Most casinos offer players comps. The most common one is free drinks while playing. Others require players club tracking to receive. These include free slot play, table game bets, comped hotel rooms, and food vouchers.
Casinos often use an average daily theoretical (ADT) formula to determine player value. This is what the casino expects to win from the amount of action given. A $0 or negative day can cause the value of offers to drop.
Don’t take advantage of comps when you aren’t playing
Casinos send mailers to players or post them on their apps with offers for free play, food, or hotel rooms. These are meant to bring action to the property. When a player takes these offers and plays little or nothing, the ADT will run negative during that visit. This all but guarantees worse or even nonexistent offers in the future. Do not accept these offers unless you intend to play at or near your normal levels, or do not care about burning that bridge.
Avoid days with little action
When giving action, regardless of the comp situation, avoid short playing days. It is important to learn the hours of a gambling day at each casino. For example, Caesars Entertainment casinos generally consider a day 6am to 5:59am. Some casinos end the day closer to the middle of the night, while a few go from midnight to 11:59pm.
Giving a day’s worth of action across two casino days will cut your ADT in half as opposed to giving all the action in one day. If you play at casinos on the graveyard shift, check with the players center to ensure you are giving all your action under one day. If you intend to play later on the same day after resting, there is no need to worry about this.
Don’t use players card during short sessions
If you are on your way to the airport and want to play for 20 minutes before catching your ride, you should not use your players card in most situations. The main exception is if you played earlier in the casino day, and it adds to existing action. You may think after a bad trip that burning a day does not matter because you are not returning. This decision can come back to haunt you if you later change your mind.
Using tier perks when you don’t play
Some players clubs offer daily perks like free drink tickets or food comps. Each swipe of the card at a kiosk, bar, or restaurant triggers a daily event. The value of the comp becomes a negative amount for the day. Consider only using these comps when you play, as the negative value of using these offers can ding ADT.
Atlantic City and Las Vegas casinos often charge for parking. Player reports note that using cards from higher loyalty club tiers to get free parking does not affect comps. The reporting systems are not connected.
Do not use your players card in 100% video poker machines
Some Las Vegas locals casinos offer 100% video poker games. These machines usually pay no points. There is no reason to put your players card in them. Giving more action to these games than ones with a house advantage will have a negative effect on your offers. Play these machines without your card inserted.
Ensure your table rating is accurate
Unlike slots and electronic table games, where automated systems track every wager, table game ratings are harder to grade. The pit supervisor cannot watch the entire game. Mistakes are sometimes made in betting averages or the length of play. Before leaving a table, ask the supervisor for your rating in terms of time, results, and average bet. If there is an error, ask for it to be fixed. The dealer may be able to help.
Tipping dealers can help with your ratings. Some report average bets to the tracking system. Having the dealers on your side may help you get the benefit of the doubt if a problem arises.
Stay consistent
If your bankroll allows, give about the same level of action on every casino day and trip. Having a large outlier day among many small ones is not as great as giving consistent medium action. This lets the casino know the type of ADT to expect on your visit, and your comps will match accordingly. Otherwise, you may be required to play a specific level to receive your offers. That may go wrong if you run poorly during your first day.
