Calculating and Rating Players for Comps

As a general rule, the typical hotel/ casino is willing to comp guests up to one-half of the amount it expects to win from them. For example, if management expects to win $100 from a player, it may 'give back' as much as $50.

Casino hosts typically specialize; for instance, some work only in the slot machine area as slot hosts.

The casino host uses a combination of computer record keeping and gut feelings to calculate comps he or she will offer players. In other words, calculating comps is both high-tech--- the computerization of a player's gaming activity--- and low tech--- the casino host's educated judgment.

As an example, assume that a guest is playing a $1 slot machine and is wagering approximately $500 per hour. If this player plays two hours, he or she is placing at risk about $1,000. Since the property can set the win percentage it wants from a machine, the casino host has a good idea of the amount of money this player is most likely to lose during the two-hour period.

If the property sets a 3% win ratio (that is, its $1 slot has a 97% 'payout'), it expects to win $30 from this guest.

Therefore, according to the industry's most common rule of thumb, the casino host may comp this player up to $15 worth of goods and/or services, regardless of how much he or she actually wins or loses.

The fact that this player is willing to risk $1,000 tells management that, sooner or later, it will grind out its 3% win.

However, the hotel/casino must rate its players for comp privileges. The higher a player's rating, the more comps he or she will receive. Usually, the lowest rated players will qualify for free drinks while they play, as well as, perhaps, some trinkets such as baseball caps, T-shirts, or glassware.

The highest-rated players have RFBT comp privileges--- that is, free room, food, beverage, and transportation.

In some cases, the very high rollers may also receive comp privileges at neighboring attractions; for example, pick up the tab for this event for its special players.

Player rating is an inexact science. Generally speaking, when a hotel/casino evaluates a player, it considers the person's credit line, average wager, amount of playing time, and 'theoretical' win.

It is important to keep in mind, though, that each hotel/casino views these criteria differently. Let's say, a player with a $15,000 credit line may rate an RFB comp at a major property, whereas he or she may rate a RFBT comp at a smaller one.

Consider how a hotel/casino with a slot club could rate its slot players for comp privileges. A slot club issues guests computerized pocket cards to insert in slot machines while they are playing.

This card keeps track of their play and awards points based on the amount of money wagered. As players earn points, they can redeem them for various prizes, such as free dinner, shows, or T-shirts.

The computerized cards issued to guests can also be used to earn points at table games. For example, a player can give the card to the floor supervisor at the dice tables, who adds points to it based on the amount of money wagered.

Furthermore, a property could conceivably rely strictly on management judgments and floor supervisor's powers of observation to rate all players for comp privileges.