Casinos Tighten Comps
Sunday April 6, 2008
Everyone is feeling the pinch of the economic slowdown and many people are cutting back on their discretionary spending. Several weeks ago I ran a poll and the majority of people responding said they were cutting back on their casino visits. A recent report issued by the casino industry verified the declines in casino visitations.
As the casinos start feeling the effects of the decline some of them feel that the slowdown justifies cutting back on the comps given to the players. The amount of comps handed out in Atlantic City declined last year by 2.4 percent. This trend will probably continue and many players can expect the comps to be harder to obtain in the future.
Comments
HMMM, and here i thought the casinos were giving out comps to entice people to play there.I can remember a Las Vegas casino gave me a free buffet for 2, just because I hit for 100.00 jackpot. I was more thrilled about that,than winnng my 100.00, back i put into it. Back then it was all about taking care of customer, and of course,wanting them to come back. Too bad those days are gone.
You would think if gamblers are cutting back on trips that the casinos would need to entice them to return more often by offering more comps not fewer rewards. I for one go back to the casinos that offer more not less!
If the Las Vegas Casinos stop comping my rooms, I simply will not go to Vegas any longer. There are now ample casinos in Florida and Biloxi that will be happy to extend some comps if I give them my business. Vegas is only interested in the young night club visitor. Bye, bye Vegas!
My wife and I visit Trump casinos in Atlantic City at least 1 or 2 times per month. Its a three hour drive from our home in Pa, and turnpike, expressway and bridge tolls add up to over $15, plus the cost of a tank of gas. We always receive a comp room and free gifts, plus free meals and sometimes a free show. We usually “drop” around $500 each visit. If it were not for the free comps, we would stop visiting Atlantic City and visit the new Hollywood Casino here in Pa, which is only 20 minutes from our home. In other words, if the free comps stop, we stay home!