I don't know about the VIP experience at land-based casinos honestly. So, can't comment on that besides getting free drinks and maybe snacks. Which is okay, but as some of you suggested, free alcohol can lead to massive losses. That's why I don't quite believe they serve it because they love their customers or because they are very generous.
I know about VIP rewards at online casinos. I'm actually always extra interested in VIP and loyalty programs as many operators try to come up with new staff there to remain attractive to returning customers.
My experience so far has shown that the most common ones are:
Free spins
Birthday bonuses
Playing chips
Higher withdrawal limits
Lower banking fees
Cashback on losses
These are standard perks and they are okay, especially free spins without or with low wagering.
However, some operators also used to organize VIP events, tournaments, etc. That's something really cool as VIPs would get exclusive invitations and the chance to hang out with out VIPs. I haven't experienced this, but if anyone has it would be cool to share their experience. To me, it sounds attractive and interesting.
Also, I've noticed some casinos that have like their own shops, where you can get stuff with loyalty/VIP points. Like EnergyCasino (THIS IS AN AFFILIATE LINK -
https://goodluckmate.com/casino/energycasino) has EnergyShop. You can buy free spins with 1x wagering, which is pretty good in my opinion. But there are also other casinos where you can get gadgets and other awesome products. In this regard, I think online casinos can be more creative. And it's easier I guess to get a VIP status here because how many times can you go and gamble in Vegas unless you live there. But with online casinos, you can be a truly loyal customer and then reach the level where you are entitled to perks.
It's obvious that the casino experience one gets in real life can't be recreated (at least not yet). Still, when it comes to perks, I don't really think that online casinos are far behind land-based gambling facilities. If you are a casual player that regularly spends cash on gambling but doesn't care about the real-life pampering, I think you'll be just fine at online casinos.