Please help me understand the logic behind comp rooms

I'm a total noob when it comes to comps.

I was in vegas a few months ago and stayed in the Palazzo. Since then, I've been getting 3 day comp offers for Tu-Thu events pretty about every other week. I don't recall how much I played there (yes, that's a problem ). I think I broke even, or was down maybe $200.

During that same trip, I was up about $900 at various MGM properties. So far, I've gotten one comp offer from them.


I'm trying to figure out why the Palazzo is throwing so many offers my way. I'm not likely to lose enough to cover a 3 day hotel stay. While at MGM, you'd think they'd love to get me back in there to get some of their money back

Is this normal? Or did I probably lose more at the Palazzo than I give myself credit for? With the economy in the current sub-optimal state, I would expect to see more comp offers, or at least good discounts on the MGM properties.

As with any promotion, sometimes it's just random, sometimes one is feeling more generous than the other.

If they're giving you free stuff, take it! Only they know how much you really lost on their floors

Remember, rooms are like airplane seats... sure, the list price might be $X, but if the place is going to be 30% full on a Tuesday night, then they may as well

I haven't gambled in a Harrah's property for at least two years (and even then played very low limit stuff) and they offered me 2 free nights Sun-Thu at Rio or Bally's for pretty much all of Jan/Feb other than during CES. They obviously figure that the $50/day I would probably drop there between gambling and a little food and beverage patronage would help their either their bottom line or their cash flow enough. [Unfortunately, work got in the way, and I had to cancel the dates I had picked out.]

Think, largest property in the world (more than 7,200+ rooms).

Palazzo/Venetian has more rooms to fill than any other [individual] property in Vegas.

In addition, convention traffic is down (which is a big factor for Palazzo/Venetian room occupancy)

Especially midweek, they need to fill those rooms!

In addition, casino marketing will often "fish" for new customers. Very low requirements for the first offer, to get you hooked. Then they "sometimes" re-evaluate for future offers -- or, as they hope, the "fish" will gamble a bit more since they feel obligated or are happy with regard to the comp offer; and want to keep receiving more. Of course, YMMV with regard to how casino marketing operates.

Hmmm. I also gambled there during my last stay. I'll have to find my rewards card so I can check if there are any good offers sitting on my account

Edit: I found my card. Looks like a lot of comp rooms available in March, $40/60 rooms throughout most of Feb.

I can't believe I almost fell for this! Actually, the letter they sent says that I must maintain my "historical level of play". (I am pretty happy w/ the offer actually. Even before I started getting them, I was already planning on heading back.)


Edit#2 - Another odd thing: I asked the Palazzo how much it would be to add another night to the stay. They said $189. But they currently have their "winter bliss package" deal, where you get a room + a bunch of extras (including $30 dining/$50 gaming credits) for only $159/night. Seems like they should at least match that room rate, if I'm interested in staying another night.

This is standard casino marketing offers. If you plan on playing more often, get a host who will likely make better deals for you.

From my experience with MGM-MIRAGE and Harrahs casinos, winning and losing play no role in the comps they offer, it's how much you cycle through slot machines. The "points" you accumulate in a given period is the key.

Think how much does it cost the casino to give you the comp. In the case of hotel rooms, the cost to the casino is next to nothing, i.e. the cost of clean bedsheets and the labor to change them.

table players are "rated" when they play. High-end properties only rate play of $25 minimum bet and up. In order to qualify for a comp room a typical level of play is $50-100/day for 4 hours. There is a higher level, RFB (room, food, beverage) that often requires $250 or more average bet for four hours. You find out what you need to do to qualify in a particular hotel by asking a casino host. Often they quote you higher numbers than you actually need.