Page 7 - October 2005 • Southern California Gaming Guide

The Three Comp Systems in a Casino Mby Jean Scott, the “Queen of Comps”
any players do not get the comps that they have earned because they aren’t sure how the whole system works. Although each casino has its own unique comp program, here are the three basic ways to get comps at a casino: through the player’s club (also known as slot club) system,
through direct-mail o ers that come from casino marketing departments, and through the casino player- development department, using hosts.
great supplement to the other systems, even for the heavy quarter player. One poster on the Internet put it this way:
“Getting comps at the player’s club booth is like paying full price; getting comps through your host is like buying on sale.”
However, there are more bene ts than purely nancial ones for using the player-development system: Having your own host has great psychological impact. Good host programs are committed to a VIP approach, and everyone likes to feel important.
Bottom line: A smart gambler will often use all three systems, pro ting from the unique advantages of each, to maximize the value of comp bene ts.
If you want to learn more about getting comps and how to get more of them, you might want to read two books by Jean Scott: The Frugal Gambler and More Frugal Gambling. Go to her Web site (www. FrugalGambler.BIZ) to see the contents list for both books and other products that will make you a smarter gambler.
e rst one, the player’s club, is great for the beginning gambler who’s learning the ropes of the comp system. Using your player’s club points and talking to employees at the player’s club booth might be all that the occasional or recreational low-rolling gambler will ever need. At many casinos, especially where there is no cashback, the only thing your points can be used for is what I call “stu .” e most common use is for food comps, which can range from a burger at a fast-food joint in the casino to a fancy meal at the casino’s gourmet restaurant. If the casino has many amenities, your points can get you endless freebies: salon and spa services, gift shop merchandise, shows, and even products and services at community businesses.
e second (direct mail) and third (slot and table-game hosts) systems should be mastered by more frequent gamblers or those who play on a higher level, in order to get higher- level comps.
Although you may get food and other freebies through the player’s club, the number one way for most low-rollers all over the country, both table and machine players, to get room comps is through marketing departments who send out the o ers in your mailbox once you have joined the player’s club at a casino and become a part of their database.
Taking advantage of mail o ers usually saves you from using club points, so you can keep them for other comps — or perhaps for cashback if o ered by the casino’s club. Point requirements for
rooms are often higher proportionately than for food and other comps, so it’s gravy when a free-room o er shows up in your mailbox, especially when they throw in other freebies, as they sometimes do — for meals, show tickets, tournament invitations, or shopping money.
Using the host system will let you reap more comps than just using the rst two systems I have just described, especially if you’re a dollar-and-above player. In many casinos, some types of bene ts are available only through a host, and using the host system does not decrease your player’s club bene ts or your direct-mail o ers. So learning your way around the host system can make the whole comp system more exible for you, and be a
Attention: Lower Your Payments NOW!
Are your monthly bill payments too high? Would you like extra cash for business or personal needs? We can help! Combine mortgages, pay off your equity line, credit cards and other debts with our Payment Minimizer refinance plan. This is your opportunity to consolidate your debt into one new loan with a remarkably low monthly payment!
This plan is fast, simple, and affordable. You may even qualify for a No Cost Refinance in which we pay for all of your closing costs and fees!
Example of the Payment Minimizer in Action!
A Savings of $2890 Each
Month!
Call or visit our office for a free and confidential consultation. We are experts at analyzing your situation and will recommend a plan that is best suited to your needs.
We Specialize in Hard-to-Close 1st and 2nd Mortgages
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA GAMING GUIDE
Debt Consolidation 1st & 2nd Mortgages
Current Situation vs.
New Mortgage
Debt
Balance
Payment
Balance
Payment
1st Mortgage
$376,000
$2476
$0
2nd Mortgage
$37,000
$392
$0
Credit Cards
$20,000
$800
$0
Auto Loans
$14,500
$425
$0
Total
$447,000
$4093
$447,500
What’s the SCORE? What’s the SPREAD? Who’s PLAYING?
www.SpeakEasySportsbook.com
■ Cash Out Loans
■ 125% Loan to Value ■ Rental Properties
■ Home Improvement
■ Commercial/Construction ■ No Income Documentation
■ Self Employment
■ No Asset Verification ■ Poor Credit History
We Can Help! Get Pre-Qualified TODAY!
CA-Dept. of Real Estate Broker #01362793 • Arizona Mortgage Broker #MB0906020
Who Will YOU Take?
Log On RIGHT NOW and FIND OUT!
Home Loan Consultants • 866-362-2878
October 2005 Page 7
Jean Scott, The Frugal GamblerTM
PAID PAID
PAID PAID
$1203