Total Rewards Diamond Questions

Let me apologize up front if this isn't the correct forum for this question (but the Gambling with an Edge forum seemed right).

I did the Diamond in a Day for the first time ever back in 2016 playing Video Poker in Lake Tahoe. I earned almost exactly 5000 Tier points (and got the 10,000 point bonus for that). So my first question is "was that a mistake to earn exactly 5000? Should I have earned maybe a couple hundred more to make it look like a just some random player?"

During 2017, I was receiving monthly offers all of the time (free weekend rooms, usually about $25 in free play, and often some gift was thrown in, like a free watch or a bottle of booze). I took advantage of about 3 or 4 of those offers. On one of those free trips I did another DIAD for the next year, but other than that, I pretty much just played live poker and earned very few tier points. Now in more free weekends. So, did I blow it by not dumping some $$ in a slot machine on each trip?

Also, assuming I am on their "bum" list, can I earn my way back to good standing if I earn more Tier points this year? By that I mean yes, I will do another DIAD, but I plan on earning at least 25,000 points this year (for free access to Diamond Lounges). If I earn 30,000+ tier points in 2018, does anyone know if I can expect to see more free offers again?

Thank you for any advice.

All my opinion and experience as multi-year diamond.

The low-value poker hurt your rating and affected your offers negatively.

The individual properties give you about a year after a decent amount of high-value play. If they see you returning several times without keeping up the DIAD level of play during your stays, your offers will fade early. If you don't return to a property after about a year, they fade you off their mailers as well.

Even so, you should have a window of opportunity to still get some free nights while still diamond , but the other stuff will likely not be offered again until you do some serious play.

You definitely can re-establish with them. If you give them 1 good visit, you'll start to see the room offers return almost immediately. If you give them several over a year with good play, you'll get the free play, invites to tournaments for any games they know you play, some special events, within a couple of months of returning.

If you get lined up with a host, they will get you some invites you wouldn't otherwise receive. They will also get you comps and rooms you can't book yourself. And they can advise you and get you invited to other properties' special events. It's always been smart to have a host, for me.

I concur with what BBB said. The Diamond offers are pretty good. I get offers for free hotel rooms and low-level tournaments all the time and haven't played a dime in a Caesars property since January I think. In my experience, and what everyone seems to say, they put a big priority on "trip theoretical." In other words, how much will you lose in theory on a trip. Playing poker only on a trip would be very bad for your theoretical as poker is not a very profitable game for the casino. For this reason, if you plan to stay at a Caesars property but not put in any serious play that will look profitable from their point of view, then play anonymously. It sounds illogical that you can be punished for playing, but you can.

Whether its known as Caesars, CET, The Evil Empire, The Thundering Herd or whatever, they are famous for constantly monitoring their players and their comp systems

Pretty much all comps are based on a player's "Theo", but CET is famous for comparing theo to actual.

It used to be that files were kept on index cards and that is why only Theo mattered, the casinos never tracked actual. Casinos want to see the money that you risk, not the money up in your room or in your wallet. It used to be that if you were comped on your theo and it would be unadjusted by what actually happened except in extreme circumstances of extreme wins or extreme losses.

Now your theo is a starting point. Poker players take money from each other but they often bring spouses who gamble and poker players themselves often gamble in the main casino as well as the poker room.

I don't know if anonymous poker play will help. If you made a reservation thru their computers they know you are in town and if you are absent from anything in the main casino I don't see how their finding you in the poker room will be of any use to them. Playing a high house edge slot machine would impress their computer perhaps but its the absence of action that is hurting you.

Quote: FleaStiff

If you made a reservation thru their computers they know you are in town ...

I certainly don't know for sure but I have a friend who was not only Seven Stars but courted like royalty by them. Once she accepted a fully-paid trip to Vegas and she told her host she didn't plan to gamble, but just relax, that trip and the host was totally fine with it. However, her husband paid for a coffee with her points and that is what triggered a "trip." She didn't find out until they got back home and was furious at her husband for causing a zero-play trip to get averaged into her theo. She said it significantly depressed her offers.

Quote: Wizard

I certainly don't know for sure but I have a friend who was not only Seven Stars but courted like royalty by them. Once she accepted a fully-paid trip to Vegas and she told her host she didn't plan to gamble, but just relax, that trip and the host was totally fine with it. However, her husband paid for a coffee with her points and that is what triggered a "trip." She didn't find out until they got back home and was furious at her husband for causing a zero-play trip to get averaged into her theo. She said it significantly depressed her offers.

I don't think anyone has ever gotten to the bottom of this. I was always under the impression that when checking into the hotel you trigger the start of your trip. I was also told your date of check out doesn't count, so if you are not planning on playing like normal on check out day, either don't play, or play without your card.

Quote: Jmarch79

I don't think anyone has ever gotten to the bottom of this.

I know players discuss Caesars rules and policies a lot, to try to game them. Very high level players, just about anywhere, can negotiate their comps. Smart ones can easily negotiate to get more than they give back. I think that was what happened with my friend, she had her host arrange and pay for an "off the record" trip. It was that coffee that put it on the record.

Quote: beachbumbabs

If you get lined up with a host, they will get you some invites you wouldn't otherwise receive. They will also get you comps and rooms you can't book yourself. And they can advise you and get you invited to other properties' special events. It's always been smart to have a host, for me.

First, THANK YOU to all of the responses. I would click on the "thank you" for each, but that seems a bit much....

BeachBum, I have thought about contacting a host, but always felt they would laugh and ask me "what do I have to offer?" since I am primarily a live poker player.

But, let me ask this; since my Diamond in a Day activity has always been done in Lake Tahoe, and my live poker play is in both in Vegas and Tahoe, am I crazy to try to get a host in Vegas? I could see a Vegas host saying "sure, put $50,000 through our Video Poker and I'll gladly give you some comps..." but we all know that the CET video poker in Vegas pretty much sucks.

Also, for what it's worth, I leave for Vegas tomorrow. Does it matter which property I get a host at (I'm staying at the Rio, but other than WSOP time, I usually stay at Flamingo, Harrah's or even Caesars occasionally). Perhaps I should contact a host at the Rio?

Thanks again everyone. Even though I don't post often, I always appreciate the insights found here!

A non-forum member tells me I'm wrong about the coffee triggering the trip and the husband incorrectly got the blame. He may be right. This was also several years ago at least.

Quote: Wungee

First, THANK YOU to all of the responses. I would click on the "thank you" for each, but that seems a bit much....

BeachBum, I have thought about contacting a host, but always felt they would laugh and ask me "what do I have to offer?" since I am primarily a live poker player.

But, let me ask this; since my Diamond in a Day activity has always been done in Lake Tahoe, and my live poker play is in both in Vegas and Tahoe, am I crazy to try to get a host in Vegas? I could see a Vegas host saying "sure, put $50,000 through our Video Poker and I'll gladly give you some comps..." but we all know that the CET video poker in Vegas pretty much sucks.

Also, for what it's worth, I leave for Vegas tomorrow. Does it matter which property I get a host at (I'm staying at the Rio, but other than WSOP time, I usually stay at Flamingo, Harrah's or even Caesars occasionally). Perhaps I should contact a host at the Rio?

Thanks again everyone. Even though I don't post often, I always appreciate the insights found here!

Most CET hosts are no longer on-site. They do it from the corporate office, which is in Vegas. But they work with you by phone or email.

Call (702) 785-5179 yet tonight, tell them you're diamond and inbound, and ask them to evaluate your Diamond account, and that you would lIke to step up your rating with them . Chances are you have already been assigned a host, but might not know it. Anyone who answers will be able to help.

You can also approach hosts on duty in any property, but it's likely they will send you to the same number at some point. Conversely, if you get set up with the corporate host, you will almost certainly hear from an on-site person a couple of times. They usually put a note in on the check-in reservation and call the room a couple of times, asking what they can do for you.

Quote: Wizard

A non-forum member tells me I'm wrong about the coffee triggering the trip and the husband incorrectly got the blame. He may be right. This was also several years ago at least.

I thought that seemed off too. A single coffee(That wasn't even purchased by the person who earned the points)shouldn't indirectly cause your offers to drop. In my local, the Cashier at the Casino Cafeteria made me show ID before I could use my points for a meat dish with two sides. Presumably because many low lives will take out abandoned Player's Club cards out of machines and steal complete strangers' points to eat at the deli.

Quote: Wizard

A non-forum member tells me I'm wrong about the coffee triggering the trip and the husband incorrectly got the blame. He may be right. This was also several years ago at least.

I am not sure I agree your non-forum friend. For a fact, any time a Total Rewards card is swiped (kiosk, comp purchase, inserted in a machine) a trip is triggered.

Quote: Nathan

I thought that seemed off too. A single coffee(That wasn't even purchased by the person who earned the points)shouldn't indirectly cause your offers to drop. In my local, the Cashier at the Casino Cafeteria made me show ID before I could use my points for a meat dish with two sides. Presumably because many low lives will take out abandoned Player's Club cards out of machines and steal complete strangers' points to eat at the deli.

Whenever you reply to a post that is not in 'Nathan's Corner :D' a little piece of me dies inside.

Quote: Wizard

I certainly don't know for sure but I have a friend who was not only Seven Stars but courted like royalty by them. Once she accepted a fully-paid trip to Vegas and she told her host she didn't plan to gamble, but just relax, that trip and the host was totally fine with it. However, her husband paid for a coffee with her points and that is what triggered a "trip." She didn't find out until they got back home and was furious at her husband for causing a zero-play trip to get averaged into her theo. She said it significantly depressed her offers.

From a business end, which you obviously understand, why would any business accept this? If “she” is a ploppy or someone who has figured a way to Jimmie the system, what host would do this? Assume they lose enough each trip, or in a dream world, play enough to gain an acceptable Theo, why would this make a difference?

I call total BS on this story. Either you are a top player in the CZR system or you are not. It sucks, but they know if you are a money maker for them or you are not, as any host knows,

And any host who has a player like this would be able to cover this trip “mistake” and override any charged comp difference.

Do the hosts even take personal attention to care what any one person does? I complained to a CET host once about a really rude staff member and she basically said she couldn't do anything at all.

It depends on where you play.. My local CET properties still have hosts on site, and mine is a godsend for getting me in promotions I normally wouldn't qualify for and rooms that would normally be locked, so looking for a host is a great thing to do. I always go by the motto of ask, what's the worst you can be told, "No?"... You never know until you do ask.