Comps in Atlantic City have always been harder to get for the average and smaller players in than in other destinations such as Las Vegas. Over the last year many players have complained that the comps have gotten tighter in the casinos on the Boardwalk and they were right. In 2008 the casinos cut back on the free hotel rooms and other promotional giveaways they use to lure customers. Comps dropped 5 percent to $1.55 billion compared to $1.63 billion in 2007. It was the second straight year promotional spending fell and so far this year they have dipped another 3.2 percent in January 2009.

Meanwhile The New Jersey Casino Control Commission announced that it would start posting monthly reports of casino promotional allowances and expenses on its Web site. In the past these were posted on a quarterly basis.