Definition
Comp
Also known as Complimentary, Comps, Player Rewards
By Abhinav VasudevanReviewed Editorial policy
In short
A comp is a complimentary benefit given to players based on how much they wager. Drinks, meals, rooms or cashback. It is calculated from theoretical loss, not actual loss, so winning does not reduce it.
Comps are the casino’s loyalty currency: free drinks, meals, hotel rooms, show tickets and, at higher levels, flights and private gaming.
How they are calculated
Not on what you lost. On what you were expected to lose.
Theoretical loss = average bet × hands per hour × hours played × house edge
A player betting £50 a hand on blackjack, 80 hands an hour for four hours at a 0.5% edge:
£50 × 80 × 4 × 0.005 = £80 theoretical loss
Comps are typically returned at 20% to 40% of that figure, so this player earns roughly £16 to £32 in benefits. Whether they actually won or lost £2,000 that day is irrelevant to the calculation.
The game you choose matters enormously
Because the formula multiplies by house edge, a slot player generates far more comp value per pound staked than a blackjack player.
£50 a spin on a 6% edge slot generates twelve times the theoretical loss of £50 a hand on 0.5% blackjack. The comps are correspondingly larger, and so is the actual expected cost.
This is the crucial point about comps generally: they are funded by your expected loss. A casino returning 30% of theoretical loss is keeping 70%. Chasing comps by playing higher-edge games or betting more than intended is always a losing exchange.
Getting them
- Always use the player card. Unrated play earns nothing, and this is by far the most common mistake.
- Ask. Comps are frequently discretionary and hosts have latitude. Asking a floor supervisor for a meal comp after a few hours of rated play is routine and often successful.
- Average bet is what counts, not your biggest bet. Consistent moderate play rates better than one large wager.
- Online equivalents are VIP programmes and cashback, calculated the same way from turnover and game weighting.
Comps are genuinely worth collecting on play you were going to do anyway. They are never a reason to play more.
Common questions
How are casino comps calculated?
On theoretical loss, not actual loss. Average bet multiplied by hands per hour, hours played and house edge. Comps are returned at roughly 20% to 40% of that figure, so whether you won or lost is irrelevant to the calculation.
Can I win money by collecting comps?
No. Comps are funded by your expected loss, so an operator returning 30% is keeping 70%. They are worth collecting on play you were doing anyway and are never a reason to play more or switch to a higher-edge game.