You’re likely to have mastered the basic strategy for skill games such as video poker and blackjack if you consider yourself a skilled gambler. It’s difficult to beat the house if you aren’t playing well. Learning how to make the best moves at all times is key for advantage players who are skilled in skill games. Many talented players find themselves in the red year after year due to the dreaded swings and variance or the “overhead costs” that come with serious gambling sessions.
Although the comps and other freebies offered by top casinos are a great help, it can be difficult to get past the hump and achieve profitability. Every casino gambler can benefit from another strategy that is specifically designed to take advantage of casino comp programs.
Comps at casinos can come in many forms. They could come as free-play coupons that can be used on the machines or cashback rebates through the mail. There are even free nights, shows, and meals. To score comps, regulars used to have to make friends with pit bosses and dealers. But times have changed. Caesars Entertainment and MGM Resorts are the two largest corporate owners of the casino industry. These two companies control almost all the casinos on the Las Vegas Strip.
Below is a list of MGM-owned properties located in Sin City:
– ARIA Las Vegas
– Bellagio Las Vegas
– Excalibur Hotel & Casino
– Luxor Las Vegas
– Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino
– MGM Grand Las Vegas
– The Mirage Las Vegas
– Monte Carlo Resort & Casino
– New York New York Hotel & Casino
Next are the Caesars-owned Las Vegas venues:
– Bally’s Las Vegas
– Caesars Palace
– The Cromwell Las Vegas
– Flamingo Las Vegas
– Harrah’s Las Vegas
– The LINQ Las Vegas
– Paris Las Vegas
– Planet Hollywood Las Vegas
– Rio All Suite Hotel & Casino
Customers are often left with the brunt of corporate consolidation. Caesars’ Total Rewards program tracks player activity and awards comps. MGM has the MLife program. To be “rated” by the casino, each player uses their Player’s Club Card. This can be done by either sliding it into a slot machine or video poker machine or by handing it to a dealer.
This rating is crucial for anyone hoping to get juicy comps. The casinos use a complicated formula to determine your “value”. You can’t make friends with pit bosses and rely on your regular status to score comps. Without your Player’s Club card, you won’t be eligible for any.
The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review published an article in 2014 by Mark Gruetze that covered statistical data generated by casino hosts who oversee comp programs. Stephen R. Marshall, who is the senior vice president of relationships marketing at Fine Point Group-Gruetze’s Las Vegas-based gaming management consulting Fine Point Group-Gruetze, explained how comp rewards are calculated by casinos.
“Casinos assess players using statistics like average daily value (or how much the casino anticipates winning each day that a player visits) and cumulative value which tracks a player’s loss over several months, or even a year.
A player who plays a small amount but visits the casino often might have a low daily total but a high cumulative total.
Marshall recommends that casinos closely track the player’s actions to determine their value to them. Marshall suggests knowing the theoretical loss. This is calculated based on how many hours you play and the house edge. The actual loss, days played, and total trips are all factors.
Casinos can then identify their most valuable players and offer comps to encourage them to return.
Take a look at the M Life rules and regulations to get an idea of how the intricate player tracking system works.
“Tier Credits are earned for almost every dollar that you spend, including gaming, across all M life Rewards Destinations. In Las Vegas, you earn 25 Tier credits per dollar; Beau Rivage, Gold Strike Tunica, and MGM Grand Detroit earn 8 Tier credits per dollar.
You receive ten (10) Tier credits for each Base Point earned when you play slot games in Las Vegas M Life casinos. For every Base Point you earn, you will receive two (2) Tier credits when playing at Beau Rivage and Gold Strike Tunica. For every Base Point you earn at MGM Grand Detroit, one (1) Tier Credit is earned. You’ll receive Tier Credits for table games based on the length of play, average wager, and game type.
The goal for M Life loyalists who are chasing comps is two-fold. You want Tier Points to help you climb up the M Life tiers and get more comps. Base Points are the second goal. These can be used at any authorized place just like cash. You can supplement your winnings and losses by taking advantage of the M Life or Total Rewards program, Station Casinos’ Boarding Pass program, or any other Player’s Club offering.
How can you get the best comp bang for your buck when gambling? You’ll find that casinos want players who fall into five categories if you go back to the Pittsburgh Tribune Review article about comp tracking data.
– Gamers who play often
– Gamblers who play big
– Gamblers who play long
– Gamblers who play badly
– House Games Gamers
These requirements don’t necessarily have to be met. A gambler who plays a lot can still win major comps, even if they aren’t there often enough. Comps will be awarded to a dedicated player who plays at low stakes but puts in a lot of time. Players who meet all five thresholds are considered “whales” by a casino and receive the best comps. This can prove to be dangerous for some players as compulsive gambling can easily become compulsive.
Gruetze describes the dilemma faced by gamblers trying to get their full comp rewards:
Understanding what casinos want can make a difference for players.
Recognize the value you bring to the casino.
Don’t gamble more than your budget to be eligible for comps.- Take advantage of the casino’s comp program by playing strategically
– Gambling with a partner can help maximize comp rebates
– Use offsetting bets to minimize losses and increase chances of winning
– Sit together at the roulette table but act like strangers
– Alternate between betting on black and red to maintain balance
– Expect to break even on most spins, with a small percentage of losses
– Increase your rating as a roulette player by playing consistently
– Trick the casino into thinking you’re betting more by placing bigger bets initially
– Dial back your betting once the pit boss has marked you down
– Play at a busy table to blend in and extend your session
– Take breaks or skip bets to make it appear like you’re playing for longer
– Be active and engage with the dealer to avoid suspicion
– Pull back your bets before the betting window closes in roulette
– Extend your session by an hour without taking on additional risk- Go South and Gabbing Gives You the Loser’s Smile
Your ability to lose is another factor that casinos use to assess your comp prospects. This may actually be the most important factor used in comp calculation, as casinos are not built on the backs of winning players. Their profits come from long-term losers.
This is a problem for players who use the above offsetting bet partnership. The casino rating system will place you in the marginal category if you have alternating wins and losses but are largely breaking even. This means that you will not receive the full lion’s share of comp rewards like big loser players, but only a few. When you leave the table, the pit boss will compare your current stack to your starting stack. If you leave with more chips than you brought, you’ll be labeled a winner. Those who leave with the same stack will be identified as breakeven players.
If you don’t want to be called a loser, then every now and again, grab a few chips and place them in your pocket. This is called “going south” in the gambling world. While it’s frowned upon by the casino staff, it’s legal. You should conceal your activity as best you can since the goal is to keep the casino in good standing. By going south, you can appear to be losing a lot of money even though you have won offsetting bets.
Loudly announcing that you have lost is another way to make the pit bosses look at you as a loser. These offsetting bets will mean that you’ll lose roughly half of the time. Make a big deal about it. You won’t be noticed if you complain, as that is part of the casino culture.
5 – Get your cashback and free-play on the worst games
Last note: Casino comp programs are adamant that players don’t know the best games to play. Blackjack has a 0.50 percent house edge for basic strategy players. However, it rises to 5.26 percent when playing roulette. The house edge increases to 7 to 12 percent if you play the slots.
Keep this in mind and use all free-play coupons you get on the slots. Your Player’s Club card can be safely stored in the slot machine. This will allow you to become a certified slot player even though you don’t have to risk any money. You’ll be amazed at how quickly your “whale” comp rating increases once the casino tags you as a slot spinner.
CONCLUSION
It can be very rewarding to beat the house at its own game. This is why many people enjoy skill games. Comp programs are the best way to beat the casinos when it really matters. Your comp rating will never be lost, no matter what the cards do. Your comp rewards will keep you in the black every day.
How can gamblers avoid hidden fees or charges associated with comp programs in casinos
Casino comps programs are designed to reward customers for their loyalty and entice them to come back for more gaming. However, casinos can sometimes make mistakes in their comp programs that can be taken advantage of by savvy gamblers if they know what the mistakes are. Here are five mistakes casinos make in their comp programs that you can exploit.
First, with comps programs, casinos might put an emphasis on bingo and slot play, but neglect the importance of table play. If you prefer table games, look for a comps program that rewards this type of play. Pay attention to how loyalty points are allocated; some casinos will award higher redemption values for table-game players, which can be advantageous when it comes to freebies and other rewards.
Second, some casinos require customers to register separately for complimentary offers, while others require customers to provide too much personal information. If this is the case, you might want to look for a casino that makes it easier to sign up for comp offers. Privacy regulations may change over time, so make sure to keep an eye out for any updated policies.
Third, many casinos “bait and switch” their comps programs with misleading offers. For example, they might advertise a sign-up bonus only to find out that the terms and conditions actually make it impossible to cash out any winnings. Exercise caution with any bonuses offered; read the fine print to ensure that the offer is fair and that you’re being rewarded fairly.
Fourth, some casinos have an expiration date on rewards and comps. Make sure that you keep track of any offers you receive and are aware of when they will expire. This is especially important for online casinos, which can delete offers after a certain amount of time.
Finally, some casinos have hidden fees or charges associated with their comp programs. Look for a casino that doesn’t subject players to any hidden costs. Researching a casino’s terms and conditions beforehand is key to avoiding unintended costs.
Comps programs can be a great way to get value out of your gaming experience. However, it’s important to be aware of casinos’ potential mistakes and know how to exploit them. By staying informed and keeping an eye out for any potential comps program pitfalls, you can maximize the rewards you receive.
