Comps, what have you gotten and what did you win/lose to get it?

I have never received a "comp" in my life (other than a free drink). I know I am a low roller, but it would be nice to get a meal. I am a red chip player, sometimes green, so it is unlikely I will ever receive one. At my bankroll for a trip (usually around $500) if I were to play the greens full time to get a "comp" that $30 meal at the coffee shop will end up costing me more than the $30 if I had paid for it myself! Sigh... I would like to feel special in a casino once.... Oh by the way, I have been going to Cache Creek Casino in Northern California, and I asked the dealer how much longer I would have to play to get a food comp because I have been playing there consistently since I was 18[before they turned 21+] (I am 23 now) he said they do not give food comps to the table game players, they just track their win/loss!

Back in the 70s a friend's grandfather would regale us with Vegas stories. One thin he bragged about were the comps he got. He got free rooms and meals whenever he wanted, and he claimed some hotel would pay for his airfare, too. I've no idea whether this is true or not, but as he frequented Vegas at least 4 times a year, I tend to believe it.

Anyway, even then I realized people didn't give things for free. So I wondered how much money he lost to get "free" rooms and plane tickets. He claimed he didn't lose any money, rather he spent it. At the time that made no sense.

Now it does. If you're going to spend thousands playing in a casino, you might as well get something more than just the enjoyment of play out of it. But you don't play, and spend thousands, just in order to get something back "free."

I'm a low-roller, too, barely a roller, actually. So I don't concern myself with comps. I've found I enjoy the games about as much if I bet $5 a hand/roll than if I bet $20 (I've never bet much above $20)

I sat at a 3 Card Poker table for 5 hours at Caesar's AC, maybe 2006 (still the 6/4 pay table then); got a buffet for my wife and I. I still remember the dealer's and pit boss's names; the dealer was Ray, the pit boss was Jennifer. Super nice folks. I was playing green chips, and tipping reasonably but not overly so, and at the end of 5 hours I was about even. Afterward I wrote a letter to management, mentioning the employees, and Caesars gave me a big shot of club points; on our next visit I went from Gold to Platinum (still nowhere near Diamond, the lowest premium tier).

If you play BJ on the strip, you can expect your comps to accure at the rate of about $.20 per $1 of average bet per hour. Off the strip, it's probably double that.

So, if you are a red chip bettor averaging $10/bet, you can expect to earn $2 per hour of play on the strip (if you are even rated), and maybe $4/hr off strip. In general, at the higher end places, you can't even get a rating - or their attention - unless you are betting $25/hand.

Assuming you are off-strip, and the average meal in the coffee shop is valued somewhere around $30, you would need to play about 8 hours @$10/hand off-strip to get a coffee shop comp.

Give or take. It isn't an exact science. A lot depends on if the pit thinks there is something in it for them. Maybe they like your action, and want you back as a regular player. You'll catch a bit of a break. If they think you are a pest and a counter out to suck every ounce of blood out of them, you'll be lucky to get a free drink.

I have been going to Vegas once or twice a year for about three years. I joined the MGM players club and have a credit line at NYNY. My average trip bankroll is 2-3K, but I usually don't get close to tapping that much credit. I play craps about 4-6 hours a day, usually table minimum line bets and two come/don't come plus odds and when the mood strikes place the 6 and 8; if a long roll comes along I'll toss some nickels on the hardways.

One bad trip I lost about $2500 (it really hurt to write the check to pay off that marker!) Most trips I have been in the +/- a few hundred range. My inbox is full of offers for 2 or 3 night free rooms plus other offers for reduced rates. For the past 2 years or so I haven't paid for the room. (NYNY, Excalibur, Monte Carlo) At the end of each trip I ask what else I can get comped and the players club rep gives me the old, "your play doesn't qualify you for anything else" which doesn't surprise me given my level of play. (In fact, they sometimes act like they want to make me pay for the room too!)

I'm not big on trying to get comped - maybe I'm missing out on something, but I'm going to go to Vegas anyway, and I'm pretty happy if I don't pay for the hotel. Lately it seems I'm getting more free room offers, and from more of the hotels. I'm guessing the poor economy has forced them to increase the offers to try to get people into the casinos, because my play certainly has not increased.

The easiest to use comps were at Silver Nugget & El Dorado in Reno and Snoqualmie near Seattle. Comps accumulate in your "account" and you just use your card to "comp yourself" for meals or apply to the room bill.

Nick~ Do you play in Vegas? $25 a hand for an hour or two will easily get you a food comp at a downtown casino or an off-strip place like the Orleans. These places will also rate you at $10/$15 a hand and if you play for long enough you can ask for a comp and they will probably give you one. On the strip, your chances are slim. If you are comfortable with it, you should move up to green chip play and you will get noticed for comps more. $500 is not a bad bankroll for this; if you are playing blackjack, I would estimate you have a 15% chance of losing it all at a short session (somebody correct me if that sounds wrong).

You might also try Reno. Never been, so I can't comment on there.

Nick-- Are you in Northern California? Give Reno a try. I'm a $5 bettor at the craps table, and I get plenty of free room offers from the Peppermill, Silver Legacy, and Harrah's Reno. Of the 3 of those, the Peppermill tends to be the most generous with comps.

I think most people enjoy getting comps but few are foolish enough to play for them specifically. You play the games you enjoy at the dollar levels that you enjoy and thats it. Now some casinos that have monopolies don't comp too well simply because they don't have to, but every now and then even one of those casinos will have a floorperson comp you for a meal even if you are a bit under their figures for it. It won't hurt to ask occasionally.

Some people clearly are comp hungry others just enjoy whatever they get and don't make too much of a pain of themselves about it. Some players get noticed for "doing the Lord's work" (tipping) and sometimes that will tip the scales a wee bit.

Dealers may know about comps but boxmen and floormen are the ones who issue them. They have computers to do it and they will hit that "override" key if they have to from time to time. If you really feel unappreciated, consider going to a place you will enjoy more. Never make that big a deal about comps because otherwise you tend to simply wind up paying alot for that free meal.

I have been to Reno, it seems to be turning into a ghost town. I stayed downtown at Harrah's, it was nice. Silver Legacy has $10 Pai Gow (the tiles)! I had fun playing these as they are $25 min in Vegas. Cal Neva gave me $100 in free slot/video poker play for being their "weekly email winner" so perhaps that is one of the best "comps" overall. I just have seen on the travel shows these elaborate suites and talk of private jets, limos, seats to the best shows and extravagant dining, all given gratis to the players. Reading through some of the Wizards post it seems that Harrah's properties are really stingy on comping people, I have heard about "diamond in a day" if you can earn 3000 points, since one point is equal to $10 played in video poker which in my opinion would be the best way to shoot for it, it is possible to reach diamond level in a day on a moderate sized bankroll. Anyone have a diamond card and care to discuss their thoughts of it?

Quote: NicksGamingStuff

Anyone have a diamond card and care to discuss their thoughts of it?

Discussed here.

My dad's girlfriend (83 years old!) played video poker at Showboat in AC from 8PM until 5AM and became D in D; she then kept that status for 2 more years, in much the same way. The biggest advantages were the no-wait lines for stuff, and the special dining room, and she had a host she could call if she wanted a free room on weekdays. Weekend rooms were subject to availability.