Comp Psychology

[Howard Burroughs]

While this subject may not be as fascinating as a chance meeting with Sklansky while he is buying-in at the Bellagio chip counter or as breathtaking as a deadly asteroid cascading toward the earth (while the Unabomber is asking Cindy Crawford if he left his cell phone with diamond trim over her apartment last night)............


Here goes......


Comp Psychology: Or better yet maybe comp philosophy is the better term.

I had a friend tell me yesterday, "If you're any good at poker, you don't take comps. You buy your own meals with your poker winnings".

It got me to thinking (a dangerous thing at times). I've seen this same sentiment in some old 2+2 & rgp threads as well.
Posters will say something like, 'real poker players eat steak & lobster and would never consider accepting a food comp in any way, shape or form'.

In addition to these posts, I also personally know several everyday players (ranging in skill level from mid-limit pros to super-fish) who never get a food comp (even though they play everyday & know that they are available).

On the other end of the spectrum there is this from Frank Scoblete's Guerrilla Gambling book:

"Commandment 6 - I am going to take advantage of every possible casino promotion. If the casino is giving away a free pen, I am going to accept the free pen, even if I own a pen factory."

While I admire Mr Scoblete's zest for life, if someone is offering me something I have no use for, I'll either take it and give it to a friend or pass. My aim is not to settle a score with a casino.

I don't know how it is in your room but where I play there are a lot of card rooms in town. The Flamingo poker room is the only Vegas room I am aware of that has a no-comp policy.

Binion's is about the easiest place in the world to get a comp. Though if you are a "regular" in any room (with a few exceptions) they practically throw them at you.

With a lot of the rooms going to the swipe cards, it's even more absurd to refuse to sign up for a swipe card if you are a regular in a swipe card room (though I know some who will not lower themselves with a swipe card even though they do play everyday).

If two players play 6 full days a week at the Orleans, One swipes, One gripes......

Our swiper has $54 in comps at the end of the week.

Our Griper has $0.

At the end of 51 weeks (let's figure they took a one week vacation to the Commerce)....

Orleans swiper - $2,754

Orleans wiper - $0



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Of course our Orleans griper/wiper has every right to do things his way. I respect that. I just don't get it when some Vegas players (and posters out there in poster land) imply that we poker players who take what they're giving, are one step removed from welfare recipients.


What say You?


Thanks in advance for any feedback.


Howard