New member - How to get legit comps to cut travel cost?

[weballinoutacontro]

Hi. New member, been back-reading a good amount of threads, seems like an overall good community here

I'm a young guy with a well paying job, so counting BJ and tourney holdem have become my recent side hustles. Unfortunately, my "local" spot (even with a fairly long drive) is Colorado, which has a $100 maximum on everything other than tourney buy ins.

I've learned to count pretty well in CO, but just can't get the stakes I'm looking for. This leaves me to having to travel if I wanna try to actually make some bank. I'm def tryna make some fat stacks, which it seems like u really just can't do with $100 max bets.

I'm pretty new to Casinos overall though. I play rated almost everywhere in CO, mostly b/c you need a players card to buy into poker tourneys. I see some posts around here talking about video poker being positive EV after u factor in comps, getting mad free rooms and shit. Is there any way I can do this playing rated BJ (or find a very good EV video poker game?) in CO? I'd like to take some weekend trips to hubs wit a bunch of BJ games to play, and having some legit comps (room, airfare?) would make this a lot more enticing.

But like I said, I frankly have no idea how players cards and casino comps and crap work. Does anyone have a link to a primer or anything that can explain this to me, or just some advice of how I could pull this off? Like I said, I'm a member of most of the biggest player cards here in CO (because I have to be to play poker), and play rated BJ a lot (most of the dealers and PCs know me by my face by now - even the big casinos are small in CO). I checked my balance one day and I had $3, which I used to buy a hot dog. How do I go about getting free rooms in Vegas or MO or PA or wherever with some better BJ opportunities?

Thx for any help playas

[ZeeBabar]

When you play with a players card and ensure they track your play, depending on the stakes you play at, you will get comps. Those who play and bet on $10 min. Games might get food comps. Those at the $25 level play can get food comps and room comps. Higher level players may get travel comps. Generally, the above is the case. However, if they track you winning a lot and catch you counting, the comps may stop and eventually, you may get backed off of tables or even trespassed or banned from a casino and maybe that chain and more.

You don't seem close to getting travel comps (air flight) but might get bus comps and meal comps.

[Meistro123]

Don't play rated.

[Joe Mama]

Travel to an area with several casinos. Scout BJ and VP. Chose a store with decent VP and not so great BJ and get a player's card there. Play VP (~$10K+ throughput) at store where you are rated, and may a little polite BJ there. Play unrated BJ at the other area stores.

[ZenMaster_Flash]

Airfare is generally given to "Whales" [not you]
(after they complete a stay), assuming a big loss.
Otherwise, it takes massive action; not playing
BJ $100 to $1,000

[Joe Mama]

Airfare is generally given to "Whales" [not you]
(after they complete a stay), assuming a big loss.
Otherwise, it takes massive action; not playing
BJ $100 to $1,000

I missed the airfare? in the op. Getting mid-week rooms and some meals is a lot easier.

[Bubbles]

100-1000 spread for airfare? Dang.

Rooms and food are much easier depending on the location. If they have more rooms than guests, they basically give them away. If they have less rooms than people wanting to stay, it takes a ton of play. Supply/demand sort of thing.

Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk

[Jabberwocky]

And don't play if they sweat action by not giving you a good cut.

[weballinoutacontro]

Thanks for the responsive and helpful replies so far all.

So, sounds like it would really only be possible to get comped rooms for a 2nd trip at a later date?

How exactly do you go about getting some free rooms once you're at the location that you will be playing rated? Especially given that I would want to spend the majority of my time playing non-rated BJ in nearby properties, and holdem tourneys which, as I understand, generate zero comps.

I played low-stakes rated BJ with BS without counting when I was very new to BJ, and it seemed like I was accumulating absolutely nothing in way of $$$ to spend. Similarly, the cash poker tables seem to award stuff like $5/hour, or, play 10 hours straight and you get a free room. But if I'm making a trip, I don't want to waste half my time at the cash tables (I find them so extremely boring, compared to BJ or tourney poker). This is why I identified AP video poker as a potential way to get big $ down, in a polite manner, with a reasonable EV. I really don't feel like I would want to flat bet $100 BJ to get comps given the swings even in flat betting. Easier to just pay for a room myself. And even after playing whatever, how do you go about getting a room? Do you just count to X-thousand dollars (how many thousands?) played in video poker, and then go to tell the front desk people and ask for some rooms?
Finally, is getting weekend rooms almost out of the question, for someone with my bankroll? (low ish 5 figures or so)

If I could book a flight 3-4 weeks out for $80 (I live in a good location for air travel to much of the US), get a free room, and then just Uber to an area with casinos and walk around a la Vegas-style, that would really be what I see as my ideal goal..

[ZeeBabar]

If you play rated, you get the offers via email or letter.

[BJGenius007]

Hi. New member, been back-reading a good amount of threads, seems like an overall good community here

I'm a young guy with a well paying job, so counting BJ and tourney holdem have become my recent side hustles. Unfortunately, my "local" spot (even with a fairly long drive) is Colorado, which has a $100 maximum on everything other than tourney buy ins.

I've learned to count pretty well in CO, but just can't get the stakes I'm looking for. This leaves me to having to travel if I wanna try to actually make some bank. I'm def tryna make some fat stacks, which it seems like u really just can't do with $100 max bets.

I'm pretty new to Casinos overall though. I play rated almost everywhere in CO, mostly b/c you need a players card to buy into poker tourneys. I see some posts around here talking about video poker being positive EV after u factor in comps, getting mad free rooms and shit. Is there any way I can do this playing rated BJ (or find a very good EV video poker game?) in CO? I'd like to take some weekend trips to hubs wit a bunch of BJ games to play, and having some legit comps (room, airfare?) would make this a lot more enticing.

But like I said, I frankly have no idea how players cards and casino comps and crap work. Does anyone have a link to a primer or anything that can explain this to me, or just some advice of how I could pull this off? Like I said, I'm a member of most of the biggest player cards here in CO (because I have to be to play poker), and play rated BJ a lot (most of the dealers and PCs know me by my face by now - even the big casinos are small in CO). I checked my balance one day and I had $3, which I used to buy a hot dog. How do I go about getting free rooms in Vegas or MO or PA or wherever with some better BJ opportunities?

Thx for any help playas

Choose only one chain to get rated so you can stay free at their property. Also play a little bit of video poker, slot machines at this chain. You can also play a little BJ there but spread very modestly in their shoe game, like 6 to 1, never DD. At any other property, never get rated. Since you are in Colorado, you can go to LV often. I suggest getting rated in Caesar and stay at their property free. Based on your actions, you may stay free in off-strip property first. Everyday on the trip, spend 20 minutes in Caesar, the goal is to be even. Then make money on other casinos.

[weballinoutacontro]

Choose only one chain to get rated so you can stay free at their property. Also play a little bit of video poker, slot machines at this chain. You can also play a little BJ there but spread very modestly in their shoe game, like 6 to 1, never DD. At any other property, never get rated. Since you are in Colorado, you can go to LV often. I suggest getting rated in Caesar and stay at their property free. Based on your actions, you may stay free in off-strip property first. Everyday on the trip, spend 20 minutes in Caesar, the goal is to be even. Then make money on other casinos.

makes sense, thx bro. any particular reason you recommend Caesar? It would be nice if there were somewhere I could do the 20 minute sessions and stuff to accrue good will or whatever in CO, but I'm not aware of any cross over?

[Midwest Player]

If I could book a flight 3-4 weeks out for $80 (I live in a good location for air travel to much of the US), get a free room, and then just Uber to an area with casinos and walk around a la Vegas-style, that would really be what I see as my ideal goal..

Go to Wendover. You didn't say where in CO you live, but I assume near Denver. There are charter flights to Wendover from several locations in CO including Denver. For about $150 you can get a 3 night stay in Wendover that includes flight, 3 nights hotel room and local shuttle transportation. Your play will earn enough comps to pay for all you meal expenses. On my last flight there I earned close to $100 in comps. I am not a big bettor.

Then you will probably qualify for at least a half fare trip in the future. Don't believe Flash when he says you have to be a whale to qualify for free air. Charter flights are a completely different story. Wendover has single deck and a very small spread can beat the game. See this http://wendoverfun.com/flights/#reset