Work the Comps

[TENNBEAR]

Blackjack play will not earn you a lot of comps from the casino when your bankroll limitations keep you playing with red chips. I am going to share with you several of the tactics that I use to get more comps. and save money.
1 When planning a long weekend trip, schedule your plans to stay at the casino Saturday and Sunday nights, in lieu of Friday and Saturday. You can always get better rates for Sunday nights than on Friday nights.
2 Always call in your reservations and if it is your first trip to that casino, demand players rates, and do not be afraid to beat them down on that. If you are making a return visit, always speak to the VIP person so they can check your players points, and negotiate your best deal. After you have your room rates locked up then remind them that you will need a couple of passes to the buffet at the front desk when I arrive.
3 When your trip is over, before you Check-out go visit the VIP desk give them your card and beg for help on your room bill, this tactic usally gets one night room taken off the bill.
4 Casino personel all have name badges, when you see pit critters you call them by their first name and act like you known them all their life, be friendly and noticed, and always make sure they are rating you.

 

[Mikeaber]

These are good suggestions Tenn. One thing I'd add is to get hooked up with a casino host or someone in marketing (usually the same person<s>). Go through them when reserving rooms. It makes it a lot less hassle in getting casino player's rates. Many times, they will go ahead and completely comp one or two nights.

Of course, these hints are NOT for those not wanting to draw attention to themselves (ie advantage players) or those playing "hit and run" <LOL>

 

[newyorkbear]

A few things I gleamed from the book "Comp City"
Make your first few bets double your normal bet.
Befriend the pit crew.
Frequent bathroom breaks-you can't lose while you are not playing.
Play at full tables-it slows down the pace of the game
Watch the pitboss,play hi when he's around,lo otherwise.
Play at shift changes. Counting the chips,changing the money box ect,slows the game to a halt.Casinos' issue comps based on your betx55-60 hands an hour.You can slow your game to 35-40 hands an hour with the above methods and by betting hi when the PB is around get credit for more.Instead of avg bet of 10x40hands that you are really playing,you might get credit for an avg bet of15-20x60hands
$400 in real action might get you comps based on $1200
an hour. Do this your whole trip and see what you get,for risking less than if you just bet $10 and played every hand.
Now,I have not yet done this myself,but will this week. Sounds good on paper,though.Doesn't it?

 

[zengrifter]

A few things I gleamed from the book "Comp City"
Make your first few bets double your normal bet.
Befriend the pit crew.
Frequent bathroom breaks-you can't lose while you are not playing.
Play at full tables-it slows down the pace of the game
Watch the pitboss,play hi when he's around,lo otherwise.
Play at shift changes. Counting the chips,changing the money box ect,slows the game to a halt.Casinos' issue comps based on your betx55-60 hands an hour.You can slow your game to 35-40 hands an hour with the above methods and by betting hi when the PB is around get credit for more.Instead of avg bet of 10x40hands that you are really playing,you might get credit for an avg bet of15-20x60hands
$400 in real action might get you comps based on $1200
an hour. Do this your whole trip and see what you get,for risking less than if you just bet $10 and played every hand.
Now,I have not yet done this myself,but will this week. Sounds good on paper,though.Doesn't it?

When comp-counting you should shoot for 2x50 bets when being rated (6x per hour including the first 2-3x while the boss takes your card info) then blatantly shift to 1x $10 when he's gone away, then take a a long bathroom or cell-phone break, then repeat. RESULT: true action $1000, comp report $5000.

Grab all the comps you can get - shows can be sold for cash, etc. I know players who routinely fly coach but also purchased 1st-class tickets just to get cash rebates, then they return home and give the 1st-class tickets back to the agent for full refund... sometimes getting the casino travel rebates at several clubs. They play higher stakes, of course. In Million Dollar VP Tom Dancer describes the same process getting bottles of Johnnie Walker and Chivas delivered to his room and then carting them off to his friend who could sell them. Million Dollar VP is a surprisingly good book BTW. zg

 

[E-town-guy]

If your comp report says you bet about $5000 over a few hour span how much will that get you comped? Is that enough to get a room?

 

[zengrifter]

If your comp report says you bet about $5000 over a few hour span how much will that get you comped? Is that enough to get a room?

Typical comp formula: $5k x 0.8% = $40 comp. In the above example that would be per hour whereas your BS loss theoretical would be $1k x 0.4% = -$4.00. zg

 

[newyorkbear]

In early December,I played about 8-10 hours at the Imperial Palace on a $5 table,rarely exceeding a $15 bet.I also played about two hours on what I thought was a good video BJ machine,using Oscars Grind with a $1 start and never got over $6.I played a penny Star Wars slot for about a half hour,60 cents a spin. Upon checkout they told me I had almost $50 in comps and $17 in cash. They also sent me a flyer for two free nights,four $5 matchplays,2 buffets and some drinks at the Karoke bar.
I've always made nice with the staff so I think I've always gotten better comps than I merit.

 

[TENNBEAR]

Thankyou all for your replies, and advice to my original post. Feels good to know that I am not the only one who works a comp stategy as if it was part of the game. Two trips in a row, at seperate casino's I managed to get both nights comped using the methods in my first post. However, the word free must be used loosely, I lost a total of 950.00 for both trips. I always clip the coupons, and get my meals comped. I intend to try ZG an Newyorkbear suggestion to increase my bet x2 when they first rate me, on my next trip, that idea rocks.
All casino's are not the same in rating you, so it pays to watch the pit critters and check on it, to make sure you are getting rated properly. Weekend play at crowded red chip tables managed by overworked and overwelmed pit critters need to be watched, I will even ask them when they come by " you do know I am betting two spots at 20.00 a hand." Do not be afraid to ask and inform.

 

[zengrifter]

I intend to try ZG an Newyorkbear suggestion to increase my bet x2 when they first rate me, on my next trip, that idea rocks.

Thats not it, and it won't accomplish anything. Get Rubin's Comp City! zg

 

[newyorkbear]

I read how betting $100 a pop at the beginning and all could get you super comps,but wouldn't going $25 then $5 and $10 work towards improoved comps? Quite Honestly,dropping 2 $100 bets at the beginning of a session once or twice on a trip would wreck havoc on my BR.
Also,wouldn't the house suspect you of counting if you keep going 100-10-100?
I'm going to try $25-30 and down to 5-10,to see how it works.at the lo-roller spots I'm staying at,I think betting multiple greens would cause too much attraction.
Last year,at El Cortez,I was doing a progression and bet $30. When I dropped down to $5,the PB told me bet $25 every hand or no hands. So I peaked at $23.50,just to annoy him.