|
Slot Clubs
 Almost
every casino offers some kind of "Slot Club" or
"Player's Club". For video poker players,
participation in the slot club is essential. When
entering a casino for the first time, your first
stop should be at the player's club booth to get a
card (in fact, you may want to get several -- just
ask).
Slot clubs offer many benefits, but the most
important are listed below:
 |
Cash back -- Many casinos
have some kind of "cash back" provision, so that
you get some percentage of the amount you play
back in cash. The amount of cash back varies from
one casino to another, but it is based on "points"
that are accumulated as you play. Always cash out
your card at the end of a casino trip -- should
you not return to the casino for an extended
period, your points can be erased (many casinos
maintain points on a card for some predetermined
period, like three, six or twelve months, then
erase them). |
|
Comp meals -- Casinos will
often provide free meals after some amount of slot
(or video poker) play. Some will provide a buffet
comp after a few hours of play, others require a
certain number of points, etc. After you have
some playing time, go to the player's club booth
and say, "Could I get a buffet comp, please?". If
you don't have enough play, they'll tell you --
but usually, you'll get it. Just remember -- if
you don't ask, you don't get. |
|
Comp Lodging -- If you play
enough, casinos will provide a "comp" room, and if
you play even more, a suite. Lodging obviously
requires more play than just getting a free
buffet, but depending on the season, how busy the
hotel is, and numerous other factors, you may be
surprised. In general, when you call to make
reservations at the hotel, you'll need to speak
with either "VIP Services" or a "Casino Host", who
will look at your play from your previous trips
and determine whether you will be comped. If they
won't comp you, ask whether they can provide a
casino rate -- this is a room at less
than the going rate for the night. If it is your
first trip to the particular casino, don't expect
to be comped up-front. However, if you have a lot
of play during your stay, ask a casino host about
comping you after-the-fact. In general, it seems
to take a lot more play to get an after-the-fact
comp than it does before your stay, so whenever
possible, get the comp up front. |
|
Mail Offers & Free Money --
After you've visited a casino and played some,
you can expect them to pursue you further. You
will receive mailings that contain coupons
redeemable for food, rooms, and even money.
Generally, the coupons are limited as to the dates
they are valid. If you play a little, you may get
a discount on a room for a weekday, if you play
more a free room on a weekday. If you play quite
a bit, you may get a prized free room on a
weekend. Casinos with great hotel and meal offers
may offer lower cash back; casinos with minimal
hotel properties may offer more meals and free
money offers. Casinos with a really good
selection of first-rate games may be very stingy
with comps. And casinos with really bad
(low-paying) video poker games may be very
forthcoming with comps. |
|
Gift Shop Comps - Usually,
you can elect to "spend" your comps at the
casino's gift shop, if you have a mind to do so.
|
Before you begin playing any game,
be sure you have your player's club card properly
inserted in the slot and that it has been accepted
(most will display your name once the card has been
read properly).
The ways in which casinos accumulate "comps" vary
from one casino to another. Frequently, "points"
are used for computing cash back benefits only,
while other measures are used for determining the
casino "comps" you qualify for. The casino tracks
how much time you spend playing, how much money you
win or lose, your total "coin-in", and anything else
they care to track. From this information, they can
determine with some degree of accuracy how much you
should be comped. Often, comps are based on your
playing time, where the casino knows that so many
hours of playing time translates to a certain
numbers of dollars lost by the player.
Couples may want to consider playing
on a single card in some circumstances. While the
casinos often frown on this practice, it does give
the appearance that one player is spending more
money. If you are just visiting the casino for a
brief period, you may have no chance at getting
comped for a buffet if playing on two separate
cards; but if both are playing on a single card, you
may at least get one of your buffets comped. If
you're unsure, you may just have to try both methods
and see which works best at a given casino.
You will generally find casinos to be much more
accommodating on weekdays than on weekends --
obviously, this is because they want to encourage
weekday customers when the casinos are relatively
empty. Also, the busier casinos naturally will
be less free with comps.
The important point is that you
should take advantage of whatever is offered;
failure to do so is leaving money on the table.
|
