Three Casino Rewards Programs To Consider That Aren’t MGM or Caesars

I’ve made threats to untether my anchor from MGM Rewards. 

While my threats may be temporarily idle, I still see some new programs for me on the horizon. I value transparency and earning points on resort spending. Given that, here are a few programs I have my eyes on:

For the low roller in me: Rio Rewards

Rio Rewards is best for people with a modest budget, specifically slot players. 10,000 points get you to the Azul Tier. 

Some perks Azul status holders get:

• 1 comp room per year
• $50 tier celebration points
• $15 monthly dining voucher
• 1 comp drink per day at select casino bars
• 2 comp show tickets per year
• No resort fees
• Special check-in line

My math could be off, but it’s $100K coin-in for video poker and table game players unless you’re playing 3:2 blackjack (1 point: $30 wagered), but only $12,500 coin-in for slot players (1 point: $1.25 wagered) You also earn tier credits for dining entertainment and shopping (2 points: $1 spent).

If I attempt to be a high roller: Venetian Rewards

The newly minted Venetian Rewards has a similar earning structure to Rio Rewards. The big difference is slot players earn 1 point per $4 wagered. Like Rio, you can earn 2 points for every dollar spent on hotel, dining, entertainment, and retail outlets. Unlike Rio, Venetian has a vast portfolio of dining, entertainment, and retail outlets. If you have a little more coin, the middle tier, Ruby (20,000 points), may be worth pursuing.

Here are some stand-out Ruby benefits:

• 1.5x slot point multiplier
• 1 comp suite night per year
• Comp suite upgrade when available
• Complimentary 2 pm checkout when available
• $100 dining credit per year
• VIP lines
• Reserved seating at the sportsbook
• A choice of either a $150 airfare credit, 1 comp round of golf, or a $150 spa credit

It’s a minimum $80,000 coin-in if you only play slots to reach Ruby. No tier in Venetian Rewards comps resort fees. However, if you gamble at a decent level, you can always ask for charges to be taken off your folio, including resort fees. Your mileage may vary, of course. What I like about Venetian Rewards is the mix of benefits, some with specific cash values, and Venetian offers some of the largest standard rooms in Vegas at 750 sq. ft. 

Because I hate myself: Resorts World (Genting)

I like the hotel and the casino, but their marketing department needs to be more aggressive in attracting new and active players. That aside, Genting Rewards provides some interesting benefits for their second tier, Prime, which requires 75,000 points. 

Here are some Prime perks:

• $250 dining credit
• $250 airfare reimbursement (once per year)
• Reserve a slot machine (for up to 15 minutes)

75K is a lot of points, but if you concentrate your spending and playing at Resorts World, this is doable for medium rollers. You earn 1 point for every $3 in slot play and 3 points for every $3.50 in video poker play. With 5 points earned on most resort spend, it’s one of the highest multipliers in that category. Spending thousands of dollars at Resorts World may just be worth it to reserve some Rich Little Piggies or Power Push. 

Don’t stretch your budget

You shouldn’t play solely for status, but you should pay attention to it. Beyond the benefits in your program of choice, a high or even mid-level tier can open up other opportunities through reciprocal status matching.

A good casino rewards program goes beyond just tier benefits. A large part of loyalty depends on how hosts treat you, if you have one, and if you’re receiving marketing offers you think you deserve. You can get free rooms, resort credit, and other benefits without having an elevated tier status. Theo matters. Have healthy expectations. No matter what a TikToker tells you, $100 of coin-in won’t be enough to score a litany of offers.

I’ll continue to dig into more programs as I explore where I may park my ass for the next couple of years. I won’t fully leave MGM’s system. I have a hefty balance of reward points to burn through before I do that. And with a big 40th birthday blowout party in the works, a Cosmo terrace is too enticing to completely turn my back on the program. 

Feature photo courtesy of The Venetian Resort Las Vegas