It starts with a smile from the cocktail server.
“Another drink, sir?”
Then maybe a host swings by: “Want a free buffet? A room upgrade? You’re playing strong today.”

Before you know it, you’re deep in the game, sipping on a ‘free’ gin and tonic, with the sound of reels spinning and your chips slowly disappearing.

Let’s get one thing straight:
Nothing in a casino is ever truly free.

Those complimentary drinks, meals, hotel rooms, and show tickets? They’re part of the game—and you’re the target.

Casinos use comps to keep you on the floor, not to reward your brilliance. Every perk you accept is designed to increase your playtime, loosen your judgment, and stretch your bankroll further than you intended.

Here’s how the comp trap works:

• Free drinks lower your inhibitions.
  A buzzed player bets bigger and stays longer. You might not notice your spending until it’s too late.
• Comps create a false sense of value.
  You justify losses with thoughts like, “Well, at least I got the free steak dinner.” But that dinner likely cost you hundreds at the tables.
• They hook you into loyalty programs.
  Once you’re chasing points, you’re playing for perks, not for profit—and that changes your whole mindset.

Now don’t get me wrong—comps aren’t evil.
In fact, if you’re playing anyway, you should take advantage of them. But the key is to control the comps… not let them control you.

Here’s how to win the comp game:

✅ Stay sober while playing seriously. Save the drinks for when you’re done gambling.

✅ Treat comps like a bonus, not a goal. Don’t chase rewards that require you to lose money to “earn” them.

✅ Set a time limit before you sit down. The longer you stay, the more likely you are to make mistakes—no matter how nice the perks are.

✅ Join player’s clubs smartly. Track your play, earn your discounts, but never let it influence your bet size or session time.

✅ Enjoy the perks—but walk away a winner. That free buffet tastes way better when you didn’t lose your rent getting it.

Casinos offer comps to players who stay—and spend.
But the sharp gambler flips that equation: they use the system without being used by it.

Take what you’re offered. Be polite. Enjoy the perks.
Just don’t ever forget: that cocktail isn’t free. It’s bait.
And you, my friend, aren’t biting.

Dave the Gambler’s rule? Always tip the server… but never tip the house your common sense.