February News
I’m feeling a little old today. My little girl – Angela, the Frugal Princess – is turning 50 today. However, I can handle that easier than accepting the fact that she is now a grandmother, pushing me up into the great-grandma category!
Now for February casino talk. Watch for promotions for the 14th, Valentines Day, and for the 18th, Presidents’ Day. And a reminder that you need to check casino websites EVERY month. Some casinos regularly change out their promotions each month, but often “on-going” promotions are changed or even completely stopped. Here are some changes I found:
STRATOSPHERE (and other Golden Entertainment properties)
A major change, from a press release:
On Sunday, Feb. 3, the Stratosphere, Casino, Hotel & Tower will begin its transition to The STRAT Hotel, Casino and SkyPod, a rebrand that embodies the revolution of the iconic property since Golden Entertainment, Inc. took ownership in late 2017. Two commercials will air during the Super Bowl: “Strat Rising,” announcing the rebrand, and “Take the World for a Spin,” showcasing the property’s award-winning Top of the World restaurant.
The STRAT will be the first of Golden Entertainment’s properties to introduce True Rewards, a comprehensive gaming rewards program that will soon be available at 130+ locations, including: Arizona Charlie’s Decatur and Arizona Charlie’s Boulder in Las Vegas; Aquarius Casino Resort, Colorado Belle Hotel & Casino Resort and Edgewater Hotel & Casino Resort in Laughlin, Nev.; Rocky Gap Casino Resort in Flintstone, Md.; Pahrump Nugget Hotel & Casino, Gold Town Casino and Lakeside Casino & RV Park in Pahrump, Nev. True Rewards will also replace the current rewards program at all of PT’s Entertainment Group’s 60+ taverns, including PT’s Pub, PT’s Gold, PT’s Ranch, PT’s Brewing Company, Sean Patrick’s, Sierra Gold and SG Bar; as well as at all Smith’s and Albertson’s in Nevada, which are operated by Golden Route Operations, Golden Entertainment’s distributed gaming division.
CAESARS ENTERTAINMENT
On February 1 Caesars changed the name of its players club from Total Rewards to Caesars Rewards. They did not change the basic structure of the program. You keep your same account number, the tier system stays unchanged, and you can earn the same daily tier bonuses.
They have added a couple of new benefits: Diamond and Seven Stars members will receive 2 free nights at the new Caesars Palace Dubai destination. And after many years of automatic comped rooms for Seven Stars and then last year with no specific comped room benefit at any level, players receive 1 free night in Las Vegas or Atlantic City for every 5,000 Tier Credits earned in 2019, up to 7 nights.
The CET website is very hard to navigate and find details of all their programs – a real game of “follow the links.” For benefits go here and read every word, including those tiny-print notes at the bottom of the page. For current and on-going promotions go here So many special requirements and restrictions. Many times you will need to click on the many “Learn more” to find out the necessary details.
PALMS
Palms players are in a major state of confusion. Their February mailers have ZERO bonus multiplier days. When they check the Stations website for February promotions, they find that the Palms is almost completely left off the list where each promotion is going on. No Military Mondays or My Generation. Is this a first – a casino that doesn’t want any kind of gamblers?
The Palms is even left off the list in the full-page Stations ad in today’s paper, promoting the Monopoly Mania Kiosk Game. That ad is very tricky since it is describing TWO Monopoly promos. The bottom of the ad (the smaller part) is promoting the Monopoly Big Time Bonus, that jackpot that hits every once in awhile at each of the 10 properties. The Palms IS listed there. However, the biggest part of the ad is for the Monopoly Kiosk game and at the end of the details for that there are only 9 properties listed. Which one is missing? The Palms, of course.
Have I said this before – I just don’t understand casino marketing these days.
The Strat changes look horrible as they loose their comped Limo and 4X comp points.
I have a question in regards to the Total Rewards 2019 status level chart: Is the monthly comped show tickets, still a benefit? It is not mentioned anywhere, that I could find. Also, as shown on the Seven Stars Insider blog; there will be new
up-charges to the Diamond Lounges for Premium drinks, if you are under 75,000 tier points!
“Diamond members qualify to book at Caesars Resort Dubai and Seven Stars members qualify to book at Caesars Palace Dubai. Members can book ONE Dubai benefit stay per benefit year (February 1 – January 31, annually). Airfare and other expenses not included. Additional restrictions apply.”
Not that I would be planning a Dubai trip, but fine print #13 suggests two different hotels, “Caesars Resort Dubai” for Diamond players, and “Caesars Palace Dubai” for Seven Stars players. As Jean said, must read carefully!
Here’s the link to the True Rewards web site: https://www.truerewards.com/. It pretty much answers everything but the tier transfer. The ACE Play has 4 levels and the new one five.
Here’s the rollout schedule for Golden’s True Rewards:
The Strat Hotel, Casino & SkyPod |February 19
Arizona Charlie’s Casino – Boulder | March 5
Arizona Charlie’s Casino – Decatur | March 12
Aquarius Casino Resort | March 19
PT’s Entertainment Group | April 2
Smith’s & Albertsons | April 2
Rocky Gap Casino Hotel Resort | April 16
Pahrump Nugget Hotel & Casino | April 16
Gold Town Casino | April 16
Lakeside Casino & RV Park | April 16
Colorado Belle Hotel Casino Resort | June 2019
Edgewater Hotel Casino Resort | June 2019
I emailed them to see about tier levels and bonus points transferring to the new system. I’ll update ASAP with that information. I am not expecting this to be a wonderful thing!!! May the royals v\be with you.
Thank’s for your good info!
Went into Palms today and Reward Center said they are not participating in any Station promo and also do not have any of their own. And for players who are not invited guests it takes 1000 points to get a gift(no thank you)…We like the swipe game better this month F-SA-SUN at Orleans and . I guess, other Boyd properties.. Their 1 tier credit swipe has good prizes for us rubies trying to get to Sapphire and finally earn points again. The peel game has given me 100 tier credits each of the first 2 days.
Sorry to hear your home casino, the Palms, is treating seniors so poorly.
It is hard to imagine what logic they are using. We are from Phoenix
and gamble almost exclusively at Station properties. Our favorite being Green Valley. We have stayed at the Palms and given them a lot of play while tbere. We don’t seem to get near the quality of offers from them that we do from Red Rock and Green Valley. In fact both of us usually get a version of the same offer but slightly different because we don’t play at the same rate. The Palms often only sends an offer to the one of us that plays at the higher rate. Never mind the one at the lower rate puts through 100K in a weekend. No offer other than free room. They don’t seem to want return customers from out of town either!!