Cruzino fact: Richard Nixon won $6,000 during his first 2 months in the U.S. Navy during World War II playing poker. His winnings were used to finance his first campaign for congress.
A Guide to Understanding Casino Comps And How to Improve Your Chances Of Getting Your Fair Share from Cruzino.com
What Level of Play is Required By Some Casinos?
Like any business, every casino is different from the one next door. This is true about their appearance, clientele, games they offer and, of course, their generosity with comps. You can expect that the high-end properties in the U.S. won't even track your play unless you are betting $25 or more per hand. Some won't even do so until you hit $50. But there are others that will track you no matter how little you bet. So if you're a small better, don't waste your time playing for comps at the high-end properties. They're very stingy when it comes to giving out comps and they'll only do so for the higher-level players.
I've been comped at some of the higher level casinos and found that after playing for a few hours at $25 bets, I had to stand firm with my host just to get two comps to the buffet! I've also done $5 bets for an hour at the lower-end casinos and have been awarded fantastic steak dinners for two - including wine!
The point of all of this isn't to brag but to simply show you that it can be more difficult to earn comps at one place and quite easy to do so at the place next door.
Many "average" casinos have told me that they'll be willing to offer an RFB comp for one night if you bet a minimum of $25 per hand for 4 hours or for playing a dollar slot machine, with maximum coins in on each pull, for 4 hours. You can use this as a guideline as to what to expect in an average property. If there are few casinos in town, or if you are in a high-end property, expect the numbers to be higher. If the casino is a lower end one, you can probably get the full RFB treatment for a lot less.
So what's the best way to figure this out? Simple - Ask a host! Don't ask the pit boss as it has been my experience that they just don't say. But when you get to the casino, ask to speak with a host. Then ask them, "What kind of play do I need for an RFB comp?" Or, "If I want to see a show tonight, how much play will it take to get a pair of tickets?" Comp guidelines aren't secrets. They're more than happy to tell you when you ask!