Learn The System

Slots Slot Clubs Ask Questions Learn the System Earning Points The Benefits Player Rewards Back to the beginning

Frequently casinos without slot clubs are more generous than their electronically-tracked counterparts. Why? For one thing, they do not spending the large amounts of capital required to set-up and maintain a slot club, so they can afford to be a little looser with food and meals. Also, manual-tracking casinos comp a smaller percentage of their customer base than casinos with electronic computer tracking, so these special customers are usually treated better (for their level of action) than they would be at a casino with a slot club. How did these folks get into the chosen few? Simple ­ they took the time to learn how the system works.

Though non-slot club reward systems vary greatly, here is a short list of what to be on the lookout for.

Manual Observation -- The most common manual tracking system is having casino personnel watching the customer's action. You sit down at a machine and call for a host or supervisor. He notes that you are there, takes your name and address if he does not have it and checks up on you from time to time. After a while (usually four hours on a quarter machine or an hour on dollars) he asks you if you want a buffet or coffee shop comp.

Though this system is primarily found in small casino operations in Nevada or on Indian reservations, four large casinos in Wendover, Nevada, near the Utah border, also use manual tracking. As one slot manager put it "One company owns the Stateline and Silver Smith, another owns the Peppermill and Rainbow. If we put in a system, then they will and we will be all in the same place, except considerably poorer." According to both management and players, all four casinos regularly comp quarter and dollar players to room, meals and special entertainment.

The main rule in dealing with a "we watch you" tracking system is that you make sure that the casino knows you are there before you begin to play, especially if this is your first visit. Don't drop a coin until the host or supervisor greets you, or you might find out that the first 20 minutes (or even an hour) doesn't count. After you become a regular, the staff frequently will write your comp the minute they see you.

Special promotions -- Some of the smaller casinos prefer to offer their players limited-time special promotions as opposed to an ongoing slot club. Not only is this strategy cheaper, but it allows the casino to adjust its marketing to seasonal swings, economic conditions, or to entice a specific group of customers through the door.

Vacation Village (located at the south end of Las Vegas Boulevard near the airport and the Belz Factory Outlet Mall) is the Las Vegas innovative leader in periodic promotions. It's always running some form of video poker special, such as paying double for certain hands, or passing out bonus bucks when a player gets any four of a kind, or allowing a free spin on a high-paying money wheel. Many expert local players have managed to combine several simultaneous Vacation Village promotions with the full-paying machines (such as 10/7 double bonus) to take home a tidy profit.

For tourists, Vacation Village recently offered anyone who presented a valid airline ticket within 12 hours of arrival, a spin on the money wheel. The top prize was complete reimbursement of airfare up to $400.

Attendance points -- Several Indian casinos, such as the Barona Casino outside of San Diego, award points based on attendance. Every time a Club Barona member shows up and swipes his card (or stays for six hours and swipes his card again), they receive 10 points. Earn 90 points and you are entitled to a free trip to the casino's quality buffet.

Jackpot Clubs -- Three downtown Las Vegas casinos -- the El Cortez, the Plaza and the Las Vegas Club -- base their comps on jackpots -- not large ones, just $100 for nickels and $200 for quarters and up.

For example: When you hit a $100 jackpot on a nickel machine, or a $200 jackpot on any thing else at the Plaza, you are entitled to a complimentary dinner for two at the Center Stage Restaurant (it was the backdrop of one of the better Robert DeNiro -- Sharon Stone arguments in the movie "Casino"). Hitting three jackpots will put you on the hotel's VIP list, and you will receive regular invites for a three-day, two-night visit.

The system at the El Cortez is slightly more complicated. Every time you get a $100 jackpot in nickels or a $200 jackpot in quarters and up, you get your picture taken. Within a week, you will receive, by mail, a coupon good for dinner for two at Roberta's Restaurant (a local favorite). If you hit four jackpots in four months, you are entitled to one free meal (for two) per week at Roberta's for the next four-month period.

The Las Vegas Club also recently jumped on the bandwagon with a promotion called Season Pass. Any slot player who hits a $100 jackpot on nickels or a $200 jackpot on quarters or higher, receives four "season passes", each good for a three-night stay in the hotel. The passes are good for weekdays, weekends and holidays, though you can only use one pass every three months.