Besides ordinary slot points, the slot club also awards Grazie Gift points through a program called Grazie Gifts Extravaganza. Both ordinary and Grazie Gift points are earned simultaneously. Usually, they are both earned at the same rate.

However, during two months of the year, the casino awards double Grazie points for the entire month.

One of the clumsiest parts of this program is that the Grazie Gift points can only be redeemed for merchandise (some of the items are very nice) and only during the single week following Thanksgiving. This then requires a return trip to Las Vegas and The Venetian during that single week.

Unless one lives locally or has a truly large accumulation of Grazie points, these points are virtually worthless.

There is a second level to this slot club called the Gold Club Program. This is obtained by earning 2,000 slot points (minimum $40,000 coin-in) within a 12 month period. This Gold Club status entitles you to several distinct amenities. One is access to the Gold Club Lounge which generally has a plate of snack items so you can stuff your face three times a day. Another is a special 'preferred, more convenient self-parking' area. Then there are discounts and line passes and just all sorts of such extras.

However, the really nice feature of the Gold Club is that you will now receive 50% more cash for your slot points. Note however, that the redemption of Grazie Gift points remains unchanged by having Gold Club status.

According to the slot club's literature, 'Gold Club benefits are for a limited time;' and, as I understand this, your membership must be renewed each year by the accumulation of another 2000 slot points. That means another insertion of at least forty thousand dollars.

Slot accounts expire with 12 months of inactivity.