4 Best Casino Rewards Programs

While the first thing many of us think about when we hear the term "casino" is probably gambling, casinos tend to offer much more than blackjack and craps. They also provide tons of entertainment options, from in-house pop stars to contemporary circus acrobatics, as well as some of the best restaurants in the world.

As with much in the travel sphere, many of the most popular casinos also offer loyalty programs that can make enjoying everything easier and more affordable. Several programs even have rewards credit cards that can enhance your experience.

If you're curious about what casino rewards programs have to offer, take a look at a few of the most popular ones.

1. MGM Rewards

MGM is one of the biggest names in Las Vegas, and its rewards program is just as outsized. There are five elite tiers, from the free base-level Sapphire tier up to the invite-only Noir.

Every tier can earn MGM Rewards Points on pretty much any MGM purchase, including gambling, dining, and hotel stays. Other benefits vary by tier; at Sapphire level, you'll receive discounts on hotel rooms, in-house shops, and select shows. As you go up the tiers, you'll start earning flashier benefits, like free valet parking and complimentary tickets to MGM shows.

You can kickstart your MGM Rewards experience with its MGM Rewards Mastercard. The no annual fee card boosts you to Pearl -- the second elite tier -- and comes with a 10% bonus for points earned on gaming spend. It also has no foreign transaction fees, which is a nice perk for a no annual fee card.

Alternatively, The World of Hyatt Credit Card could also get you up to Pearl status thanks to a status match between the two brands. Hyatt's travel rewards card comes with complimentary Discoverist status, which matches to Pearl. (If you have Hyatt Explorist or Globalist, you match to MGM Gold tier.)

2. Caesars Rewards

Caesars is another Vegas giant, and the Caesars Entertainment group is home to more than a dozen popular brands. They're all part of the Caesars Rewards program, which actually boasts perhaps the most tiers in Vegas with six elite levels from Gold up to Seven Stars.

Any member can earn Caesars Rewards points on gaming, hotel stays, and shopping. But the real perks start to kick in a few tiers up when you hit Diamond status. There, you'll see free dinners, VIP lounge access, and waived resort fees.

You can start climbing the tier ladder faster if you pick up the Caesars Rewards Visa Credit Card. It not only earns rewards on spend, but it also comes with complimentary Platinum (second-tier) status. The card also often comes with a sign-up bonus that can earn you extra tier credits.

If it's status you're after, though, you may actually want to look into the Wyndham Rewards Earner® Business Card, a co-branded hotel credit card for small business owners. The card comes with complimentary Wyndham Diamond status. Since the two programs have a partnership that allows status matching, you can match Wyndham Diamond for Caesars Diamond to unlock a ton of benefits.

3. Wynn Rewards

Getting a little more niche, you have the Wynn Rewards program, which covers the Wynn and Encore brands. The program has three tiers, starting with the free Red tier for all members, the Platinum mid-tier, and the elite Black top tier.

Unlike similar programs, the only way to earn rewards in the program is through gaming. There are a few different currencies in the program:

• Tier Credits, which is how you move up the ranks
• FreeCredit, which can be redeemed for slot points
• Comp Dollars, which can be used toward hotel stays, dining, and other resort purchases

There doesn't seem to be a regular status match option for the program. That said, Wynn has been known to offer limited-time promotions for status matches with other casino programs, so it could be worth keeping an eye out.

4. Grazie Rewards

A big name with a small program, Grazie Rewards is the loyalty program for The Venetian Resort in Las Vegas. The four-tier program starts with Grazie Members and goes up to Paiza Gold -- provided you spend enough money on hotel stays, gaming, and other resort spend.

Everyone can earn and redeem points, and the base level membership also comes with exclusive rates and discounts. You'll need to reach the second-highest tier to get free valet parking, however, and soar all the way up to Paiza Gold to get room upgrades and reserved seating at the pool.

Unfortunately, it doesn't look like you can status match into (or out of) Grazie Rewards, so you'll have to earn your way up the tiers the hard way.

Rewards, rewards, everywhere

This short list of popular programs is hardly an exhaustive one, so if you don't see your favorite casino mentioned here, don't despair. Chances are good it has its own loyalty rewards program you can join. If nothing else, it's always worth a few minutes with a search engine to find out.