You’ve been clamoring for more of my thoughts on this subject – so here they are. I don’t claim 100% accuracy or comprehensiveness here – but I don’t think even Boyd Gaming itself knows exactly what is going on at the moment. Maybe someone hiding in some lofty executive ivory tower office has all the answers, but I haven’t found any employees –bottom-level or high-executive – who know all the details of the recent players club changes or has even a rudimentary understanding of the math that is causing impossible situations for so many Boyd customers. Some wag on the Internet said he had figured it out, that someone in power at Boyd had decided that the company had too many customers and this new players club was solving this “problem” very quickly!
However, I’m not here to lecture Boyd Gaming, most certainly a waste of my time and tired aging brain cells. But I do want to help you readers, giving some details that might assist you in understanding the new system and also, if possible, give some options for your decisions going forward.
First, if you have not done so, check out my last few blogs where I have talked about the new B-Connected players club. Especially read this main one and the 57 and growing number of comments, where many of your questions may be discussed and answered.
Another thing you should do is log into the B-Connected website and check your account. (Register for one, if you haven’t already done that.) There you will find out what your present tier status is in the new system and, very importantly, you will also see how many tier credits you have now after they “converted” your old total earned, from January 1, 2018 until August 27, 2018 to a new – and very reduced! – total in the new system.
Here is where I am not 100% sure of the information I got from higher-level employees. But it seems that they are keeping you at the tier level you earned under the old system until the end of 2018, even though your new tier-level credit total might be below the new-system requirement for that level. However, you will need to reach the new-system requirement by the end of the year to retain that tier status for 2019. All tier-credit balances reset to zero on January 1 each year.
For example, Brad and I had earned Emerald earlier in 2018 so we are still Emerald until January 1, 2019, although our new tier-credit balance now is way below the 15,000 credits needed next year and beyond. If we don’t build up our tier-credit balance to 15,000 by the end of December this year (an impossible feat playing the same games we have formerly played), we will lose our Emerald status for 2019. (There has been some confusion about this, both on the part of customers and casino employees. But the latest information seems to support the interpretation that if we are just given (not earned) our continued tier until the end of the year, it does not come under the written rule that says: “When you advance to a higher tier, you’ll become eligible for those benefits for the rest of the year and all of the next year.”)
If you are Sapphire now AND your new tier-credit balance is 750+ after the “conversion” date, you will be Sapphire until the end of the year AND you will keep that tier level all of 2019. Most Emeralds (like Brad and I) probably now have at least 750+ new-system tier credits (what they ended up with after the “conversion” for their play earlier in the year) and thus will be Sapphire in 2019.
If, after the “conversion,” you do not have 750+ new-system tier credits, even if you have an unexpired Sapphire card, you may have been dropped down to Ruby. I’m not sure if this always happens but there have been numerous reports of it. This is a drastic event because under the new system Ruby players earn no “points.” (Remember the difference between tier “credits” and B-Connected “points,” the latter which are those you can redeem for cash, free play, or comps and that can be multiplied on bonus-point days.) Ruby players DO earn tier “credits” (that build up for rising tier levels) and Boyd has offered 2x tier credits for them “so they can get up to Sapphire level faster” and start earning redeemable “points.”
I see this discussion is getting long and probably so complicated that most reader eyes are getting glassed over. So I am going to call this Part 1 – and do a Part 2 when I’ve rested my brain. Stay tuned!
I visited The Orleans at the end of August. 8/27/18 was the drop date for the changes to the players cards. To my surprise all of my points disappeared. My husband and I noticed when we attempted to use some points for lunch. The B Connected office noticed the disappearance and started researching what happened. On Friday evening 8/31/18 I was told that it couldn’t be addressed until the next business day. The problem is by that time I was back home thousand of miles away. My points were found but according to BConnected rules I will lose all of my points at the end of the year.I will not be in Las Vegas again until next year so I was fleeced. In addition the nearest Boyd property from me is 6 hours away, so I guess Boyd is trying to push loyal customers away.
Other casinos have noticed and are starting to take advantage of it. I received a mailer from Rampart yesterday mocking the casino “down the boulevard” (Suncoast). In particular, they poke at the fact that unlike that “other casino”, Rampart video poker players know exactly how they’re getting tier credits. Pretty funny stuff there!
Boyd corporate doesn’t care much about a handful of disgruntled B Connected members posting on gambling forums. We’re obviously less profitable for them so I’m sure they see it as good riddance, just round up some new Ruby sheep! But I feel for the personnel who have to deal directly with all of these upset ex-players. Many of us have long time relationships with hosts and other casino personnel and it will be sad to move on from them.
I went to the Gold Coast on Aug. 29 and requested cash back for the balance of my B Connected account. Three people in front of me also cashed out. While the lady was preparing my check, she mentioned she was going to print a new Sapphire card for me. I told her don’t bother. I won’t be playing at the Boyd casinos any more.. She said sorry to see you go, but you know you will remain Sapphire until the end of 2019. I said thanks, but no thanks, I’ll just take my check and be on my way. I did go back to the GC last Sunday to use a free buffet coupon. It was the first time in 14 years I visited their casino and didn’t gamble. I looked around the casino and it seemed just as busy as always. I seriously doubt management really cares what anyone on this website has to say. I wouldn’t be surprised to read they are going to charge for parking to make up for any lost play.
Jean, Maybe you can forward these to the management at Boyd.
I made Emerald status in 2015 and 2016 playing $ VP. I did this by playing hard over 3-4 trips a year, and doing around 95K coin in per trip. I was given monthly — 4 nights, an “Aloha” food book, and $100 FP. Then in mid-2017 Boyd started messing with comps. My food book was replaced with a $25 food credit and my FP went down to $35. I took this as a slap in the face, and looked for better offers. I was getting offers from all the downtown properties. I took up El Cortez on one of their offers and I have been there since. These new changes will just ensure that Boyd sees even less of me going forward.
From what I read on their web site people are going to be surprised when they try to cash out their points. I hope Boyd had the foresight to hire more slot club personnel to accommodate the clamoring masses wanting to sign up for the new improved slot club. In the interest of full disclosure: My wife and I quit staying and playing at Boyd properties over a year ago. The properties (MS, Fremont, Gold Coast) had become too dirty, dingy, downtrodden, decrepit etc. The buffets have gone way down which was the proverbial last straw. We play at GVR and M now and Aquarius in Laughlin. We’re locals at Aquarius so their substandard food doesn’t bother us. They still have the most good vp in nonsmoking sections of any casino we’ve ever played in. I only play 9/6 JoB or 8/5 BP. My wife plays everything but!!! It’s also quite easy to attain their highest tier level (Red). They have the same spiel as Boyd concerning how to get tier credits, but their algorithm isn’t nearly as prohibitive as Boyd’s new one seems to be.
Why anyone would play at a Boyd casino will forever be a mystery to me since there are so many better options out there now. May the royals be with you.
I interpret Boyd’s corporate line to us VP players as very simply “don’t let the door hit you in the behind when you leave” regardless of any other way we might support them as customers. And it appears the only soft spot now is for locals who have Sapphire who can play during YAH. I sure hope I am wrong, but I suspect they are more likely to downgrade YAH before they bring anything back for us out-of-towners.
So here would be my questions that I am trying to learn as an out-of-town Ruby:
– Can the Ruby 2X for 100 tear credits ever be repeated? (Another casino or another day?)
– Do you get increased tear credits for playing less than full coin-in? (offering more theo per hand due to the reduced RF)
– Are their any decent room offers for out-of-town bare minimum Sapphire members?
I have never made Sapphire, but as an out-of-town Ruby on the old system I have gone from an easy time getting free rooms with no resort fee any night of the week, to offers earlier this year of pay just the ($24) resort fee on select nights (which I was actually very content with), to now $99 per night + resort fee + taxes on select nights only… Yeah, they want me gone every bit as much as any of you, but if there is any chance they might have room offers for bare minimum Sapphire members with more 2X tear credits to get there, I might just consider it.
And thanks for you blog, Jean!
Wow, I have been trying to hold my own at Sams Town Tunica until I could get back to Vegas. My 1000+ points converted to 46. Sooooooooo, I interpret that to mean I have play 22 times as much to get back to a thousand. That kind of blows. I almost feel that understanding the new system isn’t worth it and to just cash out my others points and move on.
I would think that the powers that be at Boyd Gaming are in meetings right now to ward off the bad publicity they received over this Player Club thing . Would be surprised if they aren’t rolling out a clear understanding of the new Players Club shortly , perhaps with a few changes to the program , as to get back into the good graces with their players . To anger their players would be a terrible business decision , but maybe that doesn’t apply to the gaming industry . Too many players don’t pay attention to detail , so they come anyway , just like they play for hours on 5/7 machines at Beau Rivage in Biloxi .
By the way, the folks at Stations must be dancing on top of their desks right about now. For the person/s who asked, Stations, South Coast, Four Queens, and the M seem to still be pretty good re comps and offers. Of course, I say that on a relative basis.
It seems so absolutely brain-dead for Boyd to have done some of these things, but the absolute worst is that the lowest tier players will earn NOTHING toward comps or cashback! Can you imagine the reaction of Duke and Hazel from Paducah who visit Sam’s Town, drop $500 on the slots over a weekend, and then find out that they’ve earned nothing whatsoever?
For what it’s worth, I’m still Sapphire according to their website. For now. Maybe they’ll bring out a new tier level for everyone in 2019–“Tin” or maybe “Dirt.”
Boyd Gaming needs to clarify their new Players Club in simple terms and do it quick before they lose many of us . I just can’t believe it’s as bad as it appears . Why would a business shoot themselves in the foot and hurt their bottom line over a few minimal benefits that they were giving players . Those benefits are there to encourage players to come back and to play at their properties , not to turn them off and leave . It just doesn’t make good business sense . Guess we just have to wait and see .
As a 15 year Boyd customer who played vp, bj, and some slots, I quit Boyd’s until they revert back to the old system or one that is equivalent. Station’s, South point and Mresort have significantly better rewards. If you want a change, then I suggest you boycott Boyds. #boycottboyds
Arrived in Vegas on Sept 1 with my Emerald card expiring on March 2019 Lost 553,000 credits but new card is still Emerald due to
Expire December 2019…spoke to different hosts at Gold Coast Orleans and Fremont..will go to zero tier credits January 1 and will have all of 2019 to earn tier credits . Bonus points will expire if not used in 6 month time period.So new levels were created..what Emerald lost in benefits is early check at Orleans $32 surcharge at front desk before 1 p.m. Obviously Boyd is taking away our little incentives to remain Emerald instead of just giving the 2 new levels more..if u just play video poker u will never be Emerald again..too hard to acquire points..much easier on slot machines to stay Emerald. You can be loyal to Boyd but that are not being loyal to us..the grand prize cruise on Labor wasn’t free you had to pay airfare! No more daily multipliers for bonus points..sad!thanks Jean for spreading the word!
The 2x tier credit for Ruby level ONLY applies to the first 100 points you earn AND you only get that if you swipe your card at a kiosk.
I can’t think of any other player’s club where the lowest tier level is prohibited from earning comp/freeplay/cash back points.
If you swipe your Ruby card at the kiosk to earn 2x tier points on your first 100 tier points earned, you still have to earn 650 tier points before you begin to earn comp/freeplay/cash back points. Playing slots only, that’s a minimum of $3250 played thru before you earn any rewards. And if you play video poker, that minimum spend would have to be MUCH higher(in the neighborhood of $20k minimum, depending on the game and paytable according to some who have played and tracked their tier credit earnings)before you earn any comp/freeplay/cashback points.
And Ruby members can’t participate in the Young At Heart promo.
Of course, two of the biggest failures concerning this change are: 1)Implementing and announcing it without even club personnel and hosts not understanding it and not at all being prepared to answer all questions. 2)Rolling it out in the middle of the year instead of the beginning of 2019 and giving everyone a clean start.
I have been a loyal Boyd customer from Texas for decades. This has ended. I will visit in late September and cash all points that I (might) have. Please suggest an alternative company with fair VP and decent rewards. Palms? Thanks for all you do.
First of all I think at some point when they realize how many players they are losing and they will say to them selves “what were we thinking?!?”. Until that happens there are plenty of other places to play.
I wonder how much excitement there was at the Stations Headquarters the day Boyd announced they made these changes. I see over the course of the next year a lot of Boyd’s faithful video poker players leaving. I wouldn’t be surprised if some of the other locals casinos begin to advertise how their player cards compare to Boyd’s. Most of Stations video poker machines require $334 of play to generate $1 in cash. Boyd now makes it impossible for Ruby to generate cash back and once you make it to Sapphire $2,000 of play to generate $1 in cash.
“Boyd has offered 2x tier credits for them “so they can get up to Sapphire level faster””
As far as I’ve read, the 2x multiplier is only valid for September, and is only on the first 100 tier credits. So, earn 100 TCs, and your account will be credited with an extra 100 TCs, one time only. You’re still 550 TCs away from Sapphire, and have to earn all those at 1x, while continuing to not earn any B Connected (comp) points. The marketing folks at Boyd have their spin meter set to 100%, but it’s not fooling anyone who is paying attention. They’ve lost me as a customer, and I know I’m not the only one.
As the discussion has been so extensive and the changes made are so confusing, allow me to simplify things by summing up the new Boyd players’ club in succinct fashion:
Much worse.
Well, it appears I’m not as bad off a some: Sapphire with more than 750, so that will carry over through 2019. Last visit was in August, so I’ll need to come back by February to keep BConnected points. But all 2018 tier credits disappear on New Year’s Day, so it might be better to wait until January to check it out. Even then, it may not be economical to continue because of the low tier credit rates reported here. An exact analysis is not possible for VP, but it doesn’t look good.
Six months from February takes us past the next WSOP. After that, the crystal ball becomes cloudy.
I believe this will negatively impact their bottom line. When and if it does perhaps things will change again, then maybe not. In the meantime I am glad I had the foresight to empty my point account. In the meantime there are many other local casinos where you can make your money last longer. Stations, South Point, and the M to name just a few.
George
We must stick together and Boycott Boyd properties. There are other Casino’s. Station’s is and option and Southpoint too.
Jean , what does it mean ” All tier-credit balances reset to zero on January 1 each year ??? Really ????? Everybody back to Ruby ???
We live in Columbus , Georgia . After many trips over the years to Vegas , we have been making a monthly 5 hour drive to Biloxi in recent years . Stayed and played at the IP Biloxi and both of us were Sapphire level players . By the way , for those who don’t know , the IP Biloxi is a Boyd property . We haven’t been there since my husband’s back surgery in May , so due to the monthly purging of card scores , our levels fell below the required 100,000 . Checked our new tier status and points at B Connected on line . I now have 7665 tier score , my husband ‘s was converted to 5116 tier score , which makes both of us still Sapphire . Of course Sapphire has been so downgraded and we lost the few privileges it gave us before the conversion . Our points were carried over correctly . Read that some had their points wiped out too .
I can’t believe they downgraded an emerald player to ruby as it happened to the above writer . Obviously an error on the part of Boyd . Or does it matter where you play , what property ? Who knows !
Just amazing how they rolled out a new player club system that nobody understands , not even the employees . This has really been rolled out and managed very poorly . Lots of very unhappy Boyd players .
As an out-of-towner, I used to enjoy visiting Boyd properties 2 or 3 times a year. Their system has become so complicated and frustrating that I have simply written them off as gambling options for all of my future visits to Vegas.
Jean
You do not necessarily retain your “old” status until the end of 2018
I was emerald (always had been emerald since they started the system) and had over
334000 credits towards renewal on August 27
They downgraded me to ruby, and awarded me zero new tier credits
Richard