Comps

     

Comps are given to players as a reward for playing at a casino. Essentially, the casino makes a calculation of how valuable a player you are and rewards a certain amount of your expected loss back in comps.

For slot clubs, this calculation is easy to obtain because the exact amount a player has wagered is tracked electronically. (Of course, it has no effect on your wins or losses.) Most of the time, the method used to calculate slot club points is available to the player. Check at the players' club desk for that information.

Typically, a player will get so many points for every $100 bet and can eventually trade in points for free stuff or cash. Slot club rules vary, so if you plan to play slots check around for the best deals. Also keep an eye out for promotions offering double and triple points.

For table games, the comps calculation is a little different. Comps are calculated manually. Your play is graded with several variables considered including:

Time played
House edge of game
Average wager
Number hands/decisions per hour
Skill of the player

What is happening when your play is being graded is that the casino is trying to determine how much they expect you to lose. This is the basis of the value of your comp. If, for example, you are playing a game with a 2% house edge that does not involve skill and you are betting $5 a pop and around $300 an hour, your expected loss is $6 an hour. The casino will typically award you $2-$3 worth of comps for that hour of play that can be redeemed for meals, rooms, and other stuff. Normally, however, comps earned at the tables can't be redeemed for cash.

An interesting point for any table game involving skill is that skilled players are awarded less in comps than average players because an adjustment is made to account for a difference in the house edge.

Some are paranoid about using a players club card. A players club card is used in a similar way to grocery store discount cards. Essentially with a grocery store discount store, you sell marketing information (spending habits, etc) about yourself for a discount on groceries. In the casino, your players club card pays you a small rebate for similar marketing information.