Six Months Ago I Shared My MGM Strategy. Here’s the Scorecard.
Back in January, I shared the plan to earn MGM Gold without dumping thousands into slot machines.
New here? Read the original January strategy first with the complete points strategy.
Six months later…
Here’s the scoreboard.
$21.54 for five nights in an upgraded suite.
$565.77 for seven nights in an Executive Suite.
$111 for eight nights during the Stanley Cup Finals.
That isn’t a flex.
It’s proof that the system works if you understand how it’s actually designed.
Back in January, those numbers were hypothetical.
Today they’re sitting in my MGM account.
The Scoreboard
I hit 75,000 Tier Credits early this year, before summer.
I already had some help from last year (I earned 125k+ points in 2025, which gave me 7,500 + 17,500 rollover Tier Credits into 2026). Once I crossed 7,500 this year, I got the $100 celebration credit. Then the MGM Iconic Credit Card kicked in with the $200 annual resort credit and the $250 comp night from hitting $25k spend last year.
Between the rollover, the card bonuses, and actual spend this year, I cleared Gold with room to spare.
Here’s exactly how the three main trips broke down:
Grand Total from these three trips alone: 45,955 Tier Credits
That’s almost 46,000 Tier Credits from just three normal Vegas trips. (Remember to charge everything to the room.) Add in regular everyday spending on the Iconic card, last year’s bonus points, and I was already over 75k well before summer. Oh, and this doesn’t even include gambling..
The Biggest Mindset Shift
The biggest mistake people make is treating MGM Rewards like it’s only a gambling program.
It isn’t.
It’s a loyalty program that rewards spending first and gambling second. Most people play it backwards.
Just like I said back in January, the Iconic card on normal life (groceries, gas, dining, bills, Amazon, etc.) is quietly doing a ton of the work. That regular, everyday spending is what pushed me over the line early and made the whole thing feel easy instead of stressful.
What Gold Has Already Put Back in My Pocket
Resort fees avoided: $1,000+
Celebration Credit: $100
Annual Resort Credit: $200
Complimentary Night (turned out to be resort credit): $250
VIP Check-in on most stays
Free self-parking on every stay
Better room offers & upgrades (look at the suites I’ve had)
January was the blueprint.
This is the proof.
Which means I don’t spend the second half of the year chasing status anymore.
I spend it cashing it in.
Now I spend the rest of the year enjoying Vegas instead of chasing status.
Vegas Uncomped Tip
Pull up your MGM app today and check your actual Tier Credit total. Don’t wait until November to see where you stand. If you’re under 50k right now, there’s still plenty of time to add one more smart trip and lock it in. If you’re already over 70k like I was… congrats. You played it right.
How’s your 2026 count looking? Drop your number (or just say “on track” / “behind” if you don’t want to share exact figures).
-Jason
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As always, my reviews are my own; they are NOT sponsored, I pay for my experiences, and I reserve the right to praise and talk shit about whoever and wherever I feel warranted… Hope you enjoy!