MGM Tier Credits and Comps

So I've read so many different posts over the past several months about how TC and comps are calculated by MGM, I thought it might be a good idea to start a thread that simplifies it. No doubt, some of my assumptions here might be off, so please jump in an correct me.

For table play (which is what I do), I think I have read that every 30 TC represents $1 in theo. And I think I recall comps usually being 40% of theo. So if I am trying to determine my comps earned by the end of a trip, wouldn't it be easiest to simply take my TC earned on the trip, divide by thirty, and multiply by .4?

And assuming that is correct, is there any consensus these days on how much of those comps go toward primary/upfront comps and how much goes toward express comps?

I tend to get whatever I want on my bigger trips, mainly because I don't ask for much. But if I consider starting to ask my host for more, I would love a quick and easy way to calculate my comps

 

For table play (which is what I do), I think I have read that every 30 TC represents $1 in theo. And I think I recall comps usually being 40% of theo. So if I am trying to determine my comps earned by the end of a trip, wouldn't it be easiest to simply take my TC earned on the trip, divide by thirty, and multiply by .4?

This seems like an accurate, simply stated understanding of things. I use this formula when I have a trip with heavy play to get a ballpark figure of what I should be able to ask for so that I make sure to consume the F&B I should be able to get picked up via discretionary comps

It seems to be the best way to make sure you don't leave a lot on the table after a big trip.

Consensus seems to be that 4-5% of theo gets credited toward ECs and that another 35-36% of theo is available as discretionary comps working through a host.

 

Should you consider the accelerated point and EC earnings with the different level of card (pearl, gold, plat., etc.)?

 

Good point. I didn't even think about that. But presumably, any bump I get for status applies to both TC and comps

 

Interesting questions. The people who have given input on this board about this subject are Mlife Plat or Noir in general and the TC bonuses have been taken into account when doing these calculations.

The 30/40% status bonus applies to tier credit earnings and EXPRESS comps, I think the overall comp ratio maxes out at 40% of theo so your discretionary comps will be lower if you are receiving a EC bonus.

This will hardly be noticeable since 130% of 5% is 6.5%.

I truly think these systems are designed to be as difficult as possible to understand so that people will be less likely to debate what the hosts tell them.

 

TC may be game dependant as well. I mostly play UTH and there is some talk that Wynn, Venetian, and mLife have started to not comp players of UTH. Soneone on another board mentioned that Wynn and Venetian realized that the "Play" bet on UTH is positive EV to the player, when earned free play and comps are factored in. I do not know if mLife looks at this game the same as them.

So, your calculations may definitely hold true for traditional table games, but may not be true for sone of the carnival games.

 

another thing that adds difficulty to using tier credits as the base of the calculation is that you also earn tier credits for non-gambling spending. You may have a tough time splitting them out.

 

Also a good point. But at least for me that's not an issue because I never spend money in MGM properties (except leaving cash for tips)

 

UK, I am not arguing with you but I do have a question. You are staying at the Bellagio (according to your countdown timer) yet you say you never spend money at MGM properties. Is this a 100% comp? Are you rooming with someone else who is footing the bill? Because the Bellagio isn't free. If you are paying to stay there you will get 25 TC's per dollar spent on the cost of the room. Like I said, I am just curious. Thanks.

 

No problem. My room gets comped up front and I just charge everything to my room and either get it comped at the end, or sometimes use my EC to pay for it

 

I have given up trying to figure it out.

On some of my winning runs, they seem to "lose" the slip and I don't even get rated.

Even if I ask them and they tell me an average bet number and the hours,
its not consistent on the mlife website or host.

Recently I had a whole trip not recorded at Aria...

In my opinion, its worthless to save up express comps (up to a certain point)
1. you never know when they are going away
2. what else are you going to do with them?
3. you regenerate them pretty quickly

Fk

 

Is there a face-palm emoticon? Thanks UK. Some days I miss the obvious. Sadly this time was not due to

 

That's not actually true. Accelerated earnings based on your tier don't affect your tier credits - only express comps and point play earned.

 

Why not just ask your host for your theo? The 30 TCs per $1 theo should be accurate in theory based on what I learned from MLife people but there's a chance that number is stale or that your TCs don't update properly which seems to happen quite a bit to people. So if you're just looking for your theo the best way is just to ask. Especially at your level of play I think its good to hash these things out in detail with your host. If they know that you understand the system I think they're less likely to try and shortchange you.

 

lol, no problem!

 

I have sometimes in the past. But I like to be able to verify it myself as well.

And as you suggest, there is definitely as lag time between your play and when numbers register in their system. At Bellagio last month, I sought out my host on the last evening to ask him to take care of all the room charges. He jumped on his computer and congratulated me on getting back on a winning streak (2012 and first half of 2013, I had a monster year at Bellagio, but that came to a crashing halt with a massive loss back in May). Actually, I had been up significantly earlier in the day, but the afternoon session had wiped out all my gains and turned the trip into a big loss. I told him his info was not up to date and that my play from a few hours earlier clearly had not registered yet. He confirmed that was a typical delay

 

I am like an earlier poster. On last half dozen trips to Vegas, the only money I spent in any MGM or CET hotel was for tips. Room, meals, shows are comped.

 

Yeah, part of the reason I started thinking about starting this thread is that four friends are joining me in Vegas next week and I am taking care of everything, probably to the tune of $3k on top of the upfront room comp that I get. As usual, I will charge it all to my room and see what I cang et taken care of on the back end. Seems like I only even have to think about my comps when I am treating friends out there. When I am solo, I'll earn a ton of comps, but am perfectly content grabbing a sandwich at the snack bar and spending the entire trip in the sportsbook or high limit room. Seems like I only incur all the other costs when friends are in tow.

 

seem that you will rack up a lot of EC credits when you make the trips without the friends. Any reason you are saving them up?

I always wonder what the people do who have thousands of EC credits. Most things get back end comped so what will you use them for except for when friends come?

fk

 

When just wife and I go, we tend to build up EC - spend some, and some stuff is comped.

When we take friends or family, it puts a big drain on the built up ECs. They were up to almost $5k last year. After a few trips, down to $1k.