Casino Comps in Poker

In the poker table, the casino takes a rake from the other players. Do the casinos offer comps to poker players(They only play poker against other players in the casino)?

You're right. The rake for low-limit games is typically $1 for each $10 in the pot, for a maximum of $4 in A.C. and CT. In Vegas, it varies. I've seen as low as $2, and as high as $4.

Higher limits typically 'rent' a seat. I've seen $5 per 1/2 hour, but that too can vary. It's collected even if you're away from your seat.



Comps? You betcha they give you comps. Some casinos consider poker players more valuable that low-limit table games players because the casino has no risk, but is always collecting that rake.

Because a casino's poker income is not based upon the player's bet size, the comp system is much simpler. They will tell you exactly what you get. Heck, some casinos have it posted in the poker room.

As a general rule, yes, they offer comps. I've heard that as a general rule, the comps are on the order of "as little as possible." Like, "We'll comp you lunch, but you have to pay for the fries."

Of course, if you're playing fairly large tables, you can probably negotiate better comps, but I'm not sure what the minimum stakes they'd be looking for are... maybe $15-$30 or $20-$40 limit, $10-$20 no limit, although the amount of casinos that offer higher stakes games is fairly limited.

Hmmm....

I was playing 1/2 at Borgata, and a player was talking to his buddy who was standing behind him. The buddy was eating a piece of melon. The player asked where he got it. The buddy said there's a fruit platter in the high stakes area. The dealer called "Floor!" Funniest dealer remark I had heard in a long time.

My point is, apparently, even in poker, high stakes players are treated better. I have to assume that the rake, or chair rental, is higher too.

As far as comps go, poker players are the LAST on the list for casinos. There's simply not enough money in the "rake" to offer good comps to poker players unless you are betting A LOT! Most casual players will get $1-$2 an hour and a "poker room rate" on rooms for comps.

At Foxwoods, 1/2 NL will earn you $1.50 an hour.

Quote: Bowler377

In the poker table, the casino takes a rake from the other players. Do the casinos offer comps to poker players(They only play poker against other players in the casino)?

Some posters beat me to some stuff but from experience as well as from "Card Player" Magazine:

1. You can expect $1-2 per hour in comps per hour of play.

2. Drinks may or may not be comped. Soft drinks, the only thing a poker player should touch anyways, have always been free where I have played.

3. Your best shot is indeed some kind of player appriciation night where there is some free food lying out.

Look at if from the casino's POV. Even at sixty hands an hour and $2 rake at a low limit table that is $120/hr in revenue. The dealer is going to cost them $8/hr or so even at minimum wage. The shufflemaster rent will be about another $10/hr depending on how you ammortize it off. Then lets add another $10/hr for all other labor in the room (Floormen, cage people, etc.) $120-8-10-10= $92/hr. Then assume almost full tables of 8 players each and you are getting revenue of a rounded $12/person per hour.

If they give free drinks lets drop that to $10/hr based on cost of the drinks and the waitress.

Averaging it all to $11/hr shows that the casino must really grind the heck out of the poker room to make it pay. True a card counter or lucky shooter can't win it back from them, but the money for comps is not there.