Question about Las Vegas and getting rooms "comp'd"....

[cruiser]

I have friends that regularly travel down to Vegas and they tell me about how they get hotel rooms, restaraunts, shows, etc "comp'd" because they gamble in those hotels.

They've never told me how much they are putting into the machines (they only play the slots), but I'm guessing that it must be a fair amount to get these kinds of perks.

Does anyone have any kind of ideas (or inside info), of how much a person would have to spend on gambling to get these kinds "gifts"?

They will normally go for a week at a time....so what kind of money would have to spend to always get the free rooms, meals, etc? They probably go for at least 6 times a year.

Appreciate any intel.

thanks,
Cruiser

 

[island-guy]

These days, the way it works is that you join the club and get a card.

When you play the slots, you put your card in and then it awards you comp-points (or dollars) based on the amount of time you spend playing and the amount of money you put in.

The amount that you win back doesn't have an effect on your comp-points.

You can then trade in the points for rooms, meals, gifts, whatever.

I've had days when I came out way ahead, and got lots of nice comps, I've also had days when I lost quite a bit and got some nice comps (overall, I'm still up on the $ due to some big win days)

Slot machines can go through a LOT of money, depending on the machine.

In the long run, the casino always wins.

 

[johnperb]

Simple, show up in a nice car

 

[Sydney Carton]

If you plan to gamble your way into a room upgrade/free stuff, think and plan carefully. The upgrade may be "free", but if you just blew $3000 at the craps table, you may wish you just paid for the suite and hung out at the pool.

The best way to get comped anything is to be a Centurion card member; service industry people act like retards when you start paying for things with one (so do strippers but in a good way).

There is a very easy way to return from a casino with a small fortune: go there with a large one. ~Jack Yelton

Luck never gives; it only lends. ~Swedish Proverb

SC

 

[HubbaHubba]

All depends on how much you bet and how long you play. If playing BJ, they want to see you play at least 4 hours a day and betting around $100 or more a hand. That will get you room, food and beverage at any Harrah's Property. Get a casino host if you play that much. The longer you play the better your status becomes....win or lose.

I only play BJ, so I couldn't tell you about how it works with the other games.

 

[canuksfan69]

vegas trick for comps, some pit bosses check your buy ins, not really your play...so..you take 3k us, buy in and play a bit, doesnt matter how much..walk around, cash out...take the cash, go buy in again, ...repeat, etc, ive done it and have not paid for a room or such in a long time..cheers

 

[cruiser]

All depends on how much you bet and how long you play. If playing BJ, they want to see you play at least 4 hours a day and betting around $100 or more a hand. That will get you room, food and beverage at any Harrah's Property. Get a casino host if you play that much. The longer you play the better your status becomes....win or lose.

I only play BJ, so I couldn't tell you about how it works with the other games.

They only play the slots...so they can track your "input" via the players card.

I'm curious on how the house would track your "investment" on the tables because there's no players card used for a table. With so many people in a casino, how can the house track all of the people and how much each person is spending?

 

[rexxx]

Like they said it doesn't matter how much you win or lose but you'd probably have to put about $1000 into slots a day to get comped a room at a decent casino.

 

[HubbaHubba]

They only play the slots...so they can track your "input" via the players card.

I'm curious on how the house would track your "investment" on the tables because there's no players card used for a table. With so many people in a casino, how can the house track all of the people and how much each person is spending?

You give them your players card and they track how much you buy in with (and subsiquent buys), your average bet and your time. They do it very well.

 

[steverino]

The other issue is where you play. The lower rated the hotel, the less you need to play to achieve the same comps. You can collect "comp points" playing at any of the hotels in the players club grouping (e.g., at all of the hotels associated with the MGM players club).

 

[liveforthefunk]

www.vegasmessageboard.com

If you're not a big gambler, its cheaper to just pay for the room yourself.

 

[jack13]

Getting comped in LV my two cents worth.

I go to LV several times a year and have been doing so for more than a decade. I have ever only paid for a room once which was my first trip. I was discussing comps with my MGM Grand host a couple of years ago and this is what she told me. Comping is a way for a casino to give back players a portion of their losses. Obviously the more you play and the more you bet the better your comps will be. High rollers are referred to as whales and no betting a $100.00/hand in BJ won't make you a whale. In any case, the folks who come with the big bucks will often get 30 -40 percent of their losses back via comped suites, food, entertainment etc. For the rest of us mortals some pretty good comps can still be had because they really do want our business. Most people are surprised to learn that the little old ladies plugging quarters into the slots are getting their rooms and meals comped. For those of you like me who only play the tables this is what I know. To get your rooms comped the MGM is looking for you to play a table game like BJ for 3 hours per day with a minium $25.00 bet. Again the more you bet and the longer you play the more grateful the casino will be. Casinos will rate some one who bets on average $25.00/hand but plays 12 hours a day the same as some who bets $50.00/hand but only plays 6 hours per day or the guy who bets $100.00/hand but only plays 3 hours/day etc.

 

[FloridaGuy]

A very interesting thread. I am a Vegas regular but I barely gamble. Maybe $100/day. Yes, per day. I am happy to just wander around the strip, sit in a couple of the sports books, and soak up the atmosphere. The $400 airfare and 3 nights package means I can "do" Vegas for less than $700, and on most trips I usually break even or actually make a couple hundred a day on the slots. No, I won't get rich, but I won't lose my car either. Its just a pleasant escape.

 

[cruiser]

I go to LV several times a year and have been doing so for more than a decade. I have ever only paid for a room once which was my first trip. I was discussing comps with my MGM Grand host a couple of years ago and this is what she told me. Comping is a way for a casino to give back players a portion of their losses. Obviously the more you play and the more you bet the better your comps will be. High rollers are referred to as whales and no betting a $100.00/hand in BJ won't make you a whale. In any case, the folks who come with the big bucks will often get 30 -40 percent of their losses back via comped suites, food, entertainment etc. For the rest of us mortals some pretty good comps can still be had because they really do want our business. Most people are surprised to learn that the little old ladies plugging quarters into the slots are getting their rooms and meals comped. For those of you like me who only play the tables this is what I know. To get your rooms comped the MGM is looking for you to play a table game like BJ for 3 hours per day with a minium $25.00 bet. Again the more you bet and the longer you play the more grateful the casino will be. Casinos will rate some one who bets on average $25.00/hand but plays 12 hours a day the same as some who bets $50.00/hand but only plays 6 hours per day or the guy who bets $100.00/hand but only plays 3 hours/day etc.

Interesting.........

Actually the people that I am referring to do stay at the MGM....that is their primary base. They have also got comp'd at other hotels, but 99% of it is at the MGM.

I know that they are slot players...sometimes play the nickels, but playing it at full credits....or the dollar slots (again at full credits). I'm not much of a gambler myself, but the one lesson I've learnt is to always play full credit whenever you play a slot machine. I've lost a few times (and have seen others lose) when they got the desired outcome but didn't play full credits for that spin.

I'm not very lucky at gambling and it actually depresses me. I maybe only go once a year and would be more like "FloridaGuy"....play for the fun of it for only $100 per day or so.

 

[island-guy]

I'm curious on how the house would track your "investment" on the tables because there's no players card used for a table. With so many people in a casino, how can the house track all of the people and how much each person is spending?

I'm not sure about Vegas but in AC they have a card slot at the card tables and it can track how long you are playing. Given that different tables have a narrow range of bet per hand, they roughly know how much you are betting per hour.

 

[vigor]

Avg Bet X AVG bets per hour = ACTION
ACTION X hours of PLAY = TOTAL ACTION
TOTAL ACTION X House edge on game ie 1.5% baccarat = theoretical (theoretical loss)
Theo X 40% = comps available to you.

$1000 at baccarat = 30 hands per hour = 30,000 Action/hr
30,000 X 4 hours play = 120,000 Total Action
120,000 X 1.5% = $1,800 theo
$1,800 X 40% = your available comps = $720

You are all welcome

 

[island-guy]

$1000 at baccarat = 30 hands per hour = 30,000 Action/hr
30,000 X 4 hours play = 120,000 Total Action
120,000 X 1.5% = $1,800 theo
$1,800 X 40% = your available comps = $720

That is assuming that you don't make a single mistake. One oops, and that 1.5% goes way up.

I forget, do they play real Baccarat in vegas or just the american version where you don't make any decisions?

 

[niteowl]

If you have a big bankroll and you buy-in at a table game,the pit boss will notice and you make sure he or she notices you a lot especially with re-buys. Make sure it's the regular pit boss,if it's a Relief Pit Boss that Pit Boss may or may not pass on the info about you. Also watch the Pit Boss if the PB goes on a break you do as well because as the PB goes on break, he or she may not know about your re-buys of $1000 for example.