Mlife vs Total Rewards

I'm wondering which rewards program you like the best and why? I've only really played my mlife card but I visited a TR casino my last trip and enjoyed my time there. Also for some reason mlife dropped my tier credits after my last visit. I'm thinking about giving TR a try and making my next trip to their casino as well. I've just started playing on my mlife card and haven't really gotten enough credits to convince me to stay with them. Also I realize that tier credits with TR are 1 for $5 slot play and with Mlife it's 1 for $3 in slot play. I don't know how this translates into table game comps and apparently no one else does either lol. At least no one can explain it to me. Pearl with Mlife (which is their second level) is 25000 tier credits. Platinum with TR is 5000 tier credits. Seems it would be easier to advance with TR than with mlife for a low level gambler like myself. Any thoughts?

Many very loyal Mlife customers with large play have been publicly stating they are jumping ship. They don't like the system and there is something about ECs or whatever they're called expiring in October and they plan to use them all up before then. Other complaints about the program are new inconsistencies with earning points on certain types of machines and they are aggravated. Then audits just steal from the balances with just excuses as justifications. I wouldn't play there from everything I have heard.

I think TR has a bigger reach and is valued for their room offerings at so many places. The program seems somewhat generous and flexible to me enough where you can play a little at a competitor without feeling it's jeopardizing future offers because of a few hours. It's how I feel with my limited exposure anyways.

MLife gives you jack s*** if you are a low-to-medium roller. TR will give you cheap or free rooms at their lower-tier properties for a very modest level of play.

I can't speak to the high rollers here, and the MLife properties are definitely nicer, but for me the choice is obvious. I still play at some MLife properties (love the craps pit at Bellagio) and earn some express comps for food. But I've never been offered a single free room from them, even at the frickin' Excalibur. I'm strictly a table games player, so I can't speak to slots or VP play.

If you have some philosophical objection to CET and their crappy gambling offerings and recent about-face on resort fees, then I would suggest avoiding both of them and going with a smaller chain (Boyd, Stations, etc.).

Quote: AcesAndEights

MLife gives you jack s*** if you are a low-to-medium roller.

Yes, we get a Milf card, not a MLife card.

Something to be said for locals reward programs.

Stations has great games and easy comps. But they're Vegas only, and not on the strip or downtown (Palace Station is close to both). If that can work for you, that's the way I'd go.

TR has bad games, but liberal room comps. And they apply the room comps across their national network of properties, which is nice if you want play in Vegas to equal a room in southern Illinois.

MLife has decent games, but it's hard to get a usable comp out of them. Personally, I'd rather have a free room than a discount on overpriced (but high-quality) food. So MLife is lowest on my list. Now, if they really had a Milf card, well...

What got me was they comped me a room for Fri and would have given me one Sat night as well but I couldn't stay for Sat so I only took the Fri night. This is weekend rates $125 a night. I called about getting room for Thurs night and they quoted me a higher rate that was posted online. Then said that I wasn't eligible for another room comp untill July. They where going to give me a $125 a night room while I was there but won't comp a $50 room to get me back. Then they took 1100 points off of my tier credits. I think I'm done with mlife.

Quote: Mikey75

What got me was they comped me a room for Fri and would have given me one Sat night as well but I couldn't stay for Sat so I only took the Fri night. This is weekend rates $125 a night. I called about getting room for Thurs night and they quoted me a higher rate that was posted online. Then said that I wasn't eligible for another room comp untill July. They where going to give me a $125 a night room while I was there but won't comp a $50 room to get me back. Then they took 1100 points off of my tier credits. I think I'm done with mlife.

The only part of this story that sounds weird is that you got a Friday night comp in the first place :)

Yeah I know. This was in Tunica btw. Not Vegas.

Was there a time difference between the Friday and Thursday comp requests? Like they gave you friday way in advance, and then you wanted to add Thursday at the last minute?

Quote: Mikey75

Pearl with Mlife (which is their second level) is 25000 tier credits. Platinum with TR is 5000 tier credits. Seems it would be easier to advance with TR than with mlife for a low level gambler like myself. Any thoughts?

Since most of your play will probably be in Tunica, getting Platinum with TR will likely be easier, although it will take a bit of effort at tables if your bets are low. Playing in Vegas is a different story, then moving up to the next tier should be easier with MLife. I personally think that's BS to weight destinations differently, but I don't make the rules either.

From MLife:

You earn Tier Credits for virtually every dollar you spend - including gaming - across all our M life resorts. For every dollar you spend on your hotel stay, dining, entertainment, or spa you earn Tier Credits - in Las Vegas you earn 25 Tier Credits per dollar spent; at Beau Rivage, Gold Strike Tunica, and MGM Grand Detroit you earn 8 Tier Credits per dollar spend.

For slot play in Las Vegas M life casinos, you receive ten (10) Tier Credits for every Base Point earned. When playing at Beau Rivage or Gold Strike Tunica, you receive two (2) Tier Credits for every Base Point earned. At MGM Grand Detroit, you receive one (1) Tier Credit for every Base Point earned. For table games, you'll earn Tier Credits based on length of play, average bet, and game type.

Addendum: one thing I discovered on my recent trip is that MLife Express Comps are only valid at restaurant locations (and to pay down your hotel bill I imagine). They are not valid at the various retail locations inside the resorts for stuff like booze, toiletries, cigs, etc. TR Reward Credits can be used at these locations. For me this is yet another moderate ding on MLife. I spend a fair bit at these locations on any Vegas trip, so it's nice to be able to use comps.

I wonder what the difference between 25:1 in Vegas and 10:1 elsewhere is in real terms. Food is a hell of a lot cheaper in Tunica than in Vegas, so the true difference is not as wide as it appears. Still, what an asinine policy.

I am a TR guy from way back. Before I even knew what it was about 10 years ago, I was staying and playing craps at Harrahs LV. Got into a real nice and personel discussion with an asian pit boss and we were talking nationalities( I am Greek) etc. Well anyway I get home and a couple weeks later I get a diamond card in the mail for playing $10 craps for a few hours. I have been a loyal member since. Also, you can use TR for free rooms all over New Orleans, AC, Philly(satellite hotels) etc.. so that makes it more appealing for a mostly low roller like me.

The biggest benefit of the TR program over the others (including MLife) is it's large national reach. You can play and use comps anywhere they have a property. TR is also real easy to use. Make reservations on-line or over the phone. Want to pay a restaurant bill with points. Just give them your card and assuming you have enough points it's a done deal. So ease of use and wide ranging geographic availability make TR the best choice. IMO.

I know some people feel the CET properties are "comp-stingy" and that may be for some people. But they've always been more than fair to me.

I agree while the comp balence may not inflate as fast as others, getting comp or discounted rooms has been very good.

Quote: tringlomane

Since most of your play will probably be in Tunica, getting Platinum with TR will likely be easier, although it will take a bit of effort at tables if your bets are low. Playing in Vegas is a different story, then moving up to the next tier should be easier with MLife. I personally think that's BS to weight destinations differently, but I don't make the rules either...

I don't necessarily agree that it is BS to weight destinations differently.

I believe each casino has its own responsibility to account for its net revenue. And at the corporate level, they do better when all of their casinos do better. When you play at Casino X, and play through $x,xxx of money, that casino now has a record of your play. They award you comp points based on that play, as a reward and appreciation of your play there, and to entice you back. The more money you risk the more they like you, and the more comps you will probably receive.

Now, if you are a rated player, another sister casino in the same corporate structure may decide to try and entice you to play at their property. So they send out an offer to get you in the door. Whether or not you deserve that offer is irrelevant. The casino is 'gambling' that you will play enough to cover the cost of your freebie.

So your play at a casino really contains two parts. You are earning rewards (comps) for your current amount of play. But you are also creating an expected value of what you might be worth the next time.

So if you go to Vegas and play some MLife property, and for whatever reason they were impressed with your play, you might get offers from them. Then some back office rep notices you live close to Gold Strike in Tunica. So the rep contacts the rep at Gold Strike and says I have a local name for you. They had x level of play at our casino last March, perhaps you could offer them something to come in. And next thing you know, you may have an offer for a free room for 2 nights.

But you can be certain, when you take them up on an offer, your play is being looked at closely. If you do not play to the level of the freebie you got, you probably won't get another one from that casino. And why should they? If you are going to MGM Grand and dropping $10K on a trip, but only running through $500 when you go to Gold Strike, you are not helping Gold Strike's bottom line at all. Sorry dude, but you are not important to them.

I believe room offers break down as follows (least important player to more important player):

You receive offer for full rack rate
You receive offers for a % off on certain dates
You receive offers for a % off on ANY date
You receive an offer for a free stay, on a specific date(s)
You receive an offer for a free stay, any time, for a set number of days
Your offer is basically any time you want, for as long as you want, within constraints. Wasn't Howard Hughes staying at the casino and ended up buying it when they wanted to throw him out?

You receive an offer for free stays, and you get free play, or gaming chips.

And then we start getting into guaranteed food and beverage and tickets and sports ,etc.
At some point, if your play supports it, you can request whatever you want. If your play supports your request, you will get whatever you want.

Quote: RaleighCraps

At some point, if your play supports it, you can request whatever you want. If your play supports your request, you will get whatever you want.

Well, basically this is the main point, and I assume offers aren't very heavily tied to tier either. But you are likely a much more valuable player, imo, if you can make Noir in Tunica than in Vegas.

I was a low level Diamond player with CET. I would average craps play for 4 hours a day, with a $1000 buy in each time. Whether I win or lose at that session is pretty much irrelevant, other than if I am winning I tend to make bigger bets, and thus have a much higher play through amount. I was able to stay at any CET property for at least 7 days at a time (I did that at Caesar's one time). Almost all of this rating came from 2 trips to Vegas each year.

I was able to leverage that into a free stay at Beau Rivage (MLife). On that trip I played the same amounts and my play was enough that Beau Rivage was offering me rooms, and a decent free play amount of chips. Up to this point, I had not played any MGM property in Vegas with a player's card. But, I assume based on my Beau Rivage play, when Aria opened, I got an invite to stay for free for 3 nights, anytime. I accepted that offer, lost my $3,000 there over 3 days, got almost no comps, and have never received another offer from them. I occasionally get an offer from MLife property in Vegas, but only for discounted rooms at $129/night. LOL

So, my point is, even though I take the same amount with me on each trip, I am considered desirable at some properties, and yet at Aria, among others, they could care less. My play at Hollywood in PA has also gotten me almost nothing in comps, but 1/2 of that play at Harrah's Cherokee has gotten me free rooms and some nice free play offers.

Quote: RaleighCraps

I was a low level Diamond player with CET. I would average craps play for 4 hours a day, with a $1000 buy in each time. Whether I win or lose at that session is pretty much irrelevant, other than if I am winning I tend to make bigger bets, and thus have a much higher play through amount. I was able to stay at any CET property for at least 7 days at a time (I did that at Caesar's one time). Almost all of this rating came from 2 trips to Vegas each year.

I was able to leverage that into a free stay at Beau Rivage (MLife). On that trip I played the same amounts and my play was enough that Beau Rivage was offering me rooms, and a decent free play amount of chips. Up to this point, I had not played any MGM property in Vegas with a player's card. But, I assume based on my Beau Rivage play, when Aria opened, I got an invite to stay for free for 3 nights, anytime. I accepted that offer, lost my $3,000 there over 3 days, got almost no comps, and have never received another offer from them. I occasionally get an offer from MLife property in Vegas, but only for discounted rooms at $129/night. LOL

So, my point is, even though I take the same amount with me on each trip, I am considered desirable at some properties, and yet at Aria, among others, they could care less. My play at Hollywood in PA has also gotten me almost nothing in comps, but 1/2 of that play at Harrah's Cherokee has gotten me free rooms and some nice free play offers.

I have heard from others, and my experience confirms, that MLife offers are more heavily dependent on the specific properties where you play. So for example, if you play craps at the Bellagio, your offers will be skewed more toward discounted Bellagio rooms, as opposed to other properties. TR is definitely NOT this way, they look at your play and you get similar offers from all of their properties.

The upshot is that your play at Aria, a very nice, new, expensive hotel was clearly not enough to get much of anything from that property. I'm guessing the initial free stay offer may have been a special case to try to entice you to one of their Vegas resorts after your Beau Rivage play. I'm quite jealous that you got to stay there for free though! I would love to try it out, but it's waaayyy too rich for this cheapskate's blood :)

Quote: AcesAndEights

Addendum: one thing I discovered on my recent trip is that MLife Express Comps are only valid at restaurant locations (and to pay down your hotel bill I imagine). They are not valid at the various retail locations inside the resorts for stuff like booze, toiletries, cigs, etc. TR Reward Credits can be used at these locations. For me this is yet another moderate ding on MLife. I spend a fair bit at these locations on any Vegas trip, so it's nice to be able to use comps.

You can use your MLife points at Starbucks in the hotels. A good play if you like Starbucks. I don't value their product as highly as most people, however.

TR is the best nationwide rewards program, hands down. They are incredibly efficient, and I haven't been let down once by any of their promotions or bonuses. BIG ups to CZR for this. A close second is Boyd's BConnected program, which is slowly creeping up to TR in efficiency and quality, although it doesn't have quite the nationwide reach or integration of TR yet.

I would comment on MLife but I don't think I've every gotten/been able to redeem a decent offer from them ever. Horrible integration. Still very property-specific. I give them a null rating.

One problem with Mlife is their email comps and web site comps are the same, even with different codes. I tried to book a reservation with the email code, and the site code. I got a call back saying they are both the same comp offer.

What really aggregated me to start with was that I was quoted a room price through Mlife that was higher than I could book online for. I barely played at a TR property the last trip. Maybe a hour total with a $60 buy in. I called them just to see what price they would give me for a room there and the price was also higher than I could book online for. I really don't understand this but I guess that's just the way it goes.

I do intend to stay at another property my next trip. I'm thinking of trying Resorts in Tunica. Has anyone ever stayed there or have any comments on that place?

Quote: Mikey75

What really aggregated me to start with was that I was quoted a room price through Mlife that was higher than I could book online for. I barely played at a TR property the last trip. Maybe a hour total with a $60 buy in. I called them just to see what price they would give me for a room there and the price was also higher than I could book online for. I really don't understand this but I guess that's just the way it goes.

I do intend to stay at another property my next trip. I'm thinking of trying Resorts in Tunica. Has anyone ever stayed there or have any comments on that place?

I assume they do that so they can nail suckers. With Tunica CET properties, there are often internet codes that save you 25%+. They will NOT apply those for you over the phone. And putting in your TR card number almost always guarantees a minimum $10/night discount vs. rack rate.

As for Resorts, I haven't stayed there recently. I stayed there when Harrah's owned that building back in 2004...lol They have Sierra Nevada on tap at the main bar though, so I definitely am okay with the casino. Also blackjack/craps is cheap. $3 min - 6 deck and $5 min - double deck pitch. $3 min craps (only double odds though). Standard Tunica rules. Double deck pitch only has about 50% penetration though.

Quote: tringlomane

I assume they do that so they can nail suckers. With Tunica CET properties, there are often internet codes that save you 25%+. They will NOT apply those for you over the phone. And putting in your TR card number almost always guarantees a minimum $10/night discount vs. rack rate.

As for Resorts, I haven't stayed there recently. I stayed there when Harrah's owned that building back in 2004...lol They have Sierra Nevada on tap at the main bar though, so I definitely am okay with the casino. Also blackjack/craps is cheap. $3 min - 6 deck and $5 min - double deck pitch. $3 min craps (only double odds though). Standard Tunica rules. Double deck pitch only has about 50% penetration though.

Thanks a lot for the information!! I think I'm going to try resorts on my next trip.

Quote: Mikey75

What really aggregated me to start with was that I was quoted a room price through Mlife that was higher than I could book online for. I barely played at a TR property the last trip. Maybe a hour total with a $60 buy in. I called them just to see what price they would give me for a room there and the price was also higher than I could book online for. I really don't understand this but I guess that's just the way it goes.

I do intend to stay at another property my next trip. I'm thinking of trying Resorts in Tunica. Has anyone ever stayed there or have any comments on that place?

You can get a cheaper price online, but then you will not be able to get the room comp'd, no matter how much you play. If you charge meals to your room, you can get that comp'd, but you will be stuck with the room bill.
If you are not going to be playing high enough stakes to get a room comp, then this is a moot point.

GWAE is having a guest talk about the difference in the 2 programs. I still feel that if you're not a high roller TR is a big + between Mlife. Also another thing is that Mlife seems more territorial in offers. I have only played at Luxor and received rooms from there only, whereas being a TR member I can use comps for any hotel (from the Quad to Caesers Palace).

I am interested in finding out how to make these 2 programs into an +EV situation. I feel that only getting to Noir or 7Star is worth the grind if you value the bonuses more then the amount of theoretical it takes to achieve these levels.

Quote: Mikey75

Any thoughts?

Yeah, my thoughts are Shakepearian. A plague on both their houses!! Look at the alternatives. (Yeah, I know: there are no alternatives, that's the problem). The only real alternatives are the independent casinos and their loyalty programs. Ever notice how simple and straightforward the loyalty programs are elsewhere.

We give you cheap machines and set them to high payout rates. We give you good food cheap. We give you good booze cheap. You unhappy, go elsewhere to mooch. MLife and TotalRewards got zillions of hosts you moochers can suck up to. We run simple straightforward programs here. You like it here, you stay. You no like it here, you go away, but you no whine here.

I tried to interview The Chief Executive Host for Player Development at Dotty's, but he said he couldn't talk right then as he had to put out the box of crackers and then sweep the floor.

FYI...

On one Saturday I played from about 12pm to 2am, maybe a total of 8-10 table hours. Rough estimate:

-2 hours craps at Bellagio
-2 hours craps Monte Carlo
-3 hours craps NYNY
-1 hour BJ at $5 flat betting, BJ Monte Carlo

All Craps betting was at $10 tables (NYNY&Bellagio did the right thing and grandfathered me into $15/$25), starting at $35 building up to $80 not counting odds and very little middle of the table play. I would be shocked if I were rated at more than $50, absolutely shocked.

5000/25000 to Pearl. $6 Express (discretionary) comps. All earned during this play.

I now have about a 20-30% discount off of most hotels and...

A free 3-night weekend room at Monte Carlo. This is the only play I have put on my MLife card over the past three years and I was staying at a CET property.

Has mlife gotten any better. Does anyone know how much coin in to reach a decent tier ?

Quote: ahiromu

FYI...



5000/25000 to Pearl. $6 Express (discretionary) comps. All earned during this play.

I now have about a 20-30% discount off of most hotels and...

A free 3-night weekend room at Monte Carlo. This is the only play I have put on my MLife card over the past three years and I was staying at a CET property.

I landed the same type of offer when I went out in May. I was never on mLife prior to my trip in may, and we had 2 rooms (one in my name an one in my pops name) at the Monte Carlo and in the 1st 2 days I was there they comped the room I was in (for all 4 nights) and I moved up to Pearl.

I recently got another offer from them, for 3 nights in a suite at the monte carlo again. I have no problems with the monte carlo so I took advantage of it. I believe I have a secondary offer for the other properties as well with rooms being comped, but not 100% sure. I haven't played other players cards yet very much, so I don't know what it takes to get there.

The only property-specific MLife offer I got was from NYNY, they gave me 3 nights comped, $150 freeplay, and a $25 food credit. The only games I play there are Blackjack (at their one remaining low limit 3-2 table) and Pai Gow Poker. I'm pretty sure I've never bet any more than $20 a hand. Definitely didn't warrant that good of an offer, but I took them up on it for a January trip.

The generic MLife offers I get are for 2 weeknights comped at MGM, Mandalay, Mirage or any two nights comped at Monte, NYNY, Luxor, and Excalibur.

Total Rewards used to offer me comped rooms at The Quad, Ballys, Rio, Harrahs, and Flamingo. Now when I look at their calendar I see no comped rooms whatsoever. If they think I'm paying $25 a night to stay at The Quad, they're crazy. Someone else posted on another forum that they experienced the same thing and called Harrahs to see why their comps have disappeared and Harrahs said CET is tightening up their room comps for low rollers.