If you’re not learning all you can about casino comps and how you can use them to your benefit, you are just giving the house a bigger edge than they already have, and don’t need.

Putting some effort into learning how the casino complimentary (comp) system works just might turn your next trip to Las Vegas, or your favorite casino, into a winning trip.

I will never cease to be amazed at the number of people who spend years in our educational system studying for a degree in microtechnowhateveryoucallit, and then come to Las Vegas to gamble, and haven’t a clue as to how to play some of the table games.

If you’ve spent time at any gambling establishment you invariable end up at a table where someone sits down and makes a comment to the dealer like, "I’m not sure how to play this, will you help me?"

On the other side of the coin you find those who become “students” and learn all they can about their favorite game(s). They learn how to count cards with varying degrees of proficiency, practice good money management techniques, walk away when sessions turn ugly, play under only the best conditions, bet more when they are winning and less when they are losing and know when to walk away.

They read books on their favorite game, study and practice before each trip. And, after all is said and done, the house, in most cases, still has the advantage. That is unless you learn how to use the comp system.

Knowing how to get comps and using the comp system to your advantage can turn a potential losing trip into a winning trip. I’ll give you an example. Here are some details of just one of the many trips PC and I have taken in the past year.

The $190 for food only includes three (3) lunch buffets (PC and I enjoy late morning meals) and only two (2) dinners in nice restaurants. Hey, when your meals are comped you can enjoy having a great meal.

We normally only respond to the invitations that include room, meals and a “special” party, show or tournament as part of the “deal.” This way we know in advance that our room and meals are comped “up front.” In most cases the casinos will also hand out a little welcoming gift to each couple. These can be a sweatshirt, polo shirt, jacket, crystal, watch, etc., all priced somewhere between $50 and $100. In most cases there will also be a welcoming party with free food and drinks where they will go over the rules of the tournament or whatever the promotion involves.

What kind of price tag can you put on a tournament that has a top prize of $25,000, and pays smaller amounts down through 8 places? As I’ve mentioned to PC, the odds are better than the lottery! You decide what it’s worth. Just considering the money you can save on meals and your room could turn your next trip into a winning trip.

Does it make sense to bone up on comps? You bet it does! That’s why I wrote the little manual, Casino Comp Basics - A Casino Comp Manual For The $10 And Up Bettor. I came up the hard way and like most of you have paid my dues. Now it’s time to reap some benefits.

PC and I get more invitations now than we have time to accept. In the last year we have spent over 35 days at major casinos, one stay was for seven days... all comped. On more than one trip we left behind buffet comps that we had no time to use.

Do comps give you a winning edge? I think they do. Learn all you can about comps and start getting your share of the goodies!

Until next month remember, “When you know how it’s easy.”