Have you ever asked for extra "comps" while at a Las Vegas hotel?
Feb 25th, 2003, 12:01 PM
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Have you ever asked for extra "comps" while at a Las Vegas hotel?
I was just reading Fodor's Las Vegas articles and one mentioned to try asking for extra comps after you've gambled a bit. Have any of you ever done that? Were you successful or denied?? What was the best comp you received?
Feb 25th, 2003, 12:17 PM
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This is common in Vegas, and i've received a few. If you're playing a table game and have been at the table for a few hours, just ask the pit boss if you can get a comp to the buffet/coffee shop/restaurant. It also helps if you get a "players card" which each hotel has that tracks your play (and is how they keep track of slots... u put your players card into the machine)
The way it works is (i'll try to be short):
Suppose you're playing a game where the house's edge is calcuated so that they will win $5 for every $100 bet.
<i'm guessing at the following numbers>:
If there are 30 hands of blackjack dealt per hour, and you gamble for three hours, at an average bet of $10, the total dollars you bet is:
30hands * 3hours * $10bet = $900
So of that $900 bet, they expect to make $45 (5% mentioned above of the $900). Since you can gamble anywhere on the stip, they want to keep you at their hotel and treat you right (and make you feel special), so they may be willing to give you 1/2 of their earnings back in a "food credit", or in this case $22.50.
Therefore, you may be entitled to lunch for 2 people at their buffet.
Hope that explains things a bit in a simplified manner.
HOWEVER, my advice is: play as you normally would and when you are done ask for what it is you're looking for (within reason). DO NOT play for comps!!!! As that "free" $50 dinner may cost you a few hundred dollars.
The way it works is (i'll try to be short):
Suppose you're playing a game where the house's edge is calcuated so that they will win $5 for every $100 bet.
<i'm guessing at the following numbers>:
If there are 30 hands of blackjack dealt per hour, and you gamble for three hours, at an average bet of $10, the total dollars you bet is:
30hands * 3hours * $10bet = $900
So of that $900 bet, they expect to make $45 (5% mentioned above of the $900). Since you can gamble anywhere on the stip, they want to keep you at their hotel and treat you right (and make you feel special), so they may be willing to give you 1/2 of their earnings back in a "food credit", or in this case $22.50.
Therefore, you may be entitled to lunch for 2 people at their buffet.
Hope that explains things a bit in a simplified manner.
HOWEVER, my advice is: play as you normally would and when you are done ask for what it is you're looking for (within reason). DO NOT play for comps!!!! As that "free" $50 dinner may cost you a few hundred dollars.
Feb 25th, 2003, 09:39 PM
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I've dated a few big spenders in my time and they had those players cards.
We were always comped dinner at the casino's best restaurant and several times we were comped our suites, and once we were comped tickets to a big name boxing match. That was at Bally's, Mirage, Caesars, and MGM.
The "big spender" would just ask the pit boss to arrange dinner for us. He would ask when we'd like to dine and would have the reservation made for us. We often got wonderful treatment at the restaurants as well, the Maitre'd would give me a dozen roses when we arrived. Very flattering indeed.
I didn't exactly get how our suites were comped, just remember the pit boss coming over saying that our accommodations had been taken care of, compiments of the house (or something like that).
Anyway, those days are long gone for me. I am now married to a non-gambler who only goes to Vegas on business. So just ask, all they can say is no!
Also, after reading hotel's post, I want to mention that these activities were always at the blackjack tables. Never went near the slots.
We were always comped dinner at the casino's best restaurant and several times we were comped our suites, and once we were comped tickets to a big name boxing match. That was at Bally's, Mirage, Caesars, and MGM.
The "big spender" would just ask the pit boss to arrange dinner for us. He would ask when we'd like to dine and would have the reservation made for us. We often got wonderful treatment at the restaurants as well, the Maitre'd would give me a dozen roses when we arrived. Very flattering indeed.
I didn't exactly get how our suites were comped, just remember the pit boss coming over saying that our accommodations had been taken care of, compiments of the house (or something like that).
Anyway, those days are long gone for me. I am now married to a non-gambler who only goes to Vegas on business. So just ask, all they can say is no!
Also, after reading hotel's post, I want to mention that these activities were always at the blackjack tables. Never went near the slots.
Feb 26th, 2003, 04:11 AM
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Comps can always be negotiated. The key is to have a good relationship w/one of the persons who deals w/the comps & deal w/them all the time. One of our last trips (stayed @ NYNY) we paid only for a meal @ Gallaghers'. No room fee for 3 nights + also comped a dinner @ breakfast everyday we were there. I am by no means a big gambler but if they get to know you, & you return, they tend to be more generous. Quinty is right. Oftentimes the slots or sports books are not kept track of. The table games are the way to go if you are searching for comps.
Feb 26th, 2003, 04:50 AM
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Actually, slots is the most lucrative rated play. You scan your card on the machine so it knows precise coin in, and it has the highest calculated house edge among almost any bet in the casino, sometimes as high as 20%. People on dollar slot machines get mega comps. A dollar machine is $5/pull to get 5th coin odds which most gamblers will do. Think of how many times you can pull the arm in 1 hour...the house makes the most off slots which is why they dominate floorspace. Slot players get the best comps (per coin-in). Video Poker gets next to nothing, especially on a 9/6 machine.
Feb 26th, 2003, 05:41 AM
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I agree with all of the above but will add a bit more info to my original reply.
I think the OP is a casual gambler (ie- not a high roller) and therefore not likely to have or be building relationships with casino floor personel. The above info in the posts above is correct, but may not apply to you if your a low limit player (although all casinos are interested in your gambling business, no matter what level you play at). If you intend on doing most of your gambling at a specific hotel or plan on returning to LV a few times in the next year, you should ask for a "Casino Host" whose job it is to keep track of your play (via the Player's Card) and determine what comps you are entitled to. Your casino host would then be an add'l person to go to for comps, and will also contact you in the future with special offers to invite you back to the hotel (these special offers can range from dicounted/free hotel rooms to a full trip to LV including air... all depending upon your level of play).
As well, if you're looking for comps, Downtown LV and off-strip hotels (especially the smaller ones) are MUCH more generous with comps than the on-strip mega resorts. A non-strip hotel may require only 1 hour of play for a breakfast/lunch comp while the mega-resort may want 3-4 hours of play for the same comp. As well, buffet comps are usually the easiest to come by, as they cost the casino the least.
I think the OP is a casual gambler (ie- not a high roller) and therefore not likely to have or be building relationships with casino floor personel. The above info in the posts above is correct, but may not apply to you if your a low limit player (although all casinos are interested in your gambling business, no matter what level you play at). If you intend on doing most of your gambling at a specific hotel or plan on returning to LV a few times in the next year, you should ask for a "Casino Host" whose job it is to keep track of your play (via the Player's Card) and determine what comps you are entitled to. Your casino host would then be an add'l person to go to for comps, and will also contact you in the future with special offers to invite you back to the hotel (these special offers can range from dicounted/free hotel rooms to a full trip to LV including air... all depending upon your level of play).
As well, if you're looking for comps, Downtown LV and off-strip hotels (especially the smaller ones) are MUCH more generous with comps than the on-strip mega resorts. A non-strip hotel may require only 1 hour of play for a breakfast/lunch comp while the mega-resort may want 3-4 hours of play for the same comp. As well, buffet comps are usually the easiest to come by, as they cost the casino the least.
Feb 26th, 2003, 05:50 AM
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Hi Scarlette 
I am married to someone who at times could be called a "big spender" and while we will ask for better rooms sometimes, we usually are offered upgrades or free nights without having to ask, once we book our reservations and tell them who we are.
Actually, I just got my birthday card from the Bellagio, along with some FreePlay and a discount of rooms. While there, we get little treats, like a free spa day, etc.
Best comp ever was years ago when Ceasars comped us our entire stay.
I am married to someone who at times could be called a "big spender" and while we will ask for better rooms sometimes, we usually are offered upgrades or free nights without having to ask, once we book our reservations and tell them who we are.
Actually, I just got my birthday card from the Bellagio, along with some FreePlay and a discount of rooms. While there, we get little treats, like a free spa day, etc.
Best comp ever was years ago when Ceasars comped us our entire stay.
Feb 26th, 2003, 03:45 PM
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This is pretty interesting. I never thought about how much floor space is alloted to slots (and why).
Also never considered the casino host - I guess that's the guy who used to greet us initially upon arrival to the casinos we frequented, and always knew our names.
Also never considered the casino host - I guess that's the guy who used to greet us initially upon arrival to the casinos we frequented, and always knew our names.
Feb 27th, 2003, 01:29 PM
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Always sign up for the casino/slot card and be sure to show it on the tables when you sit down, as well as using it for all your slot gambling. What worked for us at Paris last time was gambling there and at their sister properties a lot, dining at their restaurants and shopping in their shops, and putting it all on our room charge. We accumulated enough points for a small cash rebate. Then just before check out we called the casino host and told him about all our gambling and other expenditures. He comped our show (Bally's Jubilee) and credited out account. Our total comps were about $80-$90. Not too bad and just for the asking. By the way, we came out about $700 ahead gambling-wise on that trip.
