A floor supervisor at the GoldStrike in Tunica told me to always buy in at any table game for at least $300.  She said that should get me a room comp.  Since then I have never paid for a room even on weekends. 

Is there any other ways or better bets on the craps table that would get a better comp rating?  I was just curious… I’m not changing my playing strategy to earn comps, but if there are some easy ways to get a better rating then I might try it.

idoc - 30 March 2010 09:26 AM

A floor supervisor at the GoldStrike in Tunica told me to always buy in at any table game for at least $300.  She said that should get me a room comp.  Since then I have never paid for a room even on weekends. 

Is there any other ways or better bets on the craps table that would get a better comp rating?  I was just curious… I’m not changing my playing strategy to earn comps, but if there are some easy ways to get a better rating then I might try it.

I always buy in for as much money as I have.. If i plan on playing with $300 for example.. I will buy in for $600.. then slowly backpocket 300 dollars over time or more if im winning alot. When I “color up” (cash in) the floor manager records what im coloring.. so it will always show me as losing alot of money. Whether this adds more comps im not sure. The casino I play at uses member cards and runs on a point system.

I do know that your “average bet” and time spent at the table make up for alot of your comp value… One thing that does bother me is some floor managers will (shortly after they put you in the system) check your first couple bets and base your average bets on that.. which is bad for me since I like to start off very conservative to see how a table is going.

Also.. not all casinos credit you comps for odds play.. If you have a $10 passline bet w/ $50 odds.. they may rate you for only $10 passline.. it doesnt hurt to ask the floor manager what they’re rating your average bet at.. and dont be afraid to haggle with them if your unhappy.. they’re job is to make sure you keep coming back and most of the time they’re really nice about it and will make the correct adjustments.

Also.. its a good idea to get in with the boxman.. he/she are the ones who usually report to the floor manager as to how you’ve been betting..

idoc - 30 March 2010 09:26 AM

A floor supervisor at the GoldStrike in Tunica told me to always buy in at any table game for at least $300.  She said that should get me a room comp.  Since then I have never paid for a room even on weekends. 

Is there any other ways or better bets on the craps table that would get a better comp rating?

The formula casinos use to figure comps varies from house to house and is a closely guarded secret.  As Flash notes the main component of all of them is the player’s theoretical loss, which is simply (bet handle) * (house advantage).  While I understand some houses rate a player’s skill level to determine the HA, I would guess most use some average number.  (I think I read 2% is common for blackjack, for example.)  As for the bet handle, I think most houses estimate it using the formula (average bet size) * (average rounds per hour) * (time at the table).

I say “most houses” because in the 2004-2006 time frame RFID (Radio Frequency IDentification) was introduced into the gaming industry.  (See http://www.informationweek.com/news/mobility/RFID/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=174300059, and the “Variations” section of http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Casino_chip for examples.)  I couldn’t find anything more recent on casino use of RFID chips so I don’t know if the technology is still in use in the industry or not.  Perhaps someone with more interest in the topic than I have will conduct a more thorough search.  In any event, RFID would render obsolete some of the tricks players use to inflate their perceived bet handle.

I can’t remember now if the problem of fitting RFID technology to craps, which does not have specific areas where players place their individual bets, was actually solved.  Assuming it was not, or that one’s casino is not using RFID technology at all, then simply not betting on every roll (using some shooter-qualification scheme, for example) could cause one’s bet handle to be overestimated.

Flash - 30 March 2010 10:24 AM

I always buy in for as much money as I have.. If i plan on playing with $300 for example.. I will buy in for $600.. then slowly backpocket 300 dollars over time or more if im winning alot. When I “color up” (cash in) the floor manager records what im coloring.. so it will always show me as losing alot of money. Whether this adds more comps im not sure. The casino I play at uses member cards and runs on a point system.

I would not be too sure you are pulling the wool over the casino’s eyes.  Dealers, suits, and the camera have a way of keeping pretty accurate tabs on how much players stash in their purses and pockets, and players can easily get labeled as “false droppers”.

In addition, when I cash out at the cage I am often, though unfortunately not often enough , asked who I am and what game I played.  The cashier then calls the pit to verify I actually played enough to warrant what I am cashing in for and am not structuring previous wins.

I have heard of only one case where a player’s actual results affected his comps, but I’ll be damned if I can find the post.  (Maybe one of the other rec.gambling.craps refugees can.)  IIRC Noah Hazel, although it may have been Doc Tom, reported that he had taken a trip and been guaranteed some amount of comps by the casino host, with the possibility of additional comps based on his play.  When he checked out, however, the host apologized and explained that because he had won so much the additional comps would not be forthcoming.

Flash - 30 March 2010 10:24 AM

... not all casinos credit you comps for odds play.. If you have a $10 passline bet w/ $50 odds.. they may rate you for only $10 passline.. it doesnt hurt to ask the floor manager what they’re rating your average bet at.. and dont be afraid to haggle with them if your unhappy.. they’re job is to make sure you keep coming back and most of the time they’re really nice about it and will make the correct adjustments.

It also doesn’t hurt to ask what the rating policy is up front.  Are there any requirements (e.g. buy-in, minimum bet spread) for getting rated at all?  What level of play is required at the games you intend to play to get the comp(s) you want (e.g. show tickets, all-you-can-eat buffet, room).  Besides eliminating any surprises when you’re ready to check out, the response you get to your query may change your mind as to where to play!

A couple strategies I’ve employed:

- Your first bet should be above what you expect to be your average. I like to do a “$41 no 10” as a first bet and then move on to some smaller pass line stuff.

- Try to time your leave shortly after the floorman has just rated you and don’t color up. You may end up getting credit for another 15-20 min of play time, and it leaves them in a position where they have to estimate your play, and that will usually come out in your favor.

- Play at Casinos that cater to the lower end. A $25 player at Bill’s is going to get a lot more comps than the same $25 player at Caesar’s across the street, and even more attention if they play off the strip.

bek423 - 02 April 2010 06:52 AM

I play mostly in Harrah’s and the casinos they own in Atlantic City. Even though I am playing more these last few months, and with more money, they are cutting my comps. I’ve had comp rooms Sundays through Thursdays all year for a few years now, but in the latest batch of “offers” the rooms are discounted but not free. Anybody know what gives?

I think it depends on the area or market.  In Las Vegas Harrah’s comps are pretty generous at most of their properties, but in Tunica and Cherokee they are very stingy.  I’ve never played in AC so I don’t get any offers from there.

I play regularly in Vegas but only at local places mainly because of the lower minimum bet and ease of access. I always buy in with 200-300 and what I usually get is a $5-$10 free bet 4X per month- for some of the station properties. Red Rock Casino, another Station Property has been the most generous but I sometimes play the 10$ tables there, they’ve given me as much as $15 free bet 4X in one month. The Coast Casinos don’t seem to notice or care that I play there, but I actually enjoy playing there the most. The best I’ve received from them is a free scoop of ice cream.  But considering I’ve won good money at their casinos over the years I don’t really care much.

The Midnight Skulker - 01 April 2010 10:57 AM

idoc - 30 March 2010 09:26 AM

I say “most houses” because in the 2004-2006 time frame RFID (Radio Frequency IDentification) was introduced into the gaming industry.  (See http://www.informationweek.com/news/mobility/RFID/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=174300059, and the “Variations” section of http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Casino_chip for examples.)  I couldn’t find anything more recent on casino use of RFID chips so I don’t know if the technology is still in use in the industry or not. 

—————
From RFID Update a couple of years ago:
“RFID Chip Market to Grow 63% Annually Through 2011
Thursday February 7th, 2008
Research firm IC Insights has published a report that makes predictions for the market for RFID chips, also called integrated circuits or ICs. Recall that ICs are the “brains” of an RFID tag, the little silicon component that responds to reader commands and stores data. Focusing on ICs alone is a little unusual for RFID market reports, which typically look at components like readers and tags, or market categories like supply chain and retail.

Note that ICs are present in every sort of RFID tag form factor, from smart labels to key fobs to gambling chips to electronic passports to automated car toll payment devices. So the market numbers listed below encompass all those many applications, not just the familiar type of tag used in supply chain. Among IC Insights’ key predictions:

  * For the five years 2006 through 2011, the annual rate of worldwide growth in the number of ICs produced will be a very impressive 63 percent. In 2011, 26.1 billion units will be sold.”

————
Perhaps someone with more interest in the topic than I have will conduct a more thorough search.  In any event, RFID would render obsolete some of the tricks players use to inflate their perceived bet handle.

I can’t remember now if the problem of fitting RFID technology to craps, which does not have specific areas where players place their individual bets, was actually solved.
————
Taking into account just how nervous casinos become when high value chips are out and in play, the
RFID’s seem to be used mostly to try to track just where those chips are going.

Sancho Panza - 02 April 2010 06:50 PM

From RFID Update a couple of years ago:

Thanks for the update.  Apparently casinos are not as eager to advertise their use, or lack thereof, of RFID as the RFIDers are to advertise their potential market—for security reasons no doubt .

Sancho Panza - 02 April 2010 06:50 PM

Taking into account just how nervous casinos become when high value chips are out and in play, the RFID’s seem to be used mostly to try to track just where those chips are going.

I would imagine detection of counterfeit cheques is also a goal.

Player 1 bets the table minimum and plays for two hours.
Player 2 bets 5x the table minimum and plays for half and hour.

Which player will get a better rating?

idoc - 12 April 2010 09:11 PM

Player 1 bets the table minimum and plays for two hours.
Player 2 bets 5x the table minimum and plays for half and hour. Which player will get a better rating?

It probably won’t be that different. Consider the size of the bankroll needed to bet 5X the $5 or $10 table minimums. Sticking to the bets with the lowest house advantage along with a typical run of the dice, the chances are quite good that the outcomes won’t that be far off. But every now and then there’s that oddball streak that either goes your way or kills you.

And that’s not even mentioning the usual advice to never play for comps.

idoc - 12 April 2010 09:11 PM

Player 1 bets the table minimum and plays for two hours.
Player 2 bets 5x the table minimum and plays for half and hour.

Which player will get a better rating?

I think Player 2 would have a much better chance of getting their room comp’d in the future. Not sure about the lower value stuff.

Jacob - 13 April 2010 03:59 PM

idoc - 12 April 2010 09:11 PM

Player 1 bets the table minimum and plays for two hours.
Player 2 bets 5x the table minimum and plays for half and hour.

Which player will get a better rating?

I think Player 2 would have a much better chance of getting their room comp’d in the future. Not sure about the lower value stuff.

I agree with the room comp.  The casino’s goal would be to keep Player 2 in the house where he/she might be enticed to play some more at 5x the table minimum.

As for the actual rating I think Player 2 would get the nod there as well, assuming the players made the same bets at the same game of course (i.e. caeteris paribus).  The main component of every casino’s comp formula is (bet handle) * (house advantage).  In the stated scenario Player 1’s bet handle is (1 table minimum) * (2 hours) = (2 table minimum hours).  Player 2’s bet handle is (5 table minimums) * (0.5 hours) = (2.5 table minimum hours).  Higher bet handle means higher rating, though as Sancho noted the difference may not be that great, particularly since the suits may pay closer attention to Player 2 than to Player 1 and therefore credit Player 1 with more playing time than he/she really spent at the table while recording Player 2’s time with great accuracy.