Table of Contents
No matter what happens with the economy around the world, casinos are never going to run out of money. It’s a business model that’s always going to succeed.
But that doesn’t mean that they will always beat you.
Many gamblers have learned how to use the casino system to their own advantage, and one of the best ways to do that is by getting comps. Casinos all over the U.S. give stuff away for free every single day.
Why shouldn’t you be one of the people getting some of that free stuff?
What You Should Know About Casino Comps
Comps are free stuff and perks that casinos give to gamblers.
And they come in multiple forms:
Free meals, free hotel rooms, free parking, casino credit — if you’re doing it right, you could be getting these perks all the time. There’s no reason that you can’t get casino comps every time you go out for a night of gambling.
What you don’t know about comps could be affecting your ability to get them and make the most out of them.
You don’t have to gamble away a ton of money to get free gifts from the casino. In fact, this might be the most common misconception about comps.
There’s a simple way to start getting free goodies from the casino, and you don’t have to drop hundreds of bills on the table to get them.
Comps are not just for high rollers and players who lose a ton of cash. Casinos give them away all the time to all types of players — winners AND losers.
No matter who you are or how much money you’re losing, the casino wants you on their floor gambling. They’re happy to give you free meals and other gifts so that you’ll keep playing.
Even winners can get comps, because the casino wants to keep you on the floor — all in the hope that you’ll start to lose, and give them back some of that money they’ve been giving you.
First Things First – Get a Player’s Card
Before you can get any comps, you’ve got to be in the system.
Here’s how you get in the system:
Ask any casino employee about getting a player’s card, and they will tell you where to go to sign up for the program. Most casinos have their own dedicated player’s club, so even if you have a card with another casino, you’ll still need a new card for every casino you visit. (Some casinos do participate in programs that include multiple casinos, though — you’ll get details about that at the player’s club desk, if there are any.)
The process of getting a player’s club card should be short and sweet.
The casino wants to get you on the floor and gambling as fast as they can.
Fill out the form, give them your ID, and wait a few minutes to get your card. Then you’ll be ready to start earning all those great comps and casino rewards. Even if you don’t plan on spending much money at the casino, it’s always worth your while to get a player’s casino card. There’s no other way to get rewarded for the time and money you do spend gambling.
Once you have your card, don’t forget to use it. Slot machines, video poker, and other gambling machines will have a scanner for your card. Look for this before you add any money to the machine. If you need help, just flag a casino employee and they’ll guide you through the process.
You can also hand your card to the dealer for them to scan if you’re playing table games (like baccarat, craps, or blackjack). If you don’t know where to show your card, just ask the dealer. They will help you. The card must be scanned so the casino has a record of your activity and your time spent gambling.
The more time you spend gambling, the more comps you get. The minute you have your card scanned and start gambling, you’ll start adding up points with the casino that will become comps.
Take Advantage of the Specials Instantly
Ask a dealer, pit boss, or any other casino employee about any specials that may be happening right now. Many casinos run special promotions that allow you to get bigger and better comps. There may be player bonuses for playing specific games, so make sure you ask about these special casino deals before you make your mind up about which game you’re going to play.
Always take advantage of deals and limited offers so you can get more free goods.
You can also ask about coupons or vouchers that may be available to you right now as a player’s club casino member. Most casinos also offer club signing bonuses, too. These are rewards that you earn just by signing up for the player’s club card. This is how you start getting comps instantly.
The casino employees might not always volunteer information about all the free stuff you’re entitled to get after you sign up, so make sure to ask on your own so you don’t miss out on anything.
Do Some Research
If you already know which casino or casinos you plan to visit, do some research ahead of time and start working on your comps even before you start gambling.
Many casinos explain their player compensation program as an incentive to get more people to sign up for casino player cards. Go to the casino’s website and look for information about their player’s club and/or their compensation program. Sometimes, you can find a detailed guide that tells you exactly how the compensation point program works at that specific casino. Once you have this information, you’ll know exactly how to start making the system work for you.
While you’re researching, you can also sign up for a player’s card before you even go to the casino and get the whole comp process rolling along even sooner. Many casinos allow you to sign up for their player’s clubs online rather than in person, so you’ll be ready before you even set foot on casino property. Some casinos will even send you special coupons and offers through the mail ahead of your trip, so it’s worth it to take this extra step if you’re planning your casino visit in advance.
The Unspoken Comps
Along with the comps that the casino will outright give you through their player’s club program, many casinos offer little perks to people with a player’s card. The little extra comps give you more of a VIP experience when you’re at the casino.
Here’s an example:
You might be able to use your card to get a line comp at the casino buffet. This means you get to go to the head of the line and cut in front of everyone else who is waiting.
Here’s another example:
You might also qualify for a casino rate on your hotel room, which can get you a discount of up to 50 percent on your room.
Find out which comps and extras are offered through your player’s card by speaking to the casino host. This person is specifically tasked with helping player’s club members get more out of their casino experience, so you can ask them about all the comps and learn all the ways to take advantage of perks.
What Games Should You Play to Get the Most Comps?
The best way to get comps from casinos is to spend time in the casino playing their games.
Your goal?
To spend as much time on the casino floor while losing as little money as possible.
To do that, choose to play casinos games with a low house edge and a slow rate of play. Slot machines and video poker can both cost you a surprising amount of money surprisingly fast. You play these games alone, so there’s nothing to slow you down, and your gambling ends up being constant. The odds are also greatly skewed toward the casino’s favor when you play slot machines. That makes it easy (and likely) to lose lots of money in a very short amount of time.
That’s the worst way to get comps — by losing lots of money on slot machines. Try table games where the odds are better. The play is much slower, too. You can spend more time and less money at the craps, blackjack, and baccarat tables.
You’ll earn more points toward your comps as a result. Comps aren’t about how much money you’re losing or winning. They’re based on how much time you’re spending at the casino. Remember that the more time you spend gambling, the more the casino is going to want to keep you there.
Ask, Ask, Ask
Casinos want to give away comps. They just don’t want to give away too much. To make sure you’re getting all the comps you’ve earned, make sure you ask about them. When you’re done gabling for the night, talk to any player’s club host and ask them about comps you may have earned. They can look at your card and see what you’ve earned, so you know exactly what you’re entitled to get from the casino. The host will often give you an extra little comp (like a meal) because you came up and asked them about your rewards.
The Free Drinks
The most well-known comp offered by any casino is the free drink. Almost every casino in the U.S. will offer you free drinks if you’re gambling, whether you’re sitting at a table or a machine.
Always take advantage of this comp by flagging down a cocktail waitress the minute you hit the casino floor. She’ll give you a drink for free to take with you while you go find the table or the machine where you want to play. Flag her down again any time your glass is empty.
Find out what kind of drinks are offered for free, and keep your thirst quenched while you’re gambling. There’s no reason your glass should be empty when you’re on the casino floor. After all, free is free.
One caveat, though:
They give you free drinks for a reason.
Drunk people tend to lose more money gambling. They start making poor decisions.
Be careful of that.
Come in Hot
Chances are, you already know how much you’re willing to spend on a night of gambling.
But when you go to the window to get chips for the night, ask for something above this amount. If you plan to lose $200, ask for a marker for $2,000 instead. This will get attention from the player’s club host, who will probably offer you a comp immediately. You will probably get a room discount, a free meal, or some other perk right away if it looks as though you’re about to spend thousands of dollars at the casino.
When you’re gambling, use just the $200 you’re willing to spend. When you cash out at the end of the night, add the extra $1,800 back to the pile unspent.
You’ll have earned some extra free stuff without having gambled anything you didn’t intend to lose.
Do Everything at the Casino
Some casinos don’t just reward those who are gambling, they’ll reward you for spending money anywhere at the casino. Look for casinos that have a lot to offer, and make the most of your stay. Mention your player’s club card when you check in at the hotel, when you shop at the boutiques, when you eat at a restaurant, even when you buy a cup of coffee.
In some cases, you can earn points for every dime you spend anywhere in the casino, so make sure you’re always using your card for everything you do while you’re there.
Conclusion
Take advantage of all the free stuff the casino will comp you, because their entire purpose is to take money away from you. Everything at the casino is designed for you to lose money and lose track of time, so that you’ll play longer and spend more. Balance that out by getting all the comps offered by the casino. Use all the tricks, take advantage of all the offers, and flash your player’s club card with every single move you make at the casino.
After all, gambling is a give-and-take process, and the casino will both take your money and give you free stuff in return.
Make the system work for you, and you can start to beat them at their own games.
MORE:Lucky Cola Casino
