CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Cleveland gamblers will lose access to one of the nation's largest customer-loyalty programs in mid-2016, when Caesar Entertainment's Total Rewards program is no longer offered at the downtown casino.

The Total Rewards program offers loyal customers a chance to earn discounts and other incentives and redeem the perks at more than 40 resorts and casinos around the world.

But that will change, along with Horseshoe Cleveland Casino's name, as the facility is rebranded under its new manager, Rock Gaming.

Rock Gaming, which in February took over ownership of Horseshoe Cleveland Casino, Horseshoe Cincinnati Casino and ThistleDown Racino by buying out the share owned by Caesar's Entertainment, announced Monday that is taking over management from Caesar's. That move means all casino and racino employees will be employed by Rock Gaming, which has formed a gaming company that includes the three Ohio facilities, Greektown Casino in Detroit and Turfway Park in Florence, Kentucky.

Visibly, little will change at the Cleveland casino other than the new name, which has not yet been determined, said Matt Cullen, CEO of Rock Gaming. But to gamblers, the loss of the Total Rewards program means they cannot accumulate credits and rewards that can be used in Las Vegas and other Caesar's venues.

That doesn't please many of those who commented on Rock Gaming's announcement.

pray for cleveland said: "Without the Total Rewards program it will be even harder for the Higbee casino to draw folks from outside the region and state, as we were told they intended to do." 

RealityBites said: "Since Greek Town has a reward program of its own, perhaps they will come up with a way to join all casinos under the same program."

Cullen said Cleveland gamblers can enroll in the new Rock Gaming rewards program at the level they are currently at in the Total Rewards program.

"They can keep their current levels and points (in Total Rewards) and we will have a new loyalty program that will come in with the same level," he said, describing the arrangement as a "win-win" for gamblers.

The new Rock Gaming rewards program will allow gamblers to redeem their credits at Rock Gaming's four casino/racino gaming facilities.

Gamblers like the option of obtaining Total Rewards in Cleveland and all Caesar's properties.

GuiseppeOhio said: "No more total rewards?!?!?! well no need to go to the shoe." 

football 99 responded: "There will still be a reward system. Just not Total Rewards."

That didn't satisfy GuiseppeOhio  who wrote: "doesn't help for my vegas comps."

Caesars' Total Rewards customer-loyalty program offers an escalating series of perks that begins with discounts on merchandise and free meals, hotel stays and gaming. The program's 40 million members include 80,000 who lived within 50 miles of the Cleveland casino when it opened in May, 2012.

Members earn their way to the highest privileges with credits, accumulating them based on how much they spend on slot machines, video poker and entertainment. Credit for table games varies based on the type of game, average wager and length of play. Members also get credit for winnings that they use to continue playing.

Levels advance from Gold to Platinum to Diamond Club to Seven Stars.

The GT Rewards program at Greektown, which is also owned by Rock Gaming and will be part of its five-casino/racino gaming company, has five membership levels -- bronze, silver, gold, platinum and infinity. As gamblers advance their status, they receive dining and entertainment rewards and other rewards including VIP golf events, VIP parking and free VIP slots and table game tournaments.