Did a search and did not see anything really on first couple pages. Was wondering if anyone has ever been comped? What did you get comped? Was it a room, food? Where were you playing? How much did you spend before getting comped? Did you recieve while at the casino or did you get a free room later by email or by letter? I was just trying to figure out where I should gamble at, or where I should sign up for player clubs in hopes of getting comped free stuff with spending little money. I have been to Vegas once and stayed at the Aladdin and room was upgraded at front desk for free. I don't really think this was a comp though. I don't want to hear about the $20.00 trick. There already is a place for that.

Comps are too terribly difficult to obtain. I don't have a whole lot of experience in Vegas, but I've been to Atlantic City a few times. Usually, you will receive something in the mail about a month after your trip, unless you are a high roller or specifically ask for a comp.

First, you want to sign up for a players club card. I'd recommend going with Harrah's Total Rewards card, since you will earn comps at a bunch of hotels (Harrah's, Flamingo, Caesars, Paris, Bally's, hotels in Atlantic City, etc). If you typically stay at the same hotel all the time and they have their own card, obviously get that as well.

Many times, you will get some type of comp just for signing up for the card. It is nothing big, sometimes it is something dumb like a hat, other times you'll get a buy 1, get 1 coupon for the buffet (which is like a $20 value at some places). There are some publications available that list free gifts that are available when you sign up for the cards - try a Google search for that (I think it is the Las Vegas Advisor...?). Just know that even though you are signing up for Harrah's family Total Rewards card, different hotels might offer different gifts. Signing up for the card at the Flamingo might get you a free cardholder, while signing up at Paris might get you a mug or something. Also, many casinos will give you Cash Back when you play on the day you sign up for the card. When I signed up for my card in Atlantic City, the Showboat was offering 50% back on all slot machine losses (they mail you this offer after your visit).

Sometimes you can just ask for comps and get them. For instance, if you sit down at a blackjack table and buy in for like $200, after you are done you can just ask the host if you can get a comped meal. Same thing goes for when you leave the hotel after your stay. If you think you played a good chunk of change, then ask to talk to a casino host to see if you can get a reduced rate or free stay.

The old fashioned way is to accrue points on your card. Harrah's family gives you 1 point for every $5 you play on a slot machine and 1 point for every $10 you play on a video poker machine. I'm not sure how they break down the points for table play, but they give more points to machine players. You need to play like $2000 or something to go from Gold (base) up to Platinum and I think it is like $10,000 to go from Platinum to Diamond. Platinum and Diamond members obviously get the best offers and even get to cut in line at the buffet. In addition to points, you also earn things called reward credits. I'm not sure what they base their reward credits on. I played about $80 worth on tables and slots when I was in Atlantic City the first time and I ended up with 91 reward credits, so figure that one out. Reward credits are traded in towards meals and stuff, which start at around 400 credits for the smaller restaurants and around 1200 points at the buffets and nicer joints.

Most commonly, it seems, you will get an offer in the mail. My brother played about $250 (lost all of it) on slots and tables in Atlantic City and he got $50 in credit and an offer for a free weekday room. He played about $100 in Vegas and ended up coming out $500 ahead and he didn't get anything. My grandmother actually goes to Vegas a few times a year and gambles a decent amount (maybe a grand or less each trip...she's not a high roller by any means) and she almost always stays for free for at least 3 or 4 days of her trip. Many times she will have 3 free nights at Bally's and 3 free nights at Aladdin or something, so she just hotel swaps.

Just be sure to use your players club card. In Vegas I am a $200 a trip gambler but I get comped rooms mailed to me and special deals as well as about $10 Cash Back on my cards by the time I leave.

During the past year, I've been visiting Vegas approximately once a month usually under a free or heavily discounted room offer from Harrah's, Sahara, Aladdin, or Palace Station. I echo Claptonisgod96's and QuakerPC's findings regarding how comps work in Vegas, although there are differences between the player's clubs from the above casinos.

In general, I've been playing $15 hands at the BJ tables. At the Sahara, I earn approximately $10/hr in comp-credits that I can use at their restaurants, shops, etc, but sparingly receive free room offers. Presently, I have over $300 in my club account that I've only use for food. At my level of play, they also give me $25 or $50 in table play every other week (if I was a local, this would be pretty nice bonus). On the other hand, I earn approximately $1/hr in comp-credits thru Harrah's Total Rewards for a grand total of $12 in rewards, but have been receiving monthly free room offers until recently. At the end of last year, I checked my win/loss record at Harrah's website - they have recorded my play and I am ahead by approx $1500. I think I have been uninvited by Harrah's, since I no longer receive their free room offers. Actually, I believe that my play was not high enough for them to continue offering free rooms (I've calculated that I've played over 2000 hands at Harrah's and since I am $1500 ahead at $15/hand, it seems that I am approx 100 hands ahead which represents about a 5% edge against the house - not great, but better than the house having the advantage over you). At the Aladdin, my table play doesn't seem to earn or accumulate any comp-credits - I am required to ask the pit boss for free food, etc, which so far, I have not been turned down. For Palace Station, I do earn comp-credits, but I have not yet figured out the earnings rate (from a cursory review, it seems to be approximately $2/hr for play at $15/hand). In addition, I do receive their quarterly mailings for discounted and free rooms (usually for their "courtyard" or motel-type rooms).

Another difference between these clubs is the expiration rule. Total Rewards will remove the earned comps if there are more than 6 months between recorded activities. The Sahara comps expire after 18 months of no activities. I do not know the rules for Palace Station.

At some casinos, there seems to be two different comping systems - 1) earning comp-credits thru the above player's club and 2) thru a host or pit boss who grants the freebie, separate from the earned credits on the player's card. At Palace Station, I was introduced to a host, who advised me to submit my bill to him at the end of my stay and he would take care of things depending on my level of play. Since I did not really play very much there, I only used my earned credits to pay for a meal and did not seek his help. However, if you do use a host, make sure they don't first deplete your earned credits before granting the freebie.

The reason I still have so much comp-credits in my Sahara account is that there is not much I want to spend that money on at the Sahara. I only use it to purchase brunch at their buffet and the occasional dinner in their cafe. Their dinner buffet is not very good. So this account generally grows a litle after each visit. In fact, the last few trips, I have been eating comped dinners at the Aladdin's Spice Market Buffet and the $4.95 steak special at Ellis Island (which can be free after winning a hand of BJ using the $5 match play coupon) and not using the comp-credits in my Sahara account.

Most casinos will only track your play for comps ("rate" you) if you play $15/hand or above. That is why I settled on the $15/hand standard playing rate. This lets me compare the different player's club comp systems. Plus, it is at a rate that I can comfortably afford to lose when the cards temporarily turn against me.

And I agree with isles1: Do not gamble to earn comps; Do not gamble more than you can afford to lose - gamble only at a comfortable rate; Gamble if you are entertained by games of chance and enjoy socializing with the dealers, pit bosses, and other players; Gamble after you have thoroughly understood the games and the theories behind the winning strategies (i.e. for BJ, learn basic strategy, and at least a simple card counting method).

Good luck and have fun!

I just wanted to say that I completely agree with gambling only money you can afford to lose. That should go without saying. I was just thinking if I am going to gamble I would like to gamble at places that are more likely to give free meals or rooms or whatever else they offer.

LittleNicky said:
If you don't have a diamond or seven stars card, look around the casino and find one (usually around slot machines). It is very useful and will give you front cuts in long taxi lines, cuts in front of busy restaurants, etc. They do not check the name.


Taxi lines yes, it helps, even platinum will get you a cut in the taxi line. Restaurants have always checked my ID, especially the Buffets.

smashtv said:
Just a side story, I'm going to vegas from 3/2 - 3/11 and I'm only paying for the first two nights. I like hotel jumping myself and somehow the Stratosphere put me on some freaking ridiculous offer.... I've only been there once or twice, and was mad last time I went because I lost like $900 in about 2 hours then left never to return.... but the offer I just got.... OMG...
I don't know who screwed up but I'm not complaining =)... from 3/5-3/8 I'll be staying here... comped....
Penthouse Suite
with 2 free tickets to the superstar impersonator show
2 free tickets to Bite (topless vampire show) *grin*
$125 in salon/spa credit.... massage here I come...
and freaking $500 in dining credit!!!!! Sounds like they just gave you back your $900 Superstar show is okay (everyone gets that for free w/ a Funbook). Not sure what other restaurants they have, but Top of the World is subpar in terms of food. Gonna be hard to spend that $500 on food...better get the drinks flowing. Let me know what you think of Bite. Enjoy!

As for the OP, you may want to check out the forums at LVTalk.com

Most of the people that frequent that site are either locals or visit multiple times of the year. I find everyone there to be very helpful and friendly. But like we urge people to do here, be nice and search their boards before you post.

LittleNicky said:
Tricks...
As soon as you hand in your card, wait till the pit boss comes around and punches you in. He will punch in your bet. When you see him come by, bet big. That way, your avg bet in the system will look bigger than what you are actually doing. He comes around randomly but they are usually too lazy to keep an eye on you. Once he/she leaves, go back to your normal betting style.

Cash in a LOT of money. On the craps table, I usually cash in $1500-$2000. Then, as time goes on, I slowly slip a chip in my pocket here in there. It shows the system how much I cashed in and then when I leave the table, it shows a loss which they love. Just slide it in your pocket when they are not looking but they will know if its $100 and $500 or anything above as they keep track of those on the tables. So, I would recommend doing quarters ($25).

Another way to get comps is to charge everything to your room. Assuming you booked at the Harrah's property, just charge food and anything you can think of on your room and make sure its connected to your total rewards. They like seeing high charges to the room.

Lastly, if you go often, get an account with that casino. You submit your checking account info and all that stuff so that you can just take out "markers" with the casino. You MUST pay them back though. It's the same thing as them lending you money for free but you have to pay back. Taking out markers for thousands of dollars will get you lots of good comps. It doesn't necessarily mean you have to gamble that amount. Just take it out and show them that you are willing to gamble that amount.

If you don't have a diamond or seven stars card, look around the casino and find one (usually around slot machines). It is very useful and will give you front cuts in long taxi lines, cuts in front of busy restaurants, etc. They do not check the name.

Best of all, good luck and do not lose your house and home just to attain some comps.

This is some of the craziest advice for getting comps I have ever read. They track average bet and legnth of play at the tables. It does not matter how much you buy in.

Charging things to your room helps in that then they are able to comp some or all of that stuff IF YOUR PLAY WARRANTS it. Do not go crazy charging things you wouldn't otherwise buy/eat to the room cause you think they "like" that or think they will automatically comp it. They would much rather see lots of coin in than a bunch of dinners charged to your room.

They also do not comp you just because you took out a bunch of vouchers. If you're not putting in time at the tables or the slots they KNOW you aren't. The casinos aren't stupid.

LittleNicky is getting lots of good comps because he gambles $70/hand. Going in and taking out markers and charging stuff to your room is not going to get you comps. Playing slots and tables is going to get you comps.

Be careful picking up a lost Diamond or 7 Stars card. It may let you cut the taxi line, but when I cut lines at restaurants, etc, they almost always ask for my ID.

If you play at Harrahs properties sign up for the Total Rewards card. Harrahs likes to see a good "trip average" (coin in per trip). If you play at the Flamingo and Ballys in the same day, that counts as two trips. So if you put $1000 coin in at Flamingo, and $500 coin in at Ballys the same day, you have 2 trips with an average of $750. If you put that same $1500 thru at just one property you have a $1500 trip average.

Harrahs properties are pretty generous with free rooms. Even if you don't play a lot, you may still get offers for free rooms during off peak times.

While you're there you will accumulate points on your players card. These can be used to "comp yourself" meals or merchandise at the casino. Each point is worth $0.01. If you play a lot a host can comp things above and beyond what your points would pay for, but at Harrahs properties the hosts first take all your points, then cover the excess. You will also get offers in the mail for buffets or "bonus cash" good to redeem on your next visit.

The simplest way to get comped in a casino is to join the players' club at the casino AND to meet up with a casino host. The host will tell you the levels required for a certain level of comps. Casino hosts are generally very upfront with the requirements.

Tyalking with a host will allow you to know precisely what you'll get for the amount of gambling that you'll be doing.

Beats posting on this forum where you'll get anecdotal information.