Genuine question: why CET? (longish post inside)

I think the confusion is that pre-covid this was the case. My understanding is that since re-opening, it is no longer true. And I suspect the reasoning behind it is that they "diversified" their hosts while laying others off, integrating their Vegas market like the Caesars model. There may still be *some* truth to the property matters concept as it relates to specific hosts and what kind of credit they get or strings they can pull, but as it relates to general offers and ratings, this does not seem to be the case.

Prior to Christmas, I'd only stayed at Bellagio and mostly played there while staying (I enjoy their casino and had nothing to do with comps) but not entirely. I stayed at Luxor for a couple days at Christmas because my Bellagio stays and play got me suites with no resort fees offers at the pyramid and Bellagio would only give me a resort tower room with resort fees those dates. I split my play heavily those 2 days between MGM Grand, NYNY, Excalibur, Luxor, and Mandalay, played a little above my MLife average, and my offers improved at Bellagio afterward. Also, I've never once in my life, ever, inserted my card in any machine at Aria and have tower suites comped there on less crowded dates, and up to 1BR Penthouse at VDara with the same FP/RC and limits as my Bellagio offers having absolute zero rated play there and no stays or spend on my account either. As far as they know, I've never been inside either place. And I cam say the same for MGM Grand and Mandalay, that I had comp suites with FP/RC prior to ever having played or spent on my card at either.

But, I dont have a host anywhwre scrambling for credit for my play either. With hosts, I'm told Caesars Palace gets treated a little differently than the rest of CZR LV market too, and hosts only get credit for CP play and try to sway players to keep their play on site whatever it takes. Not sure if that is still the case or not.

 

Sorry, working so haven't been able to give a thought out answer to the last post yet, but basically what you describe above has been my experience, but for the last few years, not just post-COVID. I used to get stronger offers from Mirage than others, but about... 3 years (?) ago, I started getting offers in two tiers: higher tier properties and lower tier properties. Initially, the difference between the two was amount of RC and suites vs. base rooms. As my play increased, it went to just a RC difference. But within the tier, the offer was consistent for each property, the ones I've played at and the ones I haven't.

Also, the understanding I had from my host was that as long as I book through her and stay at her property, then she gets credit for my MLife play (play at her property, Mirage, is worth more to her somehow, but she does get credit for play at all my properties). Given that, I've never gotten any pressure from my host to play only at her property, she only asked that I book through her any time I head to Vegas. I took a quick look at history, and looks like 1/2 my play is at home property, and the other 1/2 is spread across Aria and Bellagio. I suppose I may be accidentally !@#$ing her with this, but she's never said anything.

Sounds like this all may be an example of the mysterious inconsistency at MLife.

 

It’s been said a few times already but no resort fees as a Diamond player has been huge for us and the main reason we don’t really hit up any Mlife props any longer. We have had gold with Mlife for 6 years and never had much to show for it besides stock offers for comps that we still had to pay $50+ a night for.

As a side note, we have moved our play and business to Cosmo this year and I for one can’t be happier. No resort fees as Gold, free valet etc. We’ve had stellar offers so far and it’s only been a couple months.

 

It's pretty much the Diamond/Laurel Lounges for me. D+ five years or so now. That's the big one. Getting to know people, good quality drinks, time to relax with friends and watch a game for a few hours.... that's the big one. If those don't come back, I'm likely shopping.

Also, of course, the lack of resort fees and regional locations are nice, but those alone wouldn't hold me like the DL/LL

 

I live close to the Tahoe properties and we have been going there for 20 years. Since we retired 7 years ago we can go more often and became Diamond Plus past few years. They have wonderful entertainment year-round and we were comped to almost anything we wanted to see. They also had tons of fun events - slot tournaments, every holiday was some type of party going on, etc.

Given that, with the El Dorado merger it remains to be seen what will happen. If the Laurel Lounges are not re-opened and other comps start falling off we will drop back to Diamond and just earn enough to get free rooms and resort fees waived.

We do have friends that are MLife people and have toyed with joining their program so we could stay in the same Vegas hotels with them. That still could happen. This year will be telling.

 

OK--paytables suck at virtually ALL Strip properties so THAT isn't an argument...

 

CET has comped us rooms for YEARS--when our gambling budget was paltry. Now we get comped at better properties.
And I get those comped rooms upfront--no need to play the MLife game--will I get comped? I hate game play like that in relationships. Tell it like it is.

 

I play at $1-2 level, and can get 9/5 or 9/6 DDB at most MLife properties (98.98% or 97.87%). From what I understand, $1DDB is at best 8/5 at CET, which is 96.7% return. With ~$100k coin in, that's a difference of $1-2k. I consider that an argument.

 

Very interesting stuff. My reason is simple: I like casino hopping between CET casinos more so that's where I play. The benefits are nice. CET just has that strip of its own from PH to Harrahs and across to Caesars. You can walk all over and never leave the CET network so it's all contributing to your status/benefits. I am one who really likes to casino hop. I really like the MLife casinos and visit many every trip, but they are more scattered around the strip and I like how CET's are all central and next to each other. I also think the MLife casinos are a bit more "sterile" so to say. I don't mind a casino that's smoky on the inside and has people getting a bit rowdy.

 

Poker players at CET properties earn tier credits plus the usual $1hr in comps. This translates to free rooms for doing what I would do anyways where it wouldnt even register at mlife properties.

 

I’ve been gambling somewhat regularly since the late 90’s. Prior to that I took a few trips to AC but played slots and didn’t know anything about comps and they were all day trips. My brother and I started going to Vegas once a year for several years. Now we go together occasionally, though not annually. Initially we went to a Travel Agent and she gave us a package of flights and hotel room. We stayed at the Excalibur. We started to go to Mirage after that and I refused to get a players card for about 3 years. Then I read something that made me change my mind. We next went to Harrah’s and I got my player’s card. That was the beginning of doing trips to AC and Vegas. Eventually I played enough to earn some credits and eventually started to go to various casinos when they merged. I became diamond and I believe it was 2010 that I made Seven Stars. I remember Seven Stars was 100,000 tier points. There were no bonuses and I find it was harder to make that 100,000 than now when my normal annual (except last year) was around 350,000 tier credits.


The reason for me being loyal to CET is that living in NYC I go to AC and it has three properties. The reward and tier are acknowledged at all CET properties. I get $1,2000 reimbursed for my Vegas trip and another 600 I used for New Orleans trip. Plus the Seven Stars trip has $500 that I use toward food.

I’ve gone to New Orleans about 4 times to gamble, though earlier I took a couple trips years earlier one was for a business conference and another I tagged along when a friend did a business trip.

As I posted in another thread I’ve had 2 100X reward multipliers. I have rarely taken a dip into my wallet for a meal other than tips for the last 6 years, only when we ate at non-Caesars restaurants. I still have over 370,000 reward points. Though I’ve done solo trips, I usually have other people join me and I’ve enjoyed being a benefactor for meals (they pay tips) and sometimes their airfare. Because of my play my hosts have given a second room to friends in Vegas and AC when needed. My last 15 trips I’ve stayed at Caesars Palace.

There’s no reason to go to other casinos when it’s - free is good – and no fees.

 

I went from MLife Gold to CET. My reasons are similar to those who appreciate the no resort fee at diamond. I originally matched my players card back when CET did that a few years ago.
Only did it for the reason being that I could cut the Bachnnal buffet line.
Since then I found that the show tickets, no resort fee, free valet, VIP line, laurel drink offers to be worth being diamond.

BUT I think one of the biggest reasons for me staying with CET over the last few years is their booking offers.

being mlife gold I always got offers like $50 FP $100 Food.

At caesars, doesn’t matter if your diamond or the tier lower. You get offers like a free AirPods, iPad, MacBook or other free gifts or Freeplay with your booking.
^^
Those offers get me because I know I will be gambling at either property.. but I know that my play could incur in more free play and they make aware how much TC must be earned for either gifts or free play. I tend to think I’ll be getting more if I simply play what I was going to anyway.. (if that makes sense)

I think at Mlife you get entry into tournaments but also you have to be really high players club in order to get those offers. CET is more upfront on that end and allows lower player card members to still join in on that fun.

 

Used to play both - but the biggest reason I gravitated and stayed with CET is
because of my host. He has been my host now for over 18 years and has treated
me wonderfully and has always taken fantastic care of me. I like the no resort fees too
and also being able to stay free in more towns than Vegas. CET has a big footprint.
But the biggest reason is my host.

 

I guess I can jump in on this. I’m pretty much a VERY low roller. Only Diamond/ Diamond + for the last 5-6 years. I too am very frustrated with the lack of perks now, but a huge reason that I sticks with Total Rewards is because of the accessibility. I live in Georgia and we have 2 Caesars properties within 2.5 hours of each other. There are some other properties just over the border in Alabama, but by playing in those NC properties it allows for free or discounted rooms pretty much all over the country since Caesars has a lot of properties now. I truly miss the Diamond Lounge/LL as that was one of the biggest perks for me, because I never saw where any other player programs offered things like that. Since that is gone the removal of the resort fee is also huge. My play is pretty low lately, but I’ve still been able to score comp rooms through the weekend at Caesars properties, and that wouldn’t happen at other properties based on the level of play that I’m at.

Finally, I think Caesars/El Dorado know this is why a lot of people still choose them so they will continue to not value the players and give them the bare minimum.

 

For us .25 players, the difference is much less...

 

One thing...I used to hit Venetian once/trip when they had that 80s bar for 4-6 hours (and I play pretty fast of optimal play). Nothing. Nada. NO offers.
This summer I played a few hours one night at Palazzo & a couple hours at Venetian--6 hours top. Suddenly I am getting offers for 3 free nights plus free play for every 3 months. I'm sure it is due to the lack of tourism is helping that. Used one of those in Oct & played a lot of hours that weekend--but I only have 187 points (is that a lot? No idea....doesn't sound like much). But got another 3 nights we are using in March. (plus our 4 totally free nights at CET property; plus DH booked 7 nts at CET property for less than $100 total for BIL & our DS)