Differences with online gaming comps and B&M comps

LHofsdal

Ueber Meister
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Jan 9, 2010
Location
NY
Hello my fellow meister members,

I was just reading another thread about comp points for online gaming, and it got me thinking. While comp points are a nice little side kick for your gaming on line, to me they just can't come close to the ones you get at a B&M casino. Well, to me anyways. I will tell you why....

For a while now I have stopped playing online like I use to. I still play every now and then, but I only play at 3Dice now. But when I did play at RTG I am pretty sure it was for every 100 USD you wagered you got a point. Not to bad I guess, but back in July I took my mother to Atlantic City, NJ for 3 days. My husband and I really didn't gamble much, spent alot of our time at the beach bars and consuming some adult beverages. I think all total between the both of us we gambled 180 USD for the 3 days. My mother on the other hand never left the damn slots lol.

The second day we were there, we went to Ballys. Hubby was playing 3 card poker for about 10 or 15 minutes when the floor supervisor asked if he had a card, he said he wasn't sure. They looked up his name and got him a new card. He played for another 15 minutes or so and the floor came back and asked where he was staying. He told him Caesars. He then asked if he was here by himself and my hubby replied no, he was there with me and my mother. Not 5 minutes later he came back with a comp for the buffet for the 3 of us. My hubby was a little bit in shock because he was only playing for about 1/2 an hour and at a 5 dollar table, he was only playing 5 dollars a bet. The buffet is like 25 dollars a piece. So right there he lost about 75 dollars and got like a 75 dollar comp.

We were home for about 2 weeks and I got a promotional piece of mail from Harrah's entertainment. I opened it and I was in total shock, they were giving us 2 free nights at any Harrah's owned casino. I was holy moly, this is great. So I called and booked us a room at Caesars for 10/16-10/19. About a week later I get a letter from Caesars thanking us for booking the room and in it was a coupon for 2 free dinners and breakfast. At this point we had only spent 26 dollars to pay for the taxes on the room I had booked and we already had comps for free meals.

I was doing some checking on events happening in AC when we were going to be there and I checked my comp points, I only had 75. Then I clicked the link to my promotions and noticed I had 2 free nights being offered to me at any Harra's owned casinos for the next 4 months! I must tell ya, I am pretty impressed. So Saturday I go and get the mail, there is another promotion piece of mail from Caesars. Get this.... They are giving me a FREE SUITE the night of my birthday and a voucher for 100 USD free slot play. I have never gotten 100 dollars free from any online casino and the best part is there are no wagering requirements. Imagine that!

Look at all the free rooms and meals we have gotten for spending 180 USD, and if I had spent that money at an online casino I would have gotten maybe 2 comp points. This is why the comp points online just don't compare to the comps you get at a B&M casino. It could just very well be they are trying to entice us to spend more money at their casinos, who knows but to me online comps just don't come close to what I have already gotten from B&M casinos.

All the best,
LH
 
You are so right, LH. Comp points online don't hold a candle to B&M comps.

In defense of online casinos, before the US got their knickers in a bunch about online gambling, the comps, free chips and bonuses were much better in my opinion.
 
B&M comps are way better than online and accrue much faster for sure. I think it's really down to the fact that a B&M needs to do more to retain customers as there is also the issue of physical travel involved so they need things that encourage loyalty and get people off their bums and make the effort to visit.

I think online casinos could do more but personally, double or treble points don't really encourage me to play a casino any more than another online. With B&M's the extras like free stays and meals are more appealing.

I think going to a B&M or place like Vegas/AC and making a break of it is far more fun than playing online although I find playing online it's easier to turn a profit!
 
I have long said that something is wacko with online casinos and 'player retention'.

I haven't paid out of pocket for anything at a Tunica B&M casino since our very first trip years ago. Only what I feed the machines.

Back to the 'comp points' at online joints.... they're not 'comps' as B&M players know. Online comps aren't comps. They're a bonus... max cash outs (at RTG usually) and horrible WR tied to them. In other words, they're giving nothing to the player.

Bryan and some of the others tried to explain to me ages ago about why there is so little in the way of comps for regular to mid range players online. Something to do with high cost and expenses?? But I didn't really understand, and I still don't.

When I go to Tunica, MS, I sit in a nice casino with a 20 floor hotel, with free beverages offered, sleep in a nice free room for 2 or 3 nights, eat very well 2 or 3 times a day at a nice (mid range) restaurant (for two people, mind you), play with $150+ free money (winnings off which I may walk out the door with at my leisure)... If I'd only go on the weekend, we'd also have free tickets for whatever little concert was on.

The cost of simply keeping that B&M casino open 24/7, staffed, and in good shape must be mind boggling... licenses, taxes, salaries, payroll, maintenance, utility bills, etc., etc., etc. Yet, they don't seem to hate me or consider me a 'necessary evil' to be tolerated and they continue to give me free goodies if I'll only come back.
 
For a long time, I wouldn't go to Atlantic City, to me it was a filthy place, bums, beggars the trash on the boardwalk etc. But When my father past away almost 2 years ago, I had to do something to put a smile back on my mothers face. So I went back, and I was surprised to see how much cleaner it was. So I made it a point to take my mom 2 times a year. She is a little old italian lady and at the age of 70 she loves bingo and slot machines. She can barely move but put her in a bingo hall or casino she moves like she is walking on hot coals. LOL. She also got the same comps I did, so she is all excited to go. It is nice for her because she is on a fixed income and for her to go for free it is like winning the lottery to her.

I think I will save my money for the B&M casinos, and we will be going to Vegas for New Years, like we always do. Even there, we get free rooms, food, and free plays. But I admit, we do more gambling there then in Atlantic City. What I like the most, is I don't have any wagering requirements, and if I win they don't take the comps away. Most online places if you win to much they label you a bonus abuser or stop sending your promotions. That does not happen at B&M places.

LH
 
Most online places if you win to much they label you a bonus abuser or stop sending your promotions. That does not happen at B&M places.

LH

Because online casinos have created this "bonus culture" and can't get creative enough to work their way out of it. They've basically built a rod for their own backs. I'm (optiistically!) kinda hoping that when the US regulates they sort this issue out.

B&M's have the advantage of being able to offer comps (rooms etc) but the bottom line is if you don't play enough those will dry up. It's just that players don't see it as being "bonus banned" as they do online. The land-based culture has, over time, instilled the notion that if you don't play you don't get comped, so expectations are managed effectively. Being in a recession helps the player but once we're out and things pick up, those offers will become enforced a little more strictly IMO.
 
I have long said that something is wacko with online casinos and 'player retention'.

I haven't paid out of pocket for anything at a Tunica B&M casino since our very first trip years ago. Only what I feed the machines.

Back to the 'comp points' at online joints.... they're not 'comps' as B&M players know. Online comps aren't comps. They're a bonus... max cash outs (at RTG usually) and horrible WR tied to them. In other words, they're giving nothing to the player.

<snipped balance>
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Mousey,

In terms of B&M versus online there are pluses and minuses which I covered a few weeks ago in another thread. I agree in terms of the huge benefit of free rooms, free play, free meals, and in my case from Harrah's free charter flights. But you are away from your home, smoke filled casinos etc.

But I want to clarify (in case I am wrong) in regards to online "comp points". My understanding and experience is that if you cash in your comp points for free play there are no restrictions. "Free Play or Bonus coupons -- yes of course, wagering requirements and max cashouts are usually there.

But with on line casino COMP POINTS that turn into cash when you redeem, I have not encountered any cashout maximums or restrictions or anything. Those comp points are your money to do wtih as you want.

I had a max cashout bonus one time that resulted in hitting a Random Jackpot. Knowing I couldn't cash out more than the max from the bonus --- I just kept playing and playing ............until I finally got to the max cashout balance. I had earned $1900 in comp points, which I then cashed out the following week.

So am I missing something in your explanation? Or do different sites handle "comp" points differently?

Diane
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Simmo, thanks for fixing it -- I didn't know how to re-do it to keep my remarks distinct from his.

Diane
 
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Mousey,

In terms of B&M versus online there are pluses and minuses which I covered a few weeks ago in another thread. I agree in terms of the huge benefit of free rooms, free play, free meals, and in my case from Harrah's free charter flights. But you are away from your home, smoke filled casinos etc.

But I want to clarify (in case I am wrong) in regards to online "comp points". My understanding and experience is that if you cash in your comp points for free play there are no restrictions. "Free Play or Bonus coupons -- yes of course, wagering requirements and max cashouts are usually there.

But with on line casino COMP POINTS that turn into cash when you redeem, I have not encountered any cashout maximums or restrictions or anything. Those comp points are your money to do wtih as you want.

I had a max cashout bonus one time that resulted in hitting a Random Jackpot. Knowing I couldn't cash out more than the max from the bonus --- I just kept playing and playing ............until I finally got to the max cashout balance. I had earned $1900 in comp points, which I then cashed out the following week.

So am I missing something in your explanation? Or do different sites handle "comp" points differently?

Diane

I do believe different casinos handle comps differently... just as the comps ratio is different. It's been a couple of years since I've played online, so I'm just going from memory (and a couple of bad experiences). Hopefully, these days, all accredited casinos let players cash out their comps at face value - (except maybe Captain Cooks & family, who seem to have locked up half the players in the world's comp points LOL) - which would be refreshing....
 
Most MG casinos comp point is a JOKE, i recently played i dont want to say wich casino but after wagering almost 2200dollar i got 1100points, that is 10USD... i mean common is this a joke or something? :eek2:
 

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