Why do they rate you for comps at the tables?

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surf911

Member
#1
#1
I was asked if I was interested in signing up for a membership and if I would like to be rated for comps. I know they rate to see what level your at, but what for? Do you get more comp % if you suck vs if you use BS.

My understanding is that they give you comps based on your theoretical losses. So in BJ the house has a 2% edge and they take your total bets and give you 2% but with basic strategy the house only has about a .5% edge. So if they ask me to be rated should I just play like a moron so they rate me in the "idiot" category and I get comped at 2% vs 0.5%? Or do they give you 2% no matter what and rate you for some other reason?

Thanks for any replies.
 
EasyRhino

EasyRhino

Well-Known Member
#2
#2
My understanding is that most shops have three ratings for players, "average", "good", and "doofus". It's also my understanding that a floorman is very unlikely to move a player's rating off of "average". (Actually, I saw my comp screen at a local joint, and it said "average," I was kind of insulted).

Unless you're betting whale-amounts of money, in which case casino hosts might compete over who's whale is the bigger loser.
 
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ScottH

Well-Known Member
#3
#3
EasyRhino said:
My understanding is that most shops have three ratings for players, "average", "good", and "doofus". It's also my understanding that a floorman is very unlikely to move a player's rating off of "average". (Actually, I saw my comp screen at a local joint, and it said "average," I was kind of insulted).

Unless you're betting whale-amounts of money, in which case casino hosts might compete over who's whale is the bigger loser.
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The worse your rating is the better, I would not be insulted if I saw my rating as doofus.
 
M

mdlbj

Well-Known Member
#4
#4
Here is a great write up on comps and how the system works. Its in PDF format..(Dead link: http://www.blackjackinstitute.com/store/MasteringComps.pdf#zoom=150,0,0) _Comps_
 
C

Cardcounter

Well-Known Member
#5
#5
Playing like an idiot will cost you way more!

If you play like an idiot to get comps you will lose a whole lot more than your comps and you might even get comped less than if you play well. The Casino gives you comps based on the amount you wagger not on how well you play.
I saw one guy who played like a total idiot he stay on soft 16 and he lost over a $1,000 he only got comped a total of $8. It is a good idea to get a player card and get rated for comps but you don't have to loose money to get comped you can win and get comped to.
 
ihate17

ihate17

Well-Known Member
#6
#6
Not true everywhere!

Cardcounter said:
If you play like an idiot to get comps you will lose a whole lot more than your comps and you might even get comped less than if you play well. The Casino gives you comps based on the amount you wagger not on how well you play.
I saw one guy who played like a total idiot he stay on soft 16 and he lost over a $1,000 he only got comped a total of $8. It is a good idea to get a player card and get rated for comps but you don't have to loose money to get comped you can win and get comped to.
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Many casinos do rate from good to bad, some call it hard and soft. The rating is then used in a formula where the worse you play the more you get in comps but you are correct that playing like an idiot will lose you more money than the comps you will receive. Now perhaps your casino does not change the comp amount based upon the rating but many do.

ihate17
 
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Cardcounter

Well-Known Member
#7
#7
Comps are based on your average bet.

A person whos average bet is $25 a hand gets comped more than a person whos average bet is only $5 a hand regardless of who losses more money. Most casinos don't have mindplay machines and they don't usually know how good or bad a player is. Plus in a lot of casino games such as craps or roulette there is no skill involved and they are comped at rate of how much they bet. The $25 a hand better who using semi correct basic stragedy that loses at a rate of 1% will earn more money in comps than the idiot playing $5 a hand losing at a rate of 10%. Even though the $5 better lost more money the casino just figured it had a run of luck against him and the $25 better will lose more money long term that is why the $25 better will earn more money in comps. Even though this might not be true.
 
ChefJJ

ChefJJ

Well-Known Member
#8
#8
Cardcounter said:
A person whos average bet is $25 a hand gets comped more than a person whos average bet is only $5 a hand regardless of who losses more money. Most casinos don't have mindplay machines and they don't usually know how good or bad a player is. Plus in a lot of casino games such as craps or roulette there is no skill involved and they are comped at rate of how much they bet. The $25 a hand better who using semi correct basic stragedy that loses at a rate of 1% will earn more money in comps than the idiot playing $5 a hand losing at a rate of 10%. Even though the $5 better lost more money the casino just figured it had a run of luck against him and the $25 better will lose more money long term that is why the $25 better will earn more money in comps. Even though this might not be true.
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I think you have the basic idea down...average bet is a big determinant, but length of play is often just as important.

Not that you really care or not, but comps on craps can be a bit misleading from the standpoint that most houses don't calculate your odds bet in the comp calculation. Since there is no house edge on that bet, they won't give ya nothin on it.

good luck
 
ihate17

ihate17

Well-Known Member
#9
#9
almost correct

Cardcounter said:
A person whos average bet is $25 a hand gets comped more than a person whos average bet is only $5 a hand regardless of who losses more money. Most casinos don't have mindplay machines and they don't usually know how good or bad a player is. Plus in a lot of casino games such as craps or roulette there is no skill involved and they are comped at rate of how much they bet. The $25 a hand better who using semi correct basic stragedy that loses at a rate of 1% will earn more money in comps than the idiot playing $5 a hand losing at a rate of 10%. Even though the $5 better lost more money the casino just figured it had a run of luck against him and the $25 better will lose more money long term that is why the $25 better will earn more money in comps. Even though this might not be true.
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Now take your example but make both players $25 players who are known to the casino. One plays horribly and the other plays perfect basic strategy. The pits over time, if they are doing their job, will have rated their ability and the horrible player will be earning higher comps. This is especially true in many of the big corporate type casinos.

ihate17
 
EasyRhino

EasyRhino

Well-Known Member
#10
#10
Also, at least with high levels of wagering, the pit will notice if a craps player is playing the smart bets (pass/don't-pass) or going crazy all over the layout, which will affect their theoretical earnings substantially.
 
ChefJJ

ChefJJ

Well-Known Member
#11
#11
EasyRhino said:
Also, at least with high levels of wagering, the pit will notice if a craps player is playing the smart bets (pass/don't-pass) or going crazy all over the layout, which will affect their theoretical earnings substantially.
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Absolutely...the average Pass/DP player isn't making the house any money (long run of course), but center table players throwing money on the 7%+ house edge bets sure as hell do. Especially when they love to parlay!

good luck
 
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