 Comps 101
Getting freebies and discounts is easier than ever
by Jeffrey Compton
“I visit casinos frequently, but have never had a comp in my life.”
While many casinos are spending more and more on comps than ever before, it is hard to believe that many players still avoid taking advantage of them. When asked, most of these people give one of these answers:
1) They are afraid that asking for (and getting) comps affects their play.
2) They really do not know how to go about the process and asking for anything from anybody makes them feel uncomfortable.
3) They equate comps with high-rollers.
Hopefully this article will address these concerns. Over the years, I and several other writers have repeatedly told players that using a slot club card, or asking a table supervisor for a comp does not in any way affect where and when you will get your next jackpot. Your gaming results are independent of your comp usage—thus your play will be the same regardless if the casino is paying for your room or you are.
Getting casino discounts and freebies is easier than ever for the beginning and mid-range player, and you should not feel any more uncomfortable about taking advantage of a casino comp (or discount) than you would using a coupon in a supermarket. While many high-rollers are correct in complaining that the casinos do not comp like they used to, this is because the properties are directing more and more of their efforts (and budgets) away from host controlled “discretionary accounts” and toward easy-to-understand totally automated reward systems for the beginning and mid-level player.
Everyone is Getting Comps
It is impossible to visit a casino and not get some discount or freebee. To fully illustrate the point, let’s visit a non-casino travel destination to see what the other side puts up with. On a recent trip to a Los Angeles hotel (and trust me, it was not in Bel-Air), the so-so room was $160 per night, parking cost me $20 per day, and a couple of drinks at the bar ran another $20. If you want a nice (but nothing fancy) sit-down meal with an adequate glass of wine, you are looking at an $85 per-couple bill.
Contrast this to my visit to a mid-range Las Vegas hotel, where parking was free, the drinks cost less than $6 (and are free at the machines), I am not required to pay a cover to hear good entertainment, my room runs less than $100 per night and my traveling companion and I can get a very pleasant meal (with a glass of wine) for under $45—I know this because we do it all the time in Las Vegas.
To get any of these freebies and discounts requires no (or very little) actual play, and should I decide to actually gamble (with my players club card), then I am going to see my hotel room costs go down and get a contribution toward my food costs.
Getting Basic Comps is Easier than Ever
Thanks to the ever-growing computer capacities, it is easier than ever to get basic comps—at most casinos you do not have to ask anymore. For example, at any of the Harrah’s properties, I know how many Reward Credits I have and can easily find out how and where I can spend them, plus the mere action of earning the Reward Credits creates an seemingly endless stream of mail offering further freebies and discounts.
Almost every day there is an item in the columns about this or that celebrity being seen at the Palms, but any of us mere mortals (over 21) can earn points that we can use toward nice rooms and good meals as long as we play there with a Club Palms card. The same can be said for the straight forward Boarding Pass system at all Station Casinos, including the new world-class Red Rock Hotel.
Even systems that do not tell you how to earn points (commonly found in Reno and Atlantic City) at least tell you how many comps you have.
Pick The Casino, Then The Club
The first step to getting casino comps is to decide that they are important and well worth the effort to go after them. Trust me, they are!
The next step is to choose which casino comp scheme (i.e. slot club) is the best for you to begin with. On this step we will use the similar reasoning that I recommend to choose a credit card. Over the years, the amount of benefits that a person can obtain by using this or that credit card has quadrupled. Just as with a slot club, you can get cash rebates, gift certificates, airfare, room, meals—thousands of choices, but how do you decide?
When I choose which credit card to carry, I first looked for one that has the best interest rate and lowest fee structure and from that list, I then decide which one offers the most relevant rebate program for my lifestyle. I now carry three cards, and base each individual usage decision on what card offers the best deal based upon what I am purchasing. (Jet-Blue Amex for travel, restaurants and entertainment, Amazon Visa for Internet purchases, high-cash-rebate MasterCard for everything else.)
The same thinking goes for choosing which comp system you want to explore—choose the casino (or casinos) that work for you first, and then check out the players clubs particulars and decide how to take optimal advantage of them. What value is a free room or a free meal in a property that you do not like, or does not offer the games that you like to play?
Please avoid trying to get comps in casinos where you cannot afford to pay for the same amenities at retail prices. Many of the “I gambled more than I should have” stories come from people who got way over their heads trying to achieve a certain level of play so that the casino picked up all the charges at the end of the trip—it would have been cheaper to charge the room and food and then take several months paying the bill.
Hitting the First Club
Unless you have a specific reason that you do not like the casino hotel you are staying in (or located closest to your home) let’s begin there. Head down to the slot club booth, fill out the form (do not give a Social Security number), and pick up any literature that explains the club. If there is a line at the booth, then ask the folks in the line what they like about the club. When you are at the booth, ask them how to earn points and more specifically what benefits are available and how to redeem for comps.
Although no two clubs are exactly alike, these are the most common schemes:
1) The club pays cash (or free play) for points – and gives “discretionary” comps at the booth.
2) You can use your points for either cash or comps – but you get more value for your points if you choose comps.
3) Your points are only good for comps – and usually these casinos send you cash (or free play) coupons in the mail.
4) You can swipe your card at a kiosk and it will tell you how many cash or comps you have.
Once you have your card, then insert it into the machine. Make sure that it says ACCEPTED, or HELLO or whatever greeting the casino chooses, and then play away. Do not check the card for points or comps or whatever until your play is done for the day and then take it to the booth or kiosk and see what you have earned. Another alternative would be to present the card at checkout and ask them to apply any benefits toward your bill. (Note: If you have any remaining points on your account and they can be redeemed for cash, then do so before you leave. You may not be able to return for a while, and they could expire.)
Some Advanced Steps
As you see, getting basic comps is easy, so let’s try a few additional moves to increase our comps without necessarily increasing our play.
When you get back home, check out the casino website and see if there is a place to “register” your card so you can check for any special offers. If not, at least sign up for their emails.
Check your mail for any envelopes with your casino’s name on it, and open it when you have time to really read through it. Sometimes the best news is truly hidden. The main thing you are looking for is a room offer (if applicable) and any cash or free-play vouchers.
Finally, if you are putting through more than $10,000 through the machines (about four hours of five-coin dollar play) per trip, then it is time for you to check if you qualify for a host. Either call the casino VIP office in advance, or stop by and visit on your next trip. They will be more than happy to show you the world of Comps 201.
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