For Comps, Is It Better To Buy in with a Lump Sum or Increments?

I’ve been playing table games for 40+ years and when I buy in at a table, am I better off to buy in at the $300-$500 amount that I’m prepared to lose that day or $100 at a time? Will I gain more promo points from the pit boss as compared to buying in at $100 at a time?

[Editor's Note: Our guy behind the curtain, Andrew Uyal, answers this one.]

Ratings at the table determine everything about what comps you receive from the casino. It's important to understand how they work, so you can maximize the return on your play.

A lot of times when I write about casino stuff, it varies from one to the next. That's not the case with this question. I can confidently say that there is no rewards system where the amount of cash you buy in with has any effect on how many points you earn.

The number of points is based off two key variables (and one hidden variable, that we'll talk about after): average bet and time on table.

Combined, the two determine your points. And note that you need them both.

If you buy in for $100 and lose it all on one hand, you earn almost no points, because there's no time on table. If you buy in $100 and can play for an hour, you'll earn more points than betting it all on one hand. Over the course of that hour, you wager far more than $100 on one hand.

The longer you play and the more you bet, the more points you earn. No amount or increment of buy-in changes that.

The hidden variable I mentioned is the game you're playing. Some games earn points faster than others. This is based on the house edge of the game and how fast it's dealt.

Baccarat, for instance, doesn't earn you a lot of points; it's a slow game with a low house edge. Blackjack is a good one for players; it's faster without giving up a ton of house edge. Where you can really earn some points is on the poker-derivative games like Three Card Poker and Ultimate Texas Hold'em. Those have high house edges, so the points are earned faster. It's give and take.

Craps is usually good for earning points too, because so much money can be in action at once. If you're a crap player and you're savvy to comp points, you'll want to know how the casino is rating your play. Some places put all the bets together for one average bet total. Some divide it up into sections; there are so many different types of bets that some earn points faster than others. Most casinos, even though they may rate your odds bets, don't award points for them, because it's a bet with no house edge at all. If you can find a place that does let you earn points for odds (and they are out there), those are great places to play craps.

Feel free to buy in with whatever amount you like on the tables, whatever makes you comfortable and makes it easier to track what you're spending. But understand that it doesn't make a difference to your points. Only your average bet, time on table, and game type matter for that.

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Comments

Kevin Lewis Feb-07-2025

The best game for comps

...is Pai Gow Poker, because it's inherently slow (never a bad thing), but also, half the outcomes are pushes. Therefore, it takes two hands to produce the same result as one hand on other games. You might find that this game is rated in its own category (drat), but it might also be rated with other poker-based carny games. It's worth scoping out.

VegasVic Feb-07-2025

Pai Gow

Since Pai Gow, like Baccarat, is so slow it's not rated all that well.  And the frequent ties also diminish the points.  Fun game to play when you want to relax, not good for comp points though.

Jon Miller Feb-07-2025

Follow up questions

So I play a lot of blackjack and if I'm sitting down at a $10 or $15 table, I usually push out a $25 or $30 bet to start.   My thinking is that there's a good chance that the pit boss who is rating me will work off of that in calculating my average bet.  Similarly, I will top up my betting more when I see the pit boss circulating to our table, etc.   I guess my question is.....is that so superficial and transparent that it's not worth even doing?   Am I not giving these casino professionals enough credit?   Are there other suggested strategies to increase the average bet rating without going to that level constantly?   I do believe strongly in progressive betting, so just by the organic nature of my play I will have some really large bets out there from time to time.   Wondering if anyone else has any tricks of the trade to share.   I found this a great QOD by the way :)

Brent Peterson Feb-07-2025

Points for Odds Bets

So, what are those places that let you earn points for odds bets at craps? Or, where can I find that information (without going to every casino personally)?

O2bnVegas Feb-07-2025

to Jon Miller's questions

I'm no fount of knowledge about this, but over years of watching table players come and go I believe pit bosses are pretty savvy about players intermittently upping a bet for the boss to see.  Plus, they often ask the dealer for input when they do the final rating when you leave the table. They all know this lore/trick about raising the bet just in their passing.

What I DO guess at, and only a guess, is the benefit of 1) longer play; 2) being clearly very polite and friendly and fun at the table; and 3) tipping decently (adding to #2) for the boss to see. Not that the boss benefits from the tips, but when you finally leave the table and the boss and dealer collaborate about your play/rating, it could make a little bit of a difference in your favor.  I say "could", maybe/maybe not. It doesn't hurt to have them 'like' you and be able to rate you just a tad higher than lower if on the line.  JMHO.

Candy

Jack Gruber Feb-07-2025

buy ins

I don't intend to lose more than 200 per session.  But years ago when Eastside Cannery was still open, I bought in for $500 each time I played craps.  By the third time I did this, they actually had a Host come over and introduce himself.  Obviously the buy-in amount got the attention--wouldn't even get a nod now, but I think the larger initial buy-in is bettereven if you plan on losing way less.

VegasVic Feb-07-2025

Initial Bets

Comp City goes into this but there can be some benefit to starting your initial bets higher than normal.  As O2bnVegas said, PB's aren't dumb about this kind of thing but if you are at a busy table in a busy pit it may help.  They'll glance at your bet as they put you in the system and then again periodically.  But the busier they are the less time they have scrutinizing players bets.  Occasionally they may ask a dealer about someone but that usually only pertains to someone betting heavy.

John Dulley Feb-07-2025

Disagree

I get the point about average bet and length of time playing (kinda obvious imo) but the bigger the buy in definitely without question gets better comps. I play a lot of BJ  and have narrowed and focused down where but it’s become obvious, even in short sessions, that the bigger the buy in the more it gets the attention of the pit boss.

Question of the Day - 07 February 2025

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