Which is the best card for entertainment spending?

The best card for entertainment purchases will be the one that matches the specific entertainment category on which you’re spending. For example, if you spend a lot on digital entertainment and downloads, you’ll want to select a card that provides elevated earnings on those purchases. If your entertainment spending is incidental, it could be a better choice to select a card that best rewards your overall spending mix.

What qualifies as entertainment on a credit card?

Each credit card issuer has its own definition of what qualifies as entertainment for bonus-earning purchases. Common types of entertainment found in these definitions include sporting events and theatre tickets, movies, concerts, streaming services, tourist attractions, software and gaming stores, book and toy stores, amusement parks, zoos, and bowling alleys.

Does the Ducks Unlimited credit card work for entertainment purchases?

The Ducks Unlimited Rewards Platinum Edition® Visa® card used to offer 5% cash-back on gas purchases and at sporting goods stores, making it a good card choice for buying entertainment-related gift cards. However, the card no longer has 5% earnings and now pays just a flat 1.5% on all purchases.

Can I buy an entertainment gift card with a credit card?

Retail merchants sell entertainment gift cards and most will let you purchase a gift card with a credit card. Supermarkets, home improvement stores, drugstores, office supply stores, gas stations, and wholesale clubs are merchants that generally sell entertainment-related gift cards. Whether you can purchase entertainment gift cards with a credit card, or the limit as to the amount you can purchase, will depend on location and store policy.

The 7+ Best Credit Cards for Entertainment Purchases [2023]

The entertainment industry certainly changed with the onset of the coronavirus pandemic. Instead of a night out at the movies, we stayed home streaming Netflix. And that concert we planned to attend morphed into an online fundraising event.

Slowly but surely, though, we’re getting back to a new normal — returning to the movie theaters, visiting museums and zoos, exploring amusement parks, and more.

The bottom line is that we’re back to spending money on entertainment. And if you’re spending any significant amount of money on entertainment each year, you’re sure to benefit from earning rewards on those purchases.

That’s the topic we’re going to zero in on for our article today. We’ll look at entertainment expenses that could potentially earn rewards and discuss which credit cards allow you to do just that. We’ll also look at cards that deliver entertainment-related card perks that you might find valuable.

What Qualifies as Entertainment?

Several credit cards offer bonus earnings on entertainment purchases. However, credit card issuers are not consistent in the definition of what counts as entertainment, so you’ll need to follow the specific definitions of each card issuer to ensure you receive those earnings.

Let’s take a look at some examples of the types of entertainment that might be included in a card issuer’s definition of bonus earnings:

Aquariums, zoos, and amusement parks
Dance and pool halls, clubs, and bowling alleys
Digital entertainment, games, and software merchants
Live sporting events, theatrical performances, and concert tickets
Movie theater tickets
Music, books, and newsstands
Record stores
Streaming services and subscriptions
Tourist attractions
Toys and hobby stores
Video rental and game store purchases

Hot Tip: In addition to earning rewards when making entertainment purchases directly with your qualifying credit card, you may be able to purchase entertainment-related gift cards at other bonus-earning category merchants such as grocery stores, warehouse clubs, gas stations, drugstores, or home improvement stores.

The 7 Best Credit Cards for Entertainment Purchases — Summary

Credit Card	Welcome Bonus and Annual Fee	Benefits for Entertainment Purchases
Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card	Earn $300 after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months. Annual fee of $95	8% cash-back on Vivid Seats purchases 4% cash-back on entertainment and dining 2% cash-back at grocery stores (which may sell entertainment gift cards)
Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card	Earn $200 cash bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in the first 3 months. Annual fee of $0	3% cash-back on entertainment and dining 2% cash-back at gas stations and grocery stores
The Platinum Card® from American Express	Earn 80,000 points after spending $6,000 on purchases in the first 6 months. Annual fee of $695 (rates and fees)	Up to $20 monthly digital entertainment credit
Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express	Earn a $250 statement credit after spending $3,000 in purchases in the first 6 months. Annual fee of $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95 (rates and fees)	6% cash-back on streaming services 6% cash-back at grocery stores, up to $6,000 in purchases each year
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card	Earn 60,000 points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months. Annual fee of $95	5x points on travel booked via the Chase travel portal, including theme park tickets, tourist attractions, tours, and more 3x points on select streaming services
U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card	Earn a $200 bonus after spending $1,000 on eligible purchases within the first 120 days. Annual fee of $0	5% cash-back at your choice of 2 quarterly categories that can include entertainment-related merchants, up to $2,000 in purchases per quarter
Disney® Premier Visa® Card	Earn $300 Statement Credit after you spend $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months. Annual fee of $49	2% back in Disney Reward Dollars for purchases at select Disney venues, Disney.com, and Disney dining 0% APR for 6 months on select Disney Vacation Packages Discounts for select Disney/Star War purchases Special Disney/Star Wars meet and greet experiences

The 7 Best Credit Cards for Entertainment Purchases

Premier access and elevated earnings make Capital One Savor cards a good choice for entertainment purchases. Image Credit: Vivid Seats

1. Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card

Why We Like the Card for Entertainment Purchases

The Capital One Savor card earns unlimited 4% cash-back on entertainment and dining purchases as well as 8% cash-back on Vivid Seats ticket purchases. Additionally, the card earns 2% cash-back on grocery store purchases (excluding Walmart and Target) where you may be able to purchase entertainment gift cards.

Additional Card Benefits

1% cash-back on all other purchases
Redeem rewards for statement credits, a check, gift cards, or merchandise

2. Capital One SavorOne Rewards Card

Why We Like the Card for Entertainment Purchases

Like the Capital One Savor card, the Capital One SavorOne card offers bonus earnings on entertainment and dining purchases. You’ll receive 3% cash-back on those purchases.

Additional Card Benefits

No annual fee
1% cash-back on all other purchases
Introductory 0% APR period on purchases for 15 months from card approval
Redeem rewards for statement credits, a check, gift cards, or merchandise

Qualifying Entertainment Purchases

Capital One has a specific definition for which entertainment purchases receive bonus earnings. You can expect to receive elevated earnings at the following merchant categories:

Aquariums, zoos, and amusement parks
Dance and pool halls, bowling alleys
Live sporting events
Record stores
Theatres
Ticket purchases made at movie theaters
Tourist attractions

Note that Capital One does not include golf courses, collegiate sporting events, and cable or streaming services in its normal definition of entertainment.

Hot Tip: A great perk that comes with all Capital One consumer and business cards through June 22, 2024, is a free 6-month membership to The Cultivisit, a service offering free access to museums across the world.

3. The Platinum Card® from American Express

Why We Like the Card for Entertainment Purchases

The Amex Platinum card offers a statement credit of up to $20 each month for select digital entertainment: Audible, Disney+, The Disney Bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, Peacock, SiriusXM, and The New York Times.

Additional Card Benefits

5x points on flights booked directly with the airline or via Amex Travel
5x points on prepaid hotels booked with Amex Travel
$200 prepaid hotel credit on eligible stays
$200 airline fee credit (enrollment required)
Terms apply

There are tons more benefits for the Amex Platinum card, including thousands of dollars in statement credits each year.

4. Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express

Why We Like the Card for Entertainment Purchases

The Amex Blue Cash Preferred card offers the opportunity to earn 6% cash-back on a single common household entertainment purchase — select U.S. streaming services.

Additionally, you can earn 6% at U.S. supermarkets, up to $6,000 per year, then 1%. Many U.S. supermarket stores sell entertainment-related gift cards.

Additional Card Benefits

3% cash-back on dining and transit services such as taxis, rideshares, trains, and buses
1% cash-back on all other purchases
Secondary car rental insurance with the ability to purchase premium protection for one low fee that covers the entire rental period
Purchase protection and extended warranty coverage
Terms apply

There are many more benefits of the Amex Blue Cash Preferred card, including travel and shopping benefits and protections.

5. Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

Why We Like the Card for Entertainment Purchases

The Chase Sapphire Preferred card offers 5x points on all travel booked via the Chase travel portal. This includes any theme park tickets, tourist attractions, tours, and more.

Additional Card Benefits

$50 annual hotel credit towards stays booked with the Chase travel portal
3x points on online groceries, select streaming services, and dining
5x points on Peloton equipment and accessory purchases over $250 (through March 31, 2025)
5x points on Lyft (through March 31, 2025)

6. U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card

Why We Like the Card for Entertainment Purchases

Each quarter is an earning quarter when you select your own bonus merchant categories, TV, internet, streaming services, or movie theaters. With the U.S. Bank Cash+ Signature card, you’ll earn 5% cash-back on your choice of 2 bonus-category merchant purchases, up to $2,000 in purchases per quarter, then 1%.

The card also offers unlimited earnings of 2% cash-back at grocery stores or gas stations where you may be able to purchase entertainment gift cards.

Qualifying 5% cash-back category choices include:

Cell phone providers
Department stores and select clothing stores
Electronic stores
Fast food
Furniture stores
Ground transportation
Gyms and fitness centers
Home utilities
Movie theaters
Sporting goods stores
TV, internet, and streaming services

Additional Card Benefits

No annual fee
Unlimited 2% cash-back earnings at grocery stores, gas stations, or restaurants
Visa Signature benefits

7. Disney® Premier Visa® Card

Kylo Ren Disney Premier card character experience — Your Disney Visa Premier card gives you exclusive access to a Kylo Ren character experience at Hollywood Studios! Image Credit: Disney

Disney tops the list of entertainment options for most Disney fans out there. Whether you’re an avid Disney loyalist or planning a special Disney family vacation, the Disney Premier card might warrant a chance of finding a place in your wallet.

Here are some of the benefits you can expect with the card.

Why We Like the Card for Entertainment Purchases

Welcome bonus of a Disney gift card when meeting the minimum spending requirement in the first 3 months after card approval
2% back in Disney Reward Dollars for purchases at select Disney locations
0% APR financing for 6 months on the purchase of select Disney Vacation Packages
10% discount on purchases of $50 or more at Disney stores and Disney.com
20% off select Disney tours
Special Disney character and Star Wars meet-and-greet experiences
10% off select Disney dining
Choose your own Disney-themed card design

Additional Card Benefits

2% back in Disney Reward Dollars on everyday purchases at gas stations, restaurants, and grocery stores
1% back in Disney Reward Dollars for all other purchases
Redeem Disney Reward Dollars for airline statement credits
Lower annual fee

Hot Tip: If you’re not yet ready to visit a Disney theme park or take a Disney cruise, check out and experience our collection of virtual Disney rides and attractions.

3 Additional Credit Cards With Las Vegas Perks

Caesars Palace Las Vegas — Image Credit: Caesars Palace

It’s hard to beat the entertainment value of Las Vegas. Score a sure win on your next Vegas trip by using a card that earns rewards and/or provides valuable perks during your stay.

1. Caesars Rewards Visa® Credit Card

If you’re a Caesars fan and a member of the Caesars Rewards program (formally the Total Rewards program), the Caesars Rewards card may be a consideration for earning on Caesars Entertainment purchases and everyday spending.

Why We Like the Card for Entertainment Purchases

5 Reward Credits on purchases at over 40 destinations and Caesars Rewards Live Events tickets
2 Reward Credits at gas stations and grocery stores (which may sell entertainment gift cards)

Additional Card Benefits

No annual fee
2 Reward Credits on airline purchases
1 Reward Credit on all other purchases
Reward Credits can be redeemed for Caesars Rewards on-site expenses, gaming credit, gift cards, and merchandise
Las Vegas VIP access benefits
Special promotional dining credits

Hot Tip: Link your Caesars Rewards account to your Wyndham Rewards account to match status and transfer Reward Credits to Wyndham Rewards points (and vice versa).

2. MGM Rewards™ Mastercard®

Those with the MGM Rewards Mastercard can earn MGM Mastercard Points that can be redeemed for MGM Rewards Points. Those, in turn, can be redeemed toward dining, entertainment, and even hotel stays, as well as Slot Dollars.

Why We Like the Card for Entertainment Purchases

3x points and Tier Credits at MGM Rewards destinations
2x points and Tier Credits on gas and supermarket purchases (which may sell entertainment gift cards)

Additional Card Benefits

1x point and Tier Credit on all other purchases
Automatic upgrade to MGM Rewards Pearl status that comes with 10% bonus points for your gaming spend and free parking at participating MGM Rewards properties
Priority hotel check-in at MGM Rewards destinations
No foreign transaction fees
Points don’t expire
No annual fee

Hot Tip:If you have World of Hyatt elite status, you can match your status to the MGM Rewards program. World of Hyatt Discoverist members will match to MGM Pearl, while Explorist and Globalist members can match to MGM Gold status.

3. The Marvel Mastercard®

Why We Like the Card for Entertainment Purchases

Marvel fans will enjoy 20% off of tickets and 10% off merchandise at the Marvel Avengers S.T.A.T.I.O.N. exhibit in Las Vegas when showing their Marvel Mastercard.

The card also earns 3% cash-back on entertainment, at marvel.com, and on dining. Cardholders receive free shipping, 10% off marvelshop.com purchases, and discounts on Marvel digital comics at Marvel Unlimited.

Additional Card Benefits

No annual fee
1% cash-back on every purchase
Choose from 6 Marvel-themed card designs

Synchrony Bank issues the Marvel Mastercard and defines the entertainment category to include:

Amusement parks
Books and newsstands
Digital entertainment
Games and software
Marvel convention purchases
Marvel online
Movie theatres
Music
Theatrical and concert promoters
Toy and hobby stores
Video rental and game stores

Best Credit Cards for Entertainment Perks and Access

Amex Entertainment Access — Image Credit: American Express

Here are some of the top cards offering entertainment perks and access:

American Express Cards

All American Express cardholders enjoy the Entertainment Access benefit which offers added perks at select events, such as dedicated entrance areas and concession offers. Cardholders also enjoy presale access to event tickets.

Premium American Express cards such as the Amex Platinum card kick it up a notch with invitation-only events, Amex Concierge, VIP access, on-site perks, ticket presale access, and more.

Citi

Citi-issued credit and debit cards offer all cardholders access to Citi Entertainment. This benefit offers ticket presales for popular events, exclusive experiences, and more.

Cardholders can also utilize the Citi Concierge benefit that offers 24/7 access and assistance in securing dining reservations, planning travel and assistance during the journey, shopping, and more.

Chase

All Chase credit cardholders have access to entertainment perks through Chase Select Experiences which offers benefits such as access to preferred seating when purchasing tickets on Ticketmaster, perks at Madison Square Garden events including lounge access, discounts, and more.

Premium cardholders of the Chase Sapphire Preferred card, Chase Sapphire Reserve®, the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card, and J.P. Morgan Reserve Card (no longer available to new applications) enjoy exclusive event access to Chase Sapphire Private Dining experiences.

Sapphire cardmembers also have access to Chase Lounges, specially-curated experiences at events like the U.S. Open, Warriors games at the Chase Center, and music festivals.

To learn more about the specific entertainment perks and access currently available on your Chase-issued card, as there are many, sign in to your online Chase card account and select Benefits to view current offers.

Hot Tip: Making an entertainment purchase online? Check your Chase Offers or Amex Offers, or a cash-back site like Rakuten, first to see if you can increase your earnings!

Capital One

Capital One cardholders can expect inside access to premium dining, entertainment, and sporting events.

Capital One Dining provides priority access to reservations at normally hard-to-secure top dining venues. Through Taste America, Capital One also offers cardholders presale opportunities to James Beard Foundation dinner events across the country.

Capital One Entertainment offers access to worldwide events and also the ability to use earned miles or cash-back to pay for those experiences.

Hot Tip: Many credit cards offer the option to redeem rewards for experiences. Our article on the best credit cards for experiences will tell you everything you need to know about the process.

Additional Credit Cards for Purchasing Entertainment Gift Cards

Many grocery stores, gas stations, and wholesale clubs sell gift cards that can be used for various forms of entertainment such as streaming services, movie tickets, golf, sports, gaming, Disney, and more.

Here are several cards that could earn generous rewards when purchasing entertainment gift cards at bonus category merchants:

American Express® Gold Card — Earn 4% cash-back at grocery stores, up to $25,000 in purchases per year (terms apply)
Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi — Earn 4% cash-back at gas stations and on EV charging purchases and 2% cash-back at Costco, 2 places that could sell entertainment gift cards
Citi Premier® Card — With 3% cash-back earnings at grocery stores and gas stations, picking up a few entertainment-related gift cards could be very rewarding
Ink Business Cash® Credit Card — Earn 5% cash-back bonus earnings at office supply stores that typically sell entertainment gift cards

Note that not every merchant will allow you to purchase gift cards with a credit card, but most do.

Hot Tip: If you don’t have a credit card that earns rewards on event ticket purchases, you could pick up a StubHub gift card at a bonus-earning category merchant for purchasing tickets to sporting events, theatre or comedy performances, concerts, and more.

Final Thoughts

If your entertainment spending is significant, a card that ensures you’ll earn rewards on all of those purchases could be a priority.

An additional consideration when selecting a card for entertainment purchases is the type of entertainment purchases you make. If you’re spending a lot on streaming services and subscriptions, for example, you would want to select a card that provides elevated earnings specifically on that expense.

In the end, it may not make sense to consider a card specifically for earning rewards on entertainment purchases alone if those purchases are not substantial. It could be a better decision to select a card that would match your overall spending mix.

The information regarding the Capital One Savor Rewards Card, Capital One SavorOne Rewards Card, Caesars Rewards Visa® Credit Card, MGM Rewards™ Mastercard®, The Marvel Mastercard®, J.P. Morgan Reserve Card, and Ducks Unlimited Rewards Platinum Edition® Visa® card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.

For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the above benefits are provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply.

For the car rental collision damage coverage benefit of the Blue Cash Preferred® from American Express, eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. Car rental loss or damage coverage is offered through American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc. For the extended warranty and purchase protection benefit of the Blue Cash Preferred® from American Express, eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.

For rates and fees of The Platinum Card® from American Express, click here.
For rates and fees of the Blue Cash Preferred® from American Express, click here.

3 comments

Serg April 14, 2021

Great summary. I like how deep this post was as far as how each card is different and where each card shines. As a frequent concert-goer (pre-covid and soon to reignite), I’ve struggled to choose the “appropriate” card. I have Chase, Amex, Citi and Cap One and can never decide which card to use and in which order. For example, Citi has more events booked through the LiveNation website (even though it’s Ticketmaster), while Amex and Chase have their direct through Ticketmaster perks. I rarely use my Capital One, it rarely offers me anything better than Amex or Chase, though Citi does come out on top as far as exclusive pre-sale tix.

I had the Marvel credit card, but Synchrony shut it down after I amassed over $500 in statement credits over a few months, never paying any interest to them. It’s a great card, managed by a crap company.

Jack September 14, 2022

Just pointing out the US Bank Cash Plus Visa Signature doesn’t have the entertainment category anymore.

- Christine Krzyszton September 14, 2022
  
  Thanks for the heads up Jack! We’ll verify and get the article updated.

What Qualifies as Entertainment?

The 7 Best Credit Cards for Entertainment Purchases — Summary

The 7 Best Credit Cards for Entertainment Purchases

1. Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card

Why We Like the Card for Entertainment Purchases

Additional Card Benefits

2. Capital One SavorOne Rewards Card

Why We Like the Card for Entertainment Purchases

Additional Card Benefits

Qualifying Entertainment Purchases

3. The Platinum Card® from American Express

Why We Like the Card for Entertainment Purchases

Additional Card Benefits

4. Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express

Why We Like the Card for Entertainment Purchases

Additional Card Benefits

5. Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

Why We Like the Card for Entertainment Purchases

Additional Card Benefits

6. U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card

Why We Like the Card for Entertainment Purchases

Additional Card Benefits

7. Disney® Premier Visa® Card

Why We Like the Card for Entertainment Purchases

Additional Card Benefits

3 Additional Credit Cards With Las Vegas Perks

1. Caesars Rewards Visa® Credit Card

Why We Like the Card for Entertainment Purchases

Additional Card Benefits

2. MGM Rewards™ Mastercard®

Why We Like the Card for Entertainment Purchases

Additional Card Benefits

3. The Marvel Mastercard®

Why We Like the Card for Entertainment Purchases

Additional Card Benefits

Best Credit Cards for Entertainment Perks and Access

American Express Cards

Citi

Chase

Capital One

Additional Credit Cards for Purchasing Entertainment Gift Cards

Final Thoughts

Frequently asked questions

Which is the best card for entertainment spending?

What qualifies as entertainment on a credit card?

Does the Ducks Unlimited credit card work for entertainment purchases?

Can I buy an entertainment gift card with a credit card?

About Christine Krzyszton

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