What If “Comped” Rooms Were Abolished?

My third Vegas Bright contribution

What if "Comped" rooms were abolished?

This and other similar articles will, without any doubt, promote just that, abolishment of comped rooms, especially when the comments say "I will still go to Vegas...".

Back in the day when VP schedules were great, this board was full of discussion of who and where the best of the best VP schedules were found, how much people won, etc. It took one (brave?) casino company to begin downgrading their VP schedules. With the postings and articles of outrage against this practice, eventually the majority of casinos jumped on that gravy train.

Casino people read these things and take cues from them. Wait for it...it will happen as soon as enough is published to embolden the head honchos to say "Hey, they expect it, they will even come anyway, so...who will go first?

I certain hope this does not come to pass. I suppose the cat is out of the bag, but let's not contribute to this concept by taking what some may believe is the high road by saying "I'll still come though I'll gamble less...still come just maybe not as often...etc."

Silence is golden.

not taking the high road, but I WOULD come to Vegas less often. comped rooms and drinks are things I don't get at my local casino so it is a nice perk. the one closest to my house has no hotel, and the ones that do have a hotel don't care about me, I am just a low roller to them I guess.

While I would still go to Vegas without the comped room and other perks (I'm just starting to get these "comps") the establishments that are doing the comps now would not get my gambling business without them.

I believe that current resort business models are contributing to the loss of room comps. Hotels are more and more being run as a separate business entity from the casino and sometimes from the rest of the resort. Often the hotel's management is a separate company altogether. They probably don't like the idea of their rooms being given away for free.

I like all the comps, as sparing as they are right now. I'll take advantage of them every chance I get. But I don't go to Vegas for the comps. I go to have a good time, do some stuff I don't ordinarily get to do, and to have a relaxing and jolly good time (Okies use the term "jolly" almost never, btw). If comps were eliminate, wifey and I would still go, but we might alter our plans due to no comps. Might not visit CET or MGM or _____ (fill in the blank) places as often.

If I had to pay for rooms in Vegas, then my plans would definitely change. We have a timeshare, so we would take advantage of that way more often than we do now.

As it stands right now, even with gambling, it coasts less for us to go to Vegas than, let's say, a resort like Disneyworld. If they equalize, then plans will change.

We rarely go to our local CET casino because the machines are tight and table games high minimums. There are no "free" drinks and the atmosphere is just not Vegas. Gambling will be a side thought.

Joy

I cant imagine they would get rid of comped rooms / food/ etc. Whats the incentive for betting more than minimum if you are not getting comped for upping your bets?

If "Group A" would comp me a room and "Group B" wouldn't, I would stay in "A" and play more money than I would "B". I play locally because they quit rewarding my play. If they don't want to give me a $10 buffet when I lose $500, I'll keep my money in my pocket or spend it somewhere else. I feel like a "comp" is a casinos way of saying that they like me (even though I know that's total BS), not just my money.

Ray

The bottom line about "comps"...we call it prepaid....basically "gambling" or "gaming" whatever words you prefer is a recreation or addiction....it is my recreation...other people have bowling league, a weekly movie habit, a $200 bar tab, marathon running, etc, etc....the difference is that my recreation of choice may or may not have me coming home with my money or more money. When you pay your fees to your other recreation you pay your money and it is gone, you had your fun and nothing to show for it...that also being said, if someone says they are a winner and gambled more than that one time in Vegas for a friend's bachelor party, they are a liar. You take swings and roll your "free" comps into the cost of your recreation....if they didn't have comps, I would not spend a little more than I should have at times knowing that I am at least going to get some free play or dinners out of it. So no, "gamblers" of which they are running out of Vegas with $50 buffets are not coming to Vegas, especially with new locals casinos in their home state. My home state actually did pass gambling and we have two different casinos, one gives generous comps and play and one doesn't...which do you think we frequent. Getting someone in with that free dinner or free play...they play more than they budgeted and lose...eventually all gamblers will lose or be even. Plus they are bringing guests and new people. None of my friends play at all ever! Some people do ask me about my "hobby".

But basically, they are also giving me "crap" food and I wouldn't be eating at their restaurants, nor would I be buying a ticket to that old timer headliner, who may be awesome or past their prime so I didn't buy the ticket. The comps, in and of themselves, become my monopoly "game". And for some reason lately, everyone is sending me dinner daily, so I do play more because daily I go to a dinner and end up spending a few hours there. There are certain times of the year that cycle more it seems.

So sure take away comps and I will spend my time doing other things. A "free" vacation to Vegas or pay for vacation to the spot of your choice...people are going to go to random places or their favorite place. Gambling is gambling whatever building it is in.

I go to Vegas 3-4 times a year, that would change to once every other year.