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MGM Rewards is one of the most popular loyalty programs on the Las Vegas Strip. With flagship properties like the Bellagio and the Cosmopolitan, it's a go-to for travelers looking to stay — and play — in Sin City. While MGM already offers a no-annual-fee MGM Rewards Mastercard, the company just unveiled a brand-new premium credit card: the MGM Rewards Iconic World Elite Mastercard.
This new card comes with a significantly higher annual fee but also includes a suite of premium perks. Unfortunately, it doesn’t offer a straightforward path to higher elite status — at least not as a core benefit. Let’s take a look at what the new card has to offer.
MGM Rewards Launches Iconic Credit Card
Launched today, April 17, 2025, the new MGM Rewards Iconic Mastercard charges a $249 annual fee — quite a large jump from MGM’s existing no-fee card. Cardmembers earn points and Tier Credits at the following rates:
- 6x per $1 spent at any MGM Rewards destination
- 2x per $1 spent at hotels and dining
- 2x per $1 spent at gas stations and grocery stores
- 1x per $1 spent everywhere else, including BetMGM Deposits
Points earned with the MGM Rewards Iconic Card are called MGM Mastercard Points and can be redeemed for Slot Dollars or MGM Rewards Points.
MGM perks
The card includes a $200 Resort Credit, available at account opening and on each cardmember anniversary. But there’s a catch: You’ll need to stay at an MGM property and visit the MGM Rewards desk in person to redeem it. That adds friction for cardholders—especially local residents — who might otherwise find the benefit appealing.
Another key benefit: a complimentary night valued up to $250 — but only available with $25,000 in card spend in a year. Like the Resort Credit, this perk also requires a stay at an MGM property and an in-person visit to the rewards desk. What’s unclear is whether this covers only nights priced at $250 or less, or whether it can be applied as a credit toward more expensive stays.
Cardholders also get an automatic upgrade to MGM Rewards Pearl status, which comes with perks like free self-parking. While nice to have, it's worth noting that there are several ways to status match into higher MGM tiers.
For those hoping to level up, the card does include a 10,000 Tier Credit bonus each year after $25,000 in spend. This can help you climb the elite ladder — but only if you’re a high spender.
Additional Travel Perks
The card comes with several secondary benefits common among premium travel cards, including:
- A Global Entry or TSA PreCheck statement credit every four years — a standard feature for travel cards, but a first among casino-affiliated credit cards.
- Priority Pass Digital Lounge membership. This perk provides Priority Pass lounge access — but with a $35 fee per visit for both cardholders and guests. This is far less generous than the lounge access included with other travel credit cards.
- No foreign transaction fees
- World Elite Mastercard benefits, including trip cancellation and interruption insurance, trip delay protection, discounts on services like Peacock, and MasterAssist travel emergency support
- A limited-edition metal card design by invitation “to a select number of existing MGM Rewards Mastercard cardholders and new Iconic cardholders.”
Our Thoughts
Overall, the MGM Rewards Iconic World Elite Mastercard leaves a lot to be desired. For one, the annual fee of $249 seems a bit high without more concrete benefits — although the press release does tease “exclusive travel perks and VIP access to unforgettable experiences.”
While better points and Tier Credit earning are great, it seems a bit of a miss to not include MGM Rewards Gold status as a leading perk on a new premier credit card offering.
Plus, the best benefit of the card — the $200 Resort Credit — requires a physical stay at an MGM Resort. If you're in Las Vegas for business or pleasure and staying at another property, you can't use your Resort Credit perk. The Caesars Rewards Diamond Celebration dinner benefit, offered annually to its Diamond elites, doesn't require a physical stay, for example.
If you're making a yearly trip to Las Vegas, this card could make sense. That is, if you maximize all of the perks. Otherwise, the no-annual-fee card offers Pearl status and some MGM Rewards points to help you earn a higher status.
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