See the top rated post in this thread. Click here

Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 13 of 16

Thread: Comp city book still relevent? Comp tips?

  1. #1
    Senior Member Mr2Project's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2012
    Location
    Midwest
    Posts
    259


    Did you find this post helpful? Yes | No

    Comp city book still relevent? Comp tips?

    Ive read many books on blackjack in terms of the game itself. Though not very many of them talk about the comps game and if they do its very little. I have no clue on how to go about getting comps or how to properly get rated yet stay somewhat under the radar. Im a red chipper so comps could help me quite a bit. Ive never received any kind of comp so im completely clueless on this subject. I know Max Rubins book is in option but it was written some years ago and would like to know if its still worth reading in todays game?

  2. #2
    Banned or Suspended
    Join Date
    Dec 2011
    Location
    San Clemente, CA
    Posts
    3,019


    1 out of 1 members found this post helpful. Did you find this post helpful? Yes | No
    User is banned, content deleted.

  3. #3


    1 out of 1 members found this post helpful. Did you find this post helpful? Yes | No
    I think it is one of the most important AP books written in the last 20 years. Yes, the numbers are out of date in terms of the amounts they will return to you, but the concepts are not. Like any good AP book it will not take you by the hand, and tell you exactly how to pick up bags of cash, but if you use it creatively the money is there. The concepts in the book have been worth 6-figures to me, and to many other people I know.

  4. #4
    Banned or Suspended
    Join Date
    Dec 2011
    Location
    Eastern U S A
    Posts
    6,830


    Did you find this post helpful? Yes | No
    I concur with the redoubtable RWM.

    I often "play for comps" where I have comp'd luxury accommodations.

    However, it is important to note that in the last 4 or more years casinos

    have been continually reducing their comp expenditures.

  5. #5
    Senior Member Mr2Project's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2012
    Location
    Midwest
    Posts
    259


    Did you find this post helpful? Yes | No
    Great thats what my concern, i was thinking that the casinos had become wise to the tactics that are provided in the book. Im actually listening right now to your podcast RWM w/ Max as the guest!

  6. #6
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Dec 2011
    Location
    3rd rock from Sol, Milky Way Galaxy
    Posts
    14,158


    Did you find this post helpful? Yes | No
    You have to play rated and ask for what you want. Before I upped to green chipper I had to be happy with a nice meal at a good restaurant for a session of BJ. I am not sure that what I was asking for was a lot for my play but they acted like it was. They always made me play more and wait a long time for the comp. I never let an opportunity pass by so I started to ask when it looked like I would walk soon anyway. In other words when the count skyrocketed. I would tell them I would help get the comp approved because I was light headed from lack of food. Then I would jump my bets aggressively. higher than I ever bet before. Most of the time I made some nice money but sometimes I got crushed. I always got my food comp and got a nice meal and it looked to all like I was betting big to earn a comp. They always seemed to buy the idea I was just really hungry and needed food. I never could have jumped my bets like that without the act. Now that I am a green chipper I don't think the trick would fly anymore so I don't use it much. They watch me more closely now but rarely do I feel heat.

  7. #7


    Did you find this post helpful? Yes | No
    The comps you receive are based on 3 things. Your avg bet, the length of time you play, and whether you lost. All 3 of those things can be manipulated in your favor.

    The rest of the game involves you getting a thorough understanding of what you can receive, and monetizing your comps in the best possible way.

  8. #8
    Banned or Suspended
    Join Date
    Dec 2011
    Posts
    1,815


    Did you find this post helpful? Yes | No
    I'd have to agree with RWM. Comp City provides a good foundation to understanding the system. Times change. The formulas and rates used have changed and not for the better. Technology has in some cases made this manipulation process less effective. But there are still concepts that are sound and the more knowledge you have about the system and how things work, the more likely you can make it work to your advantage.

  9. #9


    Did you find this post helpful? Yes | No
    Very relevant. That book has probably contributed as much to my bottom line (in the form of reduced costs) as card counting itself. Back-count games, and wong-in with a decent sized bet. This gives both cover, and comps. Say, you want to spread $10-150, wait until +3 (or whatevr) TC, and jump in with a $50 bet. You'll get rated as a $50 player, and if you drop to $10, or jump to $150, it doesn't look like a massive spread.

  10. #10
    Banned or Suspended
    Join Date
    Dec 2011
    Location
    San Clemente, CA
    Posts
    3,019


    Did you find this post helpful? Yes | No
    User is banned, content deleted.

  11. #11
    Banned or Suspended
    Join Date
    Dec 2011
    Posts
    1,815


    Did you find this post helpful? Yes | No
    Quote Originally Posted by zengrifter View Post
    I thought you avoided comp, KJ?
    No sir. I have different requirements than many players, so I can play rated less, but I still play rated some and more importantly combine some machine play to maximize comps and cashback. I don't need comped rooms here in Vegas. Just a few in other locations when I travel and I don't care for travel, so I don't do it a lot. BUT, myself and my associate/partner/assistant (I haven't decided on a title for him yet...lol) do eat at least 1 meal every day, often 2 courtesy of the casinos. Also, it's not just about comps. Many of the same concepts apply to maximizing your cashback, particularly mailer offers. This aspect has become a bigger part of my attack this year.
    Last edited by KJ; 10-22-2012 at 10:07 PM.

  12. #12


    Did you find this post helpful? Yes | No
    Comp City is a good foundation of understanding of how the casino's pimp their action. I would be interested if anyone has a more up to date insight in the formulas that are in play today. For example, the book generally says that your average bet times the time you play (number of hands, etc) times 2% (HOUSE TAKE) times 40% (amount of take they will redistribute in comps). I know these are not accurate today.

    I actually calculate "earned comps" from my play and track it by casino including subtracting comps I receive. I modified the formula to "give back" 30% rather than 40% but I have no data to support that.

    Comps, along with local promos for free play ,etc, provide a nice kick to EV. I am actually a little less aggressive than I could be to protect this source of EV.

    At any rate, if anyone has some new numbers, please share.

  13. #13
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Apr 2012
    Location
    Right behind you
    Posts
    295


    2 out of 2 members found this post helpful. Did you find this post helpful? Yes | No
    Comp awards vary dramatically from casino to casino. There's no substitute for knowing the ins and outs of the place you're playing. The Evil Empire's chintziness in awarding Total Rewards points for table game play, especially blackjack, is now far past the point of being ludicrous. I've had sessions when I was about reduced to tears after seeing how pathetically little they gave me for some quite substantial play. And those were occasions when I KNEW they had me pegged as a not-very-skilled player. On the other hand, the EE's bounceback offers can be pretty good, under the right circumstances, the latter being a complex subject.

    If you're just looking for a free meal for yourself and some friends--when in doubt, beg.

Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast

Similar Threads

  1. Comp Hotel Rooms Being Reversed
    By Goatlife in forum General Blackjack Forum
    Replies: 16
    Last Post: 09-30-2012, 10:53 AM
  2. New Book?
    By AussiePlayer in forum General Blackjack Forum
    Replies: 4
    Last Post: 09-08-2012, 02:47 PM
  3. Will this effect my comp and mail offers??
    By KJ in forum General Blackjack Forum
    Replies: 8
    Last Post: 02-20-2012, 07:06 AM
  4. I'm in the phone book! I'm in the phone book!
    By Norm in forum General Blackjack Forum
    Replies: 3
    Last Post: 12-12-2011, 07:20 PM

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  

About Blackjack: The Forum

BJTF is an advantage player site based on the principles of comity. That is, civil and considerate behavior for the mutual benefit of all involved. The goal of advantage play is the legal extraction of funds from gaming establishments by gaining a mathematic advantage and developing the skills required to use that advantage. To maximize our success, it is important to understand that we are all on the same side. Personal conflicts simply get in the way of our goals.