MGM Rewards: Your Complete Guide

How Does MGM Rewards Work?

To start earning MGM Rewards points and perks, you need to sign up for a free membership on the MGM Rewards website. As soon as you are enrolled, you can earn rewards and enjoy benefits at participating hotels and casinos.

The program is layered, but the basics are simple. On most non-gaming spending, members earn 1 MGM Rewards Point and 4 Tier Credits per $1 USD spent at eligible MGM properties. Gaming earns a different rate (more on that below).

Points are redeemed against your hotel folio (i.e. your room charges) for expenses like nightly rate, eligible dining, live shows, and more. Tier Credits are used to calculate your MGM Rewards elite status, which unlocks added benefits as you climb the tiers.

Earning MGM Rewards Points and Tier Credits

MGM Rewards Points and Tier Credits can be earned in the following ways:

At participating MGM properties

At participating MGM properties in the United States and Macau, MGM Rewards members earn 1 MGM Rewards Point and 4 Tier Credits for every $1 USD they spend on eligible expenses.

To earn MGM Rewards points and Tier Credits, add your MGM Rewards account number to your hotel reservation when you book directly with MGM. Once your account is linked to your room reservation, you earn on eligible charges such as your nightly room rate, resort fee, and add-ons like early check-in or late check-out. You also earn on eligible food and beverage charges at MGM-owned restaurants, bars, lounges, and nightclubs.

Two important booking rules to keep in mind :

• If you book through a third party like Expedia, you do not earn points on your nightly rate, but you remain eligible to earn on your resort fee and add-ons.
• If you book through Marriott (since the launch of MGM Collection with Marriott Bonvoy), you earn Marriott Bonvoy points instead of MGM Rewards points. Sadly, there is no double-dipping: you have to choose one program or the other at the time of booking.

Finally, you also earn MGM Rewards Points on eligible shows, attractions, spa and salon services, retail purchases, cabana rentals, wedding expenses, and business centre services. Make sure all eligible purchases are charged to your MGM room so they appear on your hotel folio with your MGM Rewards account number attached.

Earning without staying at an MGM property

Members who are not staying at an MGM property can still earn points on a number of expenses incurred while visiting. You can earn the standard 1 MGM Rewards Point and 4 Tier Credits per $1 USD spent on eligible dining, shows, and attractions just by showing your card at the box office or establishment.

You can also earn Tier Credits (but not points) on eligible spa and salon services, business centre services, and wedding services at MGM properties, even when you are not staying in the hotel.

On eligible MGM shows and attractions

MGM Resort guests can earn points on ticket purchases for eligible shows and attractions when those charges are added to their room. Members not staying at an MGM property can still earn points and Tier Credits by showing their MGM Rewards card at the box office.

Eligible events include shows like Blue Man Group and « O » by Cirque du Soleil, as well as attractions like the Tournament of Kings at Excalibur and the Shark Reef Aquarium at Mandalay Bay.

On gaming at MGM properties

You can earn MGM Rewards Points and Tier Credits when you play slots, video lottery terminals, electronic table games, and table games at participating MGM Rewards properties.

The earning rates on gaming are not the standard 1 point and 4 Tier Credits per dollar. Instead, the number of points and Tier Credits depends on your wager, game type, and game denomination. For slots and machine play, you simply swipe your MGM Rewards membership card at each machine.

If you play table games, present your member card to the pit boss when you sit down. They will keep track of your play to calculate the points and Tier Credits you earn, based on your time played, average bet, and game type.

Additionally, when you play slot machines, video poker machines, and video lottery terminals, you also earn Slot Dollars based on your wager, game type, and game denomination. Slot Dollars can be redeemed for Freeplay credits at participating MGM Rewards destinations.

As you can see, the earning rates on gaming are not particularly transparent. They are essentially calculated on the theoretical loss of the bet (the amount the house statistically expects to keep). If you have specific questions about gaming earning rates, ask at any MGM Rewards desk on property.

With travel partners

Marriott Bonvoy

The MGM and Marriott Bonvoy partnership is the most relevant earning route for Canadians. There are three main angles to it: point transfers, MGM Collection with Marriott Bonvoy bookings, and elite status matching.

Point transfers (both directions)

You can transfer points in either direction between MGM Rewards and Marriott Bonvoy. The transfer ratio is 10:8 in both ways, which means:

• 10 MGM Rewards Points = 8 Marriott Bonvoy points
• 10 Marriott Bonvoy points = 8 MGM Rewards Points

The minimum transfer is 1,000 points per transaction, and the maximum is 30,000 points per calendar year. This bidirectional transfer is what makes MGM Rewards accessible to Canadians, who can build up Marriott Bonvoy points (or transfer in American Express Membership Rewards points) and then move them to MGM Rewards.

Keep in mind that you lose 20% of your balance with every transfer in either direction. A round-trip transfer of 1,000 points would leave you with just 640 points (1,000 → 800 → 640). For Canadians, this generally means transferring Marriott Bonvoy points to MGM Rewards only when you have a confirmed Vegas trip booked and you need points to cover room charges, dining, or shows. The reverse transfer (MGM to Marriott) rarely makes sense unless you’re topping off a Bonvoy balance for a high-value award stay.

MGM Collection with Marriott Bonvoy

MGM properties are bookable through Marriott Bonvoy under the brand « MGM Collection with Marriott Bonvoy ». This means you can use your Marriott Bonvoy points to book free or discounted nights at iconic MGM hotels like the Luxor Hotel & Casino, Park MGM, Vdara, Excalibur, New York-New York, Mandalay Bay, MGM Grand, Bellagio, ARIA, and more. See our complete guide to MGM hotels with Marriott Bonvoy.

To earn Marriott Bonvoy points on your stay (instead of MGM Rewards points), simply book through Marriott rather than directly with MGM. Once again, you cannot earn both at the same time on the same booking.

Elite status tier matching

The partnership also provides one-way elite status tier matching from MGM Rewards to Marriott Bonvoy. In March 2025, the matching was expanded so that Pearl and Gold members are now eligible (previously only Platinum and NOIR qualified). The current matching grid is as follows:

Note that the match is one-way: Marriott Bonvoy members cannot match their status to MGM Rewards. To activate the match, link your accounts through the MGM Rewards or Marriott Bonvoy website.

Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruises

MGM Rewards members who sail with Royal Caribbean or Celebrity Cruises can earn MGM Rewards Points, Tier Credits, and Slot Dollars on casino play the same way they do at Las Vegas properties.

Onboard slots and video poker earn points, Tier Credits, and Slot Dollars. Table games earn points and Tier Credits.

To earn while on an eligible cruise, add your member number at the time of booking and use your SeaPass card when you play in the casino onboard. Any play that is not tracked by your SeaPass card will not be eligible for rewards.

With BetMGM online gaming

Fans of online betting can earn Tier Credits and BetMGM Rewards Points (which are different from MGM Rewards Points) through eligible gaming spend on the BetMGM online platform.

BetMGM Rewards Points can be transferred to MGM Rewards Points through the BetMGM Rewards store, or redeemed for bonuses, odds boost tokens, and exclusive promotions. Note that BetMGM operates in specific US states and is not available everywhere; check the BetMGM website for jurisdictional details.

With co-branded credit cards

MGM Rewards offers two co-branded cards:

• MGM Rewards World Elite Mastercard ($0 annual fee): 3x points and Tier Credits per $1 at MGM Rewards Destinations, 2x at gas stations and grocery stores, 1x on everything else.
• MGM Rewards Iconic World Elite Mastercard ($249 annual fee): 6x points and Tier Credits per $1 at MGM Rewards Destinations, 2x at hotels, dining, gas stations, and grocery stores, 1x on everything else. Comes with automatic Pearl status and a $200 annual resort credit.

Both cards are issued in the United States only by First National Bank of Omaha, so Canadians cannot apply. However, holding either card is one of the main ways US residents earn elite status and prevent their MGM Rewards points from expiring.

Important information

A few key rules to keep in mind as you earn and redeem MGM Rewards Points and Tier Credits:

• Corporate credit cards are not eligible to earn points or Tier Credits. You only earn when spending on a personal credit or debit card.
• You cannot earn MGM Rewards points on taxes, gratuities, or complimentary redemptions. You also do not earn points on alcohol purchases at Empire City and MGM Detroit, but those purchases still qualify for Tier Credits at the standard rate.
• Sapphire, Pearl, Gold, and Platinum members can hold a maximum account balance of $5,000 worth of MGM Rewards points at any time. NOIR members can hold up to $10,000. Once you hit that ceiling, you stop earning until you redeem some of your balance. The cap is on balance, not on annual earning.
• Points earned on gaming spend are available for same-day redemption. Points earned on non-gaming spend are available for redemption after 7 days.
• MGM Rewards points and Slot Dollars expire after 6 months of account inactivity if you are a Sapphire member. If you are Pearl or higher, your points do not expire as long as you maintain elite status. Holding one of the two MGM Rewards co-branded credit cards also keeps your points from expiring.

Redeeming MGM Rewards Points

Redeeming your MGM Rewards points is quite easy. To redeem, visit the MGM Rewards desk at the property where you are staying and ask for a redemption.

You can redeem points to cover eligible expenses charged to your room (i.e. anything that appears on your hotel folio). Each MGM Rewards point is worth 1 cent USD when redeemed this way.

There are also occasional opportunities to redeem points for Slot Dollars, VIP events, show tickets, and more through limited-time promotions. Check with the Rewards Desk when you arrive at the property, or contact them ahead of your trip to see what is available.

Thanks to the partnership with Marriott Bonvoy, you can also transfer MGM Rewards Points to Marriott Bonvoy at a rate of 10:8 (1,000 minimum, 30,000 maximum per year). For Canadians, the more interesting redemption path usually runs the other way: transfer Marriott Bonvoy points into MGM Rewards to pay for room charges, dining, or shows on your Vegas stay.

MGM Direct or Marriott Bonvoy: Which to Book?

One of the most common questions Canadian travellers ask is whether to book an MGM property directly with MGM, or through Marriott Bonvoy. The answer depends on what you are trying to accomplish.

For Canadians who do not have MGM elite status and who do not gamble much, booking through Marriott Bonvoy is usually the smarter play. You earn Marriott Bonvoy points and Marriott elite night credits toward Bonvoy status, both of which are easy to use later. If you do have MGM Gold status or higher (waived resort fees alone can save $50 per night at the Bellagio), the math may favour booking direct.

A sweet spot: Marriott free night certificates at MGM

One of the best value plays for Canadians is using Marriott Bonvoy annual free night certificates (35,000 or 50,000 points value) at MGM properties. Several MGM hotels regularly price below the certificate value on weeknights, making for an excellent redemption:

• Luxor, Excalibur, and Park MGM often book under 35K points per night midweek
• New York-New York, Vdara, and The Signature at MGM Grand often fit within a 50K certificate
• Premium properties like Bellagio, ARIA, and Mandalay Bay typically exceed 50K and are better suited for top-off redemptions or paid stays

Free night certificates come with several Canadian Marriott Bonvoy credit cards each year. Check the current offers in our Marriott Bonvoy guide.

MGM Rewards properties

You can earn and redeem MGM Rewards points at the following properties in the United States (including Las Vegas) and Macau.

Las Vegas:

• Bellagio
• ARIA
• Vdara at ARIA
• The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas
• MGM Grand
• The Signature at MGM Grand
• Mandalay Bay
• W Las Vegas
• Four Seasons Las Vegas
• Park MGM
• The Reserve at Park MGM
• New York-New York
• Luxor
• Excalibur

Regional United States:

• MGM Springfield (Massachusetts)
• MGM National Harbor (Maryland)
• MGM Grand Detroit (Michigan)
• Beau Rivage (Mississippi)
• Borgata (Atlantic City)
• Empire City Casino (New York)

Macau:

• MGM Macau
• MGM Cotai

MGM Rewards Elite Status Tiers and Benefits

The MGM Rewards program has 5 elite status tiers based on the number of Tier Credits you have earned in a calendar year. Each tier comes with an increasing range of benefits.

The 5 MGM Rewards elite tiers and the Tier Credits required to reach each level:

As a reminder, you earn 4 Tier Credits for every $1 USD spent on eligible non-gaming expenses at participating MGM properties. Gaming Tier Credits are based on theoretical loss and vary by game type.

Rollover Tier Credits (new)

MGM Rewards introduced Rollover Tier Credits as a way to accelerate status climb across years. You can carry over up to 25,000 Tier Credits into the next earning year by hitting two milestones:

• Earn 50,000 Tier Credits in the current year and carry over 7,500 Rollover Tier Credits into the next
• Earn 125,000 Tier Credits and carry over an additional 17,500 Rollover Tier Credits (25,000 total maximum)

Rollover Tier Credits launched for the 2025 earning year and were renewed for 2026: according to MGM Rewards, Tier Credits earned from January 1 to December 31, 2026 qualify for rollover into 2027. Check the current promotion at the start of each year.

Milestone Rewards (new)

MGM Rewards now offers Milestone Rewards that unlock additional perks between tier achievements. Examples of milestone perks include:

• Gold: $100 Tier Celebration Credit (hotel, dining, spa, or entertainment)
• Platinum: $200 Tier Celebration Credit + up to $600 air travel credit to fly to Las Vegas, Beau Rivage, or Borgata
• NOIR: $500 Tier Celebration Credit + up to $1,200 air travel credit and complimentary transportation

Elite Benefits

Each of the 5 MGM Rewards elite status tiers comes with a wide range of benefits. The full list is on the MGM Rewards Tier Benefits page, but here is a quick overview of the featured perks at each level:

Sapphire

Pearl

All Sapphire benefits, plus:

Gold

This is where things get interesting. All Pearl benefits, plus:

Platinum

All Gold benefits, plus:

NOIR

The invitation-only top tier. All Platinum benefits, plus:

Across all elite tiers, MGM Rewards members also enjoy a dedicated reservation line, exclusive member-only offers and discounts at MGM properties and with travel partners, an annual birthday gift, and more. The MGM Rewards Tier Benefits page has the full list.

Best Canadian Credit Cards for an MGM Stay in Las Vegas

Since the two MGM Rewards co-branded credit cards are only available to US residents, Canadian travellers should bring a Canadian card optimized for US spending. Three cards stand out depending on your priority: building Marriott Bonvoy points (which transfer to MGM Rewards), avoiding foreign exchange fees, or stacking insurance coverage and travel credits.

Marriott Bonvoy American Express Card: building Bonvoy points in Canada

The Marriott Bonvoy American Express Card is the most direct way for Canadians to earn Marriott Bonvoy points, which can then be transferred to MGM Rewards or used to book MGM Collection properties directly. The card also comes with an annual free night certificate (worth up to 35,000 points), which makes it a strong fit for Canadians who plan to stay at properties like the Luxor, Excalibur, or Park MGM. American Express Membership Rewards points also transfer to Marriott Bonvoy at a 5:6 ratio, giving you a second route to build up your Bonvoy balance.

Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +*: zero foreign transaction fees

The Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +* waives the standard 2.5% foreign transaction fee on every USD purchase. On a $1,500 USD Vegas trip, that alone saves you $37.50, which more than offsets the annual fee on most reasonable stays. The card also earns Scene+ points, which can be redeemed against travel purchases.

National Bank World Elite Mastercard: insurance + travel credit

The National Bank World Elite Mastercard charges the standard 2.5% foreign transaction fee, but offers a $150 annual travel credit and comprehensive travel insurance (including trip cancellation and interruption coverage). It is the card to bring if you are concerned about insurance more than foreign exchange fees. It is also the card we have ranked as the Best Travel Credit Card in Canada for several years running.

The bottom line: if your Vegas trip is mostly USD spending, the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite + usually wins on raw savings. If you are travelling with companions or want better insurance coverage, the National Bank World Elite Mastercard makes more sense.

Bottom Line

MGM Rewards is a layered program, but for Canadian travellers, the most useful angle is also the simplest: the Marriott Bonvoy partnership. You can build up Bonvoy points in Canada (through co-branded cards or American Express Membership Rewards transfers), use them to book MGM Collection properties like the Luxor, Park MGM, or Vdara, and still link your MGM Rewards account at check-in to earn Tier Credits on your dining, shows, and incidentals.

Whether you visit MGM properties regularly or just once, signing up for MGM Rewards is free and worth the few minutes it takes. The benefits, discounts, and added flexibility on your stay quickly pay for themselves, especially when paired with a Canadian credit card optimized for USD spending.

FAQs

What is MGM Rewards?

MGM Rewards is the loyalty program for MGM Resorts. Members earn points and Tier Credits at MGM hotels and casinos in the United States and Macau. Points are redeemed against your hotel folio (room charges, dining, shows), and Tier Credits unlock elite status with growing benefits.

How do I join MGM Rewards?

You can join MGM Rewards for free on the program’s website. Provide a small amount of personal information and you are ready to start earning.

How do I earn MGM Rewards Points and Tier Credits?

You can earn MGM Rewards Points and Tier Credits in the following ways:

How do I redeem MGM Rewards Points?

To redeem your MGM Rewards Points, speak with a representative at the MGM Rewards desk located at the property where you are staying. The representative will explain your redemption options and process the request. Each point is worth 1 cent USD when redeemed against your hotel folio.

You can also transfer your MGM Rewards Points to Marriott Bonvoy at a rate of 10 MGM Rewards Points = 8 Marriott Bonvoy points (1,000 minimum, 30,000 maximum per year).

Can Canadians get the MGM Rewards co-branded credit cards?

No. Both the MGM Rewards World Elite Mastercard and the MGM Rewards Iconic World Elite Mastercard are issued in the United States only by First National Bank of Omaha. Canadians cannot apply.

Canadian travellers who frequent MGM properties should instead focus on building Marriott Bonvoy points (which transfer to MGM Rewards) and bringing a Canadian credit card with low or no foreign transaction fees, like the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +.

Can I match my Marriott Bonvoy status to MGM Rewards?

No. The MGM-Marriott status match is one-way only: from MGM Rewards to Marriott Bonvoy. MGM Pearl matches to Marriott Silver Elite, MGM Gold and Platinum match to Marriott Gold Elite, and MGM NOIR matches to Marriott Ambassador Elite. Marriott Bonvoy members cannot match their status to MGM Rewards.

Should I book my MGM stay through Marriott Bonvoy or directly with MGM?

It depends. Book through Marriott Bonvoy if you want to redeem Bonvoy points, use a free night certificate, or earn Bonvoy points and elite night credits. Book directly with MGM if you have MGM Gold status or higher (to get waived resort fees), if you plan to gamble heavily (gaming earns better when linked to a folio), or if you have existing MGM Rewards points to redeem on your stay.