Hey Stealth Bomber

[Automatic Monkey]

Hey man I just had a trip like you had recently. Took my girlfriend to my favorite thick carpet joint, had dinner and a room all on my comps. Then she watched me win 78 units in about 3 hours! Just to emphasize the point, I gave her the $1K I ratholed to cash in so I wouldn't have to cash more than I colored out for. She went to the spa and got a manicure, all on my comps, and the next morning she was amazed to see that I still had a crateload of comps left.

Met a really funny counter at the table too. His face lit up when he saw me not split A's vs. A on an even count. He was up about 100 units in the same timeframe. Can't figure out what he was using though, might have been an unbalanced count.

 

[Stealth Bomber]

Way to go A.M.! Ahhh, you have found guys like us are'nt playing just for $. I found that a nice win and giving her some B. Franklins for cloths shopping, buys me loads of freedom to play and more really good sex. ;-)

I just need to figure a way to jump on the comp train like you and some of the others. My barrings came in my past only when using a tracking card. Therefore, I've done everything I can to NOT use a card in most of the places I play. However, recently during my negative variance swing I opted for a couple of cards. I should eventually get some free rooms I guess. I have found it's possible to get a card after or during a losing session. Also, I never use one at the start of play. I wait 'till I'm down some and having to buy in for more before I 'remember' to use it.

 

[Automatic Monkey]

Re: earning and using comps, barrings

Well that's about the size of it. Southwest= good games + heat and barrings. Northeast= lousy games + minimal heat if any. Take your pick, it probably works out the same in the long run but you need to attack the game in different ways.

Now for me comps work out to about 20-25% of my EV so there is no reason for me to sacrifice them. They pay for all my cost of doing business: car expenses, meals, cover play. There is one Indian store where comp points can be used at all the reservation side businesses, including the gas station, and that makes them as good as cash. Plus, I've been told that not having a player's card brings more suspicion on you than any record on the card could. So I get cards where I play and use the comps as quickly as I can in case I get barred and lose them.

I'm not a fan of doing or having anything illegal when out playing but I'm considering getting some fake ID for getting and using comps. They ask for a DL when getting a comp card and when redeeming comps, but not when playing. So I can bring the fake DL and the card with me when I am planning on spending comps but just the card when I am just playing. That way if I get barred or Griffinized I can just discard it and start anew. Now the problem you would have is explaining to your wife why you have to check into the hotel under an assumed name.

It also helps to have a lot of action on the player's card other than BJ. There are some full pay 9/6 VP machines where I play that are perfect for cover. A little craps, a bet or two at the sports book, and I look like an all-around gambler unless they are paying attention to the amount of action I actually give each game. Every casino has a certain amount of apparent advantage play they will tolerate before they get involved, and I'm now experimenting with finding out what everybody's limits are so I can tune my game to stay within their limits and still make a profit.