Recommendations for a comping casino - new bj player

Hi everyone, I found this forum after researching casinos and their player reward systems.
I've only been playing Blackjack for a few weeks but I think the bug has hit me hard. I'm itching to go back and play more seriously this time.

I am planning another trip to Vegas for later this month and would like to start earning some points. Right now, I am considering staying at the Bellagio, Venetian/Palazzo or the Wynn. On my last visit, I signed up for all their reward cards (Mlife, TotalRewards as well as The Red Card) when I walked through their casinos. However, I ended up only playing at Wynn.

The pit boss signed me up for a Red Card before I started play so I believe I was being rated. After playing, I was told that my blackjack bets averaged $188 per hand and I put in probably 3-4 hours within a 24-hour period. I played on their main floor at a $100 table at around 2am on a Tuesday morning. My total losses at Wynn that trip was $3k. My buy-in was also, coincidentally, $3k lol. At the time, I did not understand the comp system as I was a Vegas newbie and did not ask for anything, so I simply left. It wasn't until after my trip when I started reading about the comps.

I like to play at $100 minimum blackjack tables with the best rules available, 3-2, S17, etc... since it's more exciting to me and feels a bit more exclusive. I've never been in any casino's high limit rooms yet (only been to Vegas twice so far) but would love to try it.

My question to you veterans is this: Which casino in Vegas would you recommend for me to start concentrating all my play at in order for the highest likelihood of comps at my play level, if any? I realize that $100 flat betting with an occasional $200 or $500 bet on a streak isn't exactly attention getting for the large strip casinos, so I thought I'd ask here first to avoid any embarrassment when I go. I've never asked for comps from any establishment ever, so I'm always afraid of them laughing in my face for not being a whale or something.

I don't have any preference as to which hotel or chain, on or off-strip, but I'd like to book my room at the same place I plan on playing at. I have read on the Blackjack Survey that the casinos operated by Caesars don't seem to have as favorable Blackjack rules as those run by MGM, Sands or Wynn. Although I did have a great time playing at the Wynn, I read that they are probably the least likely to hand out any type of comps at my play level.

So if you were me and plan on doing a buy in of $10k and $100 a hand, which casino would you pick for the highest likelihood of anything comped?

I heard the Bellagio's high limit room is very nice, not sure if I qualify to enter.

Thanks in advance for your time!

I'd recommend MGM properties. I think the threshold for blackjack comps there will be lower than Venetian/Palazzo, Cosmo, and the Caesars properties. I would probably target the MGM grand as long as you like the vibe and rooms there. It's a step below the Aria and Bellagio and thus you should have an easier time earning comps there.

I would think $100 minimum should get you future rooms and some food credit there.

At that level i'd play at the Cosmopolitan. You'll get free rooms, which are all very nice suites and lots of shows. They have a good variety of shows each month. In the last few months there have need multiple concerts, Amy Shumer, UFC fights.


ZCore13

Quote: Zcore13

At that level i'd play at the Cosmopolitan. You'll get free rooms, which are all very nice suites and lots of shows. They have a good variety of shows each month. In the last few months there have need multiple concerts, Amy Shumer, UFC fights.


ZCore13

Agree 100%. They are still trying to find their place with their casino and hosts have more options to comp players above the guidelines than MGM or CZR. That said, I assume Wynn is sending you offers after your visit?

Quote: Boz

Agree 100%. They are still trying to find their place with their casino and hosts have more options to comp players above the guidelines than MGM or CZR. That said, I assume Wynn is sending you offers after your visit?

I sort of agree, with the caveat that Cosmo changed owners in the last 6 months and have revamped/are revamping their comp program; I don't think their past performance is valid for gauging future value at the moment. They definitely disadvantaged their table players vs. their slot players on comps, but I don't know how much.

IMO, CET does offer better games for BJ black-chip players than red/green, and significantly better comps than Mlife at your gaming level corporate-wide. I would ask the mlife people though, if he plays at NYNY or MGM, or even Mirage, since mlife seems to comp more by specific property played, would he benefit from playing a lower-level mlife property? Someone touched on it above, but it seems to me that might be the way to go.

Quote: Boz

I assume Wynn is sending you offers after your visit?

Not yet, but then it has only been 2 weeks or so since my visit.

Thanks for your suggestions, everyone. I stayed at MGM Grand on my very first Vegas visit a few months ago and found it to be too large in size in terms of the casino floor and getting to/from the room to anywhere, but then again, that was my very first vegas visit so I could have simply been overwhelmed at the time.

In your guys' opinion, would my level of play be sufficient to play in a property's high limit room? ($100/hand $10k buyin) Although when I played Blackjack at the Wynn it was on the main floor, it was early morning during a weekday so it was very empty and it was just heads-up play the whole time.

Quote: jason90275

In your guys' opinion, would my level of play be sufficient to play in a property's high limit room? ($100/hand $10k buyin)

I believe you are free to walk into any high limit room. Take a look around and see what the table minimums are (which change depending on time of day, day of the week, etc.) You don't need a minimum buy-in, just the minimum bet per hand. If a table is dead, you can ask for a lower minimum and maybe get it.

Quote: Zcore13

At that level i'd play at the Cosmopolitan. You'll get free rooms, which are all very nice suites and lots of shows. They have a good variety of shows each month. In the last few months there have need multiple concerts, Amy Shumer, UFC fights.


ZCore13

What place would you recommend for green chip level play?

I would recommend this

ml Aria – $200/hand for table games or $14,000 coin-in per day in slots
Bellagio – $250/hand for table games or $18,000 coin-in per day in slots
Caesars Palace – $250/hand for table games or $18,000 coin-in per day in slots
Cosmopolitan – $150/hand for table games or $11,000 coin-in per day in slots
ml]MGM Grand – $150/hand for table games or $11,000 coin-in per day in slots
ml]Wynn Encore – $300/hand for table games or $21,000 coin-in per day in slots

Hope this would help you out!

Freemont, possibly Excalibur from my guess dutchman

(Edit: did not realise this is 2 years old..o well)


Are you a current/former veteran? MGM will upgrade your card tier and free parking (not sure if others do the same)

I would reccomend whatever casino you end up going to, when you check in to ask if you can speak with a host and get a repertoire with them.

Also, when it comes to blackjack, it's more about time & avg bet over how much $$ you buy in for. It could be 10k or 100, if you're betting $10 it's the same amount of points.