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Las Vegas has changed. Gone are the days of independently owned casinos, replaced by a corporate-driven Las Vegas Strip. Free parking, once a Vegas staple, is now a rarity at the megaresorts. But with these changes come opportunities for visitors to pick up perks — if they have the right credit card.
The Caesars Rewards® Visa Signature® Credit Card gives you automatic Platinum status in Caesars Rewards after your first purchase, unlocking a handful of useful perks that can enhance your stay.
Here’s what you need to know to decide if this card is worth a spot in your wallet.
Caesars Rewards Visa Signature Card Pros
- Complimentary trial of Caesars Rewards Platinum status as part of the welcome bonus.
- Earn 2,500 Tier Credits after your first purchase.
- Unlock additional 5,000 Tier Credit milestone with spending.
- Visa Signature benefits.
Caesars Rewards Visa Signature Card Cons
- First welcome bonus-eligible purchase must be made outside of a Caesars property.
- Poor redemption value for Rewards Credits
- No option to redeem rewards for statement credits.
Caesars Rewards Visa Signature Card Welcome Bonus
The Caesars Rewards Visa Signature Card comes with a solid welcome bonus. As soon as you make a purchase within 90 days of opening the card — outside of a Caesars destination — you’ll get automatic Caesars Rewards Platinum status. This status usually requires 5,000 Tier Credits, but you’ll get it for at least one year just by holding the card.
You’ll also earn 2,500 Tier Credits and 10,000 Rewards Credits after spending $1,000 outside of Caesars properties. To keep Platinum status beyond the first year, you’ll need to spend $5,000 annually on the card.
One thing that isn’t exactly clear is how long your initial Platinum status lasts. Caesars doesn't spell it out, but based on their program terms, I’d assume it resets at the end of the status year, which happens on December 31.
What's the difference between Tier and Rewards Credits?
Before we proceed further, it's helpful to explain the difference between Tier Credits and Rewards Credits.
Tier Credits determine your status in Caesars Rewards. If you earn enough, and you’ll move up the ranks and unlock perks like free parking, waived resort fees, priority service, and more.
Rewards Credits are effectively a currency at Caesars properties. You can use them for hotel stays, dining, and free play, but you can't cash them out for statement credits or actual cash.
Caesars Rewards Visa Signature Card Benefits
Welcome bonus aside; the Caesars Rewards Visa Signature Card offers a few benefits that would entice frequent Caesars visitors.
Tier Credits
The main benefit of this card is that it lets you earn Tier Credits through spending. If you put $5,000 on the card in a calendar year, you’ll earn 5,000 Tier Credits, which grants you Platinum status.
Visa Signature Benefits
Since the card is a Visa Signature, it should come with the standard Visa Signature benefits. But, Caesars isn’t exactly upfront about what’s included. I couldn’t find a benefits list on their official website or even on Visa’s own site. That said, Visa Signature cards usually include:
- Zero fraud liability
- Paid roadside dispatch
- Extended warranty protection
- Secondary rental car insurance
- Lost luggage reimbursement
- Global Entry statement credit
- Trip delay insurance
- Trip cancellation insurance
- Baggage delay insurance
- Purchase protections
If these benefits are important to you, I’d double-check with Caesars or Visa before applying, because it’s odd that they’re not clearly listed anywhere.
Caesars Rewards Visa Signature Card Earning Rates
If you’re spending a lot at Caesars properties, the earning rates aren’t bad for a no-annual-fee card:
- 5x Rewards Credits per $1 on Caesars Rewards resorts and casinos
- 2x Rewards Credits per $1 on restaurants, travel, and entertainment
- 1x Rewards Credit per $1 on everything else
That said, unless you’re spending primarily at Caesars properties, there are plenty of no-annual-fee credit cards that offer better earning structures (with more flexible points) than the Caesars Rewards Visa Signature Card.
Redeeming Credits with the Caesars Rewards Visa Signature Card
Redeeming credits with the Caesars Rewards Visa Signature Card is a little difficult. For one, unless you're in a state that allows online gaming, you'll need to visit a Caesars destination to redeem your Rewards Credits. And when you do, you'll need to pay close attention to what your redemption rate is.
Your Rewards Credits are associated with your Caesars Rewards account, so you'll need to let the venue know you'd like to use Caesars Rewards credits when it's time to settle the bill. Here are some sample redemption rates:
- Casino Freeplay: 200 Rewards Credits (RCs) = $1
- Hotel bill: 100 Rewards Credits = $1
- Dining and retail: Some locations offer 100 RCs per $1, others offer 150-300 RCs per $1
- Spas and entertainment: 100-200 RCs per $1
- World Series of Poker Entries: 200 RCs per $1
As you can see, the best value would be to charge all of your expenses to your hotel folio if you stay on property and redeem at the front desk. Otherwise, you might have a variable redemption rate worse than 100 Reward Credits per $1.
It’s also worth noting that Rewards Credits expire after six months if you don’t earn at least one new credit in that timeframe. And, unfortunately, there’s no option to cash out your Reward Credits as a statement credit.
Application Restrictions
Since Caesars Rewards is a gaming loyalty program, you’ll need to be 21 or older to take advantage of the Caesars Rewards Visa Signature Card‘s benefits — and apply for the full version of the card.
While you can apply for the credit card at 18, if you're under 21, you won’t earn any Reward Credits, Tier Credits, or other benefits from it. There’s an under 21 application, but without the rewards, this card doesn’t offer much value.
Moreover, this card is issued by Comenity Bank, which doesn't have known application rules or restrictions. Thus, if you want to apply, your chances of approval will be higher if you have a healthy credit score and don't have too many recent inquiries on your credit report.
Cards That Compete With the Caesars Rewards Visa Signature Card
If the Caesars Rewards Visa Signature Card isn't right for you, other credit cards might better reward you for your time in Vegas (and elsewhere):
- If you’re looking for another casino-focused card, the MGM Rewards Mastercard automatically grants Pearl status, which includes free parking — a perk Caesars doesn’t offer at Platinum. This card has no annual fee and is issued by First National Bank of Omaha (FNBO).
- If you spend a lot on travel and dining, the Chase Freedom Unlimited® (Rates & Fees) earns 5% on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3% on dining at restaurants and drugstores, and 1.5% on other eligible purchases. And you can maximize your rewards if you also carry a card that earns Ultimate Rewards points; you can combine your rewards and leverage Chase's transfer partners. Learn more about the Freedom Unlimited in our full review.
- If you’re coming to Vegas for shows and entertainment, the Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card can be extremely rewarding. This $0 annual fee card has several earning categories, including 8% cash back on Capital One Entertainment purchases. Check out our full review of the Capital One Savor Cash for more.
- Earn 5% on purchases through Chase Travel℠
- Earn 3% on dining at restaurants
- Earn 3% on drugstore purchases
- Earn 1.5% on all purchases
- 8% cash back on purchases made via the Capital One Entertainment ticketing platform
- 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel (terms apply)
- 3% cash back on dining and entertainment
- 3% at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart® and Target®)
- 3% on popular streaming services
- 1% on all other purchases
Related: Best Credit Cards for Everyday Purchases
Bottom Line
If Caesars is your go-to gambling program, it can make sense to have this card. Earning up to 15,000 Tier Credits each year through spending gets you that much closer to top-tier status, and 5 Rewards Credits per dollar at Caesars destinations is a solid earning rate for a no-annual-fee card.
That said, for travel outside of Las Vegas, there are plenty of other credit cards that offer more valuable rewards than the Caesars Rewards Visa Signature Card.
For rates and fees of the cards mentioned in this post, please visit the following links: Chase Freedom Unlimited® (Rates & Fees)
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