Loyalty Scheme Expert Insights: Betfair NJ and Pala Casino
As you’ll know by now, New Jersey’s top casinos value loyalty above anything else. If you can show a certain amount of dedication, you’ll receive extra rewards by the armful when you ante up online. With this in mind, we’re continuing our loyalty scheme overview this week with a look at the VIP rewards you can collect at Betfair and Pala Casino.
First up, let’s run through the bonus basics at Betfair Casino NJ. After honing its craft for more than a decade in Europe, Betfair now offers a comprehensive reward system this side of the Atlantic. In practice, the system itself is one of the more complex out there. However, once you’ve mastered the division between tier and bonus points, becomes a lot clearer.
Tiers and bonuses lead to smiles at Betfair Casino
To help you understand the difference between tier and bonus points, here are the basics:
Tier Points = These are points earned that determine your VIP ranking:
- Iron
- Bronze,
- Silver
- Gold
- Platinum.
The number of tier points you earn in a single month will put you into one of the above categories. To stay at a certain level, you have to earn 50 percent of the tier points required to enter that status.
To show you what we mean, here are the entry and maintenance thresholds for each VIP level:
- Iron – 0 entry points, 0 maintenance points.
- Bronze – 25,000 entry points, 12,500 maintenance points.
- Silver – 200,000 entry points, 100,000 maintenance points.
- Gold – 500,000 entry points, 250,000 maintenance points.
- Platinum – 2,500,000 entry points, 1,250,000 maintenance points.
Bonus Points = Like tier points, you also earn bonus points for placing real-money bets. However, instead of contributing to your VIP level, these act as credits that can be used to claim bonuses.
Bets make points at Betfair Casino
As we’ve said, earning tier and bonus points is a matter of making real-money bets. Fortunately, this part of the system is easy to understand as the bets-to-points ratio is the same for both:
- For every $1 wagered on slots, you receive five tier and bonus points.
- For every $1 wagered on roulette, video poker and table games, you receive three tier and bonus points.
- For every $1 wagered on blackjack, you receive one tier and bonus point.
OK, so what’s the point in differentiating between tier and bonus points if you accumulate them at the same rate? The reason for the distinction is twofold. Firstly, by keeping the same bets-to-points ratio, everyone gets to earn at the same rate. In other words, it doesn’t matter if you’re a novice or a high roller, you’ll still receive five points for every $1 in slots bets you make. The second reason to make the distinction is to allow high-volume players to get more back for their time online.
The higher you climb, the better the exchange rate
The main reason you’ll want to climb the VIP ladder is to get a better conversion rate. As an Iron VIP, 5,000 bonus points will get you $1 (subject to a 1X playthrough). However, if you make it to Gold, you’d only need 2,000 points to claim $1 (also subject to a 1X playthrough).
In addition to a better exchange rate, higher-ranked VIPs receive additional benefits such as special rewards, enhanced customer service and invites to exclusive events.
Put simply, Betfair Casino’s loyalty scheme is aiming to offer the best of both worlds. By allowing everyone to earn points at the same rate, there is a level of equality running through the system. However, to ensure those with more to spend have an incentive to stay active, higher-ranked VIPs have the power to get more value for their point.
In our opinion, systems like this are better suited to serious players because the low-level rewards aren’t always the best. What’s more, Betfair Casino’s program can seem a little complicated on first inspection if you’re new to the online casino scene. Of course, if you’re comfortable with what we’ve told you and you’re willing to play, there is money to be made from this loyalty scheme.
At Pala Casino it’s all about your status
Fans of Betfair’s VIP system will love what Pala Online Casino has to offer. Fundamentally, the two programs are identical. The main difference is that tier and bonus points are called status and reward points. Despite this difference, the pair functions in the same way i.e. status determines your VIP level while rewards points can be converted into bonus cash.
However, when you look beyond the surface, there are some differences. When you play at Pala, your earning potential is defined by your status. Basically, the higher you rank, the more points you earn per dollar wagered:
- Slots: 20 to 86 points per $20 wagered
- Video poker: 4 to 39 points per $20 wagered
- Table games: 4 to 52 points per $20 wagered
As you climb the six levels, you’ll receive additional rewards. However, the one thing that remains the same is the point-to-dollars conversion rate. At Pala, you’ll receive $1 in bonus cash (subject to a 1X playthrough) for every 5,000 reward points exchanged.
Choose the loyalty scheme that’s right for you
When you compare the two loyalty schemes, the main difference is how you earn points vs. how you convert points. Inside Betfair Casino, your conversion rate improves as you climb the loyalty ladder. At Pala, the conversion rate stays the same but your earning potential improves. As a player, you need to decide whether you want more points or a better exchange rate.
In our opinion, the former is better for those that like to save up their points and play the proverbial long-game. The latter, for us, is better for players that want smaller but more frequent payouts. Whichever one you opt for, it’s fair to say that both loyalty schemes are capable of giving you plenty of added value as long as you choose the right one for you.