Empire City Casino executives were joined Wednesday, November 13 on the country’s sixth largest gaming floor by local, county and state elected officials, as well as community and business leaders, to celebrate the property’s first major upgrades since being acquired less than ten months ago by MGM Resorts International.
A ribbon cutting ceremony and unveiling marked MGM Resorts’ full arrival into the New York market with the roll out of M life Rewards, integrating Empire City Casino customers into MGM Resorts’ world class rewards program.
Members of the former Empire Club rewards program will automatically be rolled into M life Rewards at one of five tiers, including Sapphire, Pearl, Gold, Platinum and Noir, along with a special designation for veterans, who immediately receive a tier upgrade to Pearl. Rewards points can also be redeemed for travel by air, land and sea through partnerships with several leading travel brands including Avis Car Rental, Southwest Airlines and Royal Caribbean, to name a few.
Also stationed at M life Rewards desks across all properties is MGM Resorts’ award-winning, responsible gambling program GameSense, which launched in 2017. The program promotes enhanced customer service and education to keep gambling safe and fun. M life Rewards team members receive the highest levels of GameSense training and serve as an avenue for guests to learn GameSense best practices. To date, GameSense has facilitated more than a million positive interactions with guests.
In addition to the M life Rewards integration, casino executives unveiled new, upgraded sections of the property including a new VIP gaming floor and a VIP lounge that features retro bowling lanes and will offer snacks and an open bar to Platinum and Noir tier M life Rewards members Thursday and Sunday from 4 to 11 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 6 p.m. to 1 a.m.
“MGM Resorts has officially arrived in New York, bringing its world class hospitality, benefits and brand recognition to Manhattan’s closest casino,” said Uri Clinton, president & COO of Empire City Casino. “We are currently investing in the property, our neighborhoods and the region, and are excited for what the future holds for our more than 9 million visitors. This is just the beginning.”
MGM Resorts purchased Empire City Casino for $850 million in January 2019 with a vision of developing the 97-acre property into an integrated resort and showcasing its economic potential across the region and state. Empire City is beginning its transformation into an international destination as it continues its quest for a full commercial gaming license, which would allow live dealer table games, Vegas-style slot machines, and sports betting.#
