Penn mychoice Loyalty Program Strategy Guide
Penn mychoice is one of the largest regional casino loyalty programs in the United States, spanning 40+ properties under the Hollywood Casino, Ameristar, and Boomtown brands. For AP players in the Midwest, Ohio Valley, and Gulf South, Penn properties are often the closest and most accessible earning base. This guide covers every tier, the tier point math, which properties matter most by region, and how Penn mychoice stacks up against Caesars Rewards.
What Is Penn mychoice?
Penn mychoice is the loyalty program for Penn Entertainment (formerly Penn National Gaming), one of the largest regional casino operators in the country. The program covers more than 40 casino properties across roughly 20 states. Member properties operate under several brand names — Hollywood Casino is Penn's primary commercial casino brand, while Ameristar and Boomtown cover properties Penn acquired over the years.
Points and tier status earned at any Penn property apply system-wide. A player who builds tier points at Hollywood Casino Columbus can use that status at Ameristar Kansas City or M Resort Las Vegas without any conversion step. This makes Penn mychoice a genuinely national program despite its regional reputation.
Tier Levels and Requirements
| Tier | Tier Points / Year | Approx. Coin-In |
|---|---|---|
| mychoice Base | 0 (enrollment) | — |
| Preferred | 5,000 | ~$50,000 |
| Elite | 25,000 | ~$250,000 |
| Elite Plus | 75,000 | ~$750,000 |
| Signature | 150,000 | ~$1,500,000 |
Coin-in estimates based on approximately 1 tier point per $10 coin-in on most slot machines. Actual rates vary by property and game type.
How Tier Points Are Earned
On most Penn slot machines, members earn approximately 1 tier point per $10 coin-in. This rate may vary by property, denomination, or game category — video poker and some table-linked machines can earn at different rates. Table game play earns tier points based on average bet and time played as tracked by the pit.
- At $0.50 denomination (500 spins/hr): $250/hr coin-in — 25 tier points/hr
- At $1 denomination (500 spins/hr): $500/hr coin-in — 50 tier points/hr
- At $5 denomination (500 spins/hr): $2,500/hr coin-in — 250 tier points/hr
- At $25 denomination (300 spins/hr): $7,500/hr coin-in — 750 tier points/hr
As with any tier program, denomination is the fastest lever for accelerating tier point accumulation. Moving from $0.50 to $5 denomination multiplies tier point earning speed by 10x with the same number of spins.
Preferred Math: At $1 denomination (50 tier points/hr), reaching Preferred (5,000 tier points) takes approximately 100 hours of slot play — or about 10 full casino days at 10 hours each. At $5 denomination, the same 5,000 tier points requires just 20 hours. Preferred is an accessible baseline target for regular Penn visitors.
Benefits by Tier
mychoice Base (Enrollment)
- Earn reward credits on slot play and table games
- Access to mychoice promotions and offers
- Birthday bonus offers
Preferred — 5,000 Tier Points
- Free play certificates (periodic, property-dependent)
- Priority service at select properties
- Enhanced offers and mailers
Elite — 25,000 Tier Points
- Resort fee waivers at Penn hotel properties
- Elevated free play certificate values
- Priority check-in and service
- Improved comp rates on food, hotel, and entertainment
Elite Plus — 75,000 Tier Points
- All Elite benefits, elevated
- Higher-value free play certificates
- Access to premium amenities at Penn flagship properties
- Priority hotel room assignment
Signature — 150,000 Tier Points
- Top-tier amenity access at all Penn properties
- Dedicated host relationships at flagship locations
- Best available comp rates and offer levels
- Access to premium suites and resort amenities
Key Penn mychoice Properties by Region
Penn's property network is densest in the Midwest and Ohio Valley, with meaningful coverage in the Gulf South, Mid-Atlantic, and one Las Vegas property.
- Ohio: Hollywood Casino Columbus, Hollywood Casino Toledo, Scioto Downs Racino (Columbus) — three properties in one state makes Ohio one of the strongest Penn earning markets
- Illinois: Hollywood Casino Joliet, Hollywood Casino Aurora — both accessible from the Chicago metro
- Indiana: Hollywood Casino Lawrenceburg — south of Cincinnati, draws from both markets
- West Virginia: Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races — accessible from the DC/Baltimore corridor
- Maryland: Hollywood Casino at Arundel Mills — suburban Baltimore, strong regional draw
- Massachusetts: Plainridge Park Casino — only commercial slots and poker in Massachusetts, limited competition
- Missouri: Ameristar Kansas City, Ameristar St. Charles — two large properties serving the Missouri market
- Iowa: Ameristar Council Bluffs — Omaha/Council Bluffs metro
- Mississippi / Gulf South: Hollywood Casino Bay St. Louis, Ameristar Vicksburg, Boomtown Biloxi, Boomtown New Orleans
- Nevada: M Resort Spa Casino — Henderson, NV (south Las Vegas metro)
Penn mychoice vs. Caesars Rewards
The most common comparison for regional AP players is Penn mychoice versus Caesars Rewards. The programs serve different geographic strengths:
- Penn advantage — Midwest and Ohio Valley: Penn has far more properties in Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, and West Virginia than Caesars. Players in these states will encounter Penn properties more often in their driving radius.
- Penn advantage — Gulf South: Multiple properties in Mississippi and Louisiana give Penn a stronger presence in the Gulf Coast market.
- Caesars advantage — Las Vegas: Caesars owns the most valuable cluster of Las Vegas Strip properties in any loyalty program: Caesars Palace, Harrah's Las Vegas, Paris, Horseshoe Las Vegas, Bally's, Planet Hollywood, and Rio. Resort fee waivers at these properties save $40-60/night for Diamond members — a $200-400 value on a 5-night Las Vegas trip.
- Penn Las Vegas — M Resort: M Resort in Henderson is a solid off-Strip property but does not match the Las Vegas Strip footprint that makes Caesars Diamond valuable for annual Las Vegas visitors.
The practical conclusion: AP players in Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, West Virginia, or Mississippi should treat Penn mychoice as their primary tier program. Players who travel to Las Vegas annually and are within driving distance of Caesars properties should pursue Caesars Diamond as a secondary program. Both can be maintained simultaneously.
Dual Program Strategy: Many Midwest AP players maintain Penn Preferred or Elite for local play while targeting Caesars Diamond for the Las Vegas trip benefits. The coin-in requirements overlap — play that builds Penn tier also generates Caesars comps if a Caesars property is in range. Map your driving radius against both networks before committing to a single primary program.
Access all 150+ machine guides to identify the highest-EV plays at Penn properties — so every tier point earned toward Preferred or Elite comes from sessions with the best available return.
View Membership OptionsFrequently Asked Questions
What is Penn mychoice?
Penn mychoice is the loyalty program for Penn Entertainment (formerly Penn National Gaming), covering 40+ casino properties across the United States. Member properties include Hollywood Casino locations, Ameristar Casinos, Boomtown Casinos, Arundel Mills, Plainridge Park, M Resort Las Vegas, and others. Members earn tier points and reward credits on slot play, table games, and hotel stays at any Penn property, and status applies system-wide.
How do you earn tier points in Penn mychoice?
Penn mychoice tier points are earned at approximately 1 tier point per $10 coin-in on most slot machines. Earning rates can vary by property and machine type. Table game play also earns tier points based on average bet and hours played. Tier points accumulate toward annual tier status and reset on the program anniversary or calendar year cycle depending on the property.
What Penn mychoice tier is worth targeting?
For most AP players, Preferred (5,000 tier points) is the baseline that unlocks meaningful benefits like free play certificates and priority service. Elite (25,000 tier points) adds resort fee waivers at Penn hotel properties and elevated comp rates, making it a strong target for players who visit Penn properties with hotels. Elite Plus (75,000) and Signature (150,000) are realistic only for high-volume players but unlock the best amenity access and host relationships at Penn flagship properties.
What properties are on Penn mychoice?
Penn mychoice covers 40+ properties including: Hollywood Casino Columbus (OH), Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races (WV), Hollywood Casino Joliet (IL), Hollywood Casino Aurora (IL), Hollywood Casino Lawrenceburg (IN), Hollywood Casino Toledo (OH), Ameristar Kansas City (MO), Ameristar St. Charles (MO), Ameristar Council Bluffs (IA), Ameristar Vicksburg (MS), Boomtown New Orleans (LA), Boomtown Biloxi (MS), Hollywood Casino Bay St. Louis (MS), Plainridge Park Casino (MA), Scioto Downs Racino (OH), M Resort Spa Casino (NV), and Arundel Mills (MD), among others.
How does Penn mychoice compare to Caesars Rewards?
Penn mychoice has a stronger footprint in the Midwest, Ohio Valley, and Gulf South regions, while Caesars Rewards offers a superior Las Vegas portfolio with resort fee waivers at Caesars Palace, Harrah's Las Vegas, Paris, and other Strip properties. For AP players based in Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, West Virginia, or Mississippi, Penn mychoice is often the primary program due to sheer property density. Caesars Diamond remains more valuable for players who travel to Las Vegas annually, because the Las Vegas resort fee waivers produce $200-400 in per-trip savings. Players within driving distance of both networks often maintain status in both programs.
Ready to dig deeper? Browse all AP guides or explore the casino map to find Penn properties near you.