How Casino Comps Are Calculated

Every comp you receive — the hotel room, the comped dinner, the suite upgrade — is the output of a formula the casino runs on your play. It is not random, not based on how much you lose on a given night, and not at the discretion of whoever happens to be behind the desk. Once you understand the formula, you can estimate what your play is worth before you ever set foot in the casino.

The ADT formula

Each variable matters, and most players underestimate the role of speed. A $100 bet at a full blackjack table generates far less theo per hour than a $100 bet at a slot machine, because slots run 500-600 decisions an hour versus 25-35 at a busy table. The difference is not the bet size — it is the pace and the edge.

House edge by game

Casinos use their own house edge assumptions in the comp formula — sometimes different from the textbook number. Common figures used in practice:

• Blackjack: typically rated at 1.5%–2% even for a basic-strategy player, regardless of actual edge. If you play perfect basic strategy at sub-1% odds, the casino's higher assumption works in your favor.
• Baccarat (banker bet): theoretical edge is 1.06%, and most casinos rate it close to that. High-stakes baccarat volumes generate large theo quickly despite the low edge.
• Craps (pass line + odds): edge on the pass line is 1.41%; casinos often rate around 1.5% and may count only the flat bet, not the odds bet, when computing theo.
• Slots and video poker: house rates slot play at 8%–12%, sometimes higher. The speed (500–600 spins/hour) more than compensates for any edge advantage.
• Three-card poker and other carnival games: edge of 3%–4% with rapid hand speed; casinos rate these generously for comps.

From ADT to comp value

Once the casino knows your theo, it applies a comp reinvestment rate — the percentage of your ADT it will return as comps. Industry norms:

• Standard table play: 15%–25% of ADT returned as comps
• Slot play: 8%–15%, since the high house edge already generates substantial theo without needing aggressive reinvestment to retain the player
• High-value and host-managed accounts: negotiated rates that can reach 30%–50% or more

A player generating $500 in theo over a two-day visit can expect the casino to make available roughly $75–$125 in comp value at standard rates — enough for a comped room at most mid-tier Strip properties and meals on the lower end. Four-figure daily theo opens suites, airfare, and invitation-only events.

How rated play enters the formula

None of this math applies to untracked play. A player who bets $500 a hand for four hours without a players card generates zero comp value in the casino's system. Rated play means you are identified by your loyalty card while you play, so the casino floor can observe your average bet and clock your time at the table. Every hand, every spin untracked is invisible to the formula.

At table games, a floor supervisor periodically notes your average bet and time. At slots, the machine logs everything automatically. At poker, the casino typically does not comp on your hand results but on time played.

Why your host sees a number, not a face

When a player calls a casino host to request a comped room, the first thing the host does is pull up their ADT record. A guest who has generated $2,000 in theo over three visits is a categorically different conversation from one who has generated $200 in the same time. The host's ability to authorize comps is tied to their comp budget, which is itself a function of the ADT the account has generated. Hosts who over-comp relative to ADT get flagged; hosts who are disciplined keep their discretion. The number is what the system runs on.

To see what your ADT generates in concrete comp terms, use the formula above with your actual average bet and real hours — not your best session. That honest number is what a host sees, and it is what will shape what they can do for you. If you want to understand what level of play earns a host relationship at a specific property, see Casino Host Requirements: How Much Do You Have to Gamble?.