Comps Guide

What are Comps and How to Get Them?

When you come to Las Vegas to gamble, be sure you sign-up for a Players Club membership at each casino you play. Memberships are free, so there is no reason not to join. Getting a player’s card provides you with an opportunity to receive comps based on your play. Every Vegas casino, no matter how big or small, gives comps to players.

What are comps? Comps are free rewards given to casino players. The more you gamble, the better the rewards. However, even the low-stakes bettors can benefit from a Players Club membership. Comps add up quickly at most casinos even if you aren’t a high roller. What can you turn your comps into? Once you’ve earned enough player points (also referred to as “tier points/credits”), you can trade your comps in for free meals, hotel rooms, drinks, shows, and more. This is all based on how many points you’ve accumulated and the types of rewards the casino offers.

Why do casinos comp players?

Total Rewards CompOffer

My comp offers from Total Rewards.

One simple reason – They want you to keep gambling at their casino(s).  According to any casino gambling odds: the more you gamble, the more money they will make off of you.

Pretty much every casino in every city rewards loyal players with comps. However, the casinos in Las Vegas tend to give out better comps than elsewhere. The reason for that is the competition is stiffer in Vegas. There are casinos everywhere so each casino tries to out-duel the competitors for business. One way of beating out the competition is by being liberal with comps.

The casino business is the most competitive industry in Las Vegas other than restaurants. In order to thrive, a casino in Vegas must work extra hard to attract players to their casino because gamblers have so many options. In other cities where there are only 1 or 2 casinos, there is less of a need for the casino(s) to focus much on rewarding players. After all, if you only have 1 or 2 places to gamble, the casino doesn’t need to use any extra free stuff/gimmick’s to get you in the door. In Vegas, the casinos have to work hard to entice you to stay and play at their casino.

Comps are the casino’s way of thanking you for your business in hopes of keeping you around for a long time. Casinos that don’t rate well in the comps department usually struggle to obtain loyal customers. Why would you be loyal to a casino that doesn’t hook you up with free stuff when you can play the same games elsewhere?

Ok, So how do you get comps?

The first step in receiving comps is to sign-up for a Players Club membership. Then start gambling. The casino pays attention to the games you play, how much you wager, and how long you play. Comps can be earned by playing any game (slots, blackjack, poker, craps, video poker, keno, etc.). When you sit down at a slot or video poker machine, put you card in the machine so that you earn player points while you play. Never gamble without your card because you won’t earn points for your play.

Get The Cards

On the Strip, there are 2 big major players, so make sure to get these cards first:

My MLife Palyers Card

Mlife Card – This is the MGM Players Club card and you can earn and redeem comps at all MGM casinos in every state.  In Vegas it works at: Aria, Bellagio, Excalibur, Luxor, Mandalay Bay, Mirage, MGM Grand, Monte Carlo, New York-New York and Vdara.

total rewards players club cardTotal Rewards Card – This is the Caesars/Harrahs Players Club card and you can earn and redeem comps at all Harrahs casinos in ALL states.  In Las Vegas this card will work at: Ballys, Caessars Palace, The Cromwell, The Flamingo,  Harrah’s, The LINQ, Paris, Planet Hollywood and The Rio.

You can get these cards for Free at any MGM or Harrahs casino in any state.  You can also signup online and join the players clubs online at TotalRewards.com or Mlife.com and start getting hotel discounts immediately.   Anytime you lose or can’t find your card you can go to the players club desk with your drivers license and get new cards printed for free.

The Total Rewards Desk

The Total Rewards desk will get you your players card..

If you are playing table games, give the dealer your card along with your money. The dealer will give your card to the casino manager who will then rate your play. The more you bet, the higher you will be rated. Rating a bettor’s play is done for the purpose of earning comps. Players that bet more will get more money in comps. For example, if you want a free meal, the amount they will give you for that meal is based on your rate of play.

To receive your comps, take your card over to the Players Club desk and ask for a comp for dinner, hotel room, or whatever it is you desire. They will tell you whether or not you have earned enough points to receive this free reward. Most casinos will give you a paper voucher to take to the restaurant of your choice inside the casino, while others will put the comp on your card and then you will redeem the comp at the restaurant.

Always remember your card. If you forget your card, head over to the Players Club desk before gambling and get a new card. They are free. Have a good time in Vegas and get rewarded for your play!