Best Casino for Comps

[larry@vegas]

OK, based on your experiences, which property is best for overall comps---rooms, meals, shows, pecial promotions, etc. for the average to mid-level player? (We all know that high rollers get the royal treatment from all the casinos).

[Andsen]

You really hafta go Downtown or off Strip if you are a Small to mid-level player and want to maximize your comps. I don't know what you consider an "average" player but most of the people on this board (based on their admitted gambling budget)would not realize much more than free drinks at the majority of the places in your poll. Having said that I did vote for the IP as I know a coupla lo-roller slot players who have done well there comps wise. graemlins/beerchug.gif

[greaseball]

I will agree that downtown is your best scenario. The Orleans seems to be the place of choice more recently. Lots of good reviews for the rooms, food, comp levels etc. Although we have booked in at the Exc, we are still considering the Orleans.We always rent a car so location is not a concern to us. Some of the properties you have listed are most elegant, but pretty pricey for my blood.Can almost stay for a week, for the price of 2 nights at Bellagio. Use that extra cash to play, get some comps and maybe a show. We never go to Vegas to spend time in the room anyway. Just a baggage and body drop. I can sleep when I get home.
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Joe, I am Canadian

[Booger]

I also agree,Downtown is your best bet.I think
the Imp. Palace would be worth a try on,your
list for places on the Strip.

Booger

[Nevada Kid]

Most of those places require you to be a bigger fish than me to get free stuff. Just like everyone else, I'd say to go downtown or off the strip if you want to see anything free under $25 a hand.

[Minnieux]

We signed up for a players card at the California only played like 50 bucks on the card cuz it was too loose to stay in the machine...anyway they have been sending us offers for 3 free nights since then...so we are staying there for 3 nights and also got 2 free nights at NYNY for using their players card for a little while..also got free night offers at the TI/Venetian/Rio but not for when we are going...so my advise is to sign up for the players cards if there are 2 of you, get one account with 2 cards so you can rack up them points.....by the way we are going end of january and hope to rack up more points for another visit in the summer...I JUST LOVE VEGAS BABY

[jack_retired]

I have had very good treatment at the Golden Nugget (Downtown). I am not even a "middle" player. Last time I worked with a casino host for the first time. The casino host gave me casino rate on my room. The casino host and pit critters covered almost all of my meals. The only thing they would not cover was ZAX's.

In other words, go down town if you are not a big player. Easier to find a table and easier to get comps.

[BNurick]

Big Jack:

Can you tell me:

1) How much you played per hand
2) What games you played
3) What you received
4) Hosts name

I am staying there Jan 3-4

Thanks.

[jack_retired]

BNurick,

Drop me an email with all of your questions.

Also search for my trip report.
Search using "nov" as key word and using my number "1025".

My email is jacklevin_ief@yahoo.com

Big Jack

[buckeyetodd]

there are tons of variables when it comes to comps. high end places like venetian wants your first born for a room. i have noticed some of the high mid or mid places are asking for more play than they used to. i have had some good luck at nyny but have heard horror stories from others. i have stayed for free twice at nyny, once for 2 nights and once for 6. my last trip, they wouldn't give me the time of day. my casino host had quit and they wouldn't even offer my a casino rate so i stayed at paris. i did go play a little at nyny and while seated at a bj table, a host came up to me and asked why i wasn't staying there. i told her what had happened and the rate they quoted me. she proceded to give me her card and said to call her first next time. this was in nov of last year. about a week ago i called her for a trip in january and she comped my room upfront and said she may take care of food also. if there are more than one person in your room, everyone should get a card and have all of your play going to the same room. i sometimes get frustrated when talking to hosts about comps. it seems the amount of your bet and hours of play never add up. i had some bad luck at ballys with this and also at paris. be sure to get a host, even if they just comp you a buffet it is worth the time.

todd

[bluestreak]

My $1,100 coin-in on a new slot card in November got me on the Fremont marketing radar. Postcard for 3 nights Jan 2-9th.

$3,000 in play got me nothing from the LVC, where I stayed, new card too.

[cterral]

I'm certainly not a high roller. In fact, I'm for certain a low roller (read $1 craps). But, I played for about an hour at Casino Royale and earnd @ $6 in comps for food. Was told it could be used at Subway or Denny's there. Do you have any idea how many Grand Slam breakfast you can get at Denny's for $6.

[Mike]

AREA %LOSS OF TOTAL FOOD COST
STRIP Appx 9%
STATE WIDE Appx 14%
DOWNTOWN Appx 37%

Benefit Estimated play
2 Buffets $10/hand for 1 hr.
2 Coffee Shop (Strip) $25-50/hand for 1 hr.
2 Coffee Shop (Downtown) $15/hand for 1 hr.
1 Nites Hotel (Strip) $50-100/hand for 4 hrs.
1 Nites Hotel (Downtown) $20-25/hand for 4-8 hrs.

Mike "Yahtzee"

[Soonerman]

I gambled in the Westward Ho for about an hour, only went through about 60 dollars, and have been receiving '4 free nights and show' offers ever since (this was in May 2000).. Hell, if I could convince my wife that this place wasnt a total dump I'd take them up on it but I'll never talk her into staying at that end.. maybe a guy trip..

[Nama]

Didn't see Excalibur on your list - we didn't play there much at all. We certainly aren't high rollers and got free rooms for 2 nights plus free meals.

[No Sevens]

I haven't been back since Oct. 2001 but will be hitting the town again this September. Stayed at the Barbary Coast back then and decided to see what kind of rate I could get this time. E-mailed the address on their website and received 4 free nights Wed-Sunday. Last trip I play almost exculsively craps with either $ 5.00 pass line and come bets and $ 10.00 odds. Also, some $ 10.00 don't pass and don't come with no odds. I am not sure exactly how many hours I played, but did tip when ahead, and always had a running conversation with the deals and suits. I never asked for a "meal" comp but was eating in the coffee shop on day when a pit boss walked up and asked me if I got a comp for me and my buddy. When I told him no, he said he would take care of it. I thought that was a nice touch. Anyway, I will be staying again at the Barbary Coast this time and in the future. I like the way they operate.

[Tausha]

Originally posted by buckeyetodd:
my casino host had quit and they wouldn't even offer my a casino rate so i stayed at paris. i did go play a little at nyny and while seated at a bj table, a host came up to me and asked why i wasn't staying there. i told her what had happened and the rate they quoted me. she proceded to give me her card and said to call her first next time. this was in nov of last year. about a week ago i called her for a trip in january and she comped my room upfront and said she may take care of food also. if there are more than one person in your room, everyone should get a card and have all of your play going to the same room. i sometimes get frustrated when talking to hosts about comps. it seems the amount of your bet and hours of play never add up. i had some bad luck at ballys with this and also at paris. be sure to get a host, even if they just comp you a buffet it is worth the time.

todd

[Tausha]

Originally posted by Tausha:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by buckeyetodd:
my casino host had quit and they wouldn't even offer my a casino rate so i stayed at paris. i did go play a little at nyny and while seated at a bj table, a host came up to me and asked why i wasn't staying there. i told her what had happened and the rate they quoted me. she proceded to give me her card and said to call her first next time. be sure to get a host, even if they just comp you a buffet it is worth the time.

todd </font>[/QUOTE]How do you "get a host"? Do you just walk up to one and start asking them questions? do you request to talk to a host at check-in? We are staying at Paris and I would like to get at leats a few meals comp'd.

[jack_retired]

Some meals, mainly buffet & cafe, can be comped by pit critters. Others by a host. A few shows can be comped by pit critters. Others by a host.

Just ask the pit critter for what you want. He will say 'yes', 'no', or 'I can not do that'. If he says the last, then ask to talk to a host.

graemlins/wink2.gif

[neonmama]

Just got back this weekend. (April 7-12th)Stayed 3nites at Fitzgeralds and 2 nites at Casino Royale-both were comped rooms. At Fitzgeralds we had asked for up grade to Club 21 room (mistake) for 10.00 and had a 3rd person $10.00 extra and of course I expected to get this comped also BUT it never happened--we had a very condesending Asian man (host)we talked to and he allowed us nothing after reviewing the 3 of our play. I could not believe it. Also the only food comp I got was from the 3 card poker pit boss. I was very disappointed and upset. Finally just paid it and gave up. I have sent an Email to the hotel manager complaining about this. I have been comped several times at NYNY without any question food and hotel. We'll see. At Casino Royale everything was free. Was great. Cheap room but had choice of food comps at Denny's or Outback (it was great). I will not be going back to Fitzgerald for sure. Also their blackjack paid 6 to 5!!!

[bigbubba3]

Bluestreak, I just stayed at the LVC and was surprised when I was told that unless I had a minimum wager of $10 at the bj table, they wouldn't even note my activity. Give me a break! I like LVC because it does have lenient blackjack rules, but I couldn't believe they were tough on comping.

At any rate, if you want to gamble, go downtown. A group of four of us just got back from Vegas, WITHOUT FAIL, all four of us lost money playing slots at Paris, Bellagio and Luxor. However, we all did ok at 4Queens, Gold Spike, Golden Nugget, and LVC. We couldn't believe the difference. But when you think about it, those high-end strip joints have got to pay for those massive new buildings.

I know downtown is older, but at least you can find $2 blackjack tables (gold spike 24/7) and loose slots. IMHO, If you're going to gamble in Vegas, gamble downtown.