Flamingo has completed converting their Connection Card player's club to Harrah's Total Rewards. All points previously earned on Connection have automatically transferred to Total Rewards. If you earned 10,000 tier credits ($50,000 playthrough on slots) in a year, you'll automatically upgrade to Diamond status.
What's in a Diamond?
Separate check-in, separate Total Rewards and cashier lines, priority valet, free show tickets to George Wallace, 25 percent off souvenirs at the gift shop, free health club, and best of all -- the Diamond Lounge.
Located across from the Wildlife Habitat near the sportsbook, Flamingo's Diamond Lounge took a page from Harrah's and provides a relaxing place for players to hang out, watch TV, have a free drink, and eat loads of free food. All without the pressure to gamble -- there are no slot machines, table games, or keno runners in the lounge.
Harrah's lounge is a private affair, with a closed door that passersby can peek in when someone enters or exits. Flamingo's is completely open, with an inviting open archway entrance reminiscent of a nightclub.
Inside is a large square room set in low lighting with an emphasis on mahogany tables, chairs, and dark red leather booths. The center of the room contains two round tables that seat eight, with a Lazy Susan in the middle. On each table is a candle and ashtray. There's no designated nonsmoking area, but likewise there's no reserved seating.
Plasma TVs align the walls, with three on the south wall and two on the west wall. Each TV is hung low and tuned to a different station. Red leather armchairs and small glass tables face the TVs, a perfect vantage point for catching three basketball games simultaneously. Unlike most casino TVs, the lounge TVs have sound turned on, and each is surprisingly distinct despite competing stations.
Servers take drink orders, which arrive in larger glasses than what's served on the casino floor. I rarely saw the servers being tipped.
A buffet table against one wall offers sub sandwiches (toothpicked together with an olive), vegetables, cheese, fruit, tomatoes and mozarella, and tortellini. Bagged Lay's potato chips were also available. Hot trays were set out with the promise of more food to come during dinner hour, approximately 6 p.m.
Dinner varies from evening to evening. When I was there last night, they served plump hotdogs (and sauerkraut), chicken wings, and vegetable soup with mushrooms.
Dessert is set out at about 7 p.m., with fruit tarts, strawberries dipped in chocolate and white chocolate, small Napoleans, strawberry shortcakes, and many other treats I didn't want to be too much of a pig to partake.
Still sporting a new-car smell, the lounge is a welcome respite from the cacophony of casino action. Indeed, one person took a long nap on one of the armchairs... and was still snoozing when I returned two hours later.
Flamingo's Diamond Lounge is open weekdays 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. and weekends 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Diamond card and photo I.D. are required to enter, with one guest permitted.
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