How to get free comps BEFORE you get there
Nearly everyone is new to Vegas at some point. So how do you get that elusive comped room if you have never set foot in a Vegas casino before?
There are a few ways to do this, but it all depends on what your level of play is.
First off, Vegas does NOT just hand out free rooms for showing up. Room comps are given out to players that they know will play, and thus cover the expense of the room, with their gaming.
If you have never played anywhere before, you most likely will have to suck it up and pay for the first round. Much like a 1st date, you pay for that fancy dinner and a nice show and HOPE you get a free pass the next time. Always get a players club card when you get there. Play that bad boy up at that casino and see what they will offer you as a bounce back. Depending on the damage you did, it might be some free eats, show tickets, free play or even a room for the next time you visit.
But this entry is not called "How to get free comps the next time" so I'll progress.
You are a gambler right? You could always book your room, gamble your ass off and ask to speak with a host. Sometimes you can pull a back-end comp if you ask. They can usually throw you some food and if you played enough they can credit you back for the room. The free room will only work if you booked directly with the hotel. If you used Expedia or Travelocity, really any internet 3rd party site, you are shit outta luck. The casino cant give you the money back for the digs if you didn't give them your money directly.
If you have played at a chain casino before, there is a very good chance you have offers for their Vegas outposts already. Total Rewards has nearly 40 casinos scattered around the US (and Canada). If you have ever put in decent play, check your online account and look around. Have you played with your Mlife card in Detroit, Biloxi or Tunica? Then they already know who you are! Call your host there and ask about Vegas. Call a Vegas host and ask if he can review your play at their sister casino. Some places even have "Partner" casinos. Ones which are not linked but they do share players.
And there is always the grassroots method. You can spend all day looking up email addresses online or finding phone numbers and calling around to shop your known play. Sounds exhausting doesn't it? I have done this myself in the past and have great results in doing so. Another player would share their hosts info with me and I would forward them one of my current offers from a competitor saying "I always wanted to check out your casino. I have an offer from so-and-so down the street. Would you match this so I can give you a try?". Sometimes you get lucky, other times you get ignored. Hosts are used to everyone asking them for a handout.
But there is an easier way.
Use a host service! These guys are mostly industry insiders. Their job is to bring fresh meat into a casino. You send them pictures of your better players club cards, forward them the offers you are getting, sometimes you can even get your current host to vouch for your level of play. You tell the service what you play, how much you bring, how long you gamble and you can start building a portfolio that can be shopped ANYWHERE! Not just in Vegas.
Have you always wanted to take a free casino cruise? Visit Lake Tahoe, but not pay for it? Get yourself a pimp like I have!
For this I only recommend one site. UR Comped. These guys are top notch and Grid endorsed. They have a fairly extensive list of partner casinos that they work with. And they have even gone out of their way for me and called around to places that aren't on their list, but that I wanted to try.
Best of all.... Its 100% free! The only time you spend is filling in your profile, much like an online dating site, and these ballers take it from there. The more they know about you, and you can prove it, the better offers they can swing.
Once you are all set up you, can either tell them where you want to stay, or shop around on their website with offers that will start populating for you. Not just in Vegas mind you. These guys have partners all around the country. If you haven't already done so, go get yourself signed up.
Now if you once gambled $20 on a riverboat, UR Comped, a host or even an act of Congress wont help you to get a free room. But if you are rated anywhere, and can prove that, you stand a fairly good chance getting something up front.
Getting that free room in Vegas, before you even get off the plane, is your 1st win of the trip!