The Diamond Card requirement goes up next year from it's current 11,000 points to 15,000 points. For VP players, that's $150,000 in play.
Their reasoning is that the requirements in four or five years. Anyone who is a diamond member knows that they have been diminishing the perks more and more over the years. When I first joined, the Diamond Lounges were open from 9 AM to 11 PM. Hot food was served from 11 AM to 11 PM. Diamond members were always given a "gift" at check in or in their room would be a welcome pack. Cash back was a regular expectation, comp rooms were for 7 nights a week and if there was a suite available, it was given to you automatically.
Fast forward to now: DL hours are now down to 4 PM to 11 PM (some places even close at 9 PM), hot food is regulated down to two hours (usually from 6 to 8) and what used to be full meals are now down to chicken wings and other deep fried finger foods. There are no gifts or sweet surprises in your room; nights are now Sun to Thur only and even then, they only block a few rooms on your offer and if you're late, the rooms are booked (New Orleans Harrahs is notorius for this).
All that is left is your Diamond Lounges with their finger foods and line passes and Diamond Registration. Is playing VP on machines are specifically set with lower pay schedules and then double-whammyed by required twice as many points worth it?
How about the Atlantic City diamond members? Last year, they were told that unless they had at least 1500 points, they'd have to pay a $10 entry fee to their diamond lounges because "we listen to our customers who have asked for more quality food in our diamond lounges, so in order for us to provide even better offerings, we will add this $10 requirement. It's been over a year and I've been told by many that absolutely nothing has changed in the diamond lounges.
If effect, Caesars have turned their Diamond perks into Platinum perks. The exception if for the highest leve of 7 Stars, who continue (and rightly so) to receive all the benefits and perks they always have. So, much like the cry of electoriate that the 2% get all the breaks, that appears to be Caesars policy. Give the rich that much more and take from everyone below. The gap between the "classes" continues to widen.
Some suspect that because of the CEO's buying frenzy that has put Ceasers into debt to the tune of many billions of dollars, he has chosen to squeeze the little guy out of some more bucks. Others suggest that Caesars is simply assumining that the Diamonds will just sit and take it.
So, obviously, what will this mean? If you love the line passes and the check in and the two tickets a month to their "B" shows, then I suppose you'll just play (and lose) more to maintain it. Personally, I feel that many will take the attitude that I have, and that is play out with the time I have and then move elsewhere with my play.
I'm just a couple thousand points away from re-newing diamond for 2013, so I suppose I'll make that but it will be my last time. In 2013, I'll continue to accept the occasional free rooms; I'll drink in the Diamond Lounges and scoff up some chiken wings. I'll work out in their fitness centers, and use my two free show tickets. I'll use up my Reward Credits and then when 2014 comes along, I'll be a higher tier with either Stations or Boyds' properties having not put ANY points on a Ceasers property at all.
All good things do come to and end. It's been a fun ride...good bye Caesars!
Their reasoning is that the requirements in four or five years. Anyone who is a diamond member knows that they have been diminishing the perks more and more over the years. When I first joined, the Diamond Lounges were open from 9 AM to 11 PM. Hot food was served from 11 AM to 11 PM. Diamond members were always given a "gift" at check in or in their room would be a welcome pack. Cash back was a regular expectation, comp rooms were for 7 nights a week and if there was a suite available, it was given to you automatically.
Fast forward to now: DL hours are now down to 4 PM to 11 PM (some places even close at 9 PM), hot food is regulated down to two hours (usually from 6 to 8) and what used to be full meals are now down to chicken wings and other deep fried finger foods. There are no gifts or sweet surprises in your room; nights are now Sun to Thur only and even then, they only block a few rooms on your offer and if you're late, the rooms are booked (New Orleans Harrahs is notorius for this).
All that is left is your Diamond Lounges with their finger foods and line passes and Diamond Registration. Is playing VP on machines are specifically set with lower pay schedules and then double-whammyed by required twice as many points worth it?
How about the Atlantic City diamond members? Last year, they were told that unless they had at least 1500 points, they'd have to pay a $10 entry fee to their diamond lounges because "we listen to our customers who have asked for more quality food in our diamond lounges, so in order for us to provide even better offerings, we will add this $10 requirement. It's been over a year and I've been told by many that absolutely nothing has changed in the diamond lounges.
If effect, Caesars have turned their Diamond perks into Platinum perks. The exception if for the highest leve of 7 Stars, who continue (and rightly so) to receive all the benefits and perks they always have. So, much like the cry of electoriate that the 2% get all the breaks, that appears to be Caesars policy. Give the rich that much more and take from everyone below. The gap between the "classes" continues to widen.
Some suspect that because of the CEO's buying frenzy that has put Ceasers into debt to the tune of many billions of dollars, he has chosen to squeeze the little guy out of some more bucks. Others suggest that Caesars is simply assumining that the Diamonds will just sit and take it.
So, obviously, what will this mean? If you love the line passes and the check in and the two tickets a month to their "B" shows, then I suppose you'll just play (and lose) more to maintain it. Personally, I feel that many will take the attitude that I have, and that is play out with the time I have and then move elsewhere with my play.
I'm just a couple thousand points away from re-newing diamond for 2013, so I suppose I'll make that but it will be my last time. In 2013, I'll continue to accept the occasional free rooms; I'll drink in the Diamond Lounges and scoff up some chiken wings. I'll work out in their fitness centers, and use my two free show tickets. I'll use up my Reward Credits and then when 2014 comes along, I'll be a higher tier with either Stations or Boyds' properties having not put ANY points on a Ceasers property at all.
All good things do come to and end. It's been a fun ride...good bye Caesars!
