Some aspects of playing at Casinos for Complementary Gifts (Comps).

Comps are a way for casinos to compete for gamblers' time and money. These comps offer free drinks, meals, reduced-rate rooms, or free tickets. Comp programs are designed to increase customer loyalty and encourage return visits. Customers do not have to be high-rollers to receive these incentives; many low-midlevel gamblers can and do receive a surprising amount of freebies and discounts. This is partly due to the current economic situation in Las Vegas. Visitors and their gambling bankrolls have declined significantly in Las Vegas. Because of this, gaming properties are offering more comps to help gamblers enter their doors. My wife, who is not a high-stakes gambler, and I did not pay for any nights of our nine-day stay in Vegas (late October 2008).  blog here  gambling activities include blackjack at 10-25 dollar minimum bet tables, penny or nickel denomination slot machines and video poker with stakes ranging between 40 cents and $ 2.00 per turn.

Comp awards are determined by an average bet x hours x bets/hour x expected house win x % return to the players. This usually ranges between 25 - 40% of the expected winnings by casinos. Let's say you play decent blackjack (player-friendly rules and a basic strategy), and your average hand is 10 dollars. If you play an "average " 6-deck shoe game you can expect to see 60 - 80 hands per hour if the table involves 3 or 4 other players. Many casinos use 60 hands per hour and a house edge of 2% when figuring their expected dollar returns from players and resultant comp calculations. The average casino will return 40% to a player as comps. Assuming you play the above game for five hours, and possibly at more than one casino table, a reasonable comp calculation would have $10 (average wager) X 5 minutes (hands per hour) X 60 (comps). X.02 house edge X.40 proportionate casino profit to players. This is an average of $ 3000.00. X .02 = $60.00 X .40 = $24.00 in earned comps.

Be polite when asking for comps at Las Vegas properties or elsewhere. For table game comps, at some Vegas properties you might have to wager $15-25 per hand. Off- trends  may be more generous with meal comps than Strip locations. I have played 2-3 hours at Orleans with a 10-20 dollar average wager and never had any problems obtaining buffet comps for 2 when requested. There is a wide range of comp programs between casinos, corporate gaming entities, and other places. The best way to find comps in a particular area is to decide where you want it to be. Do not be surprised if the club representative or host does not explain how they calculate earned points. These comps can change depending on season and factors that increase patronage (weekends vs. weekdays), major events / conventions, etc.  best play games  for low to middle-level players may be harder to obtain during high traffic times. It is suggested that gamblers get to know the slot / table game host they feel comfortable with. In general it's a good idea soliciting a host of the opposing gender. Talking to a host can increase your chances of winning more money in the future (minimize or enhance losses) and it can also help you to have a better gambling experience. Many properties offer meal comps to pit bosses. The key elements to playing a comp game with enhanced value are to keep your bankroll under control, play games with a lower house edge, be familiar with the property comp program, and ask questions. However, "chasing" comps, which is playing too long to get a meal, can result in increased gambling losses. This is especially true if you lose hand after hand, roll after roll, or pull after pull. It's best to use common sense.

Blackjack is a good game for comps. It has lower house odds than all other casino games. However, players must select games with favorable rules and learn the basic strategy for that particular game. These rules allow players to use tactics to slow down the game, which means that there are fewer hands per hour. This will increase their chance of comp accrual. Factors that can slow down a game include playing at crowded tables, talking with other players regularly while the game is in progress, extending decision times on hand plays, and taking frequent bathroom breaks or cell phone call breaks. An additional strategy to increase comp accrual at blackjack is increased bet amounts when pit bosses, or table hosts, are watching specific play. These will improve your table play ratings and accrued Comp levels. If the casino staff is not watching, one can reduce their bet levels.

In order to count comps in slot / video poker play, players need to ensure that their club cards are properly inserted. Although video poker has a higher payback percentage than slots, comps for VP are usually lower for the same time/bets. It's a standard casino tradeoff mechanism. If you find a casino that you like to play in, you enjoy the slots, and you have ample time, I believe it's possible to identify some particular machines that exhibit a higher payback percentage than others (we know this is fact; the key is in identifying them). The machines that are larger in denomination (e.g. $1 slot machines vs. penny slots) have higher payback rates. However, your ability play these will depend upon your bankroll and your money management plan. There are many payback percentage variations even within penny slots. Common sense and willingness can help you find the highest paying machines. The key is to not get soaked for a huge loss expecting that next pull..and the next one..to result in a big payout. For slot machines, we recommend a stoploss approach.  free games to play  stop playing a given machine if we've reached 40 - 50% of the original buy-in amount (ie $20 -25 dollars credit remaining following a $50.00 original buy-in). Although most slot machines will drain your bankroll, there are other options for comps. Players can observe and actually play higher paying machines to help them identify these. Video poker with solid paytables is a great way of accumulating comps. This paytable (minimum 9/6 Blackjacks Or Better or Double bonus) means that the machine will pay a 9 for 1 full house payout and a 6 for 1 flush payout. Although it's slower than many other slots machines, it's still a viable option for comps. It is important to remember that machines with higher payback percentages (ie, machines with almost 100% payback over time) are the most important. However, losses can still occur in individual sessions.

Look out for casino promotions such as blackjack enhancements and point multiplier dates. Also, be sure to use the gambling coupons (blackjack match play or first-card poker ace coupons) which will increase your expectation of a comp game. Even though it is generally down, the current economic climate in Las Vegas is favorable for comp offer purchase.