Trying to Understand MLife

That is correct. Bellagio has always rated for $25 and up.

Also, they've opened up some $10 hand shuffle games. Six decks, 3:2 pay for Blackjack.

Thanks. Good to know about rating minimum but also about $10 3/2 games. Thanks.

FFlowers, most of Bell's tables pay 3/2 as long as I've played there (years).

Exception is, of course, Blackjack Switch, which pays even money (everywhere).

I'm told that somewhere in Bell they have a single deck BJ game, but either the minimum is higher and/or the pay for a BJ is lower, or both. Ive never looked for it.

Wynn and Caesars had elimated their Switch games as of our last trip (October). Bellagio still has two tables at least, if you are interested.

Thanks Candy.

For the last two years I have been very happy with MLife because they were far more generous with my table play, CET was awful. In Atlantic City CET has been very generous, but LV is a different story.

The web site is ridiculous. When I am planning a trip I always call casino marketing. The mail offers are good. Unfortunately I am planning to visit LV about four or five times a year. I used to be there every month. With the reduced number of visits I don't know how I can maintain a level of play worth much. Your status is based on a 12 month rolling average. In addition I am spliting my time between poker and casino games. Poker won't get me anything.

I don't play BJ anymore, but for craps, baccarat, poker carnival games, you need more than $25 per hand to get free rooms.

A comped room at Bel or Aria is going to be nice. I don't worry about being bumped or downgraded. Mirage, MGM, Monte Carlo, can be very uncertain.

Back to your first question. I was upgraded to gold the very same day that my play put my tier score at the required level. The people at the players desk have always been very good. Points and tier score have always been updated very fast.

News Flash:
Bellagio is rating all play. Two weeks ago a pit supervisor asked for my card. I said no 'cause I'm only playing $10-15. She said that's OK we'll rate you. I said huh? when did that start? She shrugged her shoulders. I asked has Bellagio fallen on hard times? She just kinda laughed.

Profbac and Candy, Thanks for the info. And Candy, that's great news about all players being rated. My trip during Thanksgiving was very short so I never made it to Bellagio, except to see the Conservatory, but I'll be back for a week between Christmas and New Years and would love to play some table games (ideally less than $25/hand) at Bellagio. The place seems so elegant and such a pleasure in which to play table games. I've played slots there before but never the tables.

Decided to share some additional info. The idea that Mlife is friendlier to table players may be a myth.
Last month I had some face to face conversations with hosts and floor supervisors. (by now you know that I take this topic seriously.).

My first inquiry involved a carnival game called texas holdem bonus. My basic bet is $25, and following our friend the wizard of odds, my average bet is $95 per hand. They have this game at MGM Grand, and I learned that my play (anyones play) would be rated at only $50 per hand. They only count bonus bets, read as sucker bets, dollar for dollar in the rating. Same conversation at Caesars Palace, that play is rated at $125 per hand.

Second I inquired about the game Ultimate Texas Holdem. According to the wizard, my average play is $102 per hand. All Mlife properties rate this level of play at $75. CET properties rate it at $150.
BTW, Wynn and Venetian rate this at $50 per hand. They both told me I would have to double my play to get a free room, LOL, cheaper to pay for it.

Exactly how does this translate to actual comps. I play this in Atlantic City, and don't believe I will ever pay for a drink, meal, or a room at CET. I have just started getting offers for CET in LV, but that could be the off season.

Craps play at $25 on the line with two come bets and full odds doesn't get me anything at Mlife or Cet in LV.

This will be an ongoing topic.

Good luck.

Agree that despite knowing we get "rated" at some place, it is still a mystery. Years ago a Bell host advised me that to get a comped room they look for $125 per hand for four hours. I'm pretty sure my card play at Bellagio doesn't generate comps. Recently a pit supervisor asked for my card and I said no thanks. She said "because you think it will lower your overall rating?" I said yep that's about it. She said "I'll put you in for TIME and back it up, I know you've been here for at least 2 hours." OK. Who knows what she did.

I quit worrying about it. Whatever will be will be. I play what I enjoy. Let the chips fall where they may, pun intended...LOL.

Edited to correct that it was a pit supervisor, not a host, asking for my card during Blackjack at Bel.

We have been playing in the M-Life system for
just over a year now. Hubby is Platinum (he
almost made it to Noir . . . .) and he gets
3 nights plus food plus free play at every
stay. Sometimes it varies between how much
free play and food is comped. We like to
stay at Mirage but also get better offers
at MGM and sometimes at NYNY. It does seem
like the Express Comps add up faster than
TR. Plus you're not ALWAYS having to use
them for shows or food. Yew--the mail offers
are usually better than what shows on line!
AND the majority of "how you're treated"--ie
suits or better, amount of free play, limo is based
on the play of your last visit. So it is best
to play big on one day or two if your budget
allows! But we can't complain--most every week
we're getting an email to see free shows--last
year saw Jimmy Buffet and sat in row 7. This past
week we were comped to see Cheap Trick AND Aerosmith
and saw in row 3 of the stadium seating with great seats! Also included transportation to and from Mirage to MGM. So we can say that MGM has been very, very
good to us. And now that they've changed M-Life so
it isn't a "rolling" system to a yearly system--it is
much easier to keep track of your points etc. We have
noticed that each property seems to have it's own
attitude towards comps, up-grades etc so I do keep
track of our points very carefully--esp our Express Comps. Oh! One thing I forgot to mention--we also
get offers to fly to Beau Rivage in Biloxi comped.
We have used this several times--it is wonderful!
Especially since we live in the "Frozen Tundra" and
Biloxi is nice in Jan/Feb! Also--my hubby got an offer
for 2 rounds comped golf on their out-standing course--
Fallen Oak, I believe it is called. He and my son
flew down (on their own $). They were limo-ed
to and from the course and their room was also comped
for the 3 days. They're still talking about how great
it was . . . they were especially impressed by the
men's locker room and some of the names on the lockers!
Anyway--we've really enjoyed the M-Life --if you have
any questions I'd be happy to help! PS--we don't play
table games