by Eric Lipkind

If you want to boost your Marriott Bonvoy balance, there is an easy way to do so weekly that won’t cost you anything if you’re targeted.

Marriott recently partnered with MGM Casinos.   As such, you can transfer MGM Rewards points to Marriott Bonvoy points at a 10:8 ratio.  But there is an even better way to transfer at a 1:1 ratio.  You can earn and redeem Bonvoy points via stays at MGM properties.

Enter the BetMGM online casino.

BetMGM is currently live in 22 states (see below) as well as Puerto Rico and Ontario, Canada.

• Arizona, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, Washington DC, West Virginia, Wyoming.

If you are located in one of these areas, this Marriott Bonvoy partnership could prove beneficial for you.

The MGM Online casino offers a variety of games, including poker and sports betting.

By betting online, you earn BetMGM Reward Points (BRPs).  There are different earning rates based on what you are betting on.   BRPs can be exchanged for MGM rewards points (the rewards program on MGM casinos), merchandise, Marriott Bonvoy points, or online betting cash.

You can exchange 2,000 BRPs for $25 in bonus bets (equivalent to 1.25 cents per BRP).    

This is the same when you exchange BRPs for MGM Rewards points (which can also be redeemed for credit at MGM properties for dining, spa, shows, rooms, etc).  

Alternatively, you can redeem BRPs for Marriott Bonvoy points at a 1:1 ratio, meaning 1,000 BRPs can be exchanged for 1,000 Bonvoy points.   As Bonvoy points are worth approximately .8 cents each, if you are a gambler, you will get more value out of BRP exchanging for bonus bets or MGM Rewards, as you can get up to 1.25 cents per BRP as mentioned above.   Unfortunately, there is no arbitrage to be had by transferring BRP to MGM Rewards and then to Bonvoy, as the ratio of MGM Rewards to Bonvoy is 10:8. If you don’t need Bonvoy points and you gamble or stay at MGM properties, transferring BRP to MGM Rewards yields more value.  If you transfer BRPs to Bonvoy, the transfer is instant.

So, where are the free Bonvoy points I mentioned?   If you look at the Promotions tab on the Bet MGM casino website or on the Bet MGM app, a promotion has been appearing for me every week.   I assume this is targeted, and it may not be visible to everyone.  It looks like this:

You can earn up to 2,000 BRPs per week.  So far, I have received 2,000 each week.  This promo is good through December.  If I continue to receive 2,000 free BRPs through the end of the year, I will have a substantial number of points to transfer to Bonvoy.

So…

1.  If you don’t have an MGM Rewards account, sign up! 

2.  If you don’t have a BetMGM online casino account, sign up!

3.  Link your Marriott Bonvoy account.

4.  Check the promotions tab either on the website or in the Bet MGM Casino app.

5.  See if the promotion above appears.  If so, click through it.  If not, check back periodically to see if it appears.

Note — I am not encouraging anyone to gamble.  That choice is yours.  Let me know if you have this promotion.

Update — I am now being offered 5,000 BRPs each week!