To learn about the updates to the newly rebranded Caesars Rewards, check out our article: Caesars Rewards – What’s New?
WHAT IS TOTAL REWARDS?
Total Rewards is the rewards program for Caesars Entertainment. Mainly, through play at their casinos, guests earn reward credits that can be used on a variety of perks. Benefits for Total Rewards members range from discounts at dining and retail outlets at the participating resorts, to cash in exchange for redeeming reward credits.
The program consists of 2 separate (but often confused) elements: Tier Credits and Reward Credits. The easy way to think of it is this: Tier Credits are where you stand in the hierarchy of the rewards program. You can’t spend Tier Credits. Reward Credits are what you can spend. The amount of money needed to earn Tier Credits and Reward Credits is the same, meaning, you accumulate both simultaneously. Reward Credits can fluctuate throughout the year based on the amount of credits you spend. Tier Credits will only increase throughout the year, until 11:59pm on New Years Eve. Then, all the millions of program members Tier Scores will go back to zero. Everyone in the world, don’t panic, you still keep your reward credits (providing you earn at least 1 tier credit in a 6 month window).
The higher your Tier Score, the more benefits you are eligible for. You will receive monthly mailers and emails detailing all the benefits that you have available. When starting out, you may be eligible for discounted rates on rooms at the resorts. However, as your tier score increases you might start to see offers for complimentary cruises, gift giveaways, free concert tickets, etc. There are some pretty cool things that come your way as a Total Reward member. You earn all of these benefits through your play at the casinos, so in our opinion, it makes sense to take advantage of these perks. The list of benefits really is impressive.
Caesars Palace, Las Vegas
WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT TIERS AND HOW DO I MOVE UP?
Here is a breakdown of the amount of Tier Credits associated with each level. Remember…tier credits is your standing in the program…not to be confused with Reward Credits. You are basically playing for next year’s status, and what we mean by this is that whatever level your Tier Score qualified you for by the last second of the year, that is the LEVEL you will start out at on January 1st the following year. So, if you are a Seven Stars guest, but in the current calendar year accumulate a tier score of 22,000, then the following year when the benefits calendar resets, you will move down to a Diamond card. So, just because you achieved a certain level, doesn’t mean that you keep that level every year, you need to play to maintain that level.
GOLD = 0+ TIER CREDITS
PLATINUM = 5,000+ TIER CREDITS
DIAMOND = 15,000+ TIER CREDITS
SEVEN STARS = 150,000+ TIER CREDITS
Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort, Cherokee, North Carolina
WHERE IS TOTAL REWARDS?
Total Rewards is at all Caesars Entertainment owned properties. Below is a list of all properties.
ARIZONA
Harrah’s Ak-Chin Hotel And Casino, Maricopa
CALIFORNIA
Harrah’s Resort Southern California, Funner
ILLINOIS
Harrah’s Joliet
Harrah’s Metropolis Casino and Hotel in Southern Illinois, Metropolis
INDIANA
Harrah’s Hoosier Park, Anderson
Horseshoe Hammond
Horseshoe Southern Indiana Hotel and Casino, Elizabeth
Indiana Grand, Shelbyville
IOWA
Harrah’s Council Bluffs Hotel and Casino, Council Bluffs
Horseshoe Council Bluffs Casino, Council Bluffs
LOUISIANA
Harrah’s Louisiana Downs, Bossier City
Harrah’s New Orleans
Horseshoe Bossier City
MARYLAND
Horseshoe Baltimore
MISSISSIPPI
Harrah’s Gulf Coast, Biloxi
Horseshoe Tunica, Robinsonville
Tunica Roadhouse, Tunica Resorts
MISSOURI
Harrah’s North Kansas City
NEVADA
Bally’s Las Vegas
Caesars Palace, Las Vegas
Flamingo Las Vegas
Harrah’s Lake Tahoe, Stateline
Harrah’s Las Vegas
Harrah’s Laughlin
Harrah’s Reno
Harveys Lake Tahoe
NOBU Hotel, Las Vegas
Paris Las Vegas
Planet Hollywood, Las Vegas
Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas
The Cromwell, Las Vegas
The LINQ Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas
NEW JERSEY
Bally’s Atlantic City
Caesars Atlantic City
Harrah’s Resort Atlantic City
NORTH CAROLINA
Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort, Cherokee
Harrah’s Cherokee Valley River, Murphy
ONTARIO, CANADA
Caesars Windsor
PENNSYLVANIA
Harrah’s Philadelphia Casino and Racetrack, Chester
Harrah’s Resort Atlantic City
HOW DO I EARN CREDITS?
GAMING:
SLOT MACHINES
Earn at least 1 Reward 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 Reward Credits based on the type of table game you are playing, your average bet and how long you play.
RACE & SPORTS BOOKS
Earn Reward Credits based on the type and amount of each bet placed at participating Caesars Rewards casinos..
POKER
Earn Reward Credits based on the type of game and how long you play.
ENTERTAINMENT:
HOTEL
Earn 1 Reward Credit for every $1 spent on participating hotel accommodations when reserved on totalrewards.com or through their reservations line.
DINING
Earn 1 Reward Credit for every $1 spent at participating restaurants.
SHOPPING
Earn 1 Reward Credit for every $1 spent at participating retail outlets.
AMENITY EXPERIENCES
Earn 1 Reward Credit for every $1 spent at participating outlets, including a day at the pool, spa treatment or service, a round of golf, an afternoon of shopping and more.
TOTAL REWARDS VISA CARD
Earn 1 Reward Credit for every $1 spent using your Total Rewards branded Visa credit card
Planet Hollywood, Las Vegas
HOW DO I REDEEM CREDITS?
It is pretty simple to redeem credits, much like any other retail rewards program. When on property, all you have to do is hand over your card to the cashier or waiter/waitress and they will swipe your card and deduct them from your account immediately. You may also redeem them for merchandise on the Total Rewards website.
Horseshoe Baltimore, Maryland
MORE ABOUT PLAYING ON TR CARD
“I feel like I win more when I don’t play with my Total Rewards card in a machine”
This is something that employees on the casino floor at Caesar’s properties around the country (and Canada) hear frequently. Here’s the simple answer: Not true. Not convinced? Let’s put it this way, the slot machine has no idea who is sitting in front of it. It has no idea who is putting the money into it. Even if the slot machine somehow developed a personality and soul, it wouldn’t be able to make the choice as to who wins and who doesn’t. The card reader in a machine tracks your play. It tracks spins, coin in, coin out, time at the machine…basically your vitals in regards to your playing session. It is not linked to the random number generator in a slot machine that spits out the combinations that will ultimately lead to a jackpot.
“I played a lot last night, but didn’t use my card, can you write me a comp?”
Most likely, no. One of the main purposes of your card is to earn rewards, and to track your play. If you didn’t play on your card, then that is on you. Almost every decision in the casino is based on mathematics, if the computer didn’t track it, then most likely the casino didn’t track it, and the person you are requesting a voucher from sure as heck didn’t track it. Play on your card if you are interested in earning comps at the casino, simple as that. The hosts and pit bosses don’t necessarily enjoy having to tell you “no”.
“I played all day on my card and I didn’t seem to earn many tier credits and/or reward credits”
Sometimes there is a little delay in your account syncing with your card. So that may be the reason. Swing by Total Rewards at the casino and check with a rep, their computers are usually closer to operating in real time than the TR website or mobile app.
If you play on slot machines, make sure the card reader acknowledges that you have a card in the machine, usually there is a green light or something along those lines. That means that the card reader is reading your card. Those card readers have a ton of cards jammed in them and ripped out of them…they take a beating…the may not be working 100% of the time…but if the light indicates that your card is there, then you should be good to go. If that is the case, and your earnings still didn’t adjust after a few hours, then you will want to talk to a casino manager. Most of them can look at your play through the machines and request Total Rewards to manually adjust your account.
The light was blinking red on the machine the whole time, but you kept playing? Then unfortunately, the machine didn’t even know you were there, and in those cases….there is not a whole lot that can be done. Those little Total Rewards cards are free and you can reprint them often at the Total Rewards counter. Keep them away from your cell phones so the magnetic stripe doesn’t get erased, cary a couple spares, and hopefully you will win a ton of jackpots.
“When I first put my card in the machine, someone from the casino came up and greeted me, is that normal?”
Absolutely, that is most likely someone from the VIP department. They are just making sure that you are happy with your current experience on property and to answer any questions you may have. That doesn’t necessarily mean that you have an assigned host at that casino, but it does mean that the casino recognizes you are there and wants to say hello.
“I just finished playing craps, may I get a slip for 4 to Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse?”
Maybe. Table ratings are different than slot ratings. On slots the card reader tracks your play in real time, to the second. At tables, the pit bosses are responsible for updating your rating. If you are going to swing by the casino host office and request a comp, than let the pit boss know you are done playing for the time being, that way they can “close out your rating”, then the host, or table games supervisor, or TR agent will have a more accurate picture of your most recent gaming session. Sometimes your rating can stay open long after you have finished playing, it’s not a bad thing, it’s not a good thing…it just means that they chances of the updated tally being in the computer system is not there until it gets closed out. Ratings get closed out at the end of shifts in large batches, so if you plan on leaving the tables, it’s just best to let the pits know that you are done.
“I lost my TR card! Help!”
Don’t worry, people can’t use your reward credits in your absence. The stores and restaurants have to check ID to match the card, you have to be present. Even if you are a Seven Star guest and everyone there knows you and all your family members, you still need to be there to sign for your reward credits to be redeemed. Keep you ID handy, especially if you plan on spending reward credits on property.
“I used to have a bunch of reward credits. Where did they all go?”
For starters, when was your last trip to a Caesars property? If you don’t earn a single tier credit in a six month window, your reward credits will automatically be zeroed out. Unfortunately that is the case across the board: military, graduate students, Doctors Without Borders, sick…everyone’s reward credit balance will be zeroed out if they don’t earn a tier credit in a six month window. And, once they are gone, they are gone for good. You will receive emails and mailers letting you know when that six month window is coming to a close.
Ok, so you made a trip, or used your TR Visa card in the last six months? The other cause is most likely they were used at another property. If you are unsure of the comping process at a specific property you are staying at, then ask before you are start charging to your room. Some properties will comp based on play without deducting reward credits, and others will hit your reward credits first before they are able to write off any other charges. Make sure you know which side of the fence each resort falls on if that sort of thing matters to you. Unfortunately, it’s usually the next property you visit that has to have uncomfortable conversation about the previous property’s policy on reward credit deduction during the issuance of comps.
