If there is one question that I get asked repeatedly, it is this one, "Where can I get the best comps?" My response is to say, "That depends." It's like asking where can I get the best buy on a car? Where is the best place to get a steak dinner? What's the best show in town? There are numerous individual factors that come into play when finding the best deal on a car. The same holds true for the comps question.

If you're looking for a "deal" on a car your down payment and monthly budget will play a big role in determining what kind of car you can afford. Likewise, when looking for a comp deal, your budget (total bankroll), session amount and bet amount play a significant role in where (which casinos) you should play at in attempting to get comped.

Playing at a $25 table in downtown Las Vegas will get you noticed, and make it easier to get comped. Try that at some of the newer strip casinos and you're likely to simply get a yawn.

I had a "casino executive" (they're not pit bosses anymore) tell me (as he looked down his nose at me) that, "We require a minimum of $25 per hand before we track you." This same casino spends hundreds of thousands of dollars advertising on TV to get the customers there! My thoughts were, "Well, you can just track me right out the door buddy!", as I promptly left their casino.

My approach is to get the maximum comp value for the minimum effort, that is, to get the maximum benefit (most comps) for the least amount of play time and bet amount. And, if you can use some of the other comp techniques such as increasing table time, host casino vs. visiting casino, etc., that's all the better. That's the true Comp Cadger!

Remember, the casinos use everything in their power to keep you at their casino playing at their slots and their table games. You should learn and use everything you can to get your fair share of the comps that are available.

I've talked with a lot of people about comps, why they don't have player cards, why they don't want to be rated and why they don't use the player cards provided them. Top that off with systems that are difficult to understand, let alone explain, and it becomes simply "too much hassle" for some gamblers to deal with.

Most of the systems that exist are what I call "back end" systems, that is, you get comped at the end of your visit for the play during your visit. This, "just charge everything to your room and stop by and see me before you leave" advice from a casino host has never set well with me.

It's dynamite for the casinos! You're stuck! Besides that, you never really know where you stand until you leave. I don't go to Las Vegas to spend time hunting down my host to find out where I stand. And, I never did like having to stand in line to talk with a host (as I'm leaving to catch a flight), and then find out that my "play" wasn't enough to qualify for the full RFB (room, food, beverage) comp. Top that off with a losing trip and the ride home is a long one!

I much prefer what I call the "front end" comp. That's the one you get in the mail offering you, up front, a free weekend at a specific casino. They usually come with some free meals, show tickets and some 2 for 1 buffet meals.

These offers come because of the results of a prior trip. The casino is betting on your past performance at their casino and, as long as you continue to perform to a specific level of play, you will probably continue to get invited back. In my little manual Casino COMP Basics, I call this my host casino. You need both a Host casino and a number of visiting casinos. They all play a role in getting the most comps out of your gambling trips.

I love this kind of offer. They come with no strings attached and I think most people, given the chance, would prefer to get their comps this way. Tell me up front what you're willing to offer me and I'll give you a chance at my money. I'll let you know if I'm interested. It puts YOU in the driver seat, not the casino.

The best casino in my personal opinion that uses this kind of system is Harrah's. Their Gold Card program combines both table and slot play on one card. In addition they have Gold card centers staffed with friendly people who can print you out a comp on the spot based on "prior trip play."

If you've stayed at Harrah's before, you will have a dollar comp "value" when you return on your next trip. This value, I'm told by the Gold Card Center people, is based on your last three previous trips. You can use this dollar value for meals, shows and your room. Amounts can vary from a few dollars into the hundreds of dollars.

Combine this prior trip comp value with an invitation in the mail for a free two to three day stay and you have a great up front comp. My kind of comp!

Until next month remember, "When you know how it's easy."