I would argue that the true cents per point value should be calculated not just versus the quoted sticker price, but also the price of any acceptable alternatives. When someone brags about getting a great deal using cents per point, I hardly ever see comparisons with similar products. For instance, if they can book a flight for 30k points with a retail value of $900, they might think they’re getting a great deal at 3 cents per point. However, if there’s another flight with acceptable schedule for $400, the actual value of the redemption is much lower.
This is particularly true for traveling to other countries. Western brands often cost more than local ones. For example, spending 12k points for a $360 Hyatt hotel room might not be as good a deal as paying $120 for a similar local hotel. Similarly, American Airlines flights to South America might have good value in points, but they are usually twice as expensive as the local airlines.
Redemptions with great CPP are often very restrictive and only available on certain dates. If you apply the same level of flexibility when booking with cash, the CPP value is often very low. If I’m willing to plan my trip around a cheap award flight, I should be equally willing to plan my trip around a cheap cash flight.
The takeaway is that the cents per point value quoted is often not as a great as it seems. When you compare to other alternatives, the actual value is often much lower.
Now that the Hyatt and MGM partnership has ended, getting MGM gold status is significantly harder and more expensive. So far, I’ve found the following ways to get MGM gold status:
Earn MGM Gold Status via gambling. This requires 75k tier credits, or 2 days with 20k points per day with their accelerator. At an estimated 8 points per theoretical dollar, it would cost around $5000 to get status this way.
Folio spend counts towards MGM status at a rate of 4 credits per dollar. This works with the tier accelerator and will require $5000 of spend for two days to get gold status.
Bets on the betMGM sportsbook rewards TC, around 20 TC per $100 wagered on even bets. It will take $375k in bets and if the typical hold on an even bet is around 5%, this would cost roughly $20k.
You can spend $37500 on the MGM rewards card at grocery stores or gas stations to earn 75k points. For most, this method requires manufactured spending. Since you’re sacrificing a higher earning rate at grocery stores, this costs around $1200.
Loading the betMGM app through the MGM rewards card earns 1 TC per dollar. In some states, this isn’t coded as a cash advance. It may be possible to arbitrage with other betting sites to minimize risk. However, they are very strict and any suspicious activity (like repeatedly depositing and withdrawing) will get you shut down.
You can status match from other casinos. For example, Caesar’s diamond elite will match to platinum for 3 months but it is once per lifetime.
MGM has a partnership with Royal Caribbean Cruises and their Emerald status matches to MGM Gold. Emerald status requires 55 nights with Royal Caribbean. However, Emerald is a lifetime status and should net you MGM Gold as long as their partnership remains. Even comped cruises count towards the night requirements, but there are still taxes and gratuities. You can also get additional nights by paying the solo supplement or by booking a suite. At a bare minimum of $50 per night, this method requires at least $2750 spend and a lot of free time. addendum: myVegas sometimes offers free cruises, and your out of pocket would be around $35 per night for double occupancy.
Caesar’s Diamond elite and diamond plus have significant benefits over base diamond. Many people have Caesar’s Diamond status from the Wyndham Business card. The benefits include waived resort fees, $100 celebration dinner annually, and free parking.
Diamond Plus adds:
Free $30 per month sports bet online when you bet $100 the previous month
Four free drink coupons per day in Vegas
Five free nights stays (1 night per 5k tier points earned, up to 7 nights)
Diamond Elite adds:
Free $75 per month sports bet online when you bet $100 the previous month
$600 air fare credit to Las Vegas per year
Better tier matches with other casinos
Seven free night stays (1 night per 5k tier points earned, up to 7 nights)
Diamond elite allows you to match to MGM platinum for 3 months, which can match Atlantic City hotels for free cruises and Vegas stays.
Earning Diamond Plus and Diamond Elite
Earning Diamond Plus and Diamond Elite requires 25k or 75k tier points, respectively. The fastest way to earn this without excessive gambling is during the 10X tier point multipliers that occur regularly in Reno and Laughlin. It takes less than $25000 coin in video poker to earn diamond plus during a 10X multiplier day. It takes about $65000 coin in to earn diamond elite with the diamond in a day bonus. With a 0.75% expected loss, it’s possible to earn Diamond plus for around $200 expected loss, and diamond elite for about $500 expected loss.
The value in Diamond Elite
In exchange for $500 expected loss, you get significant value. I assume that you have status for 20 months. In the 2023-2024 loyalty year, I’ve received:
$75/month sports betting bonus, extra on birthday month. These are free bets and are worth about $30 each. ($660 value)
Free $600 airfare to Vegas each calendar year
Comped room offers in Vegas, including 2 weekend nights in a suite and 3 comp nights during EDC weekend
Comped rooms with roughly $50 Freeplay and resort credit per night in Reno and Laughlin
Seven codes for free nights in Las Vegas
Ability to match to MGM platinum for 3 months
$50 uber voucher
There are probably other benefits that I’ve missed or haven’t taken advantage of. Obviously, it would be wise not to abuse this because they can stop your offers at any time. Also, it is more likely than not that you lose more than $500 unless you get a royal or multiple 4 of a kinds.
Can two people get rooms and go for a longer stay?
Yes, as long as there is availability. You can ask to stay in the same room at check-in. You may have to go to the check-in desk twice.
How many myVegas freeplays can you redeem per paid stay?
Just one. It used to be multiple but they changed it in 2023. You can still redeem mykonami freeplays, even without staying.
What counts as a paid room for the $100 myVegas freeplay?
Any stay where you checked-in and have 3 or more paid nights in the stay. You can have comped days but there must be 3 or more paid nights. Third party bookings are eligible. Rates that are only resort fees or room upgrades are not.
An award I wanted disappeared, what happened?
Either the partnership ended, the reward is no longer being offered, or the reward is being refreshed. Every couple months, many rewards (rooms, freeplay, etc) disappear and a new batch reappears after a couple days.
Should I spend money on the game?
Spending money opens up a 4th, 5th or 6th reward slot. The 4th slot opens around $100, 5th slot around $300, 6th slot around $700. Spending money on some games may allow you to earn LP faster, or temporarily remove some loyalty caps. It also raises your myVIP level, which makes you eligible for some tournaments and, if you’re high enough, better customer service and a host.
Most rewards refresh daily. These are the approximate refresh times. There are some exceptions that do not refresh daily (helicopter flights, special events, and some cruises).
Sunday 11:40AM
Monday 11:05AM
Tuesday 11:15AM
Wednesday 8:05AM
Thursday 9:05AM
Friday 1:30PM
Sunday 1:40PM
To snag a reward that sells out quickly, I find that Tetris is one of the better apps because you do not have to enter your name/email and it checks availability every time you click the reward.
Redemption Limits
For rewards at MGM properties, you are limited to 3 premium rewards every rolling 30 days. You can increase this limit to 4 premiums permanently after spending roughly $100 in-game. The 5th and 6th slots open up after more spending. You can redeem an unlimited number of non-premium rewards.
Other rewards (e.g. NCL cruises, Maverick Helicopters, or Sycuan Casino) have different redemption limits and don’t count toward your 3 premium limit. Each partner will have their limits written out in the terms when you purchase the reward.
Many of the popular rewards are limited to one purchase per batch. Every couple months the batches are refreshed so it is possible to use multiple of the same reward in any given year. Historically, batches are refreshed less than a month before the MGM free hotel calendars end. They are often refreshed at other times a well, for example, if the LP price of the rewards change.
Popular redemptions
Reward
Premium
Refresh
1-day and 2-day Hotel Stays
Yes
Usually available
Regular Freeplay
Yes
Usually available
myKonami Freeplay
Yes
Daily
Shark Tank Admission
Yes
Daily
BOGO Buffets (Excalibur, Bellagio, Luxor)
No
Daily
NCL Free Cruises
No
Daily, based on availability
NCL Cruises $750 off
No
Daily, based on availability
Sycuan Casino Rewards
No
Daily
Restaurant $ off or free food
No
Daily
Maverick Vegas Flight
No
Daily
Maverick Grand Canyon Flight
No
Rarely
Details about each redemption
Maverick Vegas Flight
The Maverick Vegas flight is updated frequently at the regular refresh times. Only a few rewards (possibly one) are released each day. There may be some days where this doesn’t refresh at all but historically it has refreshed multiple times a week. Instructions to redeem are on the reward and involves calling in to find an available time.
Maverick Grand Canyon Flight
This reward is refreshed infrequently. Possibly once a month or less.
Restaurant $ off or free food with purchase
These are usually refreshed every day. Some sell out while others seem to be more available. They are not premium rewards and you can use an unlimited number per trip. Typically, you can only get one per batch. Popular ones include the $10 off $20 at Posh Burger in the Aria, $20 off $40 at Moneyline pizza (stacks with their happy hour), Free Entree with entree + drink purchase at Wolfgang Puck’s, etc.
BOGO Buffets at the Luxor, MGM, Excalibur, Bellagio
These are refreshed daily. They are buy one get one and you can’t get half off a single buffet. The bellagio buffet sells out relatively quickly.
NCL Free Cruises
These are based on availability of a particular sailing. There are times when no sailings are available and other times where they release dozens at a time. Unfortunately, there is an additional admin fee of $20/night when booking so typically the dollar off rewards are much better.
NCL Cruises $500, $750, $1000 off
You can only apply one per person per booking so it only makes sense to buy the highest reward unless your cruise is lower priced. If you buy two $1000 rewards, you can apply both and get $2000 off the voyage fare of the cruise. The cruise prices are identical to the published rates on the NCL website and there are no extra charges. There is no admin fee. The dollar off only applies to the base voyage fare and doesn’t apply to airfare, taxes, add-ons, excursions, or gratuities. You can stack them with the CruiseFirst certificates and other discounts to save even more.
The true expiration date may be later than the stated date. You have to call the number on the reward to book and confirm expirations.
These are usually refreshed every day at the regular time, but there are times when the reward isn’t available at all.
Since it is often possible to book $0 voyage fares with these certificates, it makes the cruise effectively fully refundable up until the date of the cruise. Since taxes, gratuities, and packages are always refundable, and you’re paying $0 for the actual cruise, you should get all your money back if you cancel. Just confirm with the booking agent before booking.
Room Rewards
Room rewards (1 and 2 night comped rooms) have a special redemption rules. You can only have one room reward in your wallet regardless of property. That is, if you have a Bellagio room reward you can’t buy an Aria room reward. Once you book a room reward, you can’t buy another room reward until the stay is over. The redemption date is the must redeem by date, but you can book a room in the future, as long as the calendar is available. A booked room uses a premium slot for 30 days prior and 30 days after check-in. If you cancel a room after booking, you can sometimes get a refund by contacting support but it’s up to the discretion of the agent. Room calendars for the next couple months are usually released 2-3 weeks before the current room calendars run out. Although terms state room rewards are limited to one redemption every 30 days, it is sometimes possible to buy another reward after your stay so you can use more than one comp per month. To combine stays, two people can purchase rewards and you can book twice but ask the front desk stay in the same room. Booking a myvegas comp reward prevents you from using your own MGM offers for similar dates. However, you can book your own MGM offer, then book the myvegas comp rooms so you can stay consecutive nights. Comp rooms are not eligible for the freeplay rewards and you are responsible for resort fees unless you have Gold status or above with mgm rewards.
Regular Freeplay
The regular freeplay requires a 2 or 3 night paid stay. You have to be checked in at the property for a single stay where 2 or 3 nights are paid/not comped. For example, a 4 day stay with 3 nights paid and 1 comped is eligible. Resort fees and upgrade fees aren’t considered a paid stay. Only one freeplay may be used per booking. You must go to the MGM rewards desk to redeem this reward, and they check their system to make sure you are checked-in to an eligible stay to load the freeplay. The freeplay is valid at most games at that particular property except system-wide progressives. They sometimes have special freeplay where a reduced number of stays are required. These rewards usually don’t sell out but may be removed from time to time. A secondary person that is added to the room can redeem freeplay if the primary person does not. They usually notate on the primary’s account when the secondary redeems freeplay so you can’t double dip.
Konami Freeplay
Konami freeplay is only available on the Konami Slots app and does not require a paid stay. They can only be activated at the particular property and they can be used on most machines at the property. They are limited to one per property per batch.
Park MGM Matchplay
Matchplay is a premium reward that is available only at Park MGM. It allows you to match your even bet at a table game. You can redeem by going to the reward desk and they will provide a voucher. You lose the voucher whether or not you win or lose.
One of the best use of loyalty points is to book rooms at MGM hotels in Vegas. The 1 and 2 night comp stays are available for Sunday-Thursday nights, depending on availability. Rooms are released when the rewards refresh every couple months, and room availability declines as people book the rooms. You would have to purchase the reward to check availability for your particular dates.
There are some special rules for booking these rewards:
Rooms are premium rewards and count towards your 30 day limit.
You are responsible for resort fees unless you have Gold status or above with MGM.
You can only have one room reward in your wallet regardless of property. That is, if you have a Bellagio room reward you can’t buy an Aria room reward.
Once you book a room reward, you can’t buy another room reward until the stay is over.
The redemption date is the must redeem by date, but you can book a room in the future, as long as the calendar is available.
A booked room uses a premium slot for 30 days prior and 30 days after check-in.
If you cancel a room after booking, you can sometimes get a refund by contacting support but it’s up to the discretion of the agent.
Room calendars for the next couple months are usually released 2-3 weeks before the current room calendars run out.
Although terms state room rewards are limited to one redemption every 30 days, it is sometimes possible to buy another reward after your stay so you can use more than one comp per month.
To combine stays, two people can purchase rewards and book back to back stays but ask the front desk to stay in the same room.
Booking a myVegas comp room prevents you from using your own MGM offers for similar dates. However, you can book your own MGM offer, then book the myVegas comp rooms so you can stay consecutive nights.
Comp rooms are not eligible for regular (non-konami) freeplay rewards.
Generally, the availability calendar for the one and two night rewards at a particular property are the same.
Median Travels 