Penn Entertainment Rewards Program: PENN Play

PENN Play is the new rewards program for ESPN Bet and Penn Entertainment properties nationwide. Penn Entertainment rebranded mychoice rewards to PENN Play in early 2023 and changed a few things, but left the basic structure of the original program intact.

Some of the highlights of the recent changes include more benefits at each tier level, an expanded points marketplace, and new benefits with Penn Entertainment’s partner brands. Additionally, PENN Play has launched a new app and website where members can participate in promotions and track their progress.

Read on for a full rundown of the new Penn Entertainment PENN Play loyalty program.

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PENN Play Loyalty Program Tiers: PENN Play

All Penn Entertainment customers begin earning Tier Points and benefits through PENN Play after signing up and placing their first wagers. As players earn Tier Points, they move up through five VIP tiers to unlock additional benefits.

How to Earn PENN Play Points

Penn Entertainment customers earn Tier Points for betting on sports at ESPN Bet and playing online casino games at Hollywood Casino (in applicable states).

In addition, PENN Play members earn points for playing, staying, dining, and shopping at Penn Entertainment properties and its partner brands.

Earning PENN Play Points at ESPN Bet

• Parlay bets: Every $5 bet = 1 Tier Point
• All other types of bets: Every $10 wagered = 1 Tier Point

Earning PENN Play Points at HollywoodCasino.com

• Online slots/video poker: $12 coin-in = 1 Tier Point
• Online table games: $25 coin-in = 1 Tier Point

Earning PENN Play Points at Penn Entertainment Properties

• Slots and video lottery terminals: $5 coin–in = 1 Tier Point
• Video poker: $10 coin-in = 1 Tier Point
• Table games: Based on game played, average bet, and time played 
• Electronic table games: $40 coin-in = 1 Tier Point
• Live poker games: 1 hour played = 20 Tier Points
• Non-gaming on-property purchases: $5 spent = 1 Tier Point
• Horse racing wagering: $10 wagered = 1 Tier Point
• Hotel stays: $5 spent = 1 Tier Point
• Dining: $5 spent = 1 Tier Point
• Shopping: Earn rate varies; PENN Play does not publicly disclose exact earn rates

Real Time Rewards and PENN Cash

PENN Cash is PENN Play’s currency and allows members to choose their own rewards above and beyond the passive benefits detailed above. Members can spend PENN Cash on hotel stays, dining, shopping, gaming, and more. It’s a flexible currency, and it converts into tangible rewards at higher-than-expected rates.

Members earn PENN Cash as they earn Tier Points, play casino games, and spend money at Penn Entertainment properties. The earn rate varies, but it can be surprisingly high. For example, members who use the Penn Marketplace to shop online at stores like iTunes, Home Depot, Priceline, Banana Republic, and many more can earn up to 13.5% of their spending as PENN Cash.

In addition, members who download the PENN Play app and earn 3,000+ Tier Points during an earning period qualify for Real Time Rewards to earn PENN Cash even faster:

• Members with 3,000 to 17,999 Tier Points: $10 PENN Cash for every 3,000 Tier Points earned
• Members with 18,000 to 49,999 Tier Points: $25 PENN Cash for every 5,000 Tier Points earned
• Members with 50,000 to 199,999 Tier Points: $150 PENN Cash for every 25,000 Tier Points earned
• Members with 200,000+ Tier Points: $500 PENN Cash for every 50,000 Tier Points earned

Admittedly, this isn’t much to get excited about. At 3,000 Tier Points, bettors would have to wager $30,000 on straights or $60,000 on parlays to win $10 in PENN Cash. Even at the highest tier, bettors need to wager $500,000 – $1,000,000 to earn $500, a cashback rate of between 0.05% – 0.1%.

In a welcome departure from the industry standard, using PENN Cash is straightforward. Guests can redeem it for credits on most types of expenditures at Penn Entertainment properties or for bonus cash online at Hollywood Casino. Even better, PENN Play provides clear conversion rates upfront so members can quickly see what it’s worth in dollar terms:

• Penn hotel stays: $1 PENN Cash = $2 in hotel credits
• Dining at Penn properties: $1 PENN Cash = $2 dining credit
• Shopping at Penn properties: $1 PENN Cash = $2 shopping credit
• Playing at Penn casinos: $1 PENN Cash = $1 slot and video poker credit
• Gambling online at Hollywood Casino: $1 PENN Cash = $1 bonus cash

The other PENN Play membership benefits are more enticing, especially for those who frequent Penn National retail casinos. Bettors can earn stays at Tropicana Las Vegas or M Resort Spa Casino, free Norwegian cruises, free valet parking, VIP lounge access, companion cards, special promotional offers, waived hotel fees, and more.

At the highest tier, VIPs receive exclusive birthday dinners, guaranteed comped rooms, complimentary late check-out, and an annual luxury gift, an example of which is a one-year Mercedes Benz lease.

PENN Heroes Benefits For Veterans

PENN Heroes is an exclusive PENN Play program that extends additional discounts and promotions to veterans, active-duty military, law enforcement, firefighters, other first responders, and their spouses. All PENN Heroes members receive unique PENN Play membership cards and exclusive perks:

• Instant upgrade to Advantage tier or 1,000 Tier Point bonus
• Up to 30% discounts on hotel stays
• Dining and shopping discounts at Penn Entertainment properties
• Exclusive promotions

PENN Play App

Members can download the PENN Play app for iOS or Android to get an instant $10 in PENN Cash and access to exclusive promotions, like the $1.5 Million PENN Play giveaway. Additionally, new PENN Play members who download the app within seven days of joining the program will get a chance to play the Flyin’ Cash Grab game to earn additional PENN Cash.

The PENN Play app is optional, but members who download it can use it to enhance their experience and earn additional rewards. Its highlights include:

• Opportunities to participate in special promotions
• Earn, track, and redeem Tier Points and PENN Cash
• Receive instant news and updates from PENN Play
• Locate new games and Penn Entertainment locations
• Update your account and monitor your winnings

PENN Play Rewards Program Pros And Cons

PENN Play is an inviting loyalty program, but it’s not without its flaws. Most notably, PENN Play doesn’t offer much for Penn Entertainment customers who primarily bet on sports online using the ESPN Bet app and aren’t interested in shopping and travel deals or visiting Penn Entertainment properties. PENN Play would instantly become more attractive to those bettors by offering rewards such as special online betting bonuses, priority withdrawals, and a way to convert points into cash.

On the other hand, PENN Play offers significant value through online shopping discounts, in-person casino credits, and travel for customers who take advantage of them. ESPN Bet customers who regularly visit Penn National destinations, travel more than once a year, or are motivated by shopping discounts can leverage PENN Play to their benefit.

Penn Play Rewards Pros

• Multiple ways to earn points in person and online
• Easy to advance beyond the first VIP tier
• PENN Heroes offers exclusive benefits to veterans, active-duty military, and first responders

Penn Play Rewards Cons

• Cash-to-point conversion is a bit steep 
• PENN Cash doesn’t have any use at ESPN Bet (yet)

Thoughts On The PENN Play Loyalty Program

The PENN Play rewards program provides legitimate value to high-volume customers who visit Penn National destinations, travel regularly, and are willing to use the marketplace to shop online.

Lower volume bettors may struggle to advance through five PENN Play tiers, but it’s not too difficult to get beyond the first tier. Bettors need to place $5,000 worth of parlay bets or $10,000 worth of other types of wagers, which is not bad compared to other sports betting loyalty programs.

The rebranded rewards program launched some pretty eye-catching promotions for members shortly after it launched, including the $1.5 million giveaway. If PENN Play makes it a habit of hosting massive promotions for all users, that will be a significant advantage over competing sportsbooks’ rewards programs. However, the lack of a cashback program and limited online-centric rewards hurt PENN Play’s utility for online-only bettors.

PENN Play FAQ