For this answer, we turned to Max Rubin, for whom the qualifier "inimitable" has almost become a cliche. As anyone who’s been around the LVA scene for any length of time, or even just read a gambling book or two, knows, Max is the author of the classic book on comps, Comp City. He’s also worked in various capacities in the casino, so he’s intimate with comps from both the civilian and the custodial side of the tables. And he’s an all-around gentleman, gadfly, and wit (though whether or not he's a scholar is open to debate), and we’re always pleased to present a response from him. Here it is.
Of course it’s not "improper" to give your comps to someone else, if by "improper," you mean morally wrong. As far as I’m concerned, you risked your money, you put in your time, you earned the comps, and you can do any damned thing you want with them.
However, the casinos don’t take such an enlightened viewpoint.
Thus, if you take your pal’s card and pin number to another casino to cash in the free play, you’ll have to make sure you follow a few simple rules.
First, don’t even think about pulling this move unless the casino is technologically on the ball and has the cool gizmos built into the gaming machines that let you just put in your (fake) card and type in your (bogus) pin number. If you have to get your friend’s free play at the players club booth, you’re sunk. Virtually every time you show your mug at the player’s club, you’ll be asked for photo ID. And since your ID won’t match your friend’s card, they’ll likely think you’re trying to pull some chicanery and, at best, give you a full ration of manure before they throw you out and 86 you forever.
Second, do not play a machine with a jackpot that’s more than $1,199. Why not? Because if you hit that jackpot, you’ll have to show your (non-existent) ID, so you can be issued a pesky IRS W-2G form before your paid. Again, if your ID doesn’t match up with the player’s card that you used to scarf up the free play, they’ll probably put you in irons and you’ll likely have the pleasure of enjoying the dining options at the Tunica County Jail, which I’ve been told are almost as bad as the samplings at the Circus Circus buffet.
If video poker is your bag, you'll need to stick to non-progressive, single-line, quarter machines; the royal, and potentially other jackpots, on any other machine, will trigger a W-2G. If you like slots, my favorites for this play are the Blazing 7s three-coin dollar machines. They have a very high hit frequency for smaller jackpots (in the couple-hundred-dollar range) and their progressives, which aren’t linked to other machines, rarely go higher than $1,199. If a particular machine’s progressive is more than $1,199, pick another slot that's under the W-2G threshold.
It’s also a real bad idea to say you "forgot" your ID and hope that your pal can come back with it in a day or two to collect, because even in Tunica, they’re gonna remember who you weren’t and then your (former) friend is the one who’ll be going to the slammer. And the bail’s probably gonna be higher than $1,199, too.
As far as "hurting" your comps is concerned, if you play your coins wrong, it would be easy for both of you to hurt your comp status, depending on the casino. Some casinos send out those juicy bounce-back cash offers you both want to harvest based on your Average Daily Theoretical (ADT), which means that they think that every time you come in, you blow a lot of money and they’re willing to offer you a lot to get you to make an extra visit. Others base their offers on how much they think they can nick you for over the long term. My advice: Take the bonuses and give the joint the same amount of action you normally would. Just stay away from the big jackpots.
Finally, don't worry about damaging your overall tier status. Any play is good play. Just don’t get caught.
