Use Comp Points for Free Play at Caesars casinos

Caesars has started its program for exchanging comp points for free play. But you might not want to take advantage of this deal.

Let's say you have 10,000 comp points or Total Rewards points. That's the equivalent of $100 for hotel comps such as meals, tickets, cost of hotel room, even gift shop purchases.

But if you redeem those same points for free play, you get $50 of free play. The formula is 1,000 of comps = $5 of free play.

The gamblers will figure that $5 of free play has a certain "expected return" which is less than $5 on most machines. Some gamblers might hope that the $5 of free play might return a $4,000 royal flush.

Some will argue that using the comp points to buy items in the gift shop and using them for gifts or for personal use would be a more efficient use of the comp points.

And Caesars does offer gas cards and other gift cards for comp points and their trade-in formula can vary.

Choose according to your own desires, but do ask about the various options.

I'll use it in restaurants. Seems like the best choice.

I play at the Ceasar's places now and then, and this policy change smells like another rat entered their administrative offices. Who's stupid enough to give up half their points for free play that players will probably lose in fast order? I can answer that, anyone who's lost their money playing the machines and can't go without putting every last available dollar into the machines, that's who. Ceasar's was smart with this move, profitwise. Make people gamble with their points instead of giving them guaranteed value, only give them 50% value as a slap in the face. Another reason to diss that company.

In the past, I've used most of my excess "comp dollars" to buy gas cards (Shell) and for me it's the best use for me.

But I can understand how some high rollers could use their excess comp dollars for free play. High rollers routinely get their rooms, and show tickets covered without using their "comp bank." And comp dollars earned on a trip can easily exceed the cost of fine dining. And if they happen to be driving a company car or have an executive spending account, and don't pay for their own gas and don't need to buy a Visa gift card, why not use the excess comp dollars for free play?

I wouldn't be too hard on Caesars for offering this option. Some people might actually benefit from it.

I don't think it benefits anyone. Who wouldn't opt for a dollar-for-dollar gift card no matter how high a roller they are? Someone like Bob Dancer would NEVER get taken advantage of like that. Even if I'm wrong about the dollar-for-dollar thing, free play is never worth face value, esp. @ Harrahs. Plus, the casino always has that not-so-little edge they know they can count on: players running thru their free play, ending up with nothing, then going to the cashier or ATM's for more cash to lose.

Gift cards are not dollar for dollar, Rob. The Shell cards I get are at 50 percent of what the comp dollars are worth inside the casino. I think gift cards at other stores are worth slightly more but I don't shop at those stores.