Comp City - How do you approach comps?

**Caveman** · 03-18-2018, 10:05 AM

I just finished reading Comp City and it was an enjoyable read with some good basics but seemed really out of date. Every podunk casino I go to has a players club and as far as I can tell there are no comps if you don't sign up. However, all the advice on this forum is to not play rated and to even avoid giving ID. Theres a tension between straight counting and comp hustling that i'm trying to figure out for myself.

How do you all approach comps with your counting? Do you not even try to get comps, or just avoid it since it requires identifying yourself?

When traveling do you have a home casino you play rated at just for the comps?

**RCJH** · 03-19-2018, 11:42 PM

I pick a casino in an area, and I play very polite blackjack (think a break even spread). I then pump significant action though VP or something similar. If I'm really on my game, I do this on a multiplier day. I cultivate comps there, then I play BJ for real money elsewhere, unrated. My goal is to have RFB comped at one place, and make money at another.

If there isn't a good home casino in an area, I just pay cash for a hotel and food. Also, if I'm in an area I consider a Mecca with only great games, I don't even bother with cultivating a home casino.

My home casino, as in the one closest to me, I basically play for the mailers. The BJ isn't great, but I can be there often enough to exploit other opportunities.

**SpikeBJ** · 03-20-2018, 10:07 AM

Originally Posted by RCJH

I pick a casino in an area, and I play very polite blackjack (think a break even spread). I then pump significant action though VP or something similar. If I'm really on my game, I do this on a multiplier day. I cultivate comps there, then I play BJ for real money elsewhere, unrated. My goal is to have RFB comped at one place, and make money at another.

If there isn't a good home casino in an area, I just pay cash for a hotel and food. Also, if I'm in an area I consider a Mecca with only great games, I don't even bother with cultivating a home casino.

My home casino, as in the one closest to me, I basically play for the mailers. The BJ isn't great, but I can be there often enough to exploit other opportunities.

Bingo!

**ZenMaster_Flash** · 03-20-2018, 05:44 PM

+1 rcjh

**BlackjackFeign** · 03-21-2018, 02:25 AM

Find a semi-nice joint that includes your odds bets on Craps into your avg bet. Helps a lot!

I try my very best to get comps. Between flight, hotel, car rental and everything else. The comps can really help, especially the cash back, freeplay etc etc... it makes it a much more +EV game. It depends on the place really. If I know it’s going to be a place where they will toss me when they find my name, I will play under an alias either using a fake ID or getting my friend to get a player card.

If it’s a joint that won’t care that I’m in OSN, I will use my real name.

If it’s a joint that has an excellent game, but will come down hard on AP’s I will play the game with no name and just forgo the comps. But in every situation I will try to take advantage of the comps best that I can.

**Stealth** · 03-21-2018, 06:01 AM

Originally Posted by BlackjackFeign

Find a semi-nice joint that includes your odds bets on Craps into your avg bet. Helps a lot!

See post #2 for very good advice.

When you find the craps game mentioned, cross bet (pass line and don't with offsetting odds) with a partner and both will get credit for play.

Table games are not the best option to accumulate comps. Investigate machines. VP, slots

**Montyb50** · 03-21-2018, 02:13 PM

In my area there is one casino with a very nice (and pricey) hotel where my wife and I like to stay fairly frequently. I had played BJ, craps, and VP there for several years before I learned to count, so I was already in the system. I still play rated, but use only a 1-6 spread to get room and meal comps, while not giving away all my EV. The pen is good, and I take plenty of bathroom, text and phone call breaks on negative shoes. I also gave up craps and play little more than my free slot play at the VP machines. I play unrated at 3 other nearby casinos considerably more aggressively.

**SpikeBJ** · 03-21-2018, 02:51 PM

What does your wife play?

**ZenMaster_Flash** · 03-21-2018, 03:25 PM

A degree of flexibility is required.

"Thinking outside of the box" etc.

**mcallister3200** · 03-21-2018, 04:00 PM

Re: craps
A play that can work to inflate your average bet, given the right conditions (pretty busy table/box and a competent dealer who handles side without box on occasion) is to place and frequently (not all the time) take down the 6/8 during a roll. Theory is if you time it correctly you will be getting credit for those bets when they are not on the table, when you do have them wagered HE relatively low, lowest HE on table outside of DP/pass line.

**BlackjackFeign** · 04-28-2018, 03:32 AM

I have found Craps to be the best for comps. Video poker is not so good because everything is recorded to the T, so there is no room for error like there is out on the casino floor. And most casino hosts do not like VP players. They do not treat it like a “slot player.” I remember a host that was going to take me on and when I told him I play slots he said “slots or VP?” And when I said video poker his response was very deflated.

**ZenMaster_Flash** · 04-28-2018, 05:38 AM

Originally Posted by mcallister3200

" ... HE relatively low ..."

At 1.52% "low" is a relative term.

Betting the Bank at Baccarat is a
better idea because many players
skip rounds; and the House Edge
is 1.06%

At Craps this is NOT a good idea.

A competent Pit Boss can you see

you "take down" the place bets just

a couple of times during a session

and will automatically overreact and

reduce your mean bet by more than

it ought to be. The net result is that

you will be credited with LESS action

than you deserve.

**jimmybond007** · 04-28-2018, 11:01 AM

Play politely and develop an "act." You must blend in with the rest of the gamblers. There are numerous ways to achieve this. Be creative. Make sure the comps are worth the effort. Some places will be very generous with comps where others are stingy. Get to know their comp system and how much it actually is worth to you and decide if the time investment is worthwhile.