Harrah's Total Rewards

I just came from Harrah's for purposes of doing a review. Another mission of the trip was to figure out the fine points of how Harrah's "Total Rewards" program works. Basically, there are three types of points: Base Reward Credits, Bonus Reward Credits, and Tier Credits. Here is a quick definition of each:

Base Reward Credits: These are earned by gambling or "entertainment purchases." They may be redeemed for comps at a ratio of 100 credits for $1.

Bonus Reward Credits: Same as base reward credits, but earned at different rates. The redemption rate is the same.

Tier Credits: These are only used to advance in level and are not cashable. For example, if you earn 11,000 tier credits in a calendar year, then you can attain Diamond status. Tier credits are also earned at the same rate as base reward credits.

The following table shows my understanding of how many points are earned from $100 in play or purchases. I have omitted a column for tier credits, because those are always earned at the same rate as base reward credits. The figure for pai gow is approximate, and based on my own play.

Game	Base Reward	Bonus Reward	Comments
Slots	20	0
Video poker	10	0
Pai gow (tiles)	3.2	0
Sports	a	b	a+b=25
Racing	c	d	c+d=200
Keno	60	90
Entertainment purchases	20	80

Now is my chance to ask y'all a question.

1. Is any of this incorrect?
2. Does anyone know the breakdown of base reward and bonus reward credits in race and/or sports?

Thank you.

Quote: Wizard

Tier Credits: These are only used to advance in level and are not cashable. For example, if you earn 11,000 tier credits in a calendar year, then you can attain Diamond status. Tier credits are also earned at the same rate as base reward credits.

Either that's a mistake or it used to be 10,000.

My wife was Diamond. Last year she only had around 9,200 and they gave it to her without her asking.

I got the 11,000 right from the broshure, which is in my lap. I think they changed some rules on 1/1/2010. Maybe it is an old broshure, but I must have spent half an hour bothering the people at the Total Rewards counter yesterday and today, and nobody mentioned that those figures were in error. Once recent change is the one-trip (3 day) requirement to a one-day requirement as follows:

2000 pts for Plantinum
3000 pts for Diamond

They changed it to 11k (These go to eleven...Spinal Tap) from 10k in 2008 I believe. Wizard, I have gotten Bonus Credits on slots before, I can't figure out how they are assigned at all.

Quote: cclub79

Wizard, I have gotten Bonus Credits on slots before, I can't figure out how they are assigned at all.

Thanks. I wonder if the bonus credits to truly bonuses, as opposed to something in the contract. Their web site says, "Whether you play slots, video poker or table games, you'll earn Reward Credits every time you play with your Total Rewards card. You'll earn 1 Base Reward Credit for every $5 coin-in on reel slots, or for every $10 coin-in on video poker." You would think, by ommission, that slots and video poker don't get Bonus Credits. If they did, why wouldn't they advertise that?

I think I also had some bonus credits on my account, and I have no idea how I earned them. I only played table games, and I don't think you get Bonus Credits there either.

I know you get bonus points on slots and video poker (and also table games, I think), but I don't know the arcane formulae they use to award them. It seems to be based on your ADT (theoretical loss). Play a game with a high house edge (say, 6/5 Jacks) and you get lots of bonus RCs. Play a game with a low house edge (say, 9/5 Jacks or blackjack) and you might not get anything. Slots will probably give them out like candy if you're betting big.

The quick upgrade path ("Diamond in a Day") has been only one day for a while, like several years now from what I've been able to gather (at least since 2006), so the three day timeframe must have been a long time ago. Double check with the casino for their definition of a day... they might not all be midnight to midnight. I also don't know if you can split the play across multiple casinos.

Also, you may or may not want to add video craps. They don't exist in Vegas as near as I can tell, so technically they're outside the scope of this website, but they exist at other Harrah's properties and can affect offers in Vegas, so it's up to you. They award 5 base points per $100.

To further add to the mystery of how Bonus Reward Credits are earned:

"Every time you earn a Base Reward Credit, a Tier Credit is added to your annual Tier Score, which determines your Tier Status. Tier Credits are earned during a calendar year (January 1 - December 31). Bonus Reward Credits are extra comps that may be awarded automatically while you play. Your Base Reward Credits and Bonus Reward Credits together get banked into your Reward Credit balance to be used or saved for the comp you desire. Bonus Reward Credits do not count towards your Tier Score or Tier Status." -- harrahs.custhelp.com

"Bonus Reward Credits depend on Theo and other factors" -- vpfree2.com.

The poker world is abuzz over CET's recent changes to comps at all properties across the country. There's been a 40% reduction in tier credits allotted to players who play 1/2 and 1/3NL games, from 28 TC per hour to 17 TC. This means if you attained Diamond by poker alone before (like I did), it used to require 393 hours at the tables. Now it will require 633 hours. Platinum status was 143 hours, and is now 230 hours. They have compensated a bit by offering higher dollar comps in certain properties for certain games; PHo now grants $2/hr instead of $1/hr, and I hear that 2/4 players get $0.50 in reward credits per hour now, and 8 tier credits. 3/6 and 4/8 is $1 and 17. 5/10 and up is $2 and 34. Higher limit players and NL players in AC get higher TC than LV players do (For NL, 1/2 is $1 and 17. 1/3 (AC) is $1.50 and 26. 2/5 and up is $2 and 34.)

This is not announced publicly yet, internal memo that many dealers don't even realize. But watching how TC points are awarded on your TR website confirms the new point system.

I tend to think in cost of a point. For Keno, you indicate that you will earn 1 base point for every $1.67 bet where your have to bet $5.00 to earn that same point in slots and $10.00 on VP. I concur with slots and VP but could you confirm the Keno? Does that apply to the Caveman Keno and Cleopatra Keno machines as well or just the actual Keno area?

Another thing I think that is worth mentioning in regards to earning tier credits is that when you are playing a slot or video poker game with your reward card in the machine, the reader gives you a count down of how much more money is needed to be played through the machine before you earn your next point. For example $10 in vp play is needed for 1 tier credit. So if you are playing a $0.25 vp machine with max bet you will notice the reader go down from 1000, 875, 750, . . .I don't know if it is really worth continuing to play the needed amount to reach the next point, but if I am ready to cash out and I notice I only need $2.50 more through the machine I will usually play it so I can get the next point.