When we ask players how often they go to the casino, the frequency ranges wildly. Some go multiple times a week. Others go once a month. And then there’s those who are just occasional visitors:
If you only go to a casino a few times a year is it worth it to get a players card? Also do the points expire?
Sue
We still advise players to get a players card, even if they only go a few times a year. Let’s review the reasons why.
You’ll Still Get Offers
Casinos will send offers based on your previous play. Many casinos will send offers for months or years after your last visit before giving up. So if you’re going a few times a year, you’re still going often enough to be offered something.
Even if those offers aren’t much, it’s still something that takes the edge off your planned expenses for the visit. Free play and food credits can be valuable, especially if you were going to spend the money in the first place.
Depending on Your Budget, You Could Still Tier Up
Some players who don’t go often can go with a larger budget, because they’re simply not playing as often. We have shared the example of the player who spends $100 weekly vs. the one who spends $400-500 in a monthly visit – in the end those two players are spending the same amount per month, on average.
Tiering up is simply a measure of how much you play, not necessarily in frequency but in overall bets. Often when you tier up, your benefits increase, so that can be valuable. We wouldn’t necessarily expect this to happen to most who visit on a few times a year basis, but if you have enough budget it’s certainly possible.
Discounts Come with Membership
Just being a players club member often can offer discounts on hotel rooms, as well as in some cases discounts getting food, shopping on property or visiting the spa. Some casinos incentivize on property spending of all types, not just gambling, and having your card allows them to see the totality of your spend and cater their offers to you when that sort of spend is in use.
Since players club membership is free, and the benefits will almost always generate something, it becomes a pretty good step to save money.
Points Often Don’t Expire With Activity
The specific expiration policies will vary by casino program. Some expire points based on when they were earned, while others are based on the last date of activity on your account. Some give you longer expiration windows, or even no expiration window, at a higher tier.
But speaking generally, if you’re going a few times a year, that’s often enough to benefit from your points. If your casino is the type that keeps points active as long as you play occasionally, a few times a year should more than cover it. And if you learn your casino expires points X months after being earned, you can use that as a guide of when you should redeem them.
And even if they don’t give you something completely free, again, like the offers, points can help defray costs you’d incur anyway – and that’s helpful!
Future Casino Connections
One aspect many don’t think about until they need it is the ability for casino benefits to extend beyond a single casino. For instance, if your casino is linked to casinos in other markets, it could lead to you getting a better hotel rate at a place you’re visiting in the future.
This won’t be the case for every casino, but it’s the case for a growing number of them, so that players club membership can have value outside your local casino’s walls.
Takeaway
We still recommend the occasional player use a players card as there’s still benefits to be derived, from the points earned to the offers available as someone who’s previously played. It’s still worth it in the end!
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