How Vegas Comps Work (and How to Get Comped)

A comp (short for complimentary) is something the casino gives you at no charge: a drink, a room, a meal, a show, sometimes a flight. Comps feel like generosity, but they are marketing. The casino reinvests a portion of what your play is worth to them, and hands part of it back to keep you coming. Once you see comps as a rebate on your expected loss rather than a gift, getting them stops being mysterious.

The number that drives every comp: theoretical loss

Casinos do not comp you on whether you won or lost on a given night. They comp you on your theoretical loss (also called theo or ADT, average daily theoretical), the amount your style of play is expected to lose over time. The formula is straightforward:

We walk through more worked examples, including slots and baccarat, in Casino Host Requirements: How Much Do You Have to Gamble?.

How much gets comped: real comp rates

Casinos typically reinvest a percentage of your theo as comps. Industry norms look like this:

• Table games: roughly 15% to 30% of your theoretical loss comes back as comps
• Slots: roughly 8% to 15%, since speed and house edge already generate more theo
• High rollers: comp rates are often negotiated higher, sometimes 30% to 50% or more

One quirk worth knowing: casinos often plug their own house-edge assumption into the comp math, not the textbook number. A casino might rate blackjack at 2% even though a sharp basic-strategy player faces well under 1%. That assumption works in your favor on a low-edge game, because your comps are calculated on the higher theo the casino assumes.

The comp ladder

Comps scale with play, roughly in this order: free drinks while you play, then discounted or free parking and self-comps at a kiosk, then a comped room, then RFB (room, food and beverage), then suites, show tickets, and for the top tier, things like airfare and private events. You climb the ladder by playing more, more consistently, and carded.

Seven ways to actually get comped

• Always use your players card. Uncarded play earns zero comps. This is the one non-negotiable.
• Get rated at the tables. Ask the floor supervisor to rate you so your average bet and time are logged.
• Ask. At the players desk or kiosk, ask what your play has earned. Comp dollars and offers often sit unused because nobody asked.
• Use your tier. Loyalty tiers unlock automatic perks (see the programs below). Reaching a tier is a comp engine on its own.
• Mind the $20 trick. At check-in, some travelers tuck a $20 between their ID and card and politely ask about complimentary upgrades. It is a tip for a possible room upgrade, not a true comp, and it works less often than it used to, but it is harmless to try.
• Concentrate your play. Real value at one property beats thin play spread across six. Loyalty compounds.
• Get a host. A host can comp things the desk cannot and will advocate for you. See How to Get a Casino Host.

Loyalty programs that comp automatically

Most of the Strip runs on three big programs, and your tier within them drives automatic comps:

• MGM Rewards (Bellagio, ARIA, MGM Grand, Mandalay Bay, Cosmopolitan and more): tiers run Sapphire, Pearl, Gold, Platinum, and the invite-only NOIR. Higher tiers unlock waived resort fees, priority check-in, and complimentary valet.
• Caesars Rewards (Caesars Palace and the Caesars family): Gold, Platinum, Diamond, and Seven Stars. Meaningful benefits kick in at Diamond, including comp nights and celebration dining.
• Wynn Rewards (Wynn and Encore): Red, Platinum, and Black, with step-ups like slot-point bonuses, spa and dining credits, and invitations to Wynn-hosted private events at the top tiers.

Want comps handled for you at a specific property? A host does exactly that. Tell us your casino, game, and stakes and we'll match you to one.