MGM Rewards balances: Points, Tier Credits and SLOT DOLLARS explained
Compare the purpose of MGM Rewards Points, Tier Credits, SLOT DOLLARS and FREEPLAY without mistaking loyalty balances for withdrawable cash.
A casino loyalty account may display several balances at once. They can look similar while serving different purposes. For MGM Rewards, the useful starting point is to identify what a balance can be redeemed for, whether it measures status, and which conditions apply at the property you intend to visit.
Three balances answer three questions
MGM's earning FAQ, checked October 26, 2026, distinguishes MGM Rewards Points from Tier Credits. Points can be redeemed for eligible non-gaming experiences such as hotel stays and dining. Tier Credits determine tier status and benefit eligibility. The page also says redeeming Points does not affect tier status.
The same FAQ identifies SLOT DOLLARS as redeemable for FREEPLAY at participating MGM Rewards destinations. A practical account comparison therefore has three headings: spending redemptions, status progress and gaming-play credit. Adding the displayed figures together would conceal those different uses, even before considering units or redemption restrictions.
FREEPLAY has its own conditions
MGM's FREEPLAY instructions describe credit for participating slot or video lottery terminal play. It can come from eligible offers or conversion of SLOT DOLLARS. The restrictions say that FREEPLAY cannot be redeemed or exchanged for cash. The SLOT DOLLARS section contains the same cash-exchange restriction.
Read a FREEPLAY award as permission to use the specified gaming credit under its conditions. It should not be counted as an equal amount of money ready for collection at the cage. The outcome of play is a further step; neither the promotion label nor an account screenshot establishes what a future session will return.
Property instructions can differ
The reviewed FREEPLAY page publishes separate redemption instructions for Las Vegas, Borgata, MGM Grand Detroit, MGM National Harbor and other destinations. For example, its Detroit instructions exclude virtual games, stadium-style games and poker machines from FREEPLAY/SLOT DOLLARS use. That is a reason to read the local instructions before planning around a particular machine.
For a useful comparison, record the destination, usable machine category, activation steps and the expiration shown in the actual offer. If a credit requires a ticket or personal funds to start the machine, establish that before treating the award as a complete session budget. Ask the Rewards desk to resolve unclear conditions rather than extrapolating from another property.
Keep online and resort currencies identifiable
MGM's earning FAQ says eligible BetMGM activity earns BetMGM Rewards Points, rather than MGM Rewards Points, alongside Tier Credits. It directs members to the BetMGM Loyalty Store for conversion to MGM Rewards Points. A related brand relationship therefore does not make every displayed balance the same currency.
When comparing a resort stay with online casino play, write down the exact program and redemption destination. Avoid assuming that an online balance has automatically become an equivalent resort credit. This account-reading comparison uses published terms, without testing an account, valuing an offer or recommending extra play to reach a tier.
Sources and checks
- MGM Rewards: earning FAQ · Checked 2026-10-26
- MGM Rewards: FREEPLAY and SLOT DOLLARS FAQ · Checked 2026-10-26