After the annual hiatus, MGM Rewards has officially reopened the status match program where tier members of competing programs can match all the way up to MGM Rewards Platinum status.
The match is valid for 90 days, during which members have to complete a certain number of tier points corresponding to their matched elite status in order to extend it for the remainder of the membership year.
MGM Rewards status comes with certain attractive benefits, especially the partnership with MGM Hotels & Resorts for visitors to Las Vegas and other MGM resort destinations countrywide and the cooperation with Celebrity Cruises and Royal Caribbean Cruises.
The status match is processed at the players’ club counter at various MGM Resorts, and customers have to present valid credentials for competing gaming programs.
Here is the list for members who apply in Nevada (the list of eligible programs varies by destination):
24 Select: Golden Nugget
ELITE: advance to MGM Rewards Gold tier
BILLIONAIRE’S CLUB: advance to MGM Rewards Platinum tierBally Rewards: Tropicana Las Vegas | Bally’s Lake Tahoe
LEGEND: advance to MGM Rewards Gold tier
Boyd Rewards: Aliante | California Hotel & Casino | Cannery | Fremont Hotel & Casino | Gold Coast | Main Street Station | Sam’s Town | Suncoast | The Orleans
ONYX & TITANIUM: advance to MGM Rewards Platinum tier
Caesars Rewards: Caesars Palace | The Cromwell | Paris | Planet Hollywood | Horseshoe LV | Flamingo LV | Harrah’s LV | The Linq | Rio | Eldorado, Reno | Silver Legacy, Reno | Circus Circus, Reno | Harrah’s, Lake Tahoe | Harveys Lake, Lake Tahoe | Harrah’s, Laughlin | Tropicana, Laughlin
DIAMOND PLUS: advance to MGM Rewards Gold tier
DIAMOND ELITE & SEVEN STARS: advance to MGM Rewards Platinum tierClub Serrano: Palms
AMBER: advance to MGM Rewards Gold tier
DIAMOND & TURQOISE: advance to MGM Rewards Platinum tierGenting Rewards: Resorts World Las Vegas
MONARCH: advance to MGM Rewards Gold tier
IMPERIAL: advance to MGM Rewards Platinum tierVenetian Rewards: Venetian & Palazzo
Ruby: advance to MGM Rewards Gold tier
Diamond: advance to MGM Rewards Platinum tierPENN Play: Tropicana, Las Vegas | Cactus Pete’s | M Resort
ELITE: advance to MGM Rewards Gold tier
OWNERS CLUB: advance to MGM Rewards Platinum tierUnity by Hard Rock: The Mirage
ICON: advance to MGM Rewards Gold tier
X: advance to MGM Rewards Platinum tierWynn Rewards: Wynn & Encore
PLATINUM: advance to MGM Rewards Gold tier
BLACK: advance to MGM Rewards Platinum tiermy|Rewards Boarding Pass: Red Rock Casino | Green Valley Ranch | Palace Station | Sunset Station | Boulder Station | Barley’s Casino & Brewing | The Greens Gaming & Dining
CHAIRMAN: advance to MGM Rewards Gold tier
Naturally, the main gambling destinations in Nevada (Las Vegas) and New Jersey (Atlantic City) have the most variety of programs that can be used to match as there are the most local competitors.
The “Status Match period” to request, receive approval for, and start a Status Match Challenge begins on March 1, 2025 and ends July 31, 2025 at 11:59 PM PT.
You can find details about this promotion on MGM’s website (access here).
Instant upgrade to Gold or Platinum status.
MGM Rewards’ Status Match Challenge is on! Present your valid VIP loyalty card from an eligible competitor at any MGM Rewards desk to receive an instant upgrade to Gold or Platinum status for the next 90 days – complimentary. To extend your Gold or Platinum status past 90 days, successfully complete the Challenge by reaching the required Tier Credit hurdle.
Contrary to previous campaigns, this time, the match will not be valid for the entire membership year but only for three months. During this time, the member must reach a threshold of tier points to extend until the new membership ends (in January 2027).
They offer two different tier levels: Gold & Platinum
Once you’ve received your Status Match upgrade, you’re automatically enrolled in the Challenge. Complete the Challenge requirements to extend your Status Match through January 31, 2027.
- Challenge requirements for Gold: Earn an additional 50,000 Tier Credits on certain eligible spend within 90 days of your Status Match.
- Challenge requirements for Platinum: Earn an additional 150,000 Tier Credits on certain eligible spend within 90 days of your Status Match.
Honestly, this challenge is not very enticing at all. It only takes 25% off the qualification hurdle for the status, but the members have to do so within three months.
I haven’t seen any list of which competing programs are eligible for the match this time around. I would imagine most are, especially for MGM Gold.
In order to participate, visit any MGM Rewards desk in person and present a valid, current-year VIP status loyalty card for an eligible competitor program, along with your valid government-issued photo identification. Once approved, you will receive an instant 90-day upgrade to Gold or Platinum, based on your current status with another eligible casino loyalty program.
Usually, regular players more or less know their betting habits and can determine if achieving the amount of points MGM asks for here is a realistic target.
I previously wrote about how I matched my Celebrity Cruises status over to MGM Gold, which will be active without any challenge:
MGM Rewards Completed Annual Tier Downgrades, Celebrity Cruises Rematch Possible
If you manage to obtain cruise line status with Celebrity or Royal Caribbean (or maybe already have it), that might be an easier compromise than obtaining that many tier points for Gold status on an annual basis.
Conclusion
MGM is back, offering a status match in combination with a three-month challenge to obtain sufficient tier points to extend the status through January 2027.
While the match itself is a welcome feature, the challenge is indeed highly challenging, especially given the short period to accumulate points.
It depends on one player’s profile and betting patterns to determine how many points can realistically be obtained within these 90 days. Maybe it’s OK if you use the Daily Tier Status Accelerator promotion during that period.
These are the Terms & Conditions of this status challenge:
Status Match Challenge is available to new and existing MGM Rewards members who request and receive approval for a Status Match upgrade during the period of March 1 – July 31, 2025. Tier Status received through Status Match expires 90 days after the date of receiving such Status Match, unless the Challenge requirements are met, or member otherwise earns the Tier Credit requirements associated with the corresponding Tier Status. MGM Resorts International (MGM) is not an affiliate of any competitor casinos nor is MGM affiliated with any loyalty programs identified in connection with this promotion. Status Match is available for select loyalty programs and tiers. Subject to Status Match Challenge Rules (click here) and MGM Rewards Program Rules (click here). Management reserves the right to modify or cancel this promotion at any time without notice.
