Question of the Day - 12 November 2015

We posed this query to Frugal Vegas blogger Jean Scott, who responded thusly:

This turned out to be not an easy question to answer, although I have been a long-time player at Caesars properties and thought I was pretty knowledgeable about the Total Rewards program. However, my experience has been with machine play only: I not only haven't played table games in CET casinos, but it turned out that I didn't know any serious table game players, either.

So, the first thing I did, as I usually do when I need casino information, was to check the Total Rewards website where, as expected, I easily found the detailed information I already knew regarding how to earn Reward and Tier Credits for machine play. I was surprised to see, however, that there were no equivalent specifics for table games, nor other casino games (poker, sports betting, etc.). Here is the sum total of information I found regarding how to earn points from gambling:

• Slot Machines - Earn at least 1 Tier Credit for every $5 you play on a reel slot machine or $10 on a video poker machine. Some machines have lower earn rates and these games will be clearly marked with the different rate.
• Table games - Earn Tier Credits based on the type of table game you are playing, your average bet and how long you play.
• Poker - Earn Tier Credits based on the type of game and how long you play.

In light of this vagueness, I visited an online chat forum to see if I could get some first-hand input from CET table game players. I heard from craps, poker, and blackjack players – and even a keno player – and most complained that there were too many factors involved -- not just the ones mentioned above -- plus there was no company-wide standard: It varies from casino to casino and even from one pit boss to another, since human discretion is involved. One knowledgeable player responded, "Earning on table games is not as transparent as it is on machines. I actually switched to VP as my main game specifically for the ease of predicting points and the speed at which they accrue."

In short, the consensus was that racking up credits any way, except playing machines, was a very slow process and inaccurate science that obliges you to risk a lot more money to get to the same tier level. If anyone reading this would care to share their personal experiences, feel free to write in and we'll include your empirical feedback as an "Update" to today's answer.

• "My experience has been that if you specifically want points, your best bet is to play machines. As noted in the QOD answer, the schedules are reasonably understandable so you know what you will get. That said, if you are looking for specific comps like rooms, meals, shows, limo rides, etc. you are better off playing table games. If you talk to a casino host and tell them what you are looking for, they will usually give you a pretty good idea of the amount of play you’ll need to do to get it. For example, I was taking my niece to Vegas for her 21st birthday and wanted some special extras. I’m a craps player and had been getting rooms and meals for several years. When I asked the host they told me how many more hours I’d need to play for some of the pricier shows, or they said with no extra play they could still make the reservations in good seats for me and comp a limo ride. I chose paying and the seats were great - next to a sitting US Senator -- and by asking at least I knew my options."
• "My lengthy experience at playing blackjack at black chip level ($100 a hand) ever since Total Rewards began, and consulting with both my executive casino host and many pit bosses over the years, taught me that you’ll only earn about 25-50 tier credits per hour at that level of play. Red/Green chip players earn next to nothing and are only tracked so the casino can determine if you are of any value to them. Since dollar slots at Caesar’s/Harrah’s have a payback of roughly 94 percent, you can expect to put 12,500 through such a slot in order to earn 2,500 tier credits with a theoretical loss of $750.00. On video poker you would have to put $25,000 coin in to earn 2,500 tier credits. As you are aware, there are only a handful of decent machines at Harrah’s and Caesar’s, which are multi-hand games in the High Limit areas. Otherwise, you’ll be lucky to find a machine that pays out more than 98 percent with perfect play. That would have a theoretical loss of $500 but unless you’re very lucky as well as good, that could easily be a $2,500 loss. The bottom line is….DON’T CHASE CREDITS JUST BECAUSE CAESARS OFFERS YOU A BONUS FOR THIS EXTRA PLAY. I’m Diamond but I don’t take a trip to Vegas unless the casino offers me some good free play, as well as the suite I get for free. I no longer go to the Great Gift Wrap-up because I get no free play, and the points I earn aren’t going to get me more than a decent Dooney purse for the wife."