They are at it again. They have made a bunch of changes. I am still sifting through the details but it looks like a road trip or 5 might be in order.

http://www.totalrewards.com/greatrac...ial-rules.html

Ok so I have sifted through their site and the details are as follows (in my own words, please read the actual webpage for the exact details)

Here are the differences from last year:
1. You have to visit more locations to get the top prize but the top prize is more than last year.
2. You have to earn 25 tier credits per location instead of just 1
3. You have to opt in at EVERY location instead of just once.
4. Each location is worth a certain number of "checkpoints" instead of just areas like last year.
5. You MAY be required to show ID to get a checkpoint instead of just opting in online.
6. There are a few blackout periods
7. You have to earn the 25 points on 1 gaming day so be careful you don't go into 2 days.

Overall it is pretty much the same as last year other than needing 25 points which is probably what they should have done last year instead of 1. I looked at my trips from last year and If I repeat the same trips I will earn 50k points, however if I visit just 1 more I will get 75k and luck for me Cleveland just opened so I will make the 2 hour drive and get that one. Last year I went to about half of the casinos and only played 1 point and left. I also took my parents cards with me so with possibly needing ID's and the extra points I may not take theirs, which is obviously why they made some changes.

Thanks for the heads up on this.
Another change is Laughlin and LV are
In same zone so it's useless to go to Laughlin from Vegas for
A quick hour trip unlike last year

I couldnt figure out where the differences were in locations. (although I only looked for a moment) Last year there were 20 destinations and this year there are 18 so there is at least 2 more changes because they added cleveland.

Yes, new rules say you have to opt-in at every "destination" in person. Kiosks may or may not be available. I know Harrah's Metropolis did not have any. The 25-point cap will also help cut down on the fraud, and will cost the video poker grinder ~$50 on average to collect 75k RC. It's still worth the effort if you have a good number of Harrah's casinos close to you. Thanks for posting this today Barbiaux! I'm leaving for Vegas tomorrow, and I'm not sure I would have saw this after I left.

already planning out trips. Last year when I saw this it was mid august so we had 6 weeks to travel around. This year I have a full 3 months.

I am within driving distance (within 10 hours) of 18 "checkpoints" and I only need 15 so we have to decide the best way to get this done. It makes it interesting that some locations are worth more "checkpoints".

We love taking weekend road trips so this promotion not only gives us motivation to get moving but a bonus for doing so.

Yeah, St. Louis got screwed probably because they have been sold to Penn Gaming (Hollywood casinos) and should change ownership by the end of the year. The points I collect from this will now be used for future Vegas/Tunica trips. I'm surprised Cherokee is worth only one. If anyone makes the effort to go out there, they definitely deserve 2 checkpoints for it, it's not nearby anything. Metropolis has Paducah at least, haha.

So I was looking at my trips from last year and I noticed that I was at 3 of the Harrah's casinos between 1-5am. From my recollection the players clubs were not open during that time so with out a kiosk I would not be able to check in. Can anyone confirm which casinos have the kiosks. The ones I am concerned about are

Ontario
Cleveland
St. Louis
Chester
AC
Southern Indiana
Metropolis
Cherokee NC

What all can you buy for 1 point = 1 cent? Everything on the web site is 2 points per penny and I know that food in Tunica is 2 points per cent. Do they do one point per cent for hotels?

I dont have your answer but I was trying to figure this out as well. There used to be a chart on totalrewards.com that showed you different items that you could get at each casino. Some casinos were 1 for 1 on all food and some other items where other casinos might give you 1 for 1 on small food places or slot play but worse for the better restaurants. If anyone knows if this is still on their website let me know. It was a pull down with all the casinos and when you clicked on the casino it would change the rewards.

Where does it say opt in every property?
1.Guests must opt in at a property via a Total Rewards card swipe at a promotional kiosk or TR center (varies by property) and show valid approved ID. Total Rewards membership is free and available by visiting a Total Rewards casino or signing up at TotalRewards.com.

If you go to the FAQ's the second line down says that you have to opt in at each location.

How do I opt-in?

You must swipe your Total Rewards card at a Promotional Kiosk, or at a Total Rewards center. You must opt-in at each destination you visit.
To participate, you must swipe in between July 1, 2012 – September 30, 2012.

How many tier credits can you earn per hour at various poker stakes?

And what exactly can you do with 75k reward credits?

Seems like a lot of work and money invested if the total value isn't more than $750.

AC and Vegas had 1:1 in restaurants. I think the food court in AC might have been 2:1. The little convenience stores are usually 2:1, but I really haven't checked in awhile.

It looks like the nicer restaurants in AC are 2:1
https://totalrewards.custhelp.com/ap...total%20reward