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Comps to Ask For

So what are some comps you could ask for? The easy answer is, "anything that is legal". Casinos can lose their license for participating in illegal activities so don't expect to get anything that could get you thrown in jail. But here are some suggestions:

Food - Anything from the $2.99 burger special they advertised on the sign outside to a complete meal for your entire group at their finest restaurant.

Drinks - Casinos are quite happy to buy drinks for people who are playing. But good luck walking to a bar and asking for a free round while you sit down and enjoy the band. Obtaining a round from a host or pit boss is not too difficult.

Cigarettes - I don't smoke but I've seen people get comped cigarettes and cigars fairly often.

Show Tickets - If the show is well known and sold out months in advance, this can be difficult. But if you just want to see "Burt the Amazing Magician" at 3:00 this afternoon, it's quite easy to get comped. After all, Burt is going to go on whether or not the show is sold out. So it really costs the casino nothing to put you in a seat that would've otherwise gone empty.

Rooms - Room comps depend on how crowded the hotel is that night. If it is sold out or close to being sold out, rooms are harder to get and require bigger bets. But if you're playing somewhere that has plenty of rooms left, and a room is normally priced at $29, you'll be surprised at how easy it can be to get comped. The cost to the hotel to give you the room is no more than the salary to pay housekeeping to clean it, the cost of washing your towels and the cost of replacing the soap and shampoo. Don't be shy - ask! And if they refuse to comp you the room, ask if they can "adjust your rate" instead.

Line Pass - This is one of my favorites to request! Ever notice that many casino restaurants have two lines? One has a sign that reads, "Invited Guests Only" or "VIP Access" or "Comps" and the other is for the paying customers. The VIP lines are always much shorter and the people in them get priority seating because they have a comp. Well, I've asked many pit bosses if they wouldn't mind issuing me a "line pass" so that I could go through the invited guest line. Since a line pass isn't a comped meal, it costs the casino $0 to issue it. So why would the pit boss care if he gave you one? It makes you happy and it costs his budget nothing. I've never had anyone tell me they wouldn't issue one and yet it always impresses those in my group.

Airport Ride - I've had this one work about 1/3rd of the time. Let's say it's your last day and you need to get a cab or shuttle to the airport. Instead, why not ask your host if the house car might be available? If it is, it does them no good for it to stay parked at their hotel. Why wouldn't they drive you to the airport instead? You leave with a positive feeling and are more likely to return again.