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Question About Primary Comps

Discussion in 'Comps' started by dragon7, Oct 6, 2013.

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  1. dragon7

    dragon7 Tourist

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    What happens to all of the primary comps with Mlife if they don't send you any offers? If you book an offer from them they use the primary comps to offset the upfront comp and tell you to use your express comps yourself. Fair enough. If they don't give you any offers shouldn't the primary comps be building as well as the express comps?
     
  2. nostresshere

    nostresshere Mr. Anti Debit Card

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    Huh? Primary comps are based upon play for the current trip - yes?
     
  3. shifter

    shifter Degenerate Gambler

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    yes, if you book your own paid room and come in and you gamble, you should be earning primary comps in addition to the ECs. you should be able to go into the host office at the end of your trip and have a host apply those to your room charges on the backend. the amount of primary comps should be about 5-7x the ECs that you earned. if they tell you that you can use your ECs and don't offer to do anything else, they are screwing you.

    however, primary comps aren't able to be saved from trip to trip so if you don't use them one trip, they don't build up like ECs where you can use them later except in situations where you have a good relationship with your host and he is willing to overcomp you on some trips when you were undercomped on other trips.
     
  4. Travel Fanatic

    Travel Fanatic The Arbiter of Taste Caviar Kid

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    And, for what its worth, if you think you are going to play sufficiently to build up a lot of primary comps, touch base with a host before your trip. My host at Bellagio told me that MGM has a directive to get players to use up their saved express comps. Your host can go around that and use your primary comps first, but my host told me that unless the host has a relationship with the player, the host on call will probably not do anything to help you use your primary comps first
     
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  5. dragon7

    dragon7 Tourist

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    So are primary comps only available if you are staying at the hotel?

    In my case I've never gotten any Mlife offers for a free hotel stay. Caesars, Stations etc.. I get all the time. So on my next trip I'm staying at a Caesars property for free but plan to concentrate most of my play at MGM properties. I want to transition over to MLife and hopefully start getting offers.

    So what happens if I play at let's say Mandalay Bay or Aria for the whole trip but I'm staying at Caesars? Do I earn comps over Express comps that I can use on the property? It seems odd that you would earn 5 x 7 times more in comps if you book a room but nothing (except express comps)if you don't.
     
  6. JustNgo

    JustNgo Low-Roller

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    You still earn primary comps whether you stay on property or not, however they are incredibly difficult (if not impossible) to access without the aid of a host.
     
  7. jdvegas

    jdvegas VIP Whale

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    I know the original scenario was staying at a CET casino and playing at an MGM/Mlife casino... but just to be clear:

    If you are staying at any Mlife/MGM hotel, you can go to any other MGM/Mlife property and charge your meals, show tickets, etc to your room... which can then be applied to primary comps.

    If you are not staying at MGM/Mlife... yeah, difficult. I do not think Pit Bosses have any authority for comps anymore, but I would start by asking one after you have played for a few hours. Otherwise, I would try the VIP office after several hours of play. Probably better to wait until the second day to ask so they see two days of action.
     
  8. dragon7

    dragon7 Tourist

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    O.k., Got it. What would you say are the minimum levels of play/time to get a host to talk to you without making it seem like you are wasting their time? Tables games : blackjack, craps, baccarat. Slots: How much coin in?
     
    Last edited: Oct 7, 2013
  9. Travel Fanatic

    Travel Fanatic The Arbiter of Taste Caviar Kid

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    Depends on which property. Some of the lower tier MGM properties, I think (guess) as little as $75 a hand will get some attention. I recall a host approaching me at Luxor about four years ago when I was betting $75 on the line at craps.

    For the top tier properties, one to two hundred a hand is enough to get a host's attention.

    As far as time, I would say at least fours a day.

    I don't know about slots
     
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  10. JustNgo

    JustNgo Low-Roller

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    UKFanatic and Shifter will be able to tell you more about this than I, but I would imagine that you would have to build up several hundred if not in the thousands in primary before a host could/would do anything for you if you stay off property. Particularly if your play in the past has not even warranted a comped room.
     
  11. shifter

    shifter Degenerate Gambler

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    basically when you're staying off property the only way to make use of primary comps is through the host writing up a hard comp. a host on duty is going to be incredibly reluctant to do this, so you really need to establish a relationship with a host upfront. go over to the casino and put a few hours of play in. if a host comes up and introduces himself while you're playing perfect. if not, go into the host office and talk to a host. let him know you're staying over at a CET property, but you've been playing over here today and you're going to be spending most of your time playing at his property for the next few days. he'll love to hear that. tell him you'd like to have dinner at XYZ restaurant and can he write you up a comp. he'll take a look and let you know.

    however, you've mentioned nothing about your level of play. if you're not at least black chip or above, none of this applies to you as a host is unlikely to want to do anything for you at the green chip level. you're stuck with ECs for this trip, but maybe you'll get some offers in the mail down the road.
     
  12. paperposter

    paperposter MIA

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    also if you loose 5 or 10 grand at bj in tweenty minutes you can have a host get you stuff.

    so asking how much to bet and so is tricky also what property.

    but usualy 4 hours a 100$ up for bj to get like a buffet but as i said if you taker a big hit quick they will do alot more.

    i took a 30 grand hit and got o ticks and tons of meals basicaly what ever i asked for without using my express comps as i wasnt staying at aria or any mgm property
     
  13. dankyone

    dankyone VIP Whale

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    These responses are on the mark, the very best way to access primary comps when staying elsewhere is to work thru a host you already know on property.

    Working through the host on duty at the top properties in a case like this you will get absolutely nothing if not playing black chips, but if you are showing a few hours a day at $200 and up average they will write you out a real dinner comp--begrudgingly if you are winning, very willingly if you are losing.

    In this one particular instance the more you show you understand about the system the more you are likely to get. For example if you say, oh, last time when I earned $50 in express comps here (Bellagio/Aria) when staying at Cosmo my host wrote out a dinner comp for $300--you may well get it, even as a winner. If you have lost big, it is easier to get more. It also helps if you do have a long history of play with the property in question.

    I also suggest you ask how your play was rated BEFORE you ask for the comp. That makes them less defensive, forces them to acknowledge that you are a player, and makes them look ridiculous if they say no after announcing high level play and/or losses. Again, be aware of what is reasonable and understand they just won't do anything at all if you are not playing black or higher.
     
  14. paperposter

    paperposter MIA

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    i played for the first time in a long time at hardrock lost around 5-7000 lost count but minum bet 200 and up.

    im going to go in ask to comp some food and stuff well how the deal with it.should be interesting to see if they do the right thing.



    i will second the last statement know what you where rated and how long gives you more barging power.ps all mgm property host can access all your play at all there places .so say you do alot at aria and mgm they can base a comp of of that..

    when i went back to aria after my loose they had x hours at 600 a hand and x hours at 1500 a hand and they said just let me know what you need .

    ask till they say no then you reached your max.ps get a good relationship going as host have so much descrtion .

    on the short side i play alot at one casino and took over 20 grand in a few hours came back a few days later and everyone said i heard you had a good day from pit critter to my host to a dealer or 2 thats beacuse after 10 plus year they know me.
     
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