More New Casino Partnerships
New alliances can mean better deals!
By H. Scot Krause
Your player’s club cards are hard at work for you! Casinos around the country continue to negotiate new deals, alliances and partnerships to give their player’s more choices, benefits and opportunities. Caesars Entertainment and MGM Resorts have launched many new partnerships that we’ve discussed here over the past few years. Now Pinnacle Entertainment Inc., (based in Las Vegas but operating no casinos in Las Vegas) closed a deal with Wynn Resorts Ltd. giving its high rollers access to Wynn Las Vegas and Encore Resort. Pinnacle owns and operates 18 casinos and two racetracks around the country.
Pinnacle Entertainment said the alliance with Wynn would play a key role in the April 4 re-launch of the company’s “Mychoice” player loyalty program.
Michael Weaver, Wynn Resorts’ senior vice president of marketing strategy for Wynn Resorts said, “This relationship will be beneficial to us because Pinnacle will send their very best customers for multi-day stays exclusively at Wynn properties.” He added, “The deal is exclusive to the company’s Las Vegas properties and does not include Wynn Resorts’ hotel-casino in Macau.”
Pinnacle Entertainment has about 1 million customers in its database, 20,000 of which would now qualify for Wynn Resorts’ reward program. The alliance with Wynn Resorts gives Pinnacle Entertainment a presence on the Strip, while being able to attract new customers to its loyalty program.
The Wynn trips would be offered to its highest three tiers after Pinnacle’s new “Mychoice” loyalty program is re-launched. The new benefit for each member will be a four-day, three-night stay in Las Vegas (Wynn or Encore) which active top tier players can book within the next 12 months. Pinnacle is expected to be in the works for providing its tiered customers additional benefits in the coming months under the new “Mychoice” program.
Pinnacle Entertainment operates seven casinos in Louisiana, Missouri, Indiana and Reno. The company also operates a racetrack in Ohio and is developing a $357 million casino in Baton Rouge, LA that is scheduled to open early next year.
In another recent development, in late January, The Cosmopolitan Las Vegas opened a relationship with Marriott International in which points can be exchanged between the two loyalty programs. Guests staying at The Cosmopolitan Strip resort will now be able to transfer points between the Cosmopolitan’s Identity program and the Marriott Rewards program.
While previously guests have been able to earn Marriott Rewards points by staying at the Cosmopolitan, the new deal allows Identity points to be used at nearly 3,800 Marriott locations around the world.
“After more than three years of a successful partnership, we are thrilled to announce a new chapter in our relationship with Marriott,” said John Unwin the resort’s Chief Executive Officer. “The move will positively impact both Cosmopolitan and Marriott guests by making Identity points redeemable for rooms around the world via Marriott and Marriott Rewards points, even more applicable in Las Vegas than they are today.”
Cosmopolitan Identity members who want to transfer their points can do it in person or by phone at 1-800-893-1998. Marriott Rewards members can transfer points by visiting www.cosmopolitanlasvegas.com/marriottrewards.
In a related note, The Cosmopolitan has discontinued its $100 new member instant rebate program.
Good luck and happy slot clubbing!
Spring Promotions
FREE Video Poker Classes!
Noted video poker player and author Bob Dancer will be teaching players how to become better players at the game at the South Point Casino in Las Vegas this month and next. The class schedule is listed as follows. Each class runs about 90 minutes and most days a second class for advanced players is offered at 2:00 p.m. Classes are free and everyone 21 and up is welcome to attend.
| March 5 | 12:00 p.m. | 9/6 Bonus Poker Deluxe |
| March 12 | 12:00 p.m. | 9/7 Triple Double Bonus |
| March 19 | 12:00 p.m. | NSU Deuces Wild |
| March 26 | 12:00 p.m. | 9-4-4 Bonus Deuces Wild |
| April 2 | 12:00 p.m. | 25-12 Double Bonus Deuces Wild |
| April 9 | 12:00 p.m. | What Video Poker Players Should Know About Slot Clubs (One class only.) |
FREE Bingo!
Want to play Bingo for free? Station Casinos in Las Vegas offers free bingo games. Free bingo is limited to Gold Boarding Pass members and above. Below is the current schedule, however days and times may be subject to change. Call ahead to be sure and arrive early if you intend to play. These sessions often fill up fast!
- Sundays: 7:30 a.m. Texas Station
- Mondays: 7:30 a.m. Red Rock Resort and Fiesta Rancho and 5 p.m. Texas Station
- Tuesdays: 7:30 a.m. Santa Fe Station; 9 a.m. Boulder Station and 5 p.m. at Green Valley Ranch Resort.
- Thursdays: 7:30 a.m. Sunset Station, Texas Station and Palace Station
FREE Slot Play When You Cash Your IRS Tax Return Check at The El Cortez!
Cash your IRS tax return check at the El Cortez Hotel & Casino in downtown Las Vegas and receive an additional 5% of your check in free slot play up to $50. Check must be from a tax return, other government check, or it can also be a payroll check for any Clark County gaming property for Las Vegas locals.
FREE Birthday Drawings at Trump Taj Mahal in Atlantic City
Every month on designated date, 10 winners in their birthday month share $5,000. Members with a birthday in the current month receive one free entry. Drawings are at 6 and 10 p.m. on designated dates each month. Ten winners each receive $200 in free slot play at each drawing. One lucky winner receives $1,000 in free slot play at the 10 p.m. Call the casino for the current month’s drawing days at 609-449-1000, or visit them on the web at: www.trumptaj.com
Looking Ahead: New Vegas Strip Hotel Opening
SLS Las Vegas Hotel (formerly the Sahara) will open its doors on Labor Day weekend this year. As the first property to open on the Las Vegas Strip in several years, SLS Las Vegas is bringing new life to the city and the North end of the Strip. SLS Las Vegas will feature an imaginative mix of the most innovative nightlife, dining and entertainment experiences under one roof. Notable brands opening at SLS Las Vegas include a reinvention of the popular L.A. nightspot, The Sayers Club, and dynamic restaurant concepts including The Bazaar by José Andrés, Katsuya, Cleo, 800 Degrees, Umami Burger and The Griddle Café, with more to be announced.
H. Scot Krause is a gaming industry analyst, researcher and journalist. He is a former entertainment director and a 19-year resident of Las Vegas. His work is regularly featured in Casino Player, Strictly Slots and Gaming Today as well as other gaming publications, including the annual American Casino Guide Book. Questions or comments for Scot may be addressed to: krauseinvegas@cox.net
