I've read a lot of discussions lately about the casino tracking players by their players cards and whether we want to use them or not. Many casinos are now going to a "points" system and inquiring about your comps can let you know how much attention you got from the pit.

For example, I was playing at the Borgota last week. There were only $25 and $50 games that I could find (yikes). (I am told they have another BJ pit where I would have found cheaper games).

I don't have the BR to support play at this level, but since I heard (correctly) that the comps were good, I decided to play for a few hours. Using a 1:4 spread and Hi/Lo this turns out to be an even game (assuming I don't make too many errors, of course). Actually it is profitable at about minimum wage (with $5000/hr in action!)

After checking my comp $ balance, I asked for a casino host to ask why my comp ($8) was so small (even though this is about what I expected).

I got a very nice explaination that I earn 1 comp dollar for every $150 wagered (They actually said $100-$150 but $150 seems to be the magic number for BJ). I earned $8 which means that, according to the pit boss, I had wagered 8 x $150 = $900 in one hour. She said that I had settled only 48 bets at $25 each!

What does this tell me.

1) I left for the bathroom a few times and had to wait for a shuffle. The pit boss obviously noticed this and reduced the estimated number of bets settled.

2) Nobody noticed that I had bet spread at all!

For anybody curious about how much attention they received at any casino using a points system, a quick call to your casino host will let you know exactly how you were rated without having to ask the pit boss.

Just another FYI with comps, don't forget to conceal your breaking even! I usually conceal winnings (take a mixed stack of red/green to the bathroom and pocket a green in the stall... I assume its the one place they dont have cameras!) I was playing a 6:1 spread at another casino (again earning minimum wage) and of course nobody was paying any attention to me at all! I did hear the pit boss ask the dealer one time if I had bought anything from her. The dealer answered that I hadn't, so I knew I was going to get hit in comps (when you are playing for minimum wage, comps are a big part of your EV!).

So now I remember that even when I'm not on a lucky streak that I need to conceal my "breaking even" so that I can hustle for more comp dollars.

Ed