Casino comps aren’t going to make you rich, but they are going to help you have a better time gambling – that much is true.
The fact is not everyone is going to be the high-rolling type that pit bosses look to incentivize to use their casino, but that doesn’t mean you should give up on getting comps altogether. Even moderate players have enjoyed the benefits of getting something “on the house.”
In this article, I’ll lay out the things you should be doing, and things you should avoid, if you’re looking to get casino comps.
1 – Do: Act Like an Adult
Rule number one for getting on the casino’s good side and getting closer to earning comps is don’t cause any problems.
The majority of casino attendees can handle a trip without getting themselves in trouble, but there are always a select few who drink too much, yell too loud, and generally cause a disturbance for the people around them. This is exactly what casino staff is hoping to avoid.
In addition to simply behaving yourself, if you make an effort to say hey to the pit boss before you begin playing, this can also help set the foundation for earning comps, especially if you’re in a new place. You’ll likely get noticed either way, but if you introduce yourself prior to gaming, human nature would suggest that you have a better chance of being at the top of the list.
It’s important to note that just being a well-behaved customer isn’t going to get you many freebies, but it’s also not going to disqualify you from falling into the casino’s good graces. Essentially, it’s the first step to getting comps.
2 – Don’t: Forget to Tip
Tipping your dealer is part of casino etiquette. Not only is it a nice thing to do, it’s basically a rule that shouldn’t be broken under any circumstances. Neglecting to throw your dealer a few dollars when you leave the table is seriously going to hurt your chances of getting any freebies down the road.
Keep in mind that while there is technically a system that goes into who receives comps, and which comps they receive, the entire process still has a huge amount of subjectivity involved. This means that those who have the power to award comps need to have a good opinion of you.
The more generous you are to casino workers, the more generous they’ll be to you. In this sense, tipping your dealer is a no-brainer and should never be overlooked regardless of whether or not you’re winning.
3 – Do: Make It Look Like You’re Betting More
If your bankroll online allows you to bet the minimum on every blackjack hand, it’s a reasonable question to ask,
“How do I make it look like I’m a high-roller?”
The answer? Some good old fashioned deception.
One gambler mentioned that he was able to speed up the process of getting comps by making pit bosses think he was betting more than he actually was. Here’s how he did it:
Upon sitting down at the blackjack table, Player X knew he didn’t have the bankroll to be betting $100 per hand for an entire hour (or anywhere close). However, he still wanted to maximize his comps and not let the casino staff know that he was really only looking to bet the minimum of $10 on each hand.
Recognizing that he had pit boss’s eyes on his table, he began to bet $100 per hand for 5 or 6 hands. Enough to make the pit boss think that he was doing it consistently, but not enough that he was putting himself in a financially risky situation.
Remember that you don’t actually need to be a high-roller, you just need a select few casino workers to think you’re a high roller. In the end, this strategy worked, and Player X got put in the books as a $100-per-hand player, despite not really betting that much on a consistent basis.
4 – Don’t: Sit at an Empty Table
As mentioned previously, when trying to earn comps, the longer you play, the more you earn. The trouble with that is you can find yourself risking more than you normally would. It’s not a complicated equation to figure out that if you lost $150 trying to get $100 in comps, that’s definitely not going to help your bottom line.
Fortunately, there is a solution that can help you risk less, and play longer. By sitting at tables that are full or nearly full, you significantly reduce the number of hands you have to participate in, while simultaneously increasing the amount of time you’re actually spending gambling.
For Example:
If you play at a table it 3 people you might play 40 hands in an hour. If you play at a table with twice as many people, you might only play 25 hands per hour. That means that you aren’t risking as much money (win) and pit bosses are still putting you down for an hour of straight gambling (win).
Simply put, if you want to maximize your casino comps and don’t want to go broke doing it, finding the most crowded table at the casino is always going to be a good place to start.
5 – Do: Sign up for Player Rewards
Nearly every casino, online or physical, has some type of player rewards program that incentives loyalty. For whatever reason, many gamblers are skeptical of signing up for these programs. The reality is that if you aren’t taking advantage of these offers, you’re missing out on some pretty nice perks.
It varies from casino to casino, but generally speaking, player rewards cards are a way for casinos to monitor your gaming without needing a staff member or pit boss looking over your shoulder. If you’re going to be spending several hours playing at the same place, you might as well get rewarded for it in some way.
Casinos are a competitive business, and most gaming establishments are willing to pay a small price for your loyalty. Rest assured that if you sign up for a player rewards program, it’s going to benefit you in some way in the long run.
6 – Don’t: Ignore the Slot Machines
I know, I know – slot machines have a notoriously high house edge, and a high percentage of the money casinos take from gamblers comes from slots. With that being said, if you’re trying to maximize comps, it might be worth trying your luck at a few of these games that you might otherwise avoid.
Casinos reward players for playing games that have higher odds of rewarding the casino. (read that again) I know that it’s not ideal to risk your bankroll money for the sake of earning comps, but it’s going to build up your comp rating much quicker than playing blackjack or real money roulette.
Just because you’re playing slots doesn’t mean you’re guaranteed to lose. Who knows, you might just hit the jackpot and build credit toward earning comps at the same time.
7 – Do: Communicate With the Pit Boss
I touched on this earlier in the article when I mentioned that you should introduce yourself, or at least say hey, to the pit boss before you sit down and begin playing.
To further increase your chances, following your gambling session, ask the pit boss if they can give you your rating. In a way, this mirrors a philosophy that many learned in college.
Here’s How It Goes:
You’ve probably heard someone say that “if you go ask the teacher about your grade on an essay, they’ll likely raise your grade just because you’ve shown you care.” Personally, I’ve tried this and it is actually true. Similarly, pit bosses will look at you favorably if you ask for your rating, simply because it shows that you’re cognizant of it.
In the end, it comes down to whatever they want to do, but getting on the pit boss’s good side is a great way to get some better deals.
Conclusion
One of the most overlooked games in the casino is the game of “how do I maximize my comps?” Try using this list as a guide, and you might be on your way to free shows, gaming credit, a nice dinner, and much more!
Michael Stevens
Michael Stevens has been researching and writing topics involving the gambling industry for well over a decade now and is considered an expert on all things casino and sports betting. Michael has been writing for GamblingSites.org since early 2016. …
