Page 17 - January 2004 • Southern California Gaming Guide

Ask—And You Shall Receive by Jean Scott
Most of you know my favorite word in the whole world is “free.” But the word I have to use the most in a casino, the one without which I’d hear my favorite word much less frequently, is “ask.”
Very early in our gambling career, we were playing blackjack in Atlantic City. We knew what comps were, but not yet quite how to get them. All we knew was that we had to ask for them. We played low-limit $5–$10 blackjack for a few hours, and getting hungry, we asked the dealer how we could get a meal comp. He told us we’d have to talk to the pit boss and he called her over for us. We told her that we’d heard we could get a comp for free food and wondered how we could get one. In turn, she asked us if, when we rst started, had we asked to be rated. No, we had just sat down and started playing. Since she couldn’t tell how long we’d been playing or how much we had been betting, she said she couldn’t give us much, only a $5 coupon to use in the food court. But she gave us something much more important, our rst gambling lesson: We learned that when you ask, you usually not only get a little something for free, but you get some valuable information as well that can start a ood of freebies.
Inmanycasinos,thecompsystemisnotspelledout very clearly. If I want a comp, I rst ask at the slot club. If they are not able to take care of me, then I speak to a slot host, who usually will have the authority to grant
my request. And on some occasions, when one host did notseemtobeinthemoodtograntacompIfeltIhad earned and/or been promised, I have been successful by asking a second one. In fact, so much casino policy seems to be uncertain and nebulous on so many points that I often have to ask several employees before I can get accurate information.
I try not to phrase a question so there is only a yes or no answer. When you ask for a comp, say “How much longer do I need to play to get...” is way you get some information, plus it has the added advantage of not putting the person being asked in an awkward position of having to turn you down. en, even if you don’t get the comp right then, you know a little more than you did plus you don’t feel “rejected” or embarrassed for asking. Also, every time I ask for something, I ask nicely. I never demand. And I always show my appreciation when I’m given anything. Remember the old saying, honey attracts more ies than vinegar!
”Just ask”—your most useful technique in a casino. e worst that can happen is that your request will be turned down—but you’ll be pleasantly surprised how
many times the answer is “yes.”
Jean Scott, the “Queen of Comps,” is the author of the best-selling book The Frugal Gambler, a casino guide for thrifty low rollers, plus the sequel,MoreFrugalGambling,nowavailable atwww.FrugalGambler. biz. Featured on “Dateline NBC,” “48 Hours,” and The Travel Channel, she stresses sensible, responsible gambling and shows how to stretch out casino fun time whatever your gambling bankroll.
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA GAMING GUIDE
January 2004 Page 17
Column: The Frugal Gambler