Tag: comps

Casino Comps and “Average Daily Theoretical”

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Ever wonder how the casino you visit decides on what comps to give you?  It all comes down to the relationship that casino comps and Average Daily Theoretical have.

When I first started gambling, my bankroll was small and I played often. I thought that if I went to the local casino and played a little more often, the casino would see me as a loyal customer and raise the quality of my comps, such as free play. I would say to myself, “How could they depend on that player that appears once a year instead of me?  After all, – they have me for life if they played their cards right.” Alas, my comps continued to be menial – I call them “minion’s comps.”

Casino Rewards and Average Daily Theoretical

My thoughts of how casino rewards players with comps was wrong. Further research led me to understanding Average Daily Theoretical. Average Daily Theoretical, or ADT, is the average amount that a gambler losses per day for gambling activity. It is  usually expressed in absolute terms, such as dollars. It’s your value to the casino, based on your average daily play – NOT the number of appearances at the casino.

Your players card is how the casino tracks your play.

Your Average Daily Theoretical is the amount a casino assumes your play is worth to them. A positive Theoretical is an assumed loss to the the player. A casino typically comps players based on their actual worth and the actual worth the game is to the casino.

An “ADT” Example

A casino assigns each game a theoretical house advantage. Let’s say you play a certain game with a Theoretical of 5%. Assuming a player’s coin-in is $10,000, a casino would then limit total comps to some fraction (less than one) of the theoretical $500 the player is assumed to lose. If the player had the same coin-in on a game with 1% Theoretical, the comps would have been limited to some fraction of $100.

To make it simple, basically it’s based on your play in one day. A long play in a casino’s day raises your “comp-ability” and playing a little lowers it. Play your bankroll over fewer visits and see better mailers – spread out the same amount of money over more visits, less time each visit, the offers decrease.

Related Posts below by Coach Kitty from TravelZork provide an interesting way of raising your ADT: Casino Comps | The Big Play Casino Gambling Day – Part 1;    Casino Comps | The Big Play Casino Gambling Day – Part 2

 Casino Days, Casino Visits

It’s not just about time. Lowering your play per hand to play longer won’t increase comps. The casino wants two things from your play – time & money.  Raise one or both (preferably) will raise your value to the casino, thus raising your worth to the casino.

One very important part to know is the “casino day” which may not be what you consider a day, or may differ from casino to casino. Some casino day’s start at 12:01AM, while others start at 6:00AM. Make sure you know which day your play falls on at, for example, 1:00AM.

Great Podcast for craps, home poker games, and all sorts of gambling advice.

The guys from “You Can Bet on That” give a good example. Let’s say you are staying at a casino for two nights with $400 as your bankroll. If you play the $400 through on the first day, your ADT is better than if you split your bankroll over two days. And what if you get up to check out and put in one more $20 before you leave? Well, your ADT is now figured over three casino days, thus lowering your ADT.

So, if you visit often and put through $50 each time, don’t expect great offers. Make fewer visits putting though the same amount in a month and you will find your offers increase.

No Rewards Card, Casino Comps and Average Theoretical

Cleo Keno, a NETG favorite.

There are times that not using your card is a good idea. The morning of your departure may call you to play just a little bit more.  But a small play before you leave will lower you visit’s ADT. In the same vein, stopping by for a little VP or Video Keno and a drink on your way home may not need your card in play, especially since VP & VK has a low casino theo and takes more money in to earn points. Weigh the options available to you.

A Word of Caution

But please remember – play for fun and play for recreation with the bankroll you can spend. DO NOT PLAY MORE THAN YOU CAN SPEND JUST TO GET BETTER COMPS. Always spend up to your allowable bankroll.

Related Post: 5 Considerations For Casino Play and “Casino Freebies”

Getting More Casino Comps

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One thing that we all enjoy getting is getting more casino comps.  I always wonder if my mailman thinks I have a problem when he sees the mailers I get from New England Casinos, Atlantic City Casinos & Las Vegas casinos.

Free stuff means casinos want your patronage.  It’s not because they REALLY like you and just want to show you they care.  There is a price to getting more casino comps and free offers mailers from casinos.

The reality is that casinos want you to spend two things in their facility – money and time.  And, logically, they feel the more time you spend, the more money you’ll spend. So here is some  advice about getting more casino comps.

1)  You will get a better casino rating if you go to the casino less frequently, but when you do, play longer.

2)  Instead of a bankroll of $100 for three visits, try $300 for one long visit.  Remember, money and time.

3)  Once upon a time, a gambler friend of mine (we’ll call him BB) went to the casino, played his free slot play usually on a $1 JOB video poker machine, cashed out after the correct number plays ($10 free slot dollars, $1 per hand) and left, usually with most of his free slot play.  Casinos don’t like this.  If you follow this practice, you may end up with most of your slot play in your pocket and walking out a winner in the beginning, but your slot play will decrease in time, or discontinue altogether.

4)  Read the fine print.  If you are given free Dining Promotional Dollars, be sure the casino isn’t expecting you to stay and play.  Many dining promotions expect you to stay and say so “in the fine print.”  If you don’t stay a while, marketing may decrease your offers or cut them out.

5)  Free hotel offers come with a price – bigger that the $20 free slot play.  If you hope to have similar offers or better offers for hotel stays, expect to play more than usual.  A free stay, and no play, will probably mean a lower rate offer to stay next time instead of freebies.

6)  Finally, don’t gamble to get comps.  Gamble to entertain yourself, or give your self a chance to make a few bucks, or just for fun within your financial means.  The formula casino marketing uses to give out these promotion is definitely skewed in their favor, and that’s to be expected by all of us who gamble at these establishments (or you’re REALLY, REALLY NAIVE).  Comps should be included when evaluating the house edge, but should never be the sole reason for gambling.

Related posts: Recreational Gambling, ADT and ITV  / 3 Casino Facts for the Recreational Gambler – Acceptance Is The Key

That’s all for now.

Binbin

10 Casino Money-Saving Tips From Jean Scott

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JeanScott

Jean Scott is the “Queen of Coupons” and in her many posts and newsletters, she included one must read with her “10 Casino Money-Saving Tips.”

Everyone like to save money at the casino. These money-saving tips should be part of every casino visit. Those considered “good” gamblers learn the best strategies on the best games and use any legal method to increase their odds and lower the casino’s advantage, thus, saving-money and lengthening their bankroll. Jean Scott is one of those authors who practices what she preaches.  Before continuing on, check out two of her websites Jean Scott’s Queen of Comps  & Jean Scott’s Frugal Vegas. For related posts in NETG, click on Big Data, Casinos, & Jean Scott & Playing Video Poker Like Jean Scott – The Monday Link

Jean Scott is the author of the best-selling book “The Frugal Gambler,” (a must for every gambler) a casino guide for thrifty low rollers, plus a sequel, “More Frugal Gambling.” She stresses sensible, responsible gambling and shows how to stretch out casino fun time whatever your gambling bankroll.

Retired from the high school English classroom, her passion is still education while she continues as an active player in casinos all over the country. Today, Jean Scott, who, in her words, is just an “ordinary grandmother,” is the world’s most famous low-rolling gambler and her fans are legion. 

While all of Jean’s suggestions are with Las Vegas in mind where she resides, her 10 Money-Saving tips in the Casino are great ideas to use or modify in our New England Casinos.  Here are her tips:

10 Casino money-saving tips from the Frugal Gambler

1. Study before you go.

Libraries and bookstores have oodles of casino and gambling books that will guide you on a money-saving path. The Internet is full of information on the various casino games. Learn which games have the smallest casino edge, or have a skill factor you could learn, or that enable you to risk your money more slowly. All of these will allow you to lose less and/or stretch your bankroll further.

Shooting at the Craps Table – have fun whatever your game is.

2. Treat gambling as a form of entertainment and budget it just as you do whatever else you do for fun, such as movies, eating out, and vacations.

Nothing takes away the fun factor more quickly than losing money that you need for life’s essentials. Do not take your checkbook or ATM or credit card to the casino with you. Decide how much you can afford to spend (lose), and take that amount in cash or safe traveler’s checks as your gambling bankroll. Make your gambling bankroll last the whole time you plan to be in a casino by dividing it into segments, i.e., in thirds if you are staying three days, in three-to-four session bankrolls for each day. Then never “borrow ahead” from the next session bankroll.

3. Join every casino player’s club you can, even if you don’t plan to gamble there.

You can join many online before you get to Vegas. Membership is free and many casinos give discounts to player’s card holders in their restaurants, gift shops, and for rooms.

4. Use your player’s card EVERY TIME you play, no matter how small the amount or short the time.

This allows the casino to track your play and thus know how much to reward you with comps, those freebie meals, rooms, shows, and other benefits that the casinos want to give their players.

Mohegan Sun's Momentum Players Club

Mohegan Sun’s Momentum Players Club

If you play machines, there is a place for you to insert your card. If you play the tables, you merely hand the card to the dealer of any game and ask that your play be tracked. Casinos cannot give you comps if they don’t know you are playing in their casino.

    An added benefit of joining and using a player’s card is that casinos often send mail offers to everyone in their database, sometimes even to those who have played little or not at all. You will be surprised at the money-saving offers that will appear in your mailbox when you get home.

5. Don’t drink too much alcohol, even if the drinks are free. It will cloud your judgment.

More Money-Saving Tips From Jean Scott 

6. If you are losing too fast, lower your denomination.

Change from the dollar slots to quarters or from quarter to nickels. At the tables, bet the lowest-value chip allowed.

7. Slow down your play — savor the noisy, fun-filled atmosphere.

The bells and whistles, the clanking coins, the high fives at the tables, the excited screams of winners — this is what makes the casino such an entertaining experience.

Remember the days of casino trips with coupon books?

8. Look for coupons and specials for discounted meals, shows, and sightseeing tours.

You can find many of these in the freebie magazines around town: at the bell desk, at rental car agencies and motels, at the airport, and right in your room. Read the marquees for menu specials.

9. Look for promotions that will add value to a game you play:

a. bonus players club points, like double points on holidays or on a certain day every week;
b. bonuses for certain events, like the top jackpot on slots, a certain quad in video poker, or a special hand in blackjack;
c. drawings for which you can earn tickets by playing your favorite game.

10. Make your bankroll last longer by taking frequent non-gambling breaks.

Take in a show, go sightseeing, have a long, leisurely meal, take a tour or go shopping. Get your proper rest. A tired gambler is a gambler who will make decisions he will regret. Get a full night’s sleep and take a nap, if possible. Gambling is hard work!
The Royal Queen of Coupons has spoken!  Check out her books at Amazon

Remember, when gambling & comp-harvesting, embrace the math not the Myth.

Binbin