Initial buy-in when you arrive at the casino to maximize comps???

Yes, some places good, some places like pulling teeth to get comps. The taking while part, I always assumed was a ploy to get ploppies to stick around and lose more money - pit boss might actually be genuinely busy, but I doubt this .


When I clear out the chip tray, they usually give me dirty looks, get in a huddle, switch up dealers on me, etc., :grin: I never try to ask for a comp at such times

That's when you ask for it! (if you're playing rated) Don't be nervous or look anxious... be confident like "Yeah, I just smoked you. Now I want free things" and if they're smart they'll give them to you so you lose it all back.

I like the way you think Yes it is best to be on the offensive, and put others back on their heels.

Well worth trying at times, having said that, there is an aspect to this game where your opponent resents being kicked when they're down, and we should be mindful of this. So in general would say its just better to run away in these situations

You are right- this is when the dealer usually goes on an unprecedented run even with a good count and my comp ends up costing me. I have learned over the years to pull up while I am waiting. They know what I have been betting per hand already.

As for winning vs losing and when to ask I agree- act as if you are a ploppy. Asking when winning vs losing doesnt matter. Your body requires fuel. I just say my blood sugar is low and I gotta get some food and I will be back after I have a bite. Never have a problem.

I personally like to buy in with a good sized amount just so I do not have to constantly re-buy and slow down my game. And there have been several times when the pit missed several buy-ins and it made the difference between showing a win or a loss.

When in doubt, just ask. You can ask how much you bought in with ( "forgetting" how much money you have won/lost can be a nice touch), you can ask your average bet, etc.

The comp system in question will determine a lot too. If your session is not over and you are down a good bit, ask for a comp right then and there. Ideally, they are willing to loss comp you and you will have the comp in hand and still be playing (and thus still have a chance of turning the session around). Information is power.

Yep, everywhere is different. I know a place over here that doesn't take average bet into account, they comp you based on the table you're playing at.

EG: $50/hand on a $50 min table will earn you more points than $100/hand on a $25 min table

Also, there is nothing casinos hate more than sore losers. If you lost, or achieved in making them think you lost, kill it. Ask for the sky and act like you damn well deserve it.

(if you haven't been made as an AP yet)

Comps not based on buy-ins anymore...back in the old days before ratings systems buy-in showed that you were willing to gamble...not anymore. Not everything is based on avg bet x time played with an alternate for comping based on your actual loss. Often something like 20% of your average bet per hour versus 10% of your actual loss provided you've lost at least $20,000 or 5% of your actual loss if you've lost at least $10,000 for that trip.

update

All casinos, for decades now, use a simple algorithm to compute your rating points for comps.

Never is your buy-in or win/loss considered. Read that thrice if need be. Ignore all lies to the contrary.
That myth is promulgated by casino staff who correctly assume that most players will lose
sums somewhat proportionally to what they put on the table.

This is what you need to know:

your average wager times the house edge (usually .6% for BG) times hands per hour
usually 60) times the hours of play times .24 = your comps.

e.g. You play BJ and average $20 per bet for 4 hrs.

Your rating is computed 20 x 60 x 4 x .60 x .24 = 6.91 truncated to $6

e.g. You play BJ and average $80 per bet for 4 hrs.

Your rating is computed 20 x 80 x 4 x .60 x .24 = 27.6 truncated to $27

At the whim of the Shift Manager, a true ploppy (normally playing
other than BJ) can have that coefficient of .24 raised [this session only]
to .40] if he appears to be a real "producer, likely to lose a great deal of
money; the antithesis of a basic strategy BJ player. Not to be sniffed at,
this is a 58.3% increase in comps, the upper bounds of comps.

Hopefully these computations are of some help to those confused as to why their comps are so tightfisted.

That may be the case in most places for your "automatic" comps ie what you get on your card to spend as you wish. Discretionary comps can be a very different animal. Regardless of what the system may or may not allow, you have to interact with a human being who has an extremely variable level of knowledge about their own system and/or willingness to be nice/do their job.

I have gotten a rotten answer to a discretionary comp, asked someone else in a different pit a couple minutes later and received totally difference service. Always work to gauge you audience.

Perhaps another reason to appear to steam...

Playing the coast recently, I did this exactly.

Counts going up; I've been losing $25 bets; 9 greens in my stack; push out 4 of them (leaving room for double); lose; push out remaining 5 greens; lose; go to wallet for 2 bennies; ask for 2 blacks - one of each of these spots; lose; go to wallet again for two bennies; lose; to wallet again for 2 bennies; pair of 9's on first hand; another bennie for the split; win all 3 hands.

Cut card comes out during previous hand so I say to dealer, " Wow, that was exciting, but now I need some green." I push ONE black to her. She gives me back EIGHT green.

I did this one time, I handed my 'girlfriend' 4 purples and she skipped away, but then she just took them to the cage and cashed em out :grin:

i think they knew what was happening though

smile nod

I personally play craps with my modified Iron cross strategy along with amateur d.i. over 4 years, I am ahead $122 in this negative e.v. game. With a couple grand in comps. Gotta love Horseshoe and their 100x odds.

I can think of little that annoys a pitboss more than having to call for a chip refill because one or two players bought in for hundreds of dollars and is now betting $5-10 a hand. Good luck getting a comp from someone you piss off.
One of my last times I played at Terribles, this guy buys in for $400 and wants $100 in green, the rest in red. Dealer tries to give him eight green and he gets snarky.After he gets his sixty red, he proceeds to bet one red a hand and make an elaborate chip fort.