Comps and schmoozing

Hi all -- longtime reader of this site (and various other blackjack sites); first time poster.

I'm just starting out with card counting / advantage play; my full-time career is lucrative enough for me to A) Take a casino trip every month or so with a bankroll that, if entirely lost, wouldn't mean anything catastrophic or even inconvenient (I find this attitude helps me ride out the fluctuations without getting a poor attitude) and/but B) Not feel like I need to make serious amounts of money playing blackjack.

The result is that my bankroll is usually around the $2k mark per trip; I realize that this relegates me to the $5 and $10 tables and that I shouldn't expect much at all in terms of comp offers. I know that if I got serious I could increase my bankroll and decrease my trip frequency to move to green/black chip tables, and I understand that it's probably in my best interest (from a pure gambling standpoint) to do so, but for whatever reason I'm not there yet and I feel no particular desire to get there. My trips here are definitely in the "try to have fun" category more than the "I am here to make money" category. I know this relegates me to the purely amateur category here, and that's A-OK with me.

Sorry for the novel-length background info; I have a few questions that I'll post separately but at least this way the regular readers will have an idea of who I am.

My question for now is about comps. Many sites recommend checking with the floor personnel when finishing a session to ensure that they've got an accurate record recorded for you (e.g. win/loss, average bet, etc.). They go on to recommend developing a friendly rapport with the floor personnel so that they are more likely to adjust your record in the way you claim is appropriate. I can be engaging and social when appropriate, but my question is: Is it really appropriate?

IMHO, a floor person deals with drunk and overly chatty customers on a daily basis; is he/she really going to develop a rapport with you if you ask her how her day is going? I understand some people appreciate small talk more than others; I just can't see how this is a hard-and-fast rule for dealing with floor people RE: comps. Furthermore, isn't suggesting that they recorded your play inaccurately an insult to their competence, no matter how politely it is couched?

I'll stop here -- basically, any supportive tips on the "social" nature, or any other kinds of helpful advice for getting accurate play recorded would be very much appreciated, the more detailed the better (e.g. sample conversations, whatever).

I understand I'm not going to get black-chip comps no matter what I do; however, as I said, I do try to count cards and spread my bets around accordingly, and it just seems like the floor people are nowhere to be seen when I start throwing out piles of green (of course these are also the hands I have to split, double, split/double, etc.).

Ok, I'm actually stopping this time. Any help appreciated.

Thanks!
-BB

First of all bird beast, let me say welcome to you. There certainly is nothing wrong with a goal of enjoying yourself, having some fun and making a bit of profit. You didn't mention in your post where you will be playing, which could be of help as someone who plays that particular location frequently may shed more light on the comp situation there. Speaking personally, I play regularly in Atlantic City, and make several week long trips to vegas each year and am receiving more comps and offers than ever before. The casinos seem to be empty especially during the week periods. I recently graduated to the $25 table ($25 unit) but even before that was receiving nice comp offers in both places. I just returned from a 9 night stay in Vegas in which 8 of my 9 nights were comped. (I couldn't get comped on saturday which was valentines day) And those comps were based on my last trip to vegas in the fall, when I was still playing $10/$15 tables. In I receive more comped nights than I can use. I heard others comment that comps are tighter right now, but again, that doesn't seem to be the case with me. I do know the Harrah's properties are fairly tight with comps, but since they have gone almost exclusively to dealer hit soft 17, I don't put in much time there. Hope this helps somewhat and am sure others will chime in as well. good luck

Thanks, it's nice to hear a friendly welcome and that things are good in terms of your comps. Forgive me, but you must play pretty often to get Friday nights comped on red chip tables, no?

I do play in AC exclusively; I fly around enough for work and I don't relish the prospect of doing so once a month for fun too. I usually stay at the Borgata because of the incredible food and rooms; however, I've heard mixed reviews about their comps and certainly don't think I can expect even weekday rooms for red chip blackjack. Is this assumption wrong? Any Borgata fans around?

I'm especially curious as to the social aspect of the whole mess. I've heard stories of people just asking for getting rooms, food, beverages, etc. comped even if the offer doesn't appear within their player's club profile, and bam, they get it. Does this occur often in AC? What is the proper way to go about asking (e.g. at what point in the trip? Who should get the question -- player's club reps? Floor people? Front desk?)? Any social tips appreciated, even if it's "Don't worry about the social aspect, it's not significant at this level of play."

Thanks again!

First of all, your background info was helpful and will hopefully put things in perspective for those who respond. Comps vary casino to casino and pit crew to crew. Certainly if you are friendly to the pit crew, in most cases they will treat you nicer or give you the borderline comps. I have the feeling that the players who get the handshakes and hugs from the pit crew lose early and often. When you're done playing, ask nicely for a reasonable comp. In other words, ask for the coffee shop, not the gourmet steak restaurant...or ask for dinner for two and they'll give you the amount they think is warranted. Personally, I like the Borgata. Their rules are good, pen better than most in AC, pit is friendly, and the women guests and cocktail waitresses are the prettiest in the city. On the weekend nights, however,it's hard to find less than a $25 minimum table (maybe that has changed recently with the recession). Overall, including comps, Foxwoods is better than all of AC. Also, your points are your points there so you know what you have. Go north, young man. Of course, some people here will argue that comps are not worth it because you have to give your ID. Let them pay for their own rooms and meals, as far as I am concerned. I guess they think they won't get barred/half-shoed, whatever if they don't have a comp card.

Thanks very much for your candid and friendly advice.

I guess maybe what it comes down to is that I'm a social wuss when it comes to asking about things I want! Maybe pressuring my colleagues about the facts of life RE: software development and IT has made me less of a hardballer when it comes to comps (e.g. things I want instead of things I "need").

How much action do you think it's appropriate to throw down before it's worth the time (not really my time -- the pit person's time) to ask for a comp? I don't know. Maybe reading all the black/purple/orange chippers on these kinds of message boards have reduced the faith I have in my own worth to the casino. I mean, I do come here for at least 3 nights a month, and while I do sit at $10 tables, $50 bets are fairly commonplace for me, and $75 bets are not rare if conditions warrant.

I give a lot of money to the hotel as well -- averaging $3k per stay between rooms and food (I adore the restaurants at the Borgata, especially coming from hicktown in central-eastern PA). I'm not sure that matters to them, since in that case I am exchanging money for services provided (and the prices are ... well, fair for AC, but don't get me wrong, I will still get on a cruise ship twice a year because they are so much more bang per buck, even if you travel in suites each time).

So maybe I just need a pat on the back and reassurance that my action is worthwhile for some half-decent comps. I mean, I'd love to comp a buffet breakfast here and there, or a few lunches (sandwiches and chips). If they won't comp my $150+ dinners, I understand that -- I love my fine dining.

Anyway, thanks again for your candor.

And by the way, I guess most people don't want to bother or don't know about it, but the Borgata has a handy touchscreen appliance where you click "Game Finder" then "Table Games" and you can find all of the blackjack action going on at that moment, and if you click on a particular blackjack table it will give you a map with "you are here" directions to that pit. And I guarantee you -- while the table may be crowded, there is ALWAYS at least 3 $10 tables on busy weekend nights and ALWAYS at least 1 $5 table on weekday (sometimes even weekend) days. I've come to the Borgata for 6-8 months now at 3-8 days per stay (always including Friday - Sunday) and I've never known the above rule to be violated. The tables are crowded, but they are at those times at that minimum anywhere in AC.

Anyway, sorry for another novel and thanks again.
-BB

You spend $3,000 for a three night stay. Play $10 table and would like to be comped for a sandwich and chips? am I missing something?

Borgata holds a sentimental place in my heart. It was the first place I was ever half-shoed :.) They are fairly generous with comps as accrued on the player's card. The pit crew rarely writes out paper comps as you're expected to use your points. So, just use your card.

However, if you're playing red chips, don't expect to accrue enough comp dollars for a Bobby Flay dinner (which, btw, is way overpriced, in my opinion. The buffet is a much better value.)

The $3k times are more like the 6-8 night stays.

But no, you're not missing something -- I basically just want to know what kind of comps one can expect from simply asking at the end of a red chip session.

Right, that's pretty much my expectation, as I said. Thanks!

i've never been to a/c, but in tunica, shreveport, and vegas, i'm a red chipper and have never been turned down for a meal comp. i went to college about an hour and a half from tunica and would go 3-4 times a week. usually i'd sit down, play $5-25 hands for 5-10 mins, and ask for the buffet or seafood restaurant. i practically LIVED off the gold strike seafood restaurant my senior year!

except once, i've not had my room comped, but then again, i've never asked. the vegas hotels are giving away rooms right now just to bring people in, so i'd imagine getting a room comp would be really easy too. no matter what your points are, or what level you're playing, just politely ask for whatever you want and chances are very good that you'll get it. good luck!