Changes Coming to Ohio Casinos?????

[Penguin]

Just got back from Horseshoe Cleveland. In the Diamond Lounge had discussion with another couple whose LV host told them that Rewards program would be totally revamped as the Casino would no longer be a "Horseshoe" brand as Rock Ohio would take over the whole operation and divorce itself from Caesars. This would also apply to Cincinnati. Remember in February this year Rock Ohio bought out Caesars 20% of their joint venture in Ohio Casinos. This was confirmed later by a reliable source at the casino. Look for announcement early next week. Also know that Rock Ohio is in partnership with Caesars in new Baltimore Horseshoe casino. The Ohio properties were excluded from the BK filing by Caesars.

BTW Rock Ohio chairman is Dan Gilbert, founder of Quicken Loans and majority owner in Cleveland Cavaliers. The guy is a mover and shaker. I believe this would be a positive change coming to Cleveland that would improve the slot player's experience and Diamond Lounge operations for sure.

Rock Ohio is an affiliate of Rock Gaming and Rock Gaming has interest in Greektown Casino in Detroit. Maybe all of this will be tied together. Dan Gilbert moved (or is moving) his Quicken Loan headquarter to Detroit.

Changes are a coming, that's for sure. Good or bad?? Guess we'll see.

Anybody hearing anything about this??

[zeus]

Very interesting. Will Rock match your Diamond status? And how do you think this will impact your Vegas /AC trips and comps?

[Penguin]

Very interesting. Will Rock match your Diamond status? And how do you think this will impact your Vegas /AC trips and comps?

Really don't know. At first I was bummed. Bu then realize that for 1st year Rock should to honor CET Diamond status or people will just leave. And of course we are Diamond for 2016 so AC and LV should be no different for us (we give them low play; 75% of our play is donated at Cleveland). We can always get cheap rooms in LV at Harrahs for sure if we lose comped rooms in future. Heck, we've talked about going to Green Valley Ranch and other Henderson casinos because of better payouts so maybe we'll just do this. Who knows.

[pkspins]

I got Seven Stars because Cleveland was TR. I've had a request in to my host down there for longer than usual and my reminder call hasn't been returned which is unusual. Maybe this is why. I haven't heard anything except I did see someone mention this in passing in a comment on their Facebook wall a while back.

They have a lot of Seven Stars down there also. This year instead of getting to pick a gift from an online catalog everyone got a tablet and you had to go a party to get it. There were a LOT of people there already and they had still had a LOT of tablets piled up for people that hadn't arrived yet.

I wonder if this will also affect Thistledown Racino. I forget who owns that but I thought it was also Dan Gilbert. That is also TR. I only started going there because they were TR also so I figured it was worth checking out, but I haven't been there much as the free play offers, at least for DH and I, have declined significantly since they started that expansion project. They aren't Rock Ohio at least on their 1099s.

It's been feeling like Public Square is getting worse and worse. I still go down there because they send me decent free play and because of some of the offers they have like the reward credit multipliers after Browns games, or the one day offers where you can take free play or reward credits, because I can use those when I travel. I actively and deliberately avoid point multiplier days at other casinos like the Hard Rock because I really don't care, as I earn enough of their points from the regular play-to-points ratio for what I need from those locations. I also like some of the other offers Cleveland sends for gifts that are similar to what I get from LV, except I just have to drive 15 minutes instead of flying 4 hours cross country. So if all that stuff goes away I'm not sure what I will do.

It will be interesting to see what happens. Penguin, did they say if it's going to change 1/1/16 or was it just that the announcement is coming next week?

[Penguin]

From what I heard I think the TR change will occur mid year, but I really don't understand how they could do that. Just have to wait and see. We will be there for an overnight for each of next 2 weeks and I'm sure we'll get some more info. We have been basically going to collect the good free play from our Diamond effort so our ADT has gone to crap. Right now I think we will hold back play to see exactly what they do and what changes they'll make in the casino. Will watch the Ohio Gaming reports to see where total payback goes on the slots next year.

We really do not want to play enough (meaning lose enough) to have "Diamond" status with 2 casino operators. May wind up going back to Meadows for "recreational" play and then AC at CET for heavy play. We started at the Meadows but left because of earning points for CET to use nationally and because we like smoke free atmosphere in Ohio.

Announcement maybe this Monday.

[pkspins]

Actually starting April 1st would make sense because the higher level cards for TR expire March 31st. And their new program could just be one that doesn't adhere to a Jan-Dec calendar year by either having different earning periods (like Mountaineer is Nov-Apr and May-Oct) or rolling periods (Hard Rock is a 3 month rolling average). If they don't honor status up front in the new program, though, they will probably lose people. The table players don't have any where else in the Cleveland area to go, but the slot players have two other close options.

I'm also curious where Thistledown will end up in all this, since your sources just mentioned Cleveland and Cincinnati. They're in the middle of a $70 million expansion project so whatever their plan is they must be confident in it.

[Penguin]

Oh sorry, I think Thistledown goes with Dan Gilbert also. Can't see why CET would want just a racino in this part of the country anyway.

[MrsPenguin]

Well, here's the info we got in an email today from Caesar's/Rock Gaming:

We are writing to inform you of an upcoming change to the management of Horseshoe Casino Cleveland, Horseshoe Casino Cincinnati and ThistleDown Racino. In mid-2016, Rock Gaming LLC and its affiliates ("Rock Gaming"), which currently own Horseshoe Casino Cleveland, Horseshoe Casino Cincinnati and ThistleDown Racino, will assume the management responsibility of these properties. These three properties are currently managed by subsidiaries of Caesars Entertainment Operating Company, Inc. ("Caesars Entertainment").

Caesars Entertainment and Rock Gaming are working together to ensure a seamless transition and our goal is to keep you fully informed throughout the coming months. We will be sharing more information with you shortly, but below are a few aspects of the transition we would like to clarify up front:

Your Total Rewards® Tier Status, Tier Credits and Reward Credits WILL REMAIN INTACT and will continue to be valid at Horseshoe Casino Cleveland, Horseshoe Casino Cincinnati and ThistleDown Racino until the time of the transition (see below), as well as at all Caesars Entertainment properties outside of Ohio going forward.

In addition to keeping your current Total Rewards® benefits, YOU WILL ALSO be granted equivalent Tier Status, Tier Credits and Reward Credits in a new Rock Gaming Loyalty Program, which will be valid at Horseshoe Casino Cleveland, Horseshoe Casino Cincinnati and ThistleDown Racino after the transition.

This means you will keep your Total Rewards® benefits AND you will be receiving additional equivalent benefits in a new program, which will be announced shortly.

You can continue to earn points, comps and additional perks as usual until the time of transition - equivalent points, comps and tier status held at the time of transition will be granted in the new loyalty program.

All marketing offers from Horseshoe Casino Cleveland, Horseshoe Casino Cincinnati and ThistleDown Racino will continue to be valid.

Rest assured that you will continue to enjoy a quality experience at Horseshoe Casino Cleveland, Horseshoe Casino Cincinnati and ThistleDown Racino. The team members you have come to know and rely upon will remain with the properties and will continue to be a part of your Ohio gaming experience for years to come.

Please visit http://www.rock-gaming.com/guestinformation to receive up-to-date information regarding the transition, to view frequently asked questions or to contact us. Look out for more announcements and information related to this transition coming soon.

[pkspins]

I got that too but not before I was already downtown for the reward credit multiplier. The place seemed pretty empty for a Monday, which is when I often go, and especially since it's early in the month when it's usually busy because people haven't run out of money yet.

I also ended up stopping by Thistledown on the way home and it was pretty empty also. Which again strikes me as odd for the beginning of the month.

From reading the comments on the Facebook pages of the Cleveland news channels/papers posting articles about this, it isn't going over well at all.

[Penguin]

I think the problem is that we don't know what the Rock program will really look like and second we are used to a National reward that can be used in AC, LV, Tunica etc. We have really slowed down play until end of year because we have nothing further to gain with more tier credits by end of year. Can live without slots for months. We are really torn over this. Do we use AC and LV for heavy play and stay with CET and then use Cleveland or even Meadows for light play? Or visa versa? Going to Cleveland Horseshoe is just not like LV or AC. Not same feeling. Need more info and afraid it will not be coming soon. Also will CET keep the bonus TC system in for 2016. Hard to take it away once you start.

[Kimsa70]

There's an article in Las Vegas Review Journal:
http://m.reviewjournal.com/business/casinos-gaming/caesars-will-no-longer-manage-3-ohio-casinos


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