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MGM is making big changes to its M Life rewards program, and these will launch on February 1, 2022. The new program will be called MGM Rewards. Changes for gamblers and non-gamblers are coming, so let’s dive in.
New MGM Rewards Program
Status and Perks
MGM will retain its same 5 membership tiers in the new program. And earning elite status will be more complicated in the new program. However, the benefits of these tiers offer are enhanced.
Tiers and requirements:
- Pearl – Tier Credits required reduced from 25,000 to 20,000; points and Slot Dollars will not expire for members at this level and above
- Gold – Tier Credits requirement stays at 75,000
- Platinum – Tier Credits requirement stays at 200,000
- Noir – by invitation only
These are some of the new benefits you can expect:
- Pearl status and above: complimentary tickets to MGM Rewards concerts and complimentary self-parking
- Gold status and above: waived resort fees, plus access to exclusive events and experiences, and a $100 celebration dinner
- Platinum status and above: up to $600 air travel credit to Las Vegas each year, $200 celebration dining experience perk, and annual complimentary cruise
Even Pearl members can get free event tickets and free parking — which is expensive in Las Vegas.
Gold tier is the next tiers. At this level and above, you get waived resort fees. This can save members a not-insignificant amount of money when visiting Las Vegas. Additionally, Gold members who achieve status via spend (not status match – see below) can receive a celebration dinner credit.
Noir (top tier) is by invitation only, but the perks at Platinum included free trips, free celebration dinners, and even a free cruise.
Earning Tier Credits for Status
MGM announced that both gamers and non-gamers will be able to earn perks in its new MGM Rewards program. Thus, spending of all types (room reservations, casino gambling, etc.) will now qualify for earning Tier Credits.
Previously, you could earn 25 points per dollar spent in the M Life program in all spend categories. In the new MGM Rewards program, on-property spending will earn just 4 points to the dollar. Only gaming will remain at the previous 25 points per dollar. For hotel rooms and dining, that’s essentially 1/6 of what you used to earn. Thus, status will be more difficult to earn from anything but gaming.
For gamers who earned status easily, this is a huge change for any spending that isn't in a casino. However, people who don’t gamble (much or at all) now have a path to earning status if they simply enjoy going to Las Vegas for the entertainment and fancy resorts.
Earning & Redeeming Points
MGM says that you earn points from all spending activities. This amounts to 1 point per $1 spent on hotel stays and dining across MGM's resorts.
Limited-Time Perks for Launch of New MGM Rewards Program
You can take advantage of the following offers that are part of the launch promotion:
- Double credits in January 2022 – Tier Credits earned in January 2022 will count for both 2022 and 2023 Tier Status
- 2x Tier Credits February to April 2022 – Tier Credits earned at MGM resorts in Las Vegas during the period from February 1 to April 30, 2022 will count double. You can earn Tier Credits on all spending, including games, hotel reservations, dining, and spa.
Status Match to MGM Rewards
Savvy readers will know that M Life has been a status match opportunity for great perks at MGM resorts in Las Vegas and Atlantic City for years now. You can match from World of Hyatt Explorist or Globalist status to M Life Gold. You can match Hyatt Discoverist to Pearl status. This same status match ability will remain in place with the new MGM Rewards program.
Thus, Hyatt Discoverists can enjoy complimentary tickets to events. Discoverists and Globalists can enjoy waived resort fees, priority check-in (not just at hotels, but also at some restaurants and night clubs), exclusive experiences and events, and room upgrades.
However, the terms indicate that you’ll probably need to earn status via spending to enjoy things like celebration dinners and the free travel to Las Vegas.
Our Take
For those who spend a lot via gaming in Las Vegas during your trips, you may not be happy that elite status is becoming available to more people–possibly the feeling of status being “watered down”. However, your ability to earn status via big rewards on gaming hasn't changed. On the flip side, those who simply want to enjoy perks via status match are likely to be very happy. That’s because the ability to status match from World of Hyatt will continue, and the perks for matched status will include waived resort fees and free self-parking.
Other status perks are up in the air on whether they’ll be offered to those who get status via status match. In sum: there are some big changes coming as M Life goes away and MGM Rewards takes its place. This all happens February 1, 2022.
Are you happy about these changes with MGM Rewards? Are you going to take advantage of either of the launch promotions?
The comments on this page are not provided, reviewed, or otherwise approved by the bank advertiser. It is not the bank advertiser's responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered.
In the first sentence of “Our Take”, did you mean to say, for those who “don’t” spend a lot via gaming not being happy with the change? Earlier, you mentioned that gaming will still continue to earn 25 points per dollar.
Rob – I updated that part. It was meant to be that some gamblers will likely complain that the status is getting watered down by being accessible to more people (so they might be unhappy about the changes), but their path to status will remain as easy as ever. Sorry it wasn’t clear the first time around.
Earning elite status will be more complicated in the new program.
I liked it, it interests me a lot. I think most people will like it too.