What is Comps?
Comps, short for complimentaries, are free goods and services a casino gives to customers based on their expected gambling value, such as meals, rooms, show tickets or travel.
Casinos calculate a player's theoretical loss from their average bet, time played, game and house edge, and return a share of that figure as comps. A player betting £50 a hand at blackjack for four hours might earn a meal or a room, while a high roller might receive flights and suites.
Comps are a long-standing marketing tool in Las Vegas and other resort destinations. Regulators in some markets limit incentives offered to high-spending customers to reduce the risk of encouraging harmful play.
Online, the equivalent is loyalty points and VIP rewards. The value of comps offered is usually a fraction of a player's theoretical loss, not of their actual results. A player who wins may still receive comps, while a player who loses heavily is not entitled to more than their play warrants. Comps policies are typically discretionary and set by the casino's marketing department.