they could help cover the cost of. A bad host has no idea what your play level was and doesn’t follow up after the trip to thank you or ask about your next trip on the calendar. In short, a bad host gives the appearance of not caring or trying.

An example of a host experience that was poor recently involves a large, popular Vegas property. I had a host there that was relatively difficult to get a hold of most of the time, but he eventually always came through and usually even booked me room levels I didn’t need or deserve. However, last year I had hit a W2G jackpot on a slot machine during the year and needed a copy of the tax document to complete my annual filing. I reached out twice via email, and never heard a peep. I ended up having to go through a long customer service process that took 3 weeks to complete and it left me with a sour taste in my mouth. These sort of situations are extremely frustrating and keep me from visiting this property more often.

What Makes a Horrible Host?

My baseline expectation for a host is that they will be bad, with glimpses of good. I’m not a high maintenance player, I rarely ask for anything out of the normal, and I would never expect something I hadn’t earned twice over in spades. That being said, sometimes you end up with a host at a property that falls below baseline levels and actually damages the reputation of the casino. They seem to actively belittle you as a player, remind you of your limited value, and actually make you uncomfortable as a guest.

The most recent experience with this for me was about a three years ago. I had been approached by a casino host on-site during my drop in visit and after some pleasantries and providing their card, we went our separate ways. I reached out to said host a few weeks later and was going to make a return trip to their property and stay on-site. I sent the email and heard nothing for a week. After following up via email the next week, I received an email back that they would work on it and get back to me. After a few more days, I received an email saying something along the lines of “you’re all set, we’ll see you on XX date.” No confirmation number, details of any offers, or anything further. Fast forward a month and I fly in and hop in the first cab to this property. Upon arrival, I get to the desk and they have no record of my visit. I attempted to call my host’s cell phone and no answer, and no reply to text. I spoke with someone at the front desk who made a call over to the host on duty who indicated she had no record of the trip and couldn’t authorize a room with my limited history. I ended up taking my bags, hopping in a cab and transitioning to another property. Finally, I received an email back a few days later with an “apology” that she had forgotten to finalize the trip and was swamped with other patrons while I was there. You want to ensure I never come back… that is how you do it. I haven’t been back since.

So with all this said, a host can be an amazing partner that increases loyalty and brings you back time and time again. Alternatively, they can ensure you never visit a property again. No matter what, be proactive in approaching a host if you think your play might support it and always remember that you have not because you ask not. You may be surprised at what a host can do for you.

If you want to learn more about this topic, click here to read Josh’s article about the Wynn Rewards program.

Casino credit is a commonly misunderstood topic in the gaming world. Some of its benefits are unknown by many gamblers and the process of obtaining and using credit can seem burdensome. For the right person, casino credit saves a lot of time, money and increases your safety when traveling. For the wrong person, casino credit greatly increases the chances of overspending. In worst case scenarios, it could even create legal issues. Let’s run through the most common questions gamblers have about casino credit.

The Pros of Casino Credit

When making any decision in life, there are pros and cons that should be considered before taking the plunge. In the case of casino credit, each individual will have to weigh these factors based on their own proclivities and determine if it is beneficial to them. Some of the advantages of casino credit include:

• • No need to carry large sums of cash (via air, car, or even within the casino)

• • No ATM fees, no check cashing fees, no daily limits, no delays in access to your own money

• • No Cash Transaction Reports (CTRs) at higher level play

• • Repayment is typically 15-30 days after you leave

• • You are on the casino’s radar, which may increase upfront comps and/or host availability

Carrying large amounts of cash, whether it be through the airport or even around the casino, is never a fun process. It is risky in some ways, dangerous in others. If a player is seen withdrawing a large sum of cash from a casino ATM, or leaving the cage with a large credit card advance, they immediately open themselves up to potential issues with undesired patrons who may see them as a target. A lot of this can be avoided by taking markers at the table and repaying these markers at the table and depositing any proceeds at the cage.

With a casino credit line, you will never pay any cash access fees again. Your agreed upon credit line will be available for use, in full, at any time during your trip. CTRs must be filed by the casino when over $10,000 in cash is exchanged in a single day; however, markers are not included in these totals, as no actual cash is being introduced by the player. Although this isn’t a concern for most people, it can slow down your day and cause hiccups down the road for nothing.

Casino credit at a property can, and typically will, put you in contact with a casino host once your line is opened. This is money the casino knows you have available to spend on property, and they are more likely to assist you with requests when they know the exact dollar amount available to them.

The Cons of Casino Credit

Casino credit is a winning proposition for many people; however, there are certain things that players must know in advance that may dissuade them from opening a credit line. Rather than bullet pointing, let’s talk more at length about these items.

Immediate availability of cash – For most people, immediate access to their cash is a pro (not a con); however, for gamblers with a proclivity for overspending, or those who have trouble stopping, credit could be disastrous. No longer would it require a stroll to the ATM or the Cage, forcing a break in your action and chance to reflect on where you are. Markers can and will be issued within seconds, not minutes, and this is very bad for problem gamblers. Do you need to think about putting more cash on the table? If so, don’t open casino credit.

Repayment requirements – Does your bank account balance fluctuate significantly? Is the amount you requested for your line of credit above what you would readily have available to repay? If there is any chance you are not going to be able to repay a marker within the prescribed time (15-30 days based on the casino), then do not open credit. Failure to repay a marker in Nevada is a Class D Felony and carries with it prison time and large penalties. Usually, casinos will work you on a payment plan to avoid this drastic step, but it is critical that you always have funds available to repay any money that you temporarily borrow.

Freedom of play – One thing many credit players do not consider is that when they only have credit available and didn’t bring cash with them, bouncing up and down the strip becomes more difficult. Casinos will not permit you to take a marker and walk with it to another property. There are expectations that any money borrowed will be exclusively played at that casino and that any markers will be paid off before you cash your chips.

Applying for Casino Credit

Ok, so you made it past the pros and cons and casino credit makes sense for you! So the obvious next question is, how do I open a credit line with my favorite property? It’s actually fairly easy, and typically takes about one week to complete the whole process. Almost all casinos will have a link to their credit application directly on their website. This is the standard way to apply for credit. The credit application will verify everything from your personal identification, to your employment info including income, your bank account information, and the amount of credit you are requesting.

Once this form is submitted electronically, they will typically complete a hard pull on your credit. Your credit is a good tool for them to understand your likelihood to repay, and may also show if you are too far extended to support further credit. If the credit pull looks good, they will verify your bank account balances with any financial institutions that you included on your application. This step will never be skipped, and they are typically looking at your three, six and 12-month average balance. A good rule of thumb is to never request credit more than 50% of what your average balance is.

Casino credit is unique to the property you applied for. For example, if you apply for credit at Planet Hollywood, that credit account can not be accessed at other Caesar’s properties like Harrah’s or The Cromwell. You would need to apply individually at each property you are interested in. They would verify your credit and banking just as the first property did.

Also worth noting, each casino will have their own minimum credit line they will consider. Although Wynn requires a minimum of $5,000, many smaller/ local properties will allow $1,000. These minimums will be clearly stated on the credit application within the area you input your requested amount.

Once your application has been processed in full, you may receive an email confirming your approval (you likely won’t), but you will need to stop by the cage or credit desk upon arrival at the property to activate your credit line. They will scan your ID, you will sign a couple forms, and your line will be activated. It’s that easy.

Taking a Marker

So credit has been approved, you have signed your paperwork, and now you are ready to get some of your money to play with. This process is called “taking a marker”. The marker itself is the name of the document that you are signing, guaranteeing you will repay the funds. It is treated the same as a check, and will be deposited as a check if you do not repay your funds within the promised time. If you are a table games player, you will request a marker directly at the table. Upon arrival, provide your players card (and potentially your ID), and simply state “I need a marker for $xx dollars please”. The dealer will get assistance from the floor supervisor (or boxman at the craps table) and that person will check on the computer to make sure your credit line is open, and how much you have available. Once confirmed, they will place lamers on the table confirming the amount you are taking, and the dealer at that point will send the funds in your direction. Within a few minutes, the floor supervisor/box will bring you the actual marker to sign for processing.

If you are a slot player, taking a marker typically means visiting the casino cashier and requesting a marker for your slot action. They will confirm how much you would like, and typically present you a slot ticket with that amount on it (rather than handing you cash). As with table markers, there is an expectation that you will use this money solely for gambling within their establishment and that all markers would be paid off before cashing out proceeds.

Redeeming Markers at the Table

If you are a table games player and you took a marker at the table, you may need to redeem that marker when you color up. If you are looking to leave the table with more than your marker amount, it would be frowned upon to leave the table without attempting to redeem your marker. In most Las Vegas properties, markers stay at that pit until the end of that shift and then are transferred to the main cage. In other locations, markers may be immediately transferred to the cage and table redemptions are not available. When coloring up, simply ask your dealer/floor if you can redeem the marker you took at the table. If they can, they will pull that much in chips to the side, place lamers on top of that amount to confirm the redemption, and they will retrieve the marker you signed and give it back to you (to discard). The process typically takes a few minutes for the pit clerk to find your paperwork.

Redeeming Markers at the Cage

Redeeming markers at the cage is the same process as at the tables. They will confirm the physical marker is located on deposit in the cage and then set aside the chips necessary to pay off that marker. Markers can be paid at the cage with either chips or cash. They will hand you the physical marker you signed upon payment for disposal.

Payments After Departure

Did you leave the property and have $2,500 in markers opened but unpaid upon departure? No problem. The casino will send you a statement, typically via email depending on preference, confirming your balance owed, their payment instructions and the date the payment is due. You can always ask for the markers to be deposited on the account provided at setup. Alternatively, you are welcome to wire in the funds or mail a check from a different account. Either way, the markers should be cleared by the due date, or contact the property to make alternative arrangements. Avoiding repayment of the markers is the absolute worst thing you can do. All casinos will work with you if you are having problems, but you need to notify them as early as possible.

Exceeding Your Credit Line (TTO)

If you have reached your maximum credit line approved and still want to take out additional funds, your casino host or the credit manager may be able to approve a marker TTO. This acronym stands for This Trip Only. This would be a one-time allowance above your approved credit. I have only experienced this once with a lower level property, but this is not something I would ever rely upon. It is fully at their discretion and approval would be based on your average bank account balance and the amount of your credit line.

Credit Line Expiration

Casinos typically will inactivate your credit after 6 months or so without use. If you exceed this window and want to reactivate your credit, you can typically contact the casino in advance of your trip and have it turned back on without all the fuss of the original application. Being proactive with this is much easier than just showing up at the casino after a year and requesting a marker. Some casinos may also want to re-verify your bank information annually for their records. Depending on their bank, they may require your assistance during this process. It typically never takes more than five minutes to complete the call.

Wrap it up…

So we talked about the good and bad of credit, how to apply, how to take markers, and how to pay them back. Hopefully this article takes some of the intimidation away from the casino credit process. It can be very beneficial for players if used correctly, so consider applying before your next trip!

Did I miss anything? If so, let me know and I will get it added! You can always reach me on Twitter @SmallWhale13 or via email: [email protected]

Before jumping into a discussion of the Wynn Rewards program, if you somehow don’t already know this, Wynn is my favorite place to stay in all of Las Vegas—and I’ve stayed at 28 different properties (at least) so far, so I’m just a bit biased. My first comped stay at Wynn was in July 2020, during the height of COVID times and right when Vegas had opened back up. And as of this moment, I currently have Wynn Black Tier status, which I earned almost entirely through my craps play—with just a wee bit o’ Heidi slots thrown in there.

From Red Card to Wynn Rewards

At the end of 2020, Wynn announced that it was switching to a tiered rewards program. Before that, Wynn’s rewards program, Red Card, was very simple. It had one tier. The new program, Wynn Rewards, created three separate tier levels, Red, Platinum, and Black. Existing Red Card holders were slotted into one of the three tiers (presumably largely based upon play history). I was slotted right into the Platinum tier. So, as we started 2021, here I was, a newly minted #WynnFanBoy with Platinum status and ready to roll. You can probably guess what happened next. Just as Wynn hoped, I earned 7,000 tier credits (Platinum status) on my first trip. With that success, the race to 70,000 (Black) was on! But was it worth it?

As you’ll see below, some really nice perks come your way if you can reach Black. But, I think Platinum also offers some very nice benefits and is much, much easier to reach.

Wynn Rewards Benefits

Like most casino rewards programs, Wynn Rewards offers multiple benefits.

• possibility of comped or discounted rooms
• food and beverage credit
• priority restaurant seating
• exclusive special events and promotions.

In looking at each tier level, I’ll touch on what I find to be some of the more valuable aspects of each tier and just a bit about what it might take as a craps player to reach the higher tier level.

Red Tier – 0-6,999 Tier Credits

Because you get Red status just by having a Wynn Rewards card, the benefits at this level aren’t that exciting. You can, of course, earn Wynn FREECREDIT AND COMPDOLLARS through your play, but that’s really about it as far excitement.  That’s not to say, however, that your play isn’t important to Wynn even with Red status. If you believe your play justifies it, it never hurts to swing by the host desk to see what they might be able to offer you. You never know, you might actually get a host even before you reach Platinum. I had a Wynn host before I even had a history of play, and so did Chris.

Platinum Tier – 7,000-69,999 Tier Credits

If you’re someone who’s comfortable playing at Wynn table limits, I think it’s relatively easy to earn Platinum status. As a craps player, if your average bet is close to $250 or higher, you can probably reach Platinum with about 10-15 hours of solid play. And Platinum is where the real benefits of Wynn Reward start to kick in. Platinum members get a $100 Spa credit. If you’ve never been to the Wynn spa, I’d highly recommend checking it out. Although $100 isn’t likely to cover a full spa treatment, it’ll knock a good chunk off the cost for a really nice massage.

The same goes for the $150 birthday dinner credit you get when you reach Platinum. You can put that to great use at Sinatra or SW (two of my favorite restaurants at Wynn) or, if you really want to do Vegas like I do, put that money toward a lovely room service meal.  (As a reminder, you must use your birthday dinner credit during your birthday month.)

And although I haven’t tried them, Platinum members also receive two complimentary Wynn Master Classes (each for two guests). I’ve heard amazing things about the Wynn Master Classes and can see how they would be a fantastic perk for some.  The upcoming Wynn Master Class—Cooking Frank’s Favorites, His Way—has my mouth watering.

Description: Join Sinatra executive chef Theo Schoenegger for a lively cooking demonstration on how to prepare some of Frank’s favorite dishes – his way. A casual lunch will be served, together with Chef Theo’s memories of cooking for Frank in New York City.) In my opinion, it’s benefits like this that set Wynn apart.

Black Tier (70,000+ Tier Credits)

I reached Black status in the fall of 2021, and I’m very proud of it— it was hard work. For better or for worse, I behaved exactly as the marketers wanted me to. Once I knew that my level of play made reaching Black possible, I set out to make it. Having never reached the highest status at any property, I was bound and determined to do it at Wynn.

As a table games player, I’ll tell you that trying for Black status is not for the faint-of-heart. With an average bet in craps of $350-$450, it’ll take at least 70-100 hours of play to reach Black. But if you can do it, it definitely offers some very nice perks. Black members get a $200 Spa credit, a $300 birthday dinner credit, and four complimentary Wynn Master Classes (each for two guests). Wynn Black also gets you a complimentary round of golf (for two guests) at Wynn Golf Club. That benefit alone has a value of over $500 per round.

Black status also gets you complimentary hotel stays and complementary late checkouts (something I always take advantage of). You also get complimentary room upgrades to Wynn Tower Suites (based on availability). And even though the base room in Tower Suites is the same as the standard Wynn room, there’s something nice above having your own check-in desk, elevator, etc. It’s important to note that Wynn values its room product greatly, and in their eyes, these are very valuable perks.

One of my favorite things that comes from having Black status is complementary airport transportation. You might end up in a luxury SUV or limo, but if you’re really lucky, you’ll get to ride in one of their Rolls Royce Phantoms.  And if you’re like me and love a little of The Buffet at Wynn, having the Black card lets you bypass the line (and no reservation needed). There are a couple more benefits of Black status that I think are worth mentioning.

• First and foremost, if you don’t already have a host at Wynn (which you probably should if you’re already gambling at the levels sufficient for Black status), you’ll have a host assigned when you make it to Black. And Wynn hosts, from my experience, are the best in the business. To learn even more about hosts and what to expect, check out Chris article on hosts by Clicking Here.
• Second, once I made it to Black, I started to receive offers from Wynn that were better or different than those I had received before. For example, I occasionally receive an offer for a nice amount of promotional chips (for use at the craps table) or a nice gift card for the shops at Wynn. But the one that sticks out most was my invitation to be a guest of Wynn at the Academy of Country Music Awards (including at the red-carpet event).

Wrap it up, Josh

At risk of sounding like a broken record (and at risk of repeating myself), some of the benefits that I’ve talked about really set Wynn Rewards apart in my eyes. Was achieving Black status expensive? Yes. Am I trying to get there again this year? Absolutely yes! Remember, at the end of the day, your play at any property matters even more than card level. You can be hosted without having Black status, you can get comped rooms, and you can get complimentary transportation. It isn’t necessary to be like me and chase Black status to be treated the way you want to be, but it sure is nice to have it. 

Learn more about Wynn Rewards, or even sign up, at https://www.wynnlasvegas.com/