Craps ratings and comps are usually based on average bet, time played, game speed, and the casino’s estimate of house advantage. Odds bets may be rated differently because they carry 0% house edge. A free meal is not free if the expected loss behind it is larger than the comp value.
Quick Facts
- Casinos rate players to estimate theoretical loss, not actual luck.
- Average bet and time played matter more than a single winning or losing roll.
- Odds bets may receive little or no comp credit at some casinos.
- High total action increases expected loss even when individual bets look low-edge.
- Comps are usually a percentage of theoretical loss, not total buy-in.
- A $40 food comp can cost much more in expected gambling loss.
- Craps ratings can be inconsistent because the table is busy and bets change often.
Plain Talk
A player card does not mean the casino is tracking your personality. It is tracking your theoretical value.
Theoretical value is the casino’s estimate of what your play is worth over time. In craps, that estimate usually uses four ingredients:
- Average bet.
- Time played.
- Game speed.
- House edge or comp-rated edge.
If you bet $15 on the pass line for 30 minutes, that is one value. If you bet $15 pass, $30 odds, $18 each on 6 and 8, and center bets every few rolls for three hours, that is a very different value.
The tricky part is odds bets. Odds bets pay true odds and carry no built-in house edge. The Wizard of Odds craps basics explains the pass line and odds-bet structure, while the house-edge appendices separate the value of regular bets from true-odds bets in the math. A casino may still track odds action, but it may not rate it the same as house-edge action.
That is why two players with the same chips on the rail may receive different comp treatment.
How It Works
A simplified craps rating might look like this:
| Rating Factor | Example | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| Average rated bet | $45 | Main estimate of action |
| Time played | 2 hours | Longer play creates more decisions |
| Rolls per hour | 90 | More rolls means more resolved bets |
| Estimated house edge | 1.5% to 4% | Depends on bet mix |
| Theoretical loss | Calculated estimate | Base for comps |
| Comp percentage | 10% to 40% of theo | House policy varies |
The pit may not capture every bet perfectly. Craps is hard to rate because players press, regress, take odds, turn bets off, make come bets, and throw chips into the center.
So the rating is an estimate.
It is not a bank statement. It is a casino value estimate.
Craps Table Example
Player A bets:
- $15 pass line.
- $30 odds.
- No other bets.
- Plays 2 hours.
Player B bets:
- $15 pass line.
- $30 odds.
- $18 place 6.
- $18 place 8.
- $5 hardways now and then.
- Plays 2 hours.
Player B will usually look more valuable to the casino, even if Player A has the cleaner math. Player B has more rated house-edge action.
If the casino gives Player B a $25 food comp, the player should ask the adult question: how much theoretical loss did I create to earn that $25?
From the Casino Side:
A floor supervisor rating craps has a difficult job.
They must watch buy-ins, fills, credits, player cards, average bets, odds, place bets, movement, and game protection. They also need to keep the game running. If the table is full, the rating may be approximate.
The supervisor is not thinking, “This player deserves a buffet because he is friendly.” The system wants numbers.
Typical questions behind the rating:
- What is the average bet we should record?
- How long was the player active?
- Were odds included, excluded, or discounted?
- Was the player mostly on low-edge bets or center action?
- Did the player leave and return?
- Did the player use a card from the beginning?
A good player who cares about comps should hand in the card at buy-in, play clearly, and avoid assuming the rating is perfect.
Common Mistakes
- Believing comps are based on how much you lost today.
- Thinking odds bets always earn full comp credit.
- Overbetting bad bets to chase a small comp.
- Forgetting that comps are funded by theoretical loss.
- Not using a player card until the session is almost over.
- Assuming the floor recorded every press and regression perfectly.
- Treating a free room as profit without counting gambling cost.
Hard Truth
If you risk $300 in expected loss to chase $60 in comps, the casino did not reward you. It priced your attention and sold it back to you with a discount label.
FAQ
Are craps comps based on actual losses?
Usually no. They are mostly based on theoretical loss: average bet, time, speed, and house edge assumptions.
Do odds bets count for comps?
Sometimes partly, sometimes not much, and sometimes differently by casino. Odds bets have 0% house edge, so they are less valuable to the casino than flat or place bets.
Should I make worse bets to get better comps?
No. That usually means paying more expected loss for a smaller reward.
Why did another player get better comps than me?
They may have played longer, had a higher rated average bet, played more house-edge action, or simply received a better rating.
Can I ask the floor about my rating?
Yes. Ask politely while playing or before leaving. Do not wait until days later and expect precision.
Are comps ever worth it?
They can be useful if they come from play you already wanted to make. They are dangerous if they make you play longer or worse.
What is theoretical loss?
Theoretical loss is the casino’s estimate of long-term expected loss from your play, not your actual session result.
Deeper Insight
Craps comps create a hidden trap because the best mathematical play can look less valuable to the casino.
A pass line bet with odds is a classic example. The flat pass line has a house edge of about 1.41%. The odds bet has 0% house edge. If a player puts $15 on the pass line and $75 behind it, most of the money on the layout may be low-value to the casino.
That is good for the player’s math, but it may not produce big comps.
A player who spreads $96 across place bets, hardways, and field action may receive a richer rating because more of the action carries house edge. That does not mean the second player is smarter. It means the casino expects to earn more from that player over time.
This is the clean way to think:
Comps are rebates on expected loss.
A rebate can reduce cost. It does not turn a negative-expectation game into an income source.
The page craps comp value goes deeper into this calculation, while craps expected loss per hour shows why speed and total action matter.
Formula / Calculation
A simplified comp model:
Theoretical Loss = Average Rated Bet × Decisions Per Hour × Hours Played × House EdgeThen:
Estimated Comp Value = Theoretical Loss × Comp Rebate PercentageExample:
Average rated action = $60
Decisions per hour = 80
Time = 2 hours
Estimated edge = 2%
Theoretical Loss = $60 × 80 × 2 × 0.02
Theoretical Loss = $192
If comp rebate = 20%:
Comp Value = $192 × 0.20 = $38.40Formula Explanation in Plain English
The casino estimates how much your play is worth before luck. If your expected cost is $192 and the casino gives back $38 in food, points, or room value, you still paid an expected price. The comp softens the cost; it does not erase it.
Related Reading
Read craps comp value for the full math. Use craps expected loss per hour and craps roll speed and total action to understand why time on table matters. For bet selection, compare best craps bets with worst craps bets. To run your own numbers, use the expected loss calculator and house edge calculator.