Diamond cards.....
If you have a diamond card NOW it expires in March of 2006. If during this year you participate in the diamond in a day program you will be renewed in March of 2006 through 2007.
If you do not have a diamond now it is my understanding you will be renewed through 2007 as well.
From what I recall this program was initially started to enable people who did not have close access to a Harrah's property the opportunity to play a lot on one trip (day) and earn the diamond benefits. (I cannot prove this but I read something like this previously.)
However it is my opinion that before long Harrahs will discontinue this program. Anytime a group of people find something that they like, Harrah's has the tendency to dicontinue , change or modify it. There are numerous examples..... In addition, it is my opinion that Harrah's beancounters would prefer to lose $100 than allow one person to find a way they could get a $10 advantage.
So therefore... my approach with Harrah's is to take advantage of everything and anything I can immediately upon discovering it. I find that he who hesitates is lost.
I normally do NOT take the approach of burning out plays, comps, opportunities, rewards, etc. However with Harrah's I make an exception. Considering that they now own so many of the properties I am making hay while the sun shines.
TO be fair about the situation though..... I will say one thing in their favor. If you receive an offer and use it without giving them something in return (play), they rarely will cut you off. In fact they typically follow up with other offers. Also if you receive one offer and do NOT use it, it is often followed up by a better offer. I am not sure how sophisticated their marketing system is but it appears that they try to find the threshold of exactly how much they need to send to get you to come.
My approach with Harrah's is to play a large amount at one time. They periodically have plays and promotions that make for decent opportunities. In fact there are some places with some very good plays (although not in Las Vegas it appears). Then wait and use all the offers etc. that I can and not give further play unless the great opportunity presents itself. Eventually the offers dwindle and it takes another good day of play to reinstitute the process. There was one period for over a year I dutifully cashed every check they gave me, ate every buffet, and used every room and did NOT play. Eventually they stopped loving me. But then I gave them one good day of play and I was back into the family again......