Free Play and Comp Points

[FloridaPhil]

There was a time when I didn't value free play.  It seemed to show up
out of nowhere, was always a surprise and I had no idea how it was
calculated.   One day a few years ago I stopped by the Player's Club to
ask some questions.  My question had to do with an offer I received by
mail.  The offer
said "Hidden Treasure" with an amount next to it.  When I put my card in
the first machine I didn't have any
free play, so I stopped by the Players Club.  I wasn't expecting much of
an answer.  I got lucky and was able to talk with one of the casino
managers.  For the next 45 minutes I was given a complete tour
of the casino's  website, my offers and how to find them.  He also gave
me a list of key words that would be used in my mail offers.  These
words identified the difference between a "guaranteed" offer and a
"random" offer.  He also explained the term Bounce Back free play and
how it works.  About the same time, Bob Dancer was talking about free
play on this forum and I began to realize it's true value.  Before
I pick which day to go to the casino, I always check the casino's
website.   There is a big difference in free play depending upon which
day you choose.  When I play max coin quarters, my usual bounce back
free play is about $25 a day.  Some days they have bonus free play which
can add another $20-$50 to it.   If I play max coin 50 cents and throw
in a little dollar play, my bounce back free play runs about $75 a
day.   I have earned as much as $150 a day in free play if I get lucky with my $5 machine pot shots.  I don't know
the exact calculations, but it seems to depend upon the denomination I
play and how long I can play it.  My wife never plays anything but single line max coin quarter deuces wild.  Her bounce back free play runs about $10-$15 a day.Free play is getting more of my
attention these days.  If I take $400 to the casino and start with slots and max coin 50
cent VP, by picking the day I can earn at least $50 in free play adding over 10% to my bankroll for that day.   If I count my free play as money I
would have used to play, it helps defer the cost of playing negative
games.  I can hit a jackpot just as easily playing negative games, but it's nice to put a value on my comps.In addition to free play, we earn comp points.  My comp
points in a day of max coin quarter play runs around $20.  If I play all day at
the 50 cent level with some dollar play thrown in, it's closer to $50. 
Comp points are tricky because they expire quickly at the Hard Rocks. 
Comp points will pay for your meals if you eat in the coffee shop.  At
the Hard Rocks my wife and I have separate accounts.  At some casinos
they allow a husband and wife to have joint accounts.  This is
beneficial as two small players can look like one bigger customer.Playing
slots with your free play will increase your comps and free play.  This
was a Dancer tip and it works.  Since I have been playing slots with my
free play, my free play has doubled.  The first thing I do when I go to
the casino is play my free play in my favorite slots.  I don't sit
there and play 68 cents a hand until the machine sucks it all in.  My
goal is to win money and run, so I play $3-$5 a hand and walk with my
winnings.   Some days I start out up $100-$300 from my slot free play
alone.I'm sure other members of this forum will have good points
to add to this thread.   I'm still learning myself.  Every casino is
different and not all players want to same thing.  Finding what works
for you is the key to being a happy VP player.

[FAA]

Playing
slots with FP will increase your comps and free play.  This
was a Dancer tip and it works.  Since playing slots with my FP , my FP has doubled.  The first thing I do when I go to
the casino is play my FP in my favorite slots.  I don't sit
there and play 68 cents a hand until the machine sucks it all in.  My
goal is to win money and run, so I play $3-$5 a hand and walk with my
winnings. Some days I start out up $100-$300 from slot FP
alone.----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Fantastic. I've always been terrified of slots. Just too much downside and I'm afraid I'll get hooked. I get $25 a week. So I think I should simply hold my nose and do the five to ten spins at max. One great result makes your month or even year. Resigned to losing the whole damn thing. But you can't compromise the experience with the crappy sixty cent bets. You get penalized so much worse than VP on a premium win.

[Tedlark]

Piggybacking off Phil where he mentions that "every casino is different" I will add this: some casinos do not allow a player to accrue points when playing using freeplay and also as Phil mentions, you must become familiar with the ins and outs of the various casino players clubs and their rules.

[FloridaPhil]

I consider all my slot play as a pot a shot.  From my experience, playing slots at minimum bet is a slippery slope to an empty wallet.  If you catch the bonus rounds with a sizable bet, it's no trick to hit a slot for $200-$300 dollars.  I have been lucky a few times and walked away with a thousand or more.  Just be prepared to run with your winnings.  "Pigs get fat, hogs get slaughtered."I agree with Ted.  It pays to take the time to understand what a casino is offering you.   Playing on vacation like we do, we see a lot of different comp programs.  Once you establish a track record, most casino resorts will give you a free hotel room.   Some casinos are real stingy with free play and food.  You don't have to beg for free stuff.  Their comp plans are pretty clear if you take the time to find out how they are structured.   As you move up in denomination you will receive more offers and your offers will be better.   Use caution.  There is a point where playing bigger can be counterproductive.  To me, it doesn't make sense to lose $2,500 to earn a couple of free show tickets unless the show is Moses parting the Red Sea or all four Beatles with two of them being reincarnated on stage. 

[pokerpokerpoker]

My FP has ranged from $5/week to $40/day - seemingly depending on my results from the previous couple months.

When I was getting killed, my FP was great. In the summer, I hit quite a few jackpots and I was essentially no-mailed. All with similar amounts of play.

I asked the booth attendants "how do you determine FP amounts?" and of course they gave the canned answer "it's all based on play". They wouldn't, or maybe couldn't, elaborate any farther.

[FloridaPhil]

Exactly how casinos calculate FP is anyone's guess and I'm not sure anyone knows for sure.   At our local casinos it does seem to be based on some algorithm of coin in and time played.   After a big win, my offers do get better.  This could be because I played at a larger denomination triggering more free play, so who knows?  One thing I know for sure.  If you play single coin, your free play will take a big hit.  Playing single coin is for players who don't care about comps and just want to play a lot of hands cheap.   Nothing wrong with that,  just don't expect the casino to give you anything.  They can't make much money on players betting games with a 3-5% house edge one quarter at a time.Figuring out how casino comp point programs work is easier.  The Player's Club will be happy to explain it if you ask.  I have never had anyone explain how free play is calculated to my satisfaction.  

[billryan]

Exploiting comps is both fun and very profitable.

[FAA]

If you lose it, prepare to walk. The key is not to pour VP BR down this notoriously infamous drain!

[onemoretry]

  At our local casinos it does seem to be based on some algorithm of coin in and time played.  
This statement just confirms the fact that so-called "free" play is not free at all - it is earned through play.

Perhaps the same marketing genius who created resort fees was at it again?

[Tedlark]

So far in the last 4 weeks through freeplay from a local casino I've benefited + $1,250.00. Last weekend I stopped in early to take advantage of some additional freeplay cash in addition to my normal amount and after hitting 4's with a kicker while playing TDB I walked out 50 minutes later up $750.00. The week before I walked out after 30 minutes up $300.00 and a week before that I walked out 30 minutes later up $200.00.

As I've mentioned before; I only use offers from the casinos that I may benefit from and I will pass on the steak knife, deep fryer, and umbrella give-aways.