One of the aspects of the comps that casino players get at locals casinos particularly is the concept of the free gift. Come in on certain dates, the flyers will note, and you can get yourself some sort of a gift.
The gifts can range wildly in value and utility. Sometimes it can be high value items like iPads; other times it can be utilitarian options such as gift cards. Often it’s one piece of a set, like luggage or bedding sets, that encourage multiple visits to claim all the items.
The thing players need to remember is that when you pick up a gift, the casino is expecting some sort of play in return. The value of that gift can immediately be diminished if you suddenly lose a good chunk of money you weren’t planning on spending.
But that doesn’t mean there aren’t good reasons to claim a casino gift. So let’s focus on the times when it’s a good idea to claim it, and we’d love your thoughts about free gifts in the comments below!
When You Can Use the Item
If the item has use, that’s certainly a good time to consider picking it up. If it would be something you would (or are planning to) buy for yourself, it’s a good foundational place to begin as to whether this particular gift or gift set is worth it.
Keep in mind, though, that casinos do source gifts from inexpensive providers. If you are looking at that frying pan, the one they’re offering may not be the level of quality you would go out and purchase for yourself, so that should be a consideration as to whether it’s worth it.
When the Gift Makes Sense
Sometimes casino gifts just don’t align with your needs. They’re doing a Queen-sized bedding offer but you don’t own a Queen-sized bed? That just won’t work out. But casinos for some reason seem to do this sort of thing all the time.
So, along with whether the item is useful for you, make sure it’s what you need. If you need pots and pans but the size of the items don’t align with what you were going to buy, it may not be worth picking up that gift.
Is the Gift Available Along With Other Offers?
Some casinos will block off other aspects of offers like free play on days their gift offers are taking place. Others will let you claim your free play and resort credit on top of the gift, making it more valuable than if you visited on a day without a gift.
Stacking offers is a time honored tradition of wringing the most out of a casino visit. If a casino gift coincides with other offer potential, it can make a trip on the borderline more worth it.
When the Item is Higher Value
Members of our team were getting offers this summer to pick up a gift card on the same day as free play and food benefits. It made it an easy decision when the gift card on its own had decent value, but the other items sealed the deal.
Some casinos are simply more generous with their gifts than others, and sometimes the generosity depends on when on the calendar the offers will land. But if it works out in your favor, it can make a trip worth it.
When You Already Plan On Going
It certainly makes sense to pick up the gift if you plan on visiting the casino already. Aligning your trip is certainly reasonable if you were going to play regardless.
In those circumstances, if the item isn’t something you necessarily want or need, but may find someone else may benefit from using, that can be another great way to leverage those gifts. Once a casino offered us a Vera Bradley clutch that became a great charitable donation for a silent auction.
Takeaway
Free gifts are designed to regularly pull players into the casino. But it’s worth making sure that the gift is worth it, and that the value and utility of it make a casino trip specifically worth it. But if you’re already going to go, or it’s of a strong value, it’s still worth considering.
