This is a two-part question, and each part is an answer in itself. So today, we'll tackle part one. Tune in for the exciting conclusion tomorrow.
Rule number one when it comes to getting the casino to return in comps what you deserve for your play at the poker tables is knowing that you deserve them in the first place. A Web site such as www.allvegaspoker.com is your first stop when it comes to learning about the comp policies of Las Vegas poker rooms. Click on "Reviews" for descriptions and ratings of the 48 poker rooms around town, both from the site's editors and legions of poker players themselves. With as many as 150 reviews for a single casino’s poker venue (MGM Grand), you can read literally 1,000 reviews of poker rooms in Las Vegas. The review format calls for quality assessments and ratings for room quality, competition at the tables, dealer service, cocktail service, and the all-important comp policies. (Many of the reviews date back awhile, but you'll quickly get the idea, and then you'll know what to ask for and how to ask).
A look at random reviews of a random poker room reveals that many poker players are faulty when it comes to freebies.
"Wasn’t into it."
"None that I received."
"Didn’t ask."
"Don't know if they had any."
"Didn't stick around long enough to take advantage of them, whatever they were."
"Was never informed of any rating program or anything."
"I wasn't aware of any comps (or lack thereof), so I can't really say."
"What are comps?"
Peppered among those, however, are some nuts-and-bolts explanations of the casino's comp system.
"I hear there's a free breakfast in the morning before the 8:30 tournament, but I didn't get up early enough to find out."
"If you play for four hours, you get a comp of $5 to use in the restaurant, but you have to ask when you leave."
"When I inquired about using the club card for comps, I was told they didn't take them. So how do you get rated?"
It behooves anyone who goes to a casino and risks his money at a game of chance not only to know how to play the game and to manage a bankroll, but also to get all the comps that are coming to him. In the reviews on www.allvegaspoker.com and other sites like it, you'll hear about club cards, dollars-per-hour comps, poker room rates, bonus winnings and progressive jackpots, and freeroll tournaments. Here's how they all work.
All players get free drinks. The quality of waitress service varies from casino to casino, but cocktails are a standard automatic free amenity to anyone playing in the poker room.
Next comes food. Many of the poker rooms can now swipe your players club card to track your time in and out. And many will return about a dollar in comp value for every hour you play poker.
According to the "Poker Room Comp Policy" at the MGM Grand Web site, "Players logged into Raked Poker Games will receive $1 in comp value per hour for their first 10 hours of live play within a 24-hour reporting period. The maximum comp value for Raked Poker Games is $10 per reporting period." Similarly, at the Wynn, low-limit players earn $1 an hour; players at $30/$60-and-up tables get $1.50. At the Gold Coast or Orleans, you earn $1.25 an hour for your first four hours, then $1 per after that; there's a max of $9 a day.
Not all the casinos use this system, so be sure to ask when you arrive; if the room isn't tied into the computer, find out how you do get food comps for your poker play.
Room comps are essentially unknown for poker players (play video poker for room comps). But the "poker room rate" is nearly universal. This is a discount -- usually around 25% -- off your hotel accommodations, which is arranged through the poker-room manager (don't call reservations to get the poker rate). Most Las Vegas poker rooms require from four to six hours of play per day to qualify for the deal. Keep in mind that the poker rate is p
