Definition
A Player Rating is the process and resulting data used by a casino to track a player’s gambling activity at table games. It typically includes the player’s average bet size, the length of time played, the type of game, and the estimated speed of play (hands per hour).
In context
When you hand your loyalty card to a Blackjack dealer, the Floor Supervisor “opens” your rating. They will note that you started with $500 in chips and are betting an average of $25 per hand. When you leave, they “close” the rating, and the system calculates how much “credit” you’ve earned toward free meals or rooms.
Why it matters
Player Rating is the only way for table game players to earn “comps” similar to slot players. Since tables don’t have automatic card readers that track every cent, the rating relies on human observation. Understanding how you are rated can help you maximize your rewards and ensure the casino has an accurate picture of your value.
Related terms
In detail
The “Player Rating” is the table game equivalent of the digital tracking that happens inside a slot machine. While a slot machine knows exactly how much you wagered to the penny, a table game rating is an estimation performed by a Floor Supervisor. Because it involves human judgment, it is both a point of contention and an opportunity for the savvy player.
How the Rating is Calculated
To determine your “worth” to the casino, the supervisor uses a simple formula: Average Bet × Time Played × Hands Per Hour × House Edge = Theoretical Win (Theo)
- Average Bet: This is the most critical variable. The supervisor doesn’t watch every single hand. They check in on your table every 15 to 20 minutes. If they see you betting $25, then $100, then $25, they will likely “average” you at around $50.
- Time Played: This is the easiest part to track. The supervisor “clocks you in” when you start and “clocks you out” when you pick up your chips.
- Hands Per Hour: The casino uses a standard “pace” for each game. For example, a full Blackjack table might be rated at 60 hands per hour, while a heads-up game (just you and the dealer) might be rated at 150 hands per hour.
- House Edge: Every game has a pre-set house edge in the rating system. Blackjack might be rated at 1%, while Roulette might be rated at 5.26%.
The Role of the Floor Supervisor
The Floor Supervisor is the person responsible for your rating. They are often managing four to six tables at once, which means they are distracted. If you are betting $25 most of the time but “jump” your bet to $100 when the supervisor is looking, your average bet might be recorded higher than it actually is. Conversely, if you only bet big when they aren’t looking, your rating will suffer.
It is common practice for experienced players to make sure the supervisor sees their largest bets. This isn’t “cheating”; it’s simply ensuring that the manual tracking system captures the peak of your action.
Accuracy: Buy-In and Walk-Out
A rating also includes your “Buy-In” (how much cash you put on the table) and your “Walk-In” (how many chips you left with).
- Note: The casino does not give you comps based on how much you lost. They give you comps based on how much they expected you to lose (Theo).
- However, tracking your Win/Loss is important for the casino’s internal accounting and for your own “Player Worth” profile. If a player is a “consistent loser,” a host might be more inclined to give a “discretionary comp” to keep them happy, even if their Theo doesn’t strictly justify it.
Common Pitfalls in Player Rating
- Forgetting Your Card: If you don’t give the dealer your card, you don’t exist in the system. The casino will not “back-rate” you for play that happened an hour ago.
- The “Mid-Session” Break: If you leave the table to go to the bathroom or take a phone call, the supervisor might “close” your rating. If you return ten minutes later, you need to make sure they “re-open” it, or that time will be lost.
- Rating Accuracy in Craps: Craps is the hardest game to rate because there are so many different bets with different house edges. Most casinos will only rate you based on your “Pass Line” and “Place Bets,” often ignoring the “Odds” (because the Odds have zero house edge) and the “Center Bets” (the high-house-edge “sucker bets”).
Why Players Should Care
Your rating determines your “tier status” in the casino’s loyalty program. This tier status unlocks everything from free parking and line-cutting privileges to “RFB” (Room, Food, and Beverage) comps. If you feel you are being “under-rated”—for example, you’ve been betting $100 but the supervisor has you down for $50—you have every right to politely ask the supervisor, “Hey, what do you have me down for as an average bet?” Most supervisors will be transparent and adjust it if they’ve made a mistake.