Part V: Regional & Cultural · Casino Slang & Historical Terms
7.20 Comp (Complimentary)
Industry — Marketing
A “comp” (complimentary) is any free good or service provided by a casino to a player as an incentive for their patronage. Comps include hotel rooms, meals, show tickets, transportation, retail merchandise, and cash rebates. The value of comps is determined by a player’s theoretical win or actual loss. In Asian markets, comps for VIP players can include private jet transfers, luxury watches, and high-end liquor. The comp system is a fundamental marketing tool that builds player loyalty and extends gaming sessions.
In practice
Asian VIP comp programs are among the most generous in the world. Macau junkets historically offered cash rebates of 1.1-1.25% of rolling chip turnover, effectively reducing the house edge for VIP players to near zero.
Related terms
One entry from the Casino Industry Glossary — 1,157 terms written for surveillance, compliance and operations professionals rather than for players. Definitions describe industry usage; where a term carries a regulatory meaning, verify against the instrument that governs your jurisdiction.