What do you "deserve" as far as comps?

[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.

[steamboatin]

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

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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.

[dandy_don]

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

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

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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.