What do you "deserve" as far as comps?

[juanez]

I'm a poker player myself, so the more the better IMHO. /images/graemlins/grin.gif When I work the floor I have to make decisions about comps sometimes, so I'm just curious what poker players think they deserve as far as comps. I'm genuinely curious, not trying to start any kind of flame war or anything.

[tribefan9]

I am a firm believer that if I play more than 6-8 hours in a casino I should not have to pay for a meal. Breaks on rooms are always nice, but I understand that the house is making less money off of me than if I were a slots/table game player.

[Mens Rea]

I'm almost strictly a live player, and if you are asking me what I DESERVE, I would say next to nothing, especially if I have a wide choice of rooms. Poker players don't play against the house and, aside from a small rake, if I lose, I'm not losing to the casino. Now, that's not to say I don't WANT anything. I enjoy getting comped as much as anyone - casino dollars, rooms, food, shows - whatever. But I'd much rather have a nice clean room, prompt service, and many fish. Comps rarely affect where I play, unless I am already planning to stay.

[KenProspero]

Juanez -- I'm not sure I 'deserve' anything (well, the drinks are nice, but I only drink water or coffee while I'm playing, so ....)

It's kind of like the airlines -- do I 'deserve' miles (i.e., free trips) because I took other trips on their planes. Nope -- however, the decision of which airline I fly is a combination of convenience, amenities and comps.

It's the same with Casinos -- If I want to play, I'll do it without comps -- give me some, and maybe I'll play more than I otherwise would at your casino. (unless another place has a really soft game, in which case you can't possibly comp me enough).

Overall, I'll take what I can get, but I don't feel I deserve anything.

that is the answer...rooms like the borgata and taj don't really need to give anything since we all play there anyway but if i was in charge at ceasers and showboat (two very nice and very EMPTY rooms) then i would be handing out much more in the way of comps...anything to get players into those rooms starting with comping us rooms as opposed to poker rates...you want me to play bj, roulette, etc then give me a room and on the way to and from the poker room who knows what will happen

Damn. You're asking a serious question. I had a great reply immediately when I read the Subject line. OK, for real...

Like has been said, I don't feel like I "deserve" comps. Also, as has been said, they are nice. I've managed and owned businesses. I understand profits/losses, expenses/promotions. I know comps cost the casino and my butt in that semi-comfy chair for 8-10 hours doesn't make the house nut.

However, I look at comps as a small expression of appreciation of the casino for my butt being there. And occasionally on the slot stool or the BJ stool and my elbows sometimes on the craps table. Every business, in some way, does something similar. And I always appreciate the gesture.

I've also received a comp as a gesture/apology for something that went awry with some part of the usual great service where I play. It was unexpected, not required, but a nice piece of goodwill.

As much as I like them, though, I'd hate to see them become so commonplace they don't mean a thing to anybody.

[kskillz]

When I play in cash games for over 4 hours, I expect at least some kind of food comp. I don't expect the gourmet room or anything, but a voucher for a few bucks off at the coffee shop is always appreciated.

When I play at the Gilpin, I've asked the floor for a food comp after I've played 4+ hours and they've always invited me to order something off the "redbird" menu, which has items the are priced from about 5 to 8 bucks. This is very much appreciated and one of the big reasons I keep coming back to the Gilpin for long sessions. The other Blackhawk rooms are a little stingier, for example, the Moutain High gives you a $4 coupon after 4+ hours, not quite enough to get a full meal at the grill.

[Photoc]

[ QUOTE ]
What do you "deserve" as far as comps?

[/ QUOTE ]

Hookers and blow is all I ask for. /images/graemlins/grin.gif

[steamboatin]

Hot Dogs, lots of Hot Dogs, Nathan's Famous with dill pickle.

No BS ketchup or Must-turd.

But seriously, folks. One of the reasons I love to play at Tunica are the comps. Getting a nice hotel room for $35 is sweet, free buffets rock and the free liquor really makes the poker good!

If the only factor being considered is Poker, it's Tunica , Baby. If you play limit Poker, like me Tunica Rocks, especially the Horseshoe.

I know the popular opinion is Vegas, Baby, but if you are married and are more interested in playing mid-limit poker than banging some crack whore in an alley, it's Tunica, Baby!

Haven't been to California, so no opinion about their poker.

[jar]

I'm not sure what I "deserve", but what I like is comp dollars to use for food, and discounted room rates. The Borgata comp rate is pretty solid, and the $39 weeknight rooms are great deal. The only thing I don't like there is that you can't eat your free food at the tables. The trop comp rate is good too, and you can eat at the tables. Unfortunately, the food sucks. Foxwoods comp rate is like half of the borg's but you can use your comp points on the tasty tasty chicken fingers.

So, I guess my optimal comp scenario (for the northeast, Tunica is apparently a different world) is $2/hr of comp points, decent food at the tables to spend them on, and a cheap discount room rate.

[cardcounter0]

I think if a patron sits in a chair for more than 5 or 6 hours, and pays you money in rake, then you should feed the guy. It is not like you have to pay him overtime, and he doesn't get paid coffee breaks, so give the guy a good meal. He might stay and play longer.

The real problem is all comps are not equal. Some places have a "use it or lose it" comp system. You play a long session, build up a big comp, but after all that time you don't want to spend a bunch of time eating, you want to get out of there. You grab a snack, and Poof!, big comp is gone. Next time you come for a short while, are really hungry, but you can only get a small comp.

Comps that you can build and retain are a big plus. Maybe a guy will only eat a hot dog or two, but keep building his comps. Then he can take the wife out to eat for a big fancy meal with the built up comps, and she isn't so upset about all the time he spends playing poker.

Some places have restricted comps. You can only use them for food, or only at the snack bar or deli where the crap food is served. How many greasy snack bar hamburgers can you eat with a $40 comp? If you are going to comp somebody, then comp them. Why do you care if he spends it on food, or buys some smokes, or gets some golf balls from the gift shop?

So I guess, if you play a decent amount of time, you deserve a decent meal. But the player should have the comp for a decent meal's value, and his choice of what to do with it. Save it, eat it, blow it, use half of it, give it away -- it is the player's comp, let him do with it what he wants.

[Black Aces 518]

[ QUOTE ]

But seriously, folks. One of the reasons I love to play at Tunica are the comps. Getting a nice hotel room for $35 is sweet, free buffets rock and the free liquor really makes the poker good!

If the only factor being considered is Poker, it's Tunica , Baby. If you play limit Poker, like me Tunica Rocks, especially the Horseshoe.

I know the popular opinion is Vegas, Baby, but if you are married and are more interested in playing mid-limit poker than banging some crack whore in an alley, it's Tunica, Baby!

Haven't been to California, so no opinion about their poker.

[/ QUOTE ]

Agree 100%. I live in Austin, and lots of friends in Okla. City, and we travel annually to Tunica for a 4 day weekend. Great poker at Gold Strike and Horseshoe, free (good) buffets, free drinks, cheap rooms, good and cheap golf (try Mallard Pointe in Sardis, MS). Doesn't have the glitz factor of Vegas, but our budget for the trip is gas+about $50 for the room for the 3 nighs+golf+gambling. Greatness.

[DrCool]

Like most of the others I don't "deserve" anything but it is always nice to get something. It doesn't even have to be straight money or food credit or anything like that. Even simple things like putting a few plates of sandwiches out every 6 hours is much appreciated. I don't need a $50 meal every time I play, just enough food to keep me from passing out after playing for a long time.

[steamboatin]

[ QUOTE ]
(for the northeast, Tunica is apparently a different world)

[/ QUOTE ]

The SHOE offered to feed me just being on the list, hadn't played a hand.

[Toonces]

Well, a table game like BJ comps you on 40% of your expected loss. The expected loss at a typical poker table is (30 hands per hour) x ($4 max rake) * (70% as an estimate of average rake over max rake) / 10 players = $8.40/hour/player. This formula would argue that the going rate for comps would be $3.35/hour.

It's been argued that poker is a more resource-intensive game for the casino than a table game is, but I'm not sure I agree. A 10-table room needs about 12 dealers, 2 cashiers, and 3 floorpeople to support 90 players, and taking in $840/hour.

A 10-table BJ pit with 50 players on average making an average bet size of $20, losing 2% to the house, playing 50 hands/hour needs 15 dealers, 1 pit boss, 2 supervisors, and 1 cashier and earns $1000/hour. A typical BJ players earns 1/2 their average bet per hour in comps, in this case, $10/hour.

BJ also requires more heavy surveillance than poker and a more vigilant staff. I would be surprised if a poker table and chairs costs more per-person than a BJ table that seats only 6-7.

Given this, one would argue that poker players should get $3.35/hour in comps. But for whatever reason, perhaps supply and demand right now, that is not the going rate for a player. The going rate seems to be $1/hour, and I prefer that a casino allows you to keep those comp dollars in a comp account that you can spend when you wish.

[Percula]

At one of the rooms that I play at from time to time, I am often the person that raleys a game to start. I am willing to start short handed and will keep playing short handed. This is generally over the graveyard shift.

So on those nights, where I get a game started and keep it going when more times than not it would have broke when it got 5 handed or 4 handed, I think I deserve a bit more than $1/hr on the player card that I would get regardless of what I was playing. I am basically acting as an unpaid prop. And 9 times out 10, I find that indeed the floor has added $15-$25 to my players card above and beyond what I got for playing.

[punkass]

Very interesting thread...

I believe the Taj has an ongoing comp balance, but I do not know if there's an expiration date on comps. I think the Trop had a 180 day expiration date. I usually play 3/6, 5/10 at the Taj and I have $300 in my comp balance. Don't know what to do with it yet, except for meals at the snack or noodle bar.

[dandy_don]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
(for the northeast, Tunica is apparently a different world)

[/ QUOTE ]

The SHOE offered to feed me just being on the list, hadn't played a hand.

[/ QUOTE ]

Agreed.

Saturday night I was there and was informed that if I get hungry just say something and they'd take care of me--I as well was waiting for a stud seat to come open and had not played a hand. The Horseshoe's buffet is the best in town.

[dandy_don]

[ QUOTE ]

cheap golf (try Mallard Pointe in Sardis, MS).

[/ QUOTE ]

MP is good, but try Cherokee Valley in Olive Branch, MS (at the Tennessee state line)--much better. Also, Plantation and Wedgewood both in Olive Branch are nice courses as well. They aren't as cheap as MP, but not bad either.

The Grand Casino's course is really nice for a links style course, but expensive if you can't get a comp for it.

[dandy_don]

[ QUOTE ]
so I'm just curious what poker players think they deserve as far as comps.

[/ QUOTE ]

Like many others have stated, a meal for a few hours of play would be nice.

If you want me to return though, you better comp equal to or better than the poker room down the road. I'll follow the money and the comps (and the smoke free poker rooms).

[MCS]

Drinks
Line pass for the buffet
Buffet (after a couple of hours of play)

Not a room
Not a meal at the gourmet place
Not RFB but that would rule

[Black Aces 518]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]

cheap golf (try Mallard Pointe in Sardis, MS).

[/ QUOTE ]

MP is good, but try Cherokee Valley in Olive Branch, MS (at the Tennessee state line)--much better. Also, Plantation and Wedgewood both in Olive Branch are nice courses as well. They aren't as cheap as MP, but not bad either.

The Grand Casino's course is really nice for a links style course, but expensive if you can't get a comp for it.

[/ QUOTE ]

I've also played Cherokee Valley twice, and while I liked it, I really love Mallard. It's all in your tastes. I have played Tunica National and enjoyed it, and enjoyed Wedgewood. I have not played Cottonwoods at the Grand due to the cost, but it looks nice.

Never really thought about what I felt like I should get, but the Borg has $2/hour for higher limits e.g. 10/20 but only 50 cents lower limits going into an computerized account accessible immediately with the Borgata card when you swipe out. This money is good as cash for pretty much everything in the hotel (except in the gift shop where it's $2 comp = $1 comp e.g. pack of cigs = $19.50 comp dollars).

Combine it with a $39 weekday room rate w/ 8 hour play $79 w/ four hour play. Weekend poker rate is fixed ~$129 w/ no play requirement. And you know that even a "crappy" room at the Borg is beautiful. You can eat in the high limit room. And the waitresses tend on the hotter and friendlier end of the scale.

Comp dollars expire after 180 days though. Still I was pleasantly surprised by the value and ease of use of the benefits.

I am a limit hold em player exclusively. My expectation is that tracked play should earn me a credit or about 1/4 of the big bet per hour in a limit game. So at 2/4, I would hope to earn at least $1/hr. Also, my play should qualify for some sort of discount on room rates