Mlife vs. Total Rewards
Started by thebig747 on Thursday, 31st January 2013 8:39 am
If you were starting fresh today and wanted to be loyal to the one group that would get you the best free room offers, which would you choose?
Note my play is below the level at which a host would be interested.
Thanks.
Misnomer responded on Thursday, 31st January 2013
It depends. What do you like to play? If you're a table game player, you're probably better off with mlife. Slots and video poker, Total Rewards.
brandon responded on Thursday, 31st January 2013
MLIFE- simply because i prefer the level of the properties. Even the low end MGM properties are nicer than almost all of the TR properties. If i was a low roller and simply wanted a room to sleep in and didnt care about the "resort" aspect, i would vote for TR.
Chuckmonster responded on Thursday, 31st January 2013
All casino consumer loyalty programs are a fraud. Just putting that out there.
johnnyd75 responded on Thursday, 31st January 2013
I primarily play table games, so MLife is better for me. My wife plays slots, and I had assumed Total Rewards would be better for her; however, she just got back from MGM Grand and they comped all her meals off the bill. So I guess it just comes down to your level of play. As a table game player, if you play less than $25 a hand at BJ or less than $50 at craps, then you're probably better off with Total Rewards. As a slot player, you'll be treated well by both, but I think MLife has better comps for higher level play. I also prefer the hotels and restaurants at MLife properties, so I find more value from MLife versus Total Rewards.
thebig747 responded on Thursday, 31st January 2013
Thanks for the comments so far. I play a pretty balanced mix of blackjack, slots and video poker. But on bj, I'm not at the $25 per hand level.
On my next trip out, do you think it would be worthwhile to play at the properties of both groups? Or would it be better to concentrate my play on one? Thanks.
johnnyd75 replied on Thursday, 31st January 2013
I would concentrate my play at one hotel. Don't play expecting comps. Play to have fun (i.e. free drinks and the rush of gambling) and consider anything you get comped (rooms, food, or beverage) as a bonus. If you consider yourself a low roller, then go with Total Rewards. If you consider yourself a mid-roller, then try MLife. I started out playing $40 craps at Harrah's and started getting comp room offers. After a few years I stayed at Mandalay and played $50 BJ and now get offers from them all the time. If you tip the dealers well and have fun, you'll be surprised how your table game rating will go up. Either way, good luck.
Happygirl21 responded on Thursday, 31st January 2013
I am a pretty loyal TR person, but mostly b/c I live pretty close to Atlantic City. I will say they are usually pretty generous with comps.
On my last trip to LV I did sign up for an M life card. I played a few hours at the $50. Bj table but have not yet received any junkets, but it's only been about 9 days since I was there , lol
coybotjr responded on Thursday, 31st January 2013
I play usually $5 or $10 a hand BJ, occasional craps, and I throw a $20 in slot machines here and there as I walk around Vegas. I've had both cards for years and TR is the only ones that send me free rooms or other offers. I perfer the location of their low roller joints over MGM's. Bally's is my second home :)
Romaman responded on Thursday, 31st January 2013
lol when i first saw the topic title i thought it said Milf vs total rewards xD
toastcmu responded on Thursday, 31st January 2013
I'm a member of both who's a true flea in the casino world - I've gotten both, but I think it depends on what you're looking for in the end. If you merely need a bed to crash in between drinks, then TR does reward rooms with minimal play. I play with both cards in LV, since I play both VP and table games (mainly pai gow and blackjack). While most MGM places will not rate for less than 25/hand, I've found that NYNY will rate for 15/hand blackjack play. I've heard MC and excal/luxor will as well, but never tried it.
-B
jimmybond replied on Friday, 1st February 2013
I concur, at Monte Carlo my friend and I have also been told while playing that they rate starting at $15 per hand.
In all honesty half the time I think it depends on the floor supervisor and how they feel about you. At those other places it can't hurt to still give the card (e.g. even if playing for $10/hand at a place that supposedly rates $25+)
First, I have been told they will still track your buy-in (so show you had some activity even if not playing at a 'rated' level). Secondly, you could be increasing bets to $25+ on a win and you don't want to have to get your card out later.
Lastly, if you are friendly and tip generously, if the dealer and floor supervisor have a friendly relationship then they may juice up your minimum bet in the computer system (especially if you had the occasional hand at a higher level, if you are flat betting $10 the whole time that may not work) Or if the supervisor hasn't been hovering the whole time, it might be up to the dealer to report to them when you leave the table what your average bet was in recent play and tips will help with that! (PS - not sure if this is the rule, but I have seen this in action, right or not) Some floor management were dealers once too, and I think they like to see the tip bucket getting filled and reward as they can accordingly.
Blakjackkid responded on Friday, 1st February 2013
I go with Mlife simply because I like the Vegas MGM properties better overall. It's nice to get comped/discounted rooms at Aria, Bellagio, Mirage, MBay,etc. The only Caesar's property that I actually enjoy staying at is Caesar's. Of course if I was interested in staying at properties in other destinations around the country, I'd go with Total rewards since they have so many properties all over the country.
bsguy2001 responded on Friday, 1st February 2013
I have a been a Total Rewards member for years until my last few trips. I would get comped rooms at places such as Imperial or Bally's but in my opinion, these are disgusting properties and would stay there even if they were free. the only TR property worth staying at Caesars and I have even grown tired of that property. the gambling sucks at Caesars. I have recently switching my loyalty to MLife. ARIA, Bellagio, Mandalay Bay, Mirage, MGM Grand are fantastic properties in my opinion and are far better than what TR has to offer. Even if I don't get fully comped stays at ARIA or Bellagio, I would rather pay a reduced room rate and stay at one of these properties than to stay comped at Imperial, Bally's, Flamingo or Rio. I also agree that the restaurant options are far better at MLife properties. I noticed that some of you have mentioned that as a table game player, MLife is better. Why is this? I am a BJ player so I would like to hear why this is. Thanks
jinx73 responded on Monday, 4th February 2013
Advice on here has been good so far, truthfully though, play where you are happy and enjoy staying, and if it changes, switch to the other club, staying loyal to one club even on the low levels is a bad idea in my opinion, I think it's important to stay a bit flexible.
alFromSanDiego responded on Friday, 8th February 2013
The Players Club concept is probably the most focused part of the Vegas marketing machine. I think the room offers perception is accurate, TR for slots, ML for table gamers. They probably made a back alley handshake on how they would roll this out for us. I think if you're a low to mid low player, someone with a daily budget in that range, I've found it to be really smart to ask for a comp....during your stay, not at the end.
radgambler responded on Tuesday, 12th February 2013
They both pretty much suck. I live near a TR casino (Horseshoe Hammond) and have been Diamond for the last four years. The property opened in '08 and since then the quality of the comps have slowly eroded away. Used to be I could go to Binions Steakhouse and with my card would get a 15 to 20 percent discount. Now? I get $2 dollars off a $60 steak. Whoopdee Shit. Could go on and on, won't beat a dead and rendered horse. Then the property itself, like many of CET's holdings, is slowly falling into disrepair. Which brings up another point, besides Caesars' Palace their other LV properties aren't worth my time- I like to stay somewhere nice; besides, my wife won't deal with cockroaches. Oh, and the retaurants are largely mediocre.
As far as MGM/Mirgae- I have been one of the unlucky ones since they switched to Mlife. Used to get three nights at Bellagio plus $75 a day in Free Play versus the one offer unde mlife I've had for the last year and a half for casino rate at the MGM Grand. But I dig the properties, the restaurants and, yes, the Cirque shows. So my solution and advice is to pay to stay at the property(s) you like and gamble less...and not worry about comps.
antcomp responded on Wednesday, 13th February 2013
If you play tables games definitely go with mLife. If you plan to play below the typical rating level, and plan on concentrating your play at one property look into depositing your bankroll as Front Money, it can often result in a higher level of comps.
Right now mLife is offering me comped stays at the Mirage and Luxor, and a $89 casino rate at Bellagio. Usually I play $25 BJ, $20 craps, and $25 Pai Gow, but started getting offers when I had a lower level of play.
thebig747 responded on Sunday, 24th February 2013
In light of the Caesars properties adding resort fees, I'm opening myself up more than ever to the MGM properties. I'm adjusting the itinerary for my next trip to allow for a lot more play at MGM joints. Anyone else have a revised opinion in light of this recent development? Thanks.