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by MJ888

July 31, 2003 | Browse Casino and Gaming

Tips and Strategies to Get Comped in Las Vegas Even if You Are Not a High Roller

Article Quick Jump:
What are comps?
How to get comped
Play to get comped
Use the pit boss to your advantage
Best games to play to get comped
Comp responsibly

It's a fact: you don't need to be a high roller to get free stuff in Las Vegas.

Several years ago, I got free ringside seats to the ear-biting boxing match between Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield. During my first trip to Las Vegas, Treasure Island gave away nearly $1000 of free hotel and meals during my seven-night stay. And, I just received a standing offer from The Venetian for 2 free nights in one of their luxurious suites, with $250 in playing money on top*. Any average player at the casinos can earn comps. The trick is to know how to earn those valuable points while you are gambling. Here are my personal strategies and tips to help you get the most out of your experience.

What are comps?
Comps, short for complimentary, is the term casinos use for all the perks they give to a player based on his or her play. By investing your time and money at a casino, you can earn perks such as free meals, waived hotel fees and tickets to the hottest shows in town.

How to get comped
Whenever you visit a casino, especially for the first time, apply for a comp card before you begin your play. A comp card looks exactly like a credit card and you can apply for one at the casino's comp card center or at any gaming table during play. It's simple and doesn't take long to apply, and the rewards are fabulous. The point of the comp card is to allow the casino to keep track of how much money you are gambling with on their property. Based on the stats you rack up on your card, the casino can reward you with comps accordingly.

Once you are issued a card, you are ready to be rated each time you place a bet. You do this by inserting your comp card into every slot machine you play and by giving your comp card to the dealer every time you buy chips at any table game. The dealer will give your card to the pit boss so he or she can rate your play. If you don't use your comp card, you will not be given credit for any time spent playing.

Play to get comped
Based on how much you gamble, casinos will be able to reward you. Of course, the more money you gamble, the more valuable the comps will be. Most casinos use a formula to determine how many comps they give out, but they will not volunteer to divulge that information freely. If you are lucky, you might run into a pit boss or casino host that will let that information slip. At Treasure Island, I've learned that in order to get a free night's stay, I must average a bet of $65 per hand for four hours. At the Bellagio, the average bet increases to $80 per hand for four hours. At the Venetian, the average bet is $85 per hand. (And yes, these dollar amounts do increase from time to time). If you are into betting on sports or the horses, you can also earn comp points with each bet by showing the sports book attendant your comp card as you place your bet.

Averaging a bet of $65 or higher per hand for a four-hour stretch is not an easy task, but it can be done. You don't have to spend four continuous hours in the casino to qualify for a free room. When the casinos stipulate four hours of playing time, they actually mean a combined four hours within a 24-hour period. Depending on your luck that day, you may be able to gamble for four continuous hours at the same table, but I usually divide my gambling into three or four 90-minute sessions. You can also move to different tables and play different games at any time, but just remember to let the pit boss know so they can track your play correctly. Even though we live in a technologically advanced world, a lot of data is still handled manually.

Use the pit boss to your advantage
Pay attention to the pit boss when you play at a table game. The pit boss is in charge of managing a group of dealers in a specific section of the casino and in charge of rating your play. Once you sit down and present your comp card, the pit boss usually slides it through the computer and will return to take a look at your initial bet. If you are betting $100 for your first hand, the pit boss will enter this information into the computer, and will then walk away to check on other players. While the pit boss isn't looking, for the next several hands, you can dramatically lower your bet. But in the computer, it will still count as $100 per bet even if you have only bet $10. Remember to watch for the pit boss returning before increasing your bet again.

When dealing with pit bosses, communication is key. My suggestion is to get to know your casino host and pit bosses right after you check in. Many are very friendly and will often come over and engage in small talk. Pit bosses will gladly write comp tickets that entitle players to free meals, usually at the Buffet. The catch is you have to ask. Very seldom will pit bosses offer unless they know you on a first-name basis. Meal comps come in handy on Friday nights, especially at the special Bellagio seafood buffet, where the wait to get in is usually over three hours. If the pit boss writes you a comp ticket, you can bypass the lines and get in for free! Casino hosts can get you into sold out events. The tickets may not always be free, but hosts usually have access to the best seats. They can also help you book dinner reservations at the hottest and busiest restaurants in town.

Best games to play to get comped
I have found that the best game to earn comps is Pai Gow Poker. The pace is slow and it often takes five minutes or more to complete one hand, which slows down the number of bets you have to place. A major advantage with playing Pai Gow Poker is the chance to tie with the dealer for several successive hands while earning comp points for each one of the tied hands. The same $75 bet might be earning you comps for about 15-20 minutes or more. Another slow-paced game is roulette, especially when there are four or more players at the table. Between the spin time of the wheel and the payout process, it can take five to seven minutes per bet. Try to avoid fast-paced games like Blackjack or casino war. It only takes about 30 seconds to deal a hand even with a table full of players. Before you know it, you are out of money with a lot of time left. Remember, you are trying to play an accumulated four hours a day in order to qualify for free comps. As far as I know, comp point values are the same whether you are playing Roulette, Blackjack, or Pai Gow Poker. Choose the slower games that prolong your time spent playing with the least number of bets.

Comp responsibly
Playing to get comped can become a game of financial endurance. These techniques may not work for everyone because each person's gambling styles and budgets are different. Ultimately, you have to decide how much money you are willing to comfortably lose. It is financially dangerous and irresponsible to force yourself to gamble simply to earn comps. Rooms are so cheap at many Las Vegas hotels that it may not even be worth gambling for four hours a day just to get your room comped - unless it is at Bellagio or The Venetian, of course!

*What's the catch? Venetian wants you to spend at least $250 in their casino. Chances are good that you will spend even more than $250 that the casino is willing to give you an extra $250 head start! For people who plan to gamble in Las Vegas, this is an awesome deal because the dollar value of your gambling money just doubled.