Comps
Started by bsguy2001 on Wednesday, 9th January 2013 7:34 am
Hello,
This kind of relates to the low roller post however would like to get some opinions. I usually bring between $3000 - $4000 per trip. I am a BJ player and my average bet is between $25 - $50 for anywhere between 4 - 6 hours per day. When I log into total rewards, I can always get rooms at IP for free however at any of the higher tier properties, there is a charge. Same applies to MGM, ARIA and Bellagio never comp me however I can usually get Excalibur comped. Wynn offers just reduced rates. Am I not betting enough to warrant getting fully comped nights at these higher end properties? Am I playing the wrong game? I assume I would get many more comps if I played slots. Would love to hear your thoughts. Thanks
TwisterII responded on Wednesday, 9th January 2013
Where are you playing at?
Many say, play where you want to stay.
Do you have a host?
Make a good relationship with a host at the property you want to stay at. Granted, $4000/trip will not be getting you comped stays at Wynn, Bellagio, or Aria. Take your budget up to $10,000+.
Your comps are based on your play. Simple. Maybe try properties like Tropicana, Monte, NYNY, TI.
Check out this article from VegasChatter.com:
The Lowdown: How a Host Works
bsguy2001 replied on Wednesday, 9th January 2013
I do not have a host. Would moving up to video poker $1 work better for me?
cmarko responded on Wednesday, 9th January 2013
The note about playing where you stay is crucial. With that said my play is similar to yours and I have a casino host at the Wynn. You should start building a relationship with a host at whatever your preferred property is. Just walk over and introduce yourself. If you have a documented history of play at the spot have them look you up. And don't be afraid to ask for stuff.
Regarding game choices, you should play the games you enjoy, regardless of the comp implications.
Finally, my sense is that most casinos consider total spend, including food and beverage when considering comps. So spending as much as you can at one property, assuming you like the options, will improve your comp potential.
bsguy2001 replied on Wednesday, 9th January 2013
Thanks for your response. So you would recommend I just walk up to the host and introduce myself. I have stayed at Wynn in the past on reduced rates but nothing else was comped. I agree, I would not change games to chase comps, just want to know if there is something else I could be doing to get comps for my play. It looks like you are same type of player I am so what kind of things have you been comped?
Happygirl21 responded on Wednesday, 9th January 2013
Hey bsguy,
I would also agree on the casino host. I have to tell you my betting average is about the same ( unless I get a few drinks in me, then watch out,lol)..I know drinking/ gaming is a BAD combo..anyway.. I usually bring only about half what you do on a trip, but I literally play for HOURS. I once had a pit boss actually tell me I had been at the same table for 17 hours straight, lol. ( with the exception of bathroom breaks ;) ) With regards to a CH after a trip to LV I received a "formal" letter from CET, from my " new CH" congratulating me and sending me contact info, should I need anything...lol I will tell you while I have never met her in person I have spoke to her on the phone multiple times and if after a trip I have done well, I will send a small token of appreciation for any/ all of her efforts. She has even helped me out with getting rooms for friends joining me.lol
As far as comps I would say I could stay at almost all 40 CET props comped I have noticed Caesars is the only one that is not a constant. But this next trip coming up was comped for Thurs- Sun there but I spoke to my CH and she hooked me up with the other 2 days. Also I get an enormous amount of junkets for other things ie: Macy gift cards, free casino play, concerts, drawings, holiday events and other events etc all including 2 to 5 nights, but these are regular mailers, not from casino host and it's all from LV. I live about 2 - 2 1/2 hours from AC and usually only get Sun- Thurs comped rooms and maybe 30. Bucks from them.
I honestly only play bj, no slots, no nothing else so maybe the hours spent is also a factor? I do plan to actually get up and out this trip. Like I said in a previous post I spend so much time playing I never really look around to much :( I have booked some tours and plan to spend an ample amount of time downtown. Of course it's easy to say now, but let's see while I'm woo-hooing double downing away,lol!
bsguy2001 replied on Wednesday, 9th January 2013
Thanks for the detailed response. I am the same as you, I seem to spend most of my time in the casino. Maybe my issue is the hours spent at the table. I have never had the pleasure of spending 17 hours at the table. lol. Thanks
coybotjr responded on Wednesday, 9th January 2013
My budget is usually lower about 2K for a 3-4 day trip. I tend to wander from casino to casino and drop 20-50 in each one with my main property typicaly being Bally's. I always figured they liked me because I visit all of thier properties. I will say that my comps from CET are far better than anything MGM has ever sent me. That's just one low rollers opinion though.
cmarko responded on Wednesday, 9th January 2013
Bsguy,
Just walking up worked for us at Wynncore. But my sense is that the hosts there are easier to work with then hosts at other places. I've had room, food/beverage and show ticket comps.
But I also think we caught a break by getting a host at Wynncore that is very nice to work with. So make sure you like the host you are working with. If not, switch.
bsguy2001 replied on Wednesday, 9th January 2013
Wow! That is incredible for a green chip player to get comps on food, drink and show. I must be doing something wrong. Thanks
Sturmgeist replied on Thursday, 10th January 2013
Comped at Wynncore with greep chip play (like OP?)
Must be a typo. Wynn and Encore barely even acknowledge green chip play.
adztheman responded on Wednesday, 9th January 2013
In my experience, The Great Recession may have been the Golden Age for Comps for some of us..
My normal budget for a 3 day trip is around 1500 or $500 coin in per day, playing probably 80/20 VP over slots, with some Sportsbook play as well.
Starting in about 2008, that was good enough to get me comped rooms at the Mirage, TI, and Monte Carlo...
Since I've not been to Vegas in a couple of years, much of that has dried up...since I'll be back in a matter of days, I'm going to explore downtown for at least one day of the trip and see what that brings me as a comparison point.
There has been a great deal written that many of the players on this board are looking more at downtown as a viable option.
This will be my 13th trip to Vegas since 2001..and after I've seen Aria and Cosmo on this trip, I will have seen pretty much what there is currently on the Strip..
I've also learned that I spend little or no time in my room for obvious reasons, except to sleep and store stuff..so a room is a room is a room...
cmarko responded on Wednesday, 9th January 2013
Bsguy,
You might not be doing anything wrong. Context matters. Wynncore is my main property (flirting with Aria). I've stayed at Wynncore five or six times in the past three years and we stay for 5-6 days at a time. So that's a lot of days, a lot of repeat business and a lot of food/beverage spend on our part. I'm fairly confident that factors into the comps we get.
Geoff responded on Wednesday, 9th January 2013
$25 (or even $50) a hand isn't going to get you a room at wynn for sure.
just as a data point, i've got a 3 free midweek nights (friday/saturday are $219)
and in the fine print it's says ""Additional complimentaries may be awarded to guests who have at least 4 hours of table play at $250 average bet per day during their stay." so, that being said i'm sure the entry into a midweek night is less, but unless your betting 250 you are not getting anything beyond the cheapest room free unless you can convince a host/etc...
Geoff replied on Wednesday, 9th January 2013
that being said at the $50 level they should pick up some food if they won't/can't pick up the room
bsguy2001 replied on Thursday, 10th January 2013
I guess the best tactic is to charge everything to your room and then speak with a host when checking out?
Sturmgeist replied on Thursday, 10th January 2013
$25/hand at Wynn/Encore may barely get you a single buffet pass. Unless you're sitting there for eight hours per day. Venetian/Palazzo also don't really go after green chip players because they don't need to. It's not their demographic.
Green chip players should have realistic expectations. Don't expect comped rooms at the Bellagio, Mandalay Bay, MGM Grand or Caesars unless you're playing $25/hand for 12 hours per day.
Stick with lower tier properties that will comp you or move off-strip. Caesars properties aren't known to comp green chippers well.
Sturmgeist responded on Thursday, 10th January 2013
Your level of play and bankroll will get you comped at several downtown properties:
-Four Queens
-Golden Gate Casino
-Plaza/LVC
-El Co.
I have gotten comped at these places for the same level of play for only 1 hour of $25. They comped me the rooms for my next trip since they wanted to test out if I'd sit for 4 hours a day at $25/hand.
I don't think you'd be comped at the three Boyd Properties downtown or Golden Nugget.
I mention this simply because you're comped at IP and Excalibur and I get rooms at IP with a popping in a $10 at their machines once a year. I have four comped nights available at IP for Feb and four in March. Just for $10 cycle through.
Get more for your play. Gold Coast, Orleans would comp if you if you wanted to stay close to Strip.
mctrees02 responded on Thursday, 10th January 2013
As a green-single black chip player...I can tell you that it's ALL about your host. If you have a good relationship with a good host then they take care of you. If your host doesn't give a crap about you, then you're SOL and need to get a new host.
The toughest thing to do at a property is get a junior host to take a senior host's name off your account. I had this very problem at Wynn where a senior host threw his name on my friend's account (he's a purple/yellow chip guy) and also on mine. I tried for 2 years to get help and he would never return an email or a call. Furthermore, no other host would take over my account from him.
Fortunately, it coincided with the time where the Steve sent Wynncore off the deep end...so I went elsewhere.
GMase responded on Sunday, 13th January 2013
At $25-$50 you're not going to get much more. As others have said you can talk to a host, but frankly at that level you'll talk to a very junior host (e.g. marketing exec) who will mostly just take care of booking corporate offers for you. But if you're on the margins he can push things in your favor. There are downsides of having a host help you out, especially at such a low level, so just be aware of that. For instance you may feel obligated to concentrate your play at the host's casino since you don't have a big enough bankroll to spread it around even if you feel like playing at different places. While offers, and overall comps come from your play at sister properties, a host is mostly just concerned with your play at their property -- even though they typically won't admit that to you.
That being said, you still should be getting a little more than you're getting. I know people that play at your level and can at least get free rooms at places like MGM, and NYNY under mLife and at Paris, PHo, etc. at CET. The fact that you're only getting comps for IP and Excalibur is pretty striking. You're not going to get much of anything at Aria, Bellagio, Wynn, etc. but you should be getting a little more at the mid-tier properties.
Also, you asked about $1 VP. Yes, if you play $1 VP for 4-6 hours per day instead of BJ for 4-6 hours per day you will be comped better. Your bankroll should be enough for that per trip. Slot and VP players just get a better comp rate, that's the basic fact. Even though VP played properly has about the same edge as the best table games.