Historical Slot Club

Rio

This record shows how Rio was described around 2003. Loyalty programs, ownership, benefits, and rules change. Use this for historical reference only.

Preserved reference

Historical contact information removed.

Total Rewards

Historical staff contact removed.

Rio has been acquired by Harrah's; and the former slot club, Play Rio, has been changed and renamed to be part of the Harrah's national system. So the information here is very similar to the information at the page describing the slot club at Harrah's.

The new club, called Total Rewards, does not use slot points. Instead the club uses an item that is called Reward Credits. Of course, calling an apple by another name usually isn't any meaningful change at all. But if the employees at Rio feel that they are accomplishing something through such actions, let's hope their employers agree.

There are three levels of participation in the slot club at Rio. The levels in ascending order are called Total Gold, Total Platinum, and Total Diamond. The club literature indicates that the two advanced levels are obtained by earning respectively 3,000 and 10,000 Reward Credits annually.

The material which follows describes the club as it relates to the most commonly held slot card, Total Gold.

When you visit the slot club at the Rio, the personnel will exchange your Play Rio slot card for a Total Rewards card, which will work in the card readers at all Harrah's casino locations; the cash back earned at one casino location is valid at any other location with certain minor exceptions. So you can conceivably earn cash back at Rio and then visit a Harrah's casino you have never even seen and receive all the amenities to which you are entitled by your accumulation of slot play.

From the slot booth personnel at Rio, as similarly at Harrah's, we received the usual runaround when inquiring how much play was necessary to acquire a Reward Credit. "It depends on the type of machine and the denomination and . . . ." Eventually with repeated inquiries from several individuals, we came to believe that $18.75 to $20.00 coin in on a quarter video poker machine will generate two Reward Credits. So you should plan on putting $60,000 or $100,000 into video poker machines if you want to reach, respectively, Platinum or Diamond levels.

When properly inserting your slot card into a reader, you will read two words: STANDBY followed by ACCEPTED. Not much information there.

As you play, you accumulate Reward Credits. These are also referred to as Daily Reward Credits and, if not used soon, will be lost with time, as far as complimentaries are concerned.

Also as you play, you earn cash back. This too can be lost if not taken when appropriate. However, the time limit on removing the cash is quite substantial.

Gratis prizes are given for obtaining certain numbers of accumulated slot points: 200 points generate a Rio hat; 250 points generate a Rio T-shirt.

The system at Rio is not yet completely like the Harrah's system in that your cash/comps cannot be redeemed using ATM-like machines called Total Rewards kiosks, which most commonly dispense vouchers for cash and meals.

The cash back expires after 12 months.

Online Slot Club Amenities

None.

Slot Point Accrual

(Accrual Table)	Input/Point(s)
Denomination	Slots	Video Poker
5¢, 25¢, $1	No Information Available

Slot Benefits

Cash:

Cash is 'earned' through slot play at unknown and varying rates.
Minimum: $10
Increments: $5

(Cash Table)	Rebate/Input		Input/Rebate
Denomination	Slots	Video Poker	Slots	Video Poker
5¢, 25¢, $1	- - - No Information Available - - -

Scrip:

None.

Food:

Meals, buffets, etc. are obtained by using the Daily Reward Credits which are associated with complimentaries and have been acquired simultaneously with the cash back. If not used, these Reward Credits are apparently lost or at least sizably reduced.

Other Restaurants: Daily Reward Credits may be used to eat at any restaurant at the Rio.

ATTENTION
In my opinion, it is totally needless in a city like Las Vegas to play at any establishment where the slot benefits are not clear and straightforward. At a casino such as Rio (and similarly Harrah's), which is simply steps away from good competitors, it is effortless to go to adjacent casinos which will spill their guts (informatively speaking) and undoubtedly appreciate your patronage. Unless there is some special promotion or other reason to bring you to Rio, my advice is simply walk away. Unless the nationwide system has particular appeal to your lifestyle, it is of limited importance.