I just reread the original post. You were mentioning the regular cash back offers for play. I misunderstood that but it does appear that it is also intended to keep you coming back to the properties where you have visited. Of course, when cash is involved it is obvious that they don't want to make it too easy for people to cash out. Like I mentioned earlier about RIO, if I have points available or a comp coming I am more likely to return to a property when near by. I might even stop in just to throw in a few $20s to build on my card. If I am cashed out and have nothing on account, than I might forgo a visit for some other property or activity when in town.

It would really suck if, as the original posts rumored, Harrahs bought Coast. Every year I build up about $15 or $20 in cash back for my play. If in order to cash that out I would have to apply for a voucher that would be mailed to my home and would expire in 90 days, than it wouldn't make sense since I might go to LV twice a year if that. Instead of taking cash, it would encourage me to cash out my points during my trip with gift shop or restaurant purchases etc. What that means is, it encourages players to spend more money. If say you have $20 coming back at The Orleans, most people aren't going to go into Terribles and buy exactly $20 worth of merchandise. Instead, you might buy a bottle of Jack Daniels for $18 and a few souvenir glasses for a total of say $40 or so. Thus, instead of giving you $20 in cash, they gave you a coupon or voucher and got you to patronize one of their merchants or restaurants and spend more money.