Colorado casino players' rewards

If you don’t already have a player’s card at your favorite casinos, sign up the next time you’re up the hill. It’s free; all you need to do is present photo identification at the designated area, usually called the player service center, guest services, or, in some cases, the cashier cage. In fact, some of the casinos give you an added incentive to sign up, such as a meal, t-shirt or extra points.

Ask for a VIP, slot club or player’s club card – it’s all the same thing.

The cool thing about having a player’s card is that you don’t have to be a “high roller” to use a card. All “levels” of players, from penny-slot fans to ultra-serious poker players, are known to use player’s cards. At the slot and video poker machines, you simply insert the card in the designated slot, and your points begin to accumulate as you play. If you’re playing at the table games – poker, blackjack, craps and roulette – you present the card to the dealer before your first bet. The dealer will give it to the pit boss or table games manager to record your play. The more you play and the longer you play, the more points you will accrue.

And points mean comps.

And comps mean complimentary, and that means free – free meals, rooms, merchandise, contest entries. The list is impressive.

Comps are paid out in a few different ways. If you’ve played at a casino for a few hours, using your player’s card at each machine or table, you can go to the player’s card center and inquire as to any comps that are now available to you. Some casinos have machines that can read your card and issue comps on the spot.

Comps can also be redeemed through the monthly coupons that you will receive in the mail after signing up for a player’s card. Every casino has a huge database of cardholders and issues coupons for cash, rooms, meals, lodging and/or contest entries – all based on level of play. If you play at the same casino on a frequent basis, you will be rewarded with higher coupon values. If you prefer to play at a large number of casinos and use cards at each, you’ll receive smaller rewards. If your play lapses, your mailings may dwindle or cease.

Many casinos run special promotions during the month, offering merchandise and other goodies on designated days – players need to rack up a certain number of points to qualify. For instance, the Isle is offering a free garden light set this Sunday when players earn 30 unadjusted points, while supplies last.

And finally, there are “cash-back rewards.” This is the cash you have earned, based on your point accumulation, by playing a certain amount on a machine or time spent at the table games. The point accrual and accumulation varies from casino to casino – the staff at the player’s card area can answer any questions you might have. Casinos will offer double points, triple points and up on certain days to attract more players, which boosts your point totals proportionately. You don’t have to cash in the points –
you can “let them ride” and build up a nice chunk of extra dough to use in the future.

Enjoy all the rewards that will bring you!