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Showing Mlife Card When Doing Light Gambling?

Discussion in 'Comps' started by Goosey, Oct 24, 2012.

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  1. Goosey

    Goosey Low-Roller

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    I've always been told not to show your players card when you're just messing around/doing light gambling. But that was before I have an established relationship with a host. That got me thinking. I usually average $300-400 a hand in bac. If I put in that 4 hours, would it really hurt me if I spend an extra hour or two playing $50 blackjack or 3card or hit the poker room? I suppose it might hurt my corporate offers, but I figure my host is smart enough to see I've put in the hours and not just work off a bet average that was affected by my lighter gambling activities. Any thoughts on this matter?
     
  2. Travel Fanatic

    Travel Fanatic The Arbiter of Taste Caviar Kid

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    If you have a good relationship wqith the host, ask him or her and find out. When I am doing the same, I usually do my light gambling at somewhere I don't plan on staying soon (CET)
     
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  3. shifter

    shifter Degenerate Gambler

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    It depends on how much is light. One trip I had over 30k theo already at over 3k avg bet and the last night I decided to play some green chip BJ with my buddy for an hour. I definitely didn't hand over my card since it made no sense.
     
  4. Naturaleight

    Naturaleight MIA

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    I don't get it. Why would showing your card ever hurt?
     
  5. 44inarow

    44inarow VIP Whale

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    Because one of the key metrics they look at is your average bet over the course of the trip. To use an extreme example and some loose math, let's you gamble 10 hours at $1000 and then 10 hours at $50; you look better to your host and the marketing department if you're someone who spent 10 hours at $1000, as opposed to 20 hours at an average of $525, so you're better off not handing over your card.

    That being said, if you don't have a host and are just looking for Express Comps and tier credits, then no, it probably doesn't matter much, since every session will help a little, even at a lower bet.
     
  6. mike_m235

    mike_m235 Tourist

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    My last trip I was broke and playing $10 craps my last day. My trip was rated as 7.25 hours at $114 a hand.

    I played for almost two hours at $10 a hand...let's just call it 1.75 hours, for math's sake.

    So which sounds better to you? 7.25 hours at $114 or 9 hours at $94? Because that would be my new number.
     
  7. Dutchy

    Dutchy Tourist

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    Same amount of wager.

    But 7.25 / $114,- sounds better.
     
  8. Naturaleight

    Naturaleight MIA

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    Interesting. Never really gave much thought about it. I will think twice before giving my card if I want to do some "recreational" $5 play.
     
  9. Max2589

    Max2589 Low-Roller

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    At Wynn, the player card number is on your room key as well. I had a friend with me whos room was under my name. Hence, It had my number. The pit asked to see his player card/room key and he handed it to them. He was playing $25 BJ as opposed to my $300/spin play. Anyways, my average was total garbage for the trip. I am not certain if it was bc of how I was rated at the wheel or if his BJ play killed me. He actually thought he would be helping me out with this stunt. I'm pretty sure it hurt. I have been unable to get straight answers from my host. I call to chat it up and he would rather push me off. "Just call me next time you want to come to down and I will make it up to you"..etc. Hed rather take that approach then actually look at what happened. I happened to take a 4k loss in a few hours play, all pulled from front money.
    How would that make sense to them? I would of had to play for 4-5 hours and lose every single spin to hit the average they spat out. Lame
     
  10. nostresshere

    nostresshere Mr. Anti Debit Card

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    They track your play for two primary reasons or systems.

    A) determine your average play over the course of the trip at MGM (per day at CET). How much do they think they can "win" from you based on your average play.

    and

    B) To earn tier credits and express comps based on your play, no matter how little or how much at a given session. These have nothing to do with comps other than express comps which are earned at a low rate.


    In the case of type A, if you were in town for a day and were only going to play just a little, using your card would generate a very low average play (theo/adt). If that play is way under your normal average, you get knocked down a few levels in the type of player the system considers you.

    But, if you do not care about offers via ADT/Theo and care more about tier credits and express comps, then give them your card everytime.
     
  11. nostresshere

    nostresshere Mr. Anti Debit Card

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    Be careful. Even having a host could hurt. After all, the host is somewhat tied to your average play in what they can give.
     
  12. sdbruin619

    sdbruin619 Low-Roller

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    I just asked a host at a MGM property about this. He said it doesn't matter and always use ur card. I had played craps at $10 min table and and lost $600 but never gave my card. I usually play 100-200 hand bj and some slots. He said always use the card as it wouldn't hurt only help. Also he said I'm gambling wrong as I'm losing way more than my theo....lol. but not this last trip I came out way ahead...about time.
     
  13. 44inarow

    44inarow VIP Whale

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    $10 craps is a different proposition, though; to be honest, it's not difficult to get rated at close to $100 at a $10 craps table.

    In general, I've been told the opposite by the people I've talked to. I usually am in the $75-100 range at craps, but last time saw someone handing over their card to play $10 blackjack while I was killing time at Bellagio waiting for my girlfriend. I asked a pit boss about this, and was told that they'll now take the cards at any bet, for the tier points and express comps, but when I mentioned that I'm normally rated much higher than $10, I was told that handing over my card wouldn't be a great idea. And it makes sense, based on the many discussions of the subject on this board.
     
  14. Goosey

    Goosey Low-Roller

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    Wow. I guess I will continue to NOT show my card when I'm just messing around.
     
  15. Naturaleight

    Naturaleight MIA

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    Does anyone know what effect, if any, using your card at the poker table has?
     
  16. mike_m235

    mike_m235 Tourist

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    Poker comps are basically separate from casino comps. My belief is that it has absolutely no impact.
     
  17. Llew

    Llew Low-Roller

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    The key is NOT your bet amount. It's your average daily theoretical loss. 10 hrs @ $10/hand is the same ADT as 1 hr at $100/hand as far as the casino cares.

    It's better to concentrate your gambling into successive days rather than doing light or no gambling (using your card) on some days. That way, the casino doesn't count those non-gambling days as part of your trip:

    Theoretical loss of $3000 over 3 days: $1000 ADT
    Theoretical loss of $3000 over 5 days: $600 ADT

    But if you want to combine light and heavy betting on the same day, that doesn't hurt your ADT. It's only entire days of light betting that do so.
     
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