This is not new. Back when Spa Blu hotel opened at the Blue Chip in Michigan City, I went to the fitness center and even though I was an Emerald player, they charged me $8. They said at the time it was only free to Onyx players and I said "what's that?", but received no answer. The policy has since changed and Emerald players do get free use of the fitness center (which I feel is only fair since our money built the place!) I've seen a stack of the cards in the hosts' office - they're black.