Have you ever worried your comps have a bigger cost to you than just playing? Today’s question is in that direction:
Have you noticed if you stay overnight in the hotel or charge things to your room that if you play with your card in you do not win anything? I am thinking that they want everything they gave you back.
Pam L.
Every game in the casino is designed to make money for the house. Most casinos tend to have a bit of a casino tax on pricing in restaurants and gift shops that is designed to make money for the casino (like that $6.50 bottle of soda at Mandalay Bay).
So in a way, you’re right that the casinos issue you comps in an effort to make more money – comps tend to be worth somewhere between 20 and 40 percent of what they expect you to lose in a visit. Given that, they hope to win everything back and more. But it’s not done in any manipulative way the way you’re suggesting.
First off, as we’ve shared before, using your players card does not have any impact on your wins or losses. We even asked, and confirmed, with one of the major slot manufacturers that such a capability doesn’t even exist.
Also, consider the scenario of charging things to your room – players are encouraged to do that because if you have a host, for instance, they may be able to remove charges if you gambled enough.
And players may earn tier credits for their spend when charging to their room, which can be easy to miss if you otherwise fail to give them your card when paying at a restaurant or gift shops, for instance.
Ultimately, comps are designed to entice you to return and spend money. Casinos don’t need to manipulate anything, even if they could, to make money off of us over time for visiting.
But by not using your card or accepting your comps, you’re guaranteeing spending more than you would have if you otherwise had accepted and earned those comps.
