More Resorts. More diversity. More convenience. More fun. Park Place Entertainment Corporation announced on Jan. 7 that it will merge all casino player loyalty clubs into one new umbrella program called Park Place Connection.

The new program will debut with cash bonuses at five Las Vegas destination resorts - Caesars Palace, Ballis, Flamingo, Paris and the Las Vegas Hilton - on January 8, 2002.

"With Park Place Connection, we're giving our customers another reason to experience all of our resorts and become personally familiar with the incredible range of benefits and incentives that only large and diverse resort companies can get. In our case, the bigger one is definitely better for our customers," said Park Place Chief Operating Officer Wallace R. Barr.

Compared to its frequent flyer program, Casino Player Club rewards its customers with points that are proportionate to the amount of money they receive. Based on the points earned during the slot machine, members are eligible for a cash rebate in addition to the casino jackpot.

Each resort determines which coins are needed to earn points. Slot machines and table game players also receive free hotels, dining and showroom perks from individual Las Vegas resorts, special rates, discounts, and event invitations, depending on the play.

Guests will register at the Park Place Casino of their choice and receive a Park Place connection card. Guests can redeem cash bonuses at any of the five resorts, based on their Park Place Las Vegas casino play total.

The new Park Place Connection program combines the popular Caesars Emperor Club, Bali's MVP club, Flamingo Players Club, Hilton Barron Club, and Club Paris. Guests who enjoy games at various resorts will find that they no longer have to register at five casinos, juggle five cards, or run around to retrieve their cash.

The Jan. 8 launch marks the first phase of Park Place Connections. Later, in 2002, Park Place will add inter-property complements to its existing resort-specific player club rewards. In addition, in 2002, Park Place will seek regulatory approval to extend its Park Place Connections program to resorts in other U.S. resort cities. The program is designed to complement the market's existing slot player clubs so that visitors can continue to enjoy their favorite cashback features and player promotions.

Park Place Entertainment Corporation owns, manages, or cares about 28 gaming properties worldwide operating under the Balice, Caesars, Flamingo, Grand Casino and Hilton brand names, totaling 2 million square feet of gaming space, more than 28,000 hotel rooms, and approximately 60,000 employees.

Direct Casino Revenue Declines:

Jane Bokunewicz, director of Stockton University's Lloyd D. Levenson Gaming, Hospitality and Tourism Institute of Stockton University, commented on the ongoing challenges facing Atlantic City casinos in an official press release (pdf) from the New Jersey Department of Game Enforcement (NJDGE). "While many were hoping that the summer of 2024 at Atlantic City casinos would see a rebound in car visitors after last year's trend of having a 'dream vacation' and flying to destinations, in-person gaming figures for July suggest otherwise," she said.

Bokunewitz noted that the market has grown significantly in recent years, although casino face-to-face revenue in July 2024 was not significantly lower than in July 2019.

Casino face-to-face revenue in July 2024 was $272.3 million, compared to $277.2 million in July 2019. Flush acknowledged that the drop in offline gaming revenue was due to calendar configurations with fewer weekend days this year. "The monthly casino multiplier in July was out of step compared to recent years, in part because of fewer weekend days," he said

Impact of changing travel trends:

Changes in travel preferences among tourists may also affect Atlantic City's gaming revenues. Bokunewitz pointed out that more travelers are choosing to go to their destinations rather than by car to places like Atlantic City. "The record amount of passengers traveling through U.S. airports this year may suggest that more people are choosing destinations by car or even as a holiday destination compared to 'accommodation,'" she observed.

The trend contrasts with the recent pandemic, when many travelers prefer to drive to their destinations, boosting Atlantic City's revenue in 2022 and 2023. Bokunewitz suggested the current change could represent a rebound in travel behavior, as more people feel comfortable flying back in.