Trying to Understand MLife

Among the "chains" on the strip, I'm a CET gal by a long shot but I noticed that MLife casinos have some VP games that are decent at the $1 level that CET does not have. I also really like the elegance of the Bellagio though I've stayed in better rooms.

I've created an online account and read all of the information online. The new program seems to be an improvement as I didn't realize until after that fact that one time when I played a lot at Bellagio a couple of years ago that the comps wouldn't be there for my next trip. With the new program it appears you can "bank" what you earn, which is great.

In any event, I'm thinking about playing a bit at the Bellagio and Aria during my upcoming trip. Two quick questions. One concerns how quickly you earn Tier credits and advancing to Pearl and then Gold. (Right now I am Sapphire and have zero points, etc.)

It says on the web that you earn 10 tier credits in Vegas only for every base point and that $3 in slots or $10 in VP is 1 point. So, to reach Pearl, I need 25k coin in, Gold 75k coin in and for Platinum 200k coin in, respectively? Sorry for the basic question but I just want to make sure I understand the program. If so, comparing the CET reward levels, it appears that CET platinum is between Pearl and Gold re: a coin in requiirement and that Platinum is almost twice as much as much as Diamond. Also curious if you get anything right away, like 2 for 1 or 2 free tickets or other benefits once you earn Pearl or Gold or Platinum like you do once you earn Diamond, e.g., access to Diamond Lounges, 2 free Diamond tix/month, etc.

Second question relates to your experience re: table play. I have heard that MLife treats table players better than CET does. The FAQ on the website says that you can't earn points for table games play but you can earn Tier credits and express comps. It also says to ask the Pit Supervisor re: the minimum level of table play to be rated. If anyone has experience with respect to these issues at Aria and Bellagio it would be appreciated. I've just started playing Blackjack and usually play $10 or $15 a hand but depending on my bankroll I have played played $25 a hand, sometimes $50 a hand if I'm doing really well.

Thanks in advance from this CET gal who knows CET cold and is trying to learn a bit more about MLife.

A few years ago before Mlife, we had rooms @ Aria comped 4x the first year they were opened. We were pretty much told to get rated you had to play $25/hand, I also remember being told that @ Mirage. Once Mlife started, we've been gold since the beginning. The best room comp we've gotten are a couple of one nighters @ Mandalay (but it's a 2 night min). We used to pretty much be exclusive MGM'ers but have not been pleased with Mlife. Maybe we'll give it another chance but we both hit platinum @ TR this year...so maybe not.

One thing is nice about Mlife, those express comps, we've used them @ the buffets and coffee shops and they are very easy to use.

Thanks TECramer. My instinct told me we were probably talking about a $25/hand minimum. I'm not going to play more than I can afford but I can swing $25 and play a long time.

What are the top two reasons why you have not been pleased with MLife?

Thanks again.

I agree with TE Cramer that the MLife Express Comps add up fast and are very useful, plus you are earning points for Point Play at the same time. I've been CET for a hundred years also, and like both programs. Not crazy about the MLife Web site.

This is off the topic a bit, but I got burned during a May trip due to my own stupidity: I came in (Bellagio) on an offer that included 3 nights and something like $350 or so of Free Play. Host comped a couple extra nights. I decided to hold onto the Free Play until the last day of our stay, just because it seemed like a good idea. Wrong. That Free Play expired with the offer, in other words I needed to use it up during the 3 days (nights) of the offer. They didn't hold over for the two comped nights....OUCH!!!! Like I said, my fault, I didn't think of it going that way.

Ouch is right Candy. Thanks for sharing your experience so we can all benefit from it. Hope you otherwise had a good stay at the Bell!

FFlowers, we had been mostly MGM players for 7 years. Had not paid for a room at an MGM property for anything over a 3 day stay in that whole time. Once MLife started, even as gold card holders ( which in the beginning of Mlife was second to the top), we only got discounted rooms, rarely comped. We are still gold players but I don't see that status much longer. Like I said in the earlier post, we had comped rooms @ Aria 4 times the first year they were open and we haven't had a free room there since then. I average 4 trips a year and hubby is usually with me on 3 of those trips so we have a fairly decent bankroll. I even mentioned to one of my pit boss friends @ Excalibur on one of our last trips that we've changed to TR because Mlife doesn't love us! If you comp my room, that's more money I can spend in your casino!

On an unrelated note, I'm coming next weekend on a solo trip and plan to spend Sat. @ Qua, I think I remember you and Lisa recommending it.

TECramer, enjoy your day at Qua

There's just something wrong about that. Have you talked with a Host at Aria or MGM or Excal? You can't go by the MLife web site. My MLife web site offers are pathetic...only for the Gold Strike Hotel in Tunica MS, and pitiful at that. I don't even go to the MLife site anymore because it p***es me off just to look at it.

Thanks, FFlowers, that trip was pretty good. Just got back from another one, and you can believe that I used up that Free Play first thing...LOL.

Candy, no I haven't talked to a host @ Aria or MGM, years ago I had one @ Excalibur but after a few years we upgraded to ....better accommodations. I pretty much consider myself a guppy @ Aria so I never looked into it. I like that TR gives me good comps that I can book easily.

Lisa, I plan to. Any suggestions? I was thinking about a 2 hour hourglass treatment but found some of the other treatments interesting.

I have been told several times over the years that Bellagio rates players for $25 and up per hand in blackjack.