Ranking MLife Resorts (for Comps)

Let me make a short story, long . I posted on here several months ago about getting into MLife's graces. I've been living out of the country for a while and had mainly been staying and playing at Wynn/Encore. Their (front end comp) love for me waned while I was living abroad and I was looking at where I wanted to spend my Vegas trips over the next year or so. I had previously been taken care of quite well at the Mirage back when Wynn owned it and since it was the first places I ever had a host, I decided I'd book (a paid rate) and play there (nostalgia got the best of me). I spent 90% of my bankroll at the mirage, mostly on video poker (also played some down at the MGM and MB). I tend to play $1 or $5 denoms, 5 at a time (so $5 or $25 hands, depending on payout tables) for 6-8 hours a day. Over the three-day weekend I earned 127K points on gaming alone. On my way out I stopped by the Mlife desk and asked about comps and was basically told they would be happy to apply my $127 in express comps to my hotel bill. I did not qualify for anything else on the back end. I was a bit surprised as that level of play would have garnered me a decent comp on the back-end at Wynn, but I figured perhaps my theo was low given I do tend to seek out the best paytables. I wasn't too crushed as I play to play, not for comps, and to be honest the Mirage has lost a bit of its luster for me. Roll forward about 2 months and I log-in to MLife to check rates at the Beau Rivage as I had a friend planning a trip to the gulf that I was thinking of tagging along to. Low and behold I have an offer from the Mirage for 3 nights in a suite, limo, $500 resort credit and $475 in FP. I decided to book for the weekend after NYE (I like the slow times and this falls nicely between NYA and CES starting). Two weeks later I get an email from a host at NYNY, inviting me to their NYE party, including accommodations, $450 in FP and $75 resort credit. I politely decline (mentioning I am staying at the Mirage the following weekend) and receive a reply to let her know should I ever want to stay at NYNY.

SO, now to the part that might be relevant to others (in the grand scheme of comps). How do the Mlife resorts "rank" in the level of play required for comps (or, in the generosity of comps)? I know Aria and Bellagio are at the top of the pecking order, Excalibur and Luxor are at the bottom. But it's not clear to me from all the posts here, how the middle shakes out. I ask because I'm wondering what sort of luck I'd have calling up a host at the MGM and asking if they can match the comp I have booked at the Mirage. I think I'd prefer to get "in" there over the Mirage. I'd consider staying at NYNY as I used to like it there, but I don't really know how it shapes up these days (and I don't really want to deal with construction noise). What I don't want to do is try to get in somewhere my play isn't going to garner any attention on the front end. Thoughts?

 

Just call and ask. We can all speculate if they would match, but calling and asking is the best thing to do. Worst case, they say no.

I like Mirage and NYNY, but if you think Mirage has lost a bit of luster, you will likely have the same opinion of NYNY.

good luck!

 

You can pretty much just go by the average cost of the place to rank them on how aggressively they comp. Completely off the cuff I would rank them from toughest to easiest as follows:

Aria
Bellagio
MGM, MB
Mirage
NYNY, Monte Carlo
Excal, Luxor

If you want to stay at MGM then definitely call them up, ask them what offers you have in their system and if there's nothing much ask if they can match the Mirage offer. That offer is pretty good for your level of play but not so out of whack that you have no chance of MGM matching it.

 

I agree and that is about how my ranking looks if I go by the corporate seasonal offers in Mlife. Also, having stayed at all of them I would personally rank them the same.

But, if I go by MY actual property specific offers in Mlife and Direct Mailers, it goes (hardest to easiest)

Mirage, MGM, MB, MC, Luxor, Excalibur, Bellagio, NYNY, Aria. Aria's offer is far more generous than any of the others.

Finally, since I go to Vegas quite often (although less at MGM Props this year), I always call to see what can be offered. My experience has been

MGM, MB, Luxor-Never more than the corporate offer or mailer.
Bellagio, NYNY, MC, Aria-Always more than the corporate offer or mailer
Mirage-"Why the hell are you calling?"
Excalibur-Never called

All the above is simple to put this way...Aria is one of the top MGM properties and I can get a much better room there, with FP and RC than I can at MGM/MB/Mirage/Luxor.

It seems inconsistent to me. Offers may not fall in line with rankings.

 

I agree! Mirage is my home casino, but I get better corporate offers for MGM Grand.

 

The above rankings seem about right. Mirage might be close to MB and MGM.

What you can not figure out is what is happening on any given day at each resort. Mgmt is always pushing for more gamblers, or pushing for less comps. So, offers might move up and down just a little based on current marketing and mgmt push. And, of course specific dates are impacted by events.

I think you have pointed out something else that seems to be more and more common. What marketing offers to get you in, and what a host will offer at the END of a trip are far apart.

It appears they have tied their hands rather tight over "discretionary" comps.

 

Yes, I would have thought the OP would have at least gotten a few hundred in discretionary comps. But, that is why one of my MGM hosts hates this board. If one person gets something, she says her clients start referencing this board and they want the same. There is much more to it.

 

to get a few hundred in descretionary comps he would have to have taken a big loss or play at a decent level for a long period of time.

it was hard to decifer what he won or lost or bet or played.it was alot to read.

also a good relationship with a host helps

 

He earned 127k in TC's, $127 EC's playing $1/$5 Max bet VP 6-8 hrs a day. Staying on topic though, his question is about ranking and generosity of comps. Based on his personal experience, Mirage's generosity would be low for his trip.

 

in this order

aria
bellagio
Mandalay Bay
mgm grand
mirage
monte carlo
nyny
luxor
excalibur

 

Corp mailers for MGM give offers in the following order (aka play more to get the same amount as the property ranked below)

1. Aria/Bellagio
2. MGM/Mandalay/Mirage
3. NYNY/Monte Carlo
4. Luxor/Excalibur

So KickinChicken is pretty much on the money. Of course if you call each property they might have something more/less appealing, just depends on what direction they want to go with their offers.

 

Just one other thing to point out. With MGM's "system" being so unreliable for corporate offers, it really helps to reach out to a host (most properties have their info on their website just pick one and email them). 127K in tier credits regardless of paytables, should have generated at least a free room on the backend. A host probably would have been able to take care of that, especially judging by the offers you have after your trip. I generate on average around 75k-85k in TCs per trip, and receive free rooms anytime, and usually a 2-300 in FP and Food and Beverage. I also usually get limo transportation thrown in as well. My TCs come mostly from Tables and slots but it should still give you a good idea.

One thing that wasn't clear and could account for that, is if you booked the room through a third party like expedia or Travelocity. In that case they couldn't comp it off on the backend.

 

Why's everyone forgeetting about Circus Circus?! /sarc

 

I know you meant it as a joke but circus circus has its own players card

 

At that play level you would be at their top level card: which includes limo, room beverage set up, free suites, show tickets at MGM properties, New Years Eve invites, and good comps to THE Steakhouse!! Circus has a VERY generous comp & VIP program.