Comps

Definition

“Comps” is short for complimentaries. These are free goods and services provided by a casino to players as a reward for their gambling activity and to encourage future visits.

In context

After playing blackjack for four hours at a $50 average bet, a player asks the floor supervisor for “a comp for two at the coffee shop.” The supervisor checks the player’s rating in the system and prints a voucher that covers the cost of the meal.

Why it matters

Comps are the primary tool casinos use for player retention. They serve to offset the “pain” of losing and create a sense of value. For the player, earning comps is a way to recoup some of the house edge, effectively lowering the “price” of their entertainment.

Related terms

• Comp System
• Comp Value
• Player Rating

In detail

If you walk into a casino and get a free well drink while playing a penny slot, you’ve received a comp. If a billionaire is flown to Las Vegas on a private jet, put up in a 5,000-square-foot villa, and given front-row tickets to a championship fight, they’ve also received a comp. While the scale is different, the logic is identical: the casino is “investing” in the player.

The Comp Hierarchy

Comps generally fall into a pyramid structure based on the player’s value to the house:

1. Beverage Comps: The most common. In many jurisdictions, drinks are free as long as you are actively betting.
2. Dining Comps: Ranging from a $10 buffet discount to a $500 “RFB” (Room, Food, and Beverage) account at a high-end steakhouse.
3. Lodging Comps: Free (“Casino Rate”) or discounted rooms, moving up to luxury suites for “Whales.”
4. Entertainment Comps: Tickets to shows, concerts, or sporting events.
5. Airfare and Transportation: Limousine service to and from the airport, or “Airfare Reimbursement” where the casino pays for your flight in exchange for a certain amount of play.
6. Loss Rebates: The highest level of comp, where the casino returns a percentage of a player’s actual cash losses (e.g., “10% back on losses over $50,000”).

How are Comps Earned?

The modern casino doesn’t guess who deserves a free sandwich. They use a formula based on “Theoretical Win” (Theo).

• The Formula: $Average Bet imes Time Played imes Speed of Game imes House Edge = Theo$ The casino then takes a percentage of that Theo (usually 20-40%) and makes it available to the player as comps.

Example: Suppose you play a slot machine with a 10% house edge. You bet $3 per spin and do 500 spins per hour.

• Total wagered: $1,500/hour.
• Casino’s expected win (Theo): $150/hour.
• If the casino’s reinvestment rate is 30%, you are earning $45 in comp value per hour.

Compare this to a Blackjack player betting $25 a hand. Because the house edge is so low (~0.5%), they might only generate $5/hour in comp value, despite betting “more” per hand than the slot player.

The “Art” of Asking for Comps

While most comps today are automated through “Player Club” cards and kiosks, the “Pit Comp” still exists. This is a manual voucher issued by a floor supervisor or pit boss. To get a manual comp, you usually need:

1. A Player’s Card: The casino cannot track you if you don’t use your card.
2. Sufficient Play: Asking for a buffet after 10 minutes of $5 bets will likely get a polite “no.”
3. The “Ask”: Especially at the tables, the system might not automatically show your “available” points. A simple, “Hey, can you help me out with some lunch?” is often all it takes.

The Psychology of Comps

Casinos are masters of human psychology. They know that a player who loses $500 but gets a “free” $50 dinner feels like they “won” something. This “Reciprocity Principle” makes the player feel a sense of obligation to return to that casino.

However, players should be wary of “chasing comps.” This is the mistake of gambling more than you intended—or betting higher than your bankroll allows—just to reach a “Diamond” or “Platinum” loyalty tier. In almost every case, the amount of money you lose while trying to “earn” a free room is significantly higher than the cost of just paying for the room yourself.

Operational Reality

From the casino’s side, comps are a controlled expense. Every free coffee and every suite must be accounted for. If a casino gives away too many comps, they are “bleeding.” If they give away too few, the floor looks like a ghost town. The goal of a successful Shift Manager is to find the “Sweet Spot”: where the player feels like a VIP, but the casino’s profit margin remains protected.