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What am I missing?

Discussion in 'Comps' started by Vegasvics, Nov 20, 2012.

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  1. Vegasvics

    Vegasvics Tourist

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    Looking back as a 2-3x a year visitor to LV for the past 20 years, my cumulative comp total can be summed up as:

    1) 4 nights at Red Rock
    2) Buffet line pass @ Bellagio (once)
    3) Free midweek nights offer, various properties (half a dozen per month)

    More info: I always pay for a suite, usually Sun-Thurs. My wife and I play $1 VP, average 300 hands per hour, 6-8 hour a day ea. I also play green chip BJ and Craps, 2-4 hours per day. We have Players Club cards for everywhere we play.

    I've always observed the maxim "don't chase comps", but I'm wondering if I am leaving a lot on the table (no pun intended). Advice appreciated
     
  2. kel3420

    kel3420 VIP Whale

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    where are you playing? You should be getting way more than that
     
  3. Vegasvics

    Vegasvics Tourist

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    Last few years: Bellagio, Wynn, Venetian, Cosmo, Paris

    I'm a downtown convert now
     
  4. agirl

    agirl Low-Roller

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    Do you skip around a lot? The only thing I can think of is maybe you are spreading it around too much. They like it when you spend a lot of hours in one place.

    If that's not the case, you might try emailing and/or calling around to various casino hosts where you have played. One time we needed a weekend stay and I must have emailed about 5 different hosts at a couple different casinos until finally one was very nice and offered us the weekend comped. So you just never know! One host can give you a very different response than another sometimes.
     
  5. ams722

    ams722 Side Bet Shunner

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    That could be your answer right there. Five different hotels, five different players cards. Focus your play in one players club and it sounds like you could have gotten a lot more comps.
     
  6. nostresshere

    nostresshere Mr. Anti Debit Card

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    Each casino (or group) will place a value on you. That value is tied directly to what they consider your AVERAGE TOTAL PLAY for each trip. They could care less what you spend elsewhere. The really do not care much what you spend on rooms, etc.

    That play is of course tied to what games (V/P and Poker on the low end, slots on the high end of value).

    The definition of a trip does vary and you will get varied opinions on that. Some will measure over multiple days. Some measure each individual day.

    Bottom line, they give out comps based on what they KNOW you have spent in the past, factor in their hold, and then guess what you will spend in the future.
     
  7. Vegasvics

    Vegasvics Tourist

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    Not really. We typically play where we stay, and certainly the majority of our play would be there while sometimes venturing out during the evening session.

    Typical day would include 3 sessions -- Day, Evening, Late Night (during my daytime session she hits the spa, pool, or shops). The daytime and late night sessions are always where we stay, with the evening session occasionally spread around a little depending on what we have planned for dining and entertainment.

    I certainly understand the concept of how comps are accumulated. But I've just never experienced nor witnessed the spontaneous comps stories I hear about -- Pit Bosses handing out meal vouchers or show tickets at the red chip BJ table for example.

    This leads me to believe that the more common scenario is a) haggling over your bill with a Host at checkout time to see what they'll remove, or b) receiving the midweek resort room offers for future stays -- which I already get. Quite honestly, I think my play warrants more than that and I'm just not going about getting it from them. RFB, VP tournaments, Airport Limos shouldn't be off the table in my view
     
  8. mike_m235

    mike_m235 Tourist

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    I'd offer two pieces of advice. If you've got a record of play at a property in the last year or two and want to go back, call a host. I've had very good success getting what I deserve by doing this.

    Also, when you go to leave, check out with the hosts office. It's not haggling. They'll simply pull you up in the computer and take stuff off your bill as appropriate. It's very low stress, and very easy. I've never had to do more than hand them my card and wait for an answer.
     
  9. Auggie

    Auggie Dovahkiin

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    You should be getting more/better comps than you have been... but there are a lot of reasons why you might not be.

    1) How do you book your rooms?
    If you book by calling the hotel's front desk or via third party sites (hotels.com, expedia.com, etc) then the hotel either doesn't know you are a player in the casino or they are unable to apply any comps to your bill.
    The best way to book a room is by calling the number on the back of your casino player card or to call and ask to speak to a casino host.

    2) Do you check for comps at the end of your trip?
    TV and movies like to depict casino hosts as just wandering aimlessly around the casino and doling out free rooms and comps... that doesn't really happen.
    If you don't have a comp when you are booked, then BEFORE YOU CHECK OUT you need to go to the casino's player club booth or talk to a host. They will evaluate your play and apply any comps to your hotel bill or room charges.

    3) Do they have a way of reaching you?
    Do they have your current email address and mailing address? They can't send you offers if they have no way of reaching and some people when they signed up either gave them info that has changed over the years or were thinking they don't want to get junk mail from them so didn't give all their info. But also mistakes can happen when they are punching in your information, especially if you have a complex or potentially confusing email address, so you should also see if you can check that info to verify it is accurate.

    4) Do you check if you have comps being offered?
    With some loyalty programs this can be as easy as logging in to their website, with others you have to phone in to check.

    5) Do you always use your player card?
    They need a way to track/record your play you need to use it every time. Some people won't use if they think they are only going to be playing for an hour at the tables or on slots or VP not use it because they think it affects the machine and that since they are already a player, since they have a card, the machine will play tighter.

    6) Are you realistic about your play?
    You have to be both realistic and honest about your play... especially in this case since the hotels you listed off (Bellagio, Wynn, Venetian, Cosmo, Paris) are all high end ones.
    Like if your play is more like $10-15 per hand and once in a while you get up to $25 its OK if you want to tell us you are a $25 per hand player, but when evaluating your own play versus what comps you receive you would need to be honest with yourself and what you bet so you know better what to expect.
    And that goes the same with any tricks or stunts you might try to pull, like if you normally play $10 per hand but when the pit boss is looking you always have $50 our there... those guys are a lot smarter and more observant than many give them credit for and they typically do pick up on things like that.

    7) Do you ask?
    This is more of the final sum up point:
    First, asking for comps isn't chasing after them.
    Most of the time you have to ask for comps, whether its calling their VIP number to book a trip, stopping by the player club during the trip to see if you earning a perk or discount, to stopping there afterwards to check if you have any extra comps before you check out.
    And you don't want to be thinking things like "I am too small a player" or "my bankroll isn't big enough" because it never hurts to ask: asking only uses up a couple of minutes of your time and the worst thing they can do is just say no, that you don't have enough play.
     
  10. nostresshere

    nostresshere Mr. Anti Debit Card

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    Never seen that either, and we get pretty good comps.
     
  11. blackjacknut

    blackjacknut VIP Whale

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    Sounds like you need a host...there was no mention of one in the original post. I would suggest you get a host as at the described play level you should be getting something more than you are.
     
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