Casinos give higher tier players perks that can prove valuable. Some are time savers, like line cutting privileges, while others can offer actual monetary value, such as celebration dinners. To get there, you have to spend or gamble, so a player wonders:
How should I play a slot machine to get the most points to achieve the next level of a tier? What kind of play earns the most tier points?
Mark B.
First off, we always do like to remind everyone that players shouldn’t play for status – status will almost always be more expensive than just spending the money. However, if you are going to play, it helps to maximize your comps to get the most out of the casino you can.
When it comes to the tier credits side of the equation, there are a few things we can highlight and suggest.
Slots Usually Earn the Most Tier Credits
Slot machines have a higher house advantage than just about any other game in the casino. As such, casinos reward slot players with more tier credits and comps, because they make money more efficiently off them. But that means players will also have the propensity to spend money faster, so it’s a balance.
Video Poker offers a lower house advantage, and you generally accrue points on it more slowly. Usually, the dollar to point ratio reduction is more than offset by the higher payback percentage. But, Video Poker is only really viable if you know how to play proper strategy. Slots require little knowledge at all.
Go On Point Multiplier Days
Most casinos nowadays run some sort of point multiplier on specific days. When they’re in play, you will earn tier credits faster than you would on other days. Timing your trips mean your money simply works harder, earning more tier credits than you would on another day.
Players polled on Brian Christopher’s YouTube channel were split; exactly half said they do, with the other half saying either they didn’t or only if it was going on when they already planned to be there.
Be sure to review what games are supported. Multiplier days are most often targeted to slots players, less often to Video Poker/Keno players, and usually the least often to table games.
Know How You Accrue Points
Some casinos have you accruing points based on how many dollars you wager. For example, on most slots at Caesars properties, $5 in wagers accrues one tier credit. Other casinos you earn based on your expected loss. This is the case at MGM properties.
The difference is important because we know generally speaking, payback improves on higher denomination slots. For casinos that award based on expected loss, that higher payback will be offset by slower tier credit earnings per dollar wagered.
But in casinos where the earning rate is the same regardless of slot machine, you might be well advised (presuming budget allows) to play higher denomination machines where the payback is higher, you’ll over time get more back, allowing more spins and earning more tier credits as more is wagered overall.
Play Lower Volatility Games
While in the long term, all casino games will approach their designed Return to Player (or payback percentage), in the short term they can go all sorts of different ways. More volatile games can go in wilder swings than lower volatility games, especially in the short term.
If you are going to play slots, you may want to consider options from our lower volatility list, as suggested by the slot manufacturers themselves. They will aim to give you a smoother ride, paying you smaller amounts more often, giving you more money to recycle and play to earn tier credits.
A similar thing can be done on Video Poker – games like Jacks or Better or Deuces Wild tend to have lower volatility than versions like Double Double Bonus Poker, which put more payout weight on rarer four of a kind hand combinations and reduce more common two pair payouts.
Takeaway
The goal is to do your best to make your money last, not be overly aggressive, and take advantage of any opportunities, like point multipliers, to let your money work harder. If you’re already going to be playing, it can be a great way to ensure you get the most out of your gambling dollar in the form of additional perks tied to your tier level.
