Travel to Nevada

Comp City: A Guide to Free Casino Vacations, Second Edition

Format: Paperback
Author: Max Rubin
ReleaseDate: June, 2001
Publisher: Huntington Press
Rating:

comp city worked for me
" So I ended up buying this book. in light of an upcoming casino vacation, i figured, "what the heck, I'd might as well try to get as much free stuff out of the casinos if they're gonna take my hard earned money. I mean, who doesn't like free stuff?? Well after reading the book several times, and applying the tips Max Rubin tells you to do while playing table games, I ended up getting more in comps than I have ever did. and that was my first time using Max's comp counting techniques. I'd imagine that it would take a bit of practice to get higher-end comps and nicer accomadations. But after the first meal comp, this book had paid for itself. To think after all these years of getting beat by the casinos and getting nothing for my $25 to $200 bets. Thanks Max!!.

A lot of Brass = A lot of Comps
He does say that it pays to ask, and at worst, they'll say no, but often they say yes, or at least make some kind of offer. First, let me say that Rubin doesn't tell you to grovel before the pit bosses to get a comp, nor does he advocate stealing. He tells hilarious stories about Vegas characters, some of whom were thieves, but he doesn't favor copying their example.
What he does want to teach is his ACES method of gathering comps, which is based on blackjack played with the black chips. But you don't have to lay down a C-note to use his methods. Even a low roller like me can get good comps, (particularly with the rise of the California tribal casinos creating wonderful competion for the gaming public) if I use his methods. .

Amusing, But Mostly Useless
I'm 23, which is the age of gambling where you bet everything possible (and play poker like you started the craze) and try to make a million dollars in one night. I'm not a typical gambler. . . however I'm nothing like that. I've read all the gambling books and stuck to the smart games. I never played slots or roulette. I didn't play for comps. But as I'm starting to have more and more freedom, I've found myself falling into the comp craze. The thought of free AC vactations every few months was too sweet to me to pass up. So I decided to pick up "Comp City" and really start earning those free rooms.

Well, after reading the book, I realized how utterly stupid I was being. Playing for comps is just that - stupid. This book, while very entertaining thanks to the author's cynical view of the casino business and good sense of humor, really just ends up showing you how ridiculous you have to act to earn decent comps.

The book is basically a guide to begging at pit boss' feet until they give you something. But it also shows you how to put yourself in a position for that to work. Hide from them and bet small. . . but when the come around bet big. Slow the game down by betting stupid amounts ($31. 50 so the dealer has to make change). BS with dealers during the shuffle, BS with pit bosses when they're around, fake bathroom and smoking breaks, spill drinks on the table (wtf?). . . this will get the attention of the casino, alright, and probably get you removed from the comp system altogether. The people in the casino aren't stupid. . . they know what you're doing. I find it hard to believe that people can be so stupid that you leaving for the bathroom every time the pit boss comes around when you were JUST about to make that $500 won't arouse suspicion. On top of that, the other players will NOT find this amusing at all. . . maybe Las Vegas tourists will. . . but Atlantic City gamblers will complain to the floorman in short order.

I dunno about you, but when I go to a casino for a vacation, I do NOT want to spent it groveling to a bunch of jackasses in the pit. First of all, I'm a $5-10 bettor so I have no business acting like the casino owes me anything. That's one problem with this book - you can't really earn anything with the "system" unless you are willing to bet $100-200 per hand in blackjack when the situation calls for it. I can't do that. . . most people can't do that. The people who can already get what they want. Second of all, I'm not about to embarrass myself in front of a bunch of gamblers for a freaking hot chocolate at the cafe. I'll pony up the $1. 29 rather than hear, "sorry sir your play doesn't qualify you for that luxurious comp". Third of all, I don't care for blackjack because it's too mechanical, what with basic strategy being proven as the only strategy worth anything. . . well this system requires blackjack and blackjack only. Keep this in mind.

All in all, you'll get a good laugh out of the book and the way Max describes the comp system and the people who implement it. You'll also (hopefully) see how dumb it is to gamble for comps unless you have the kind of bankroll where you can afford to bet big when you're being watched. For those of us who bet the typical $5-25 per hand. . . remember these things:

- To play for comps you have to do nearly all of your play in one casino. . . the casino you want rated in (that supposedly has the 'best' games and the best conditions for this system). This means that if you're a video poker or craps player, you have to play whatever odds that casino offers. If you're a blackjack player and are having terrible sessions at the casino you wants comps in, you really can't leave to play elsewhere if you want to keep your rating up.
- A lot of casinos have very reasonable room rates and their "normal" food is pretty good and at a reasonable price. You don't HAVE to stay in $799 Piatto Suites with Plasma TVs and 1,500sq/ft of floor space at Borgata when Harrah's has comfortable rooms 5 minutes away for $79. If you HAVE to stay there OR eat $400 gourmet meals, JUST PAY FOR THEM!!!! Don't sit around at a game you hate blowing 2k when things just aren't going your way cause you want to feed your fat face or sit around watching 42" HD football.
- If you go to a casino primarily for a relaxing vacation, then gambling isn't what you came to do a lot of - you shouldn't be spending all of your time trying to meet comp requirements. Pay for the nice rooms and meals and gamble when you want. Nothing makes you blow money faster than gambling when you don't want to and going on tilt. . . and it'll probably be a LOT more than what you paid for the rooms/meals. If you go to casinos primarily for gambling, then who cares how nice the room is? Are you really gonna be there that much?
- Playing for comps is just plain dumb in general. Gambling is supposed to be fun, and I don't find it fun to dump money into games I don't particularly like. Blackjack is the only real game you can comp-hunt at because the edge is low and you only have one bet to worry about. I don't like blackjack. Other people might not either.
- If you like "pretty games" you're gonna lose money. . . but you'll probably get comped anyways because the edge is high for the house. If you, like me, enjoy taking a shot at the casino by playing low house-edge games like craps and video poker. . . you won't get comped unless you're playing really big bets. But who cares? Enjoy yourself, hopefully get lucky and win a little. . . and if the casino decides to offer you something for free, then that's your bonus. Don't bet over you head to impress the casino. I tried that. Learn from my mistake.

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