GamingTips

A lot of people get very confused when gambling, when, for instance, they hear that a specific game or machine has a certain payout, and they don’t get it.  Here’s a couple of reasons that happens.

First, payouts and holds are averages, they are not the guaranteed outcome in any one session.  Just like it is possible for you to win despite the house advantage, it is possible for the house to win more than expected.

Second, holds and payouts are based on perfect strategic play.  If you are not playing perfect strategy, you can expect the hold to be higher.  Even slight variations can have large effects on the odds.

Finally, the hold is not the percentage of money brought to a table that a casino keeps.  It is based off of the amount of money gambled.   This may seem like a small difference, but it adds up.  Let’s use an easy example.

If your are playing a $1 slot, and you start with $10, with a hold of say 10% (just to make it easy), you think the casino should only win  $10, leaving you with ninety.  But, let’s say you pull the lever with your first dollar, and you win $2.  You now have already played $1, and have $12 on the machine.  By the time you have gone through the money you have, you will actually have played $13, not $10.  If you continue to go up and down (as you usually do) it is quite possible that you will have played twice as much, or more, as what you brought to the table.  The hold is based 0ff of the total amount played, not the original bankroll of the player.

So, when looking at payouts and holds, players need to take into account natural, random variation; their skill level; and the true meaning of the payout and hold.

There is a myth, particularly among newer gamblers that casinos and their employees don’t want you to win, or don’t want experienced players, with more understanding of the games, playing.

For the staff, this is stupid right off the bat.  The staff make the majority of their income off of tips.  People are more likely to tip on the casino floor if they are winning.  Moreover, losers tend to be less pleasant to be around than winners, often taking out their frustration on a dealer, a cocktail server, or the food server in the next restaurant they eat in.

As far as the casino goes, this may be a little bit of a surprise, but they don’t mind you winning either.  First of all, a lot of people who gamble will go up for a short period of time, only to lose their winnings right back.  Even those players smart enough to walk away with their money do this without realizing it.  Somebody who wins a few hundred dollars their first time playing craps is a lot more likely to come back and play it again, possibly with a bigger bankroll than the first time.

Second, casinos work on mathematical rules.  Even if every player plays every game perfectly (with the exception that card counters are excluded from blackjack), the casino will, in the long run, win.  The more people are playing, the more predictable and certain this reality is.  And gamblers, especially new, inexperienced gamblers, are attracted to tables where people are yelling, screaming, and cheering, and where they see people with a lot of money.  Walk into any casino when they have two dice tables open, and one will always be full, the other almost empty.  Inexperienced gamblers, and superstitious experienced ones, believe in streaks and luck.  A “hot” table is a money magnet.  So by keeping you around and in a good mood, the casino draws more money onto the casino floor and onto that table, and has an opportunity to make its money back.

Remember, mathematically speaking, the house always wins.  And remember that the law of averages states that the more “random” samples you use, the closer to your statistically respected outcome the average gets.  You, as a winning player, are one of the casino’s strongest marketing tools.

Finally, know that casino executives don’t “sweat the money,” or at least the good ones don’t.  There are days when casinos lose hundreds of thousands of dollars.  Other days, however, they silently bring in millions.

So don’t buy into the myth that casinos or their employees don’t like winning gamblers.  It’s simply not true, assuming that you are playing the game fairly.

So, gaming laws vary from State to State, but there are a few Federal laws which govern gambling, and in particular internet gambling.  Remember in ‘06 when a lot of poker sites stopped accepting funds from U.S. bettors?  Here’s why.

There was a law passed that made it a federal offense for a gaming institution to accept funds from bettors for activities that violated State laws.  So, essentially, what the law said was that if your gambling was illegal, accepting money for it was now illegal too.  How does that change anything?

Well, for starters, it’s a Federal law.  Given that online poker rooms, casinos, and books do business with people in many states, this is significant.  It is also significant because Federal authorities obviously have more pull in enforcing laws on operations which do not physically reside in the U.S.  Keep in mind, however, that with internet gambling, it has been determined that the casino is “operating” on both ends of the internet connection.  Even if the checks are cut in Aruba, if you’re in D.C., the casino is “operating” in D.C. as well.

So, how does this affect the players?  It doesn’t.  This law in particular, all Federal laws, and most State laws regarding gambling only apply to the operators, not the bettors.  Which means that while the casino, sports book, or poker room may be illegal, your patronage is most likely not.

Please note that I am not an attorney, or an expert in gambling law.  Laws vary from state to state, so before you get all betting happy (thinking you’re not breaking the law) look into your individual state laws.

So, I’m all out of ideas.  I really enjoyed writing this though.  If there’s anyone out there, please leave comments, or e-mail me at gamingtipstoday@gmail.com with your questions about gambling.  I will do my best to answer them all.  Thanks!

Okay.  So, I thought I’d take a minute to address the issue of online versus brick and mortar gaming.

Most people will probably thinnk of this as a poker issue, because of the abundance of online poker rooms, but this also applies to online casino gaming.  I’ll adress several issues here.

Choice of games.  Online casinos and poker games offer a wider selection of betting limits and, in poker rooms, games, than brick and mortar casinos. The reasoning here is quite simple.  If, at any given time, a brick and mortar casino wants to open another table, be it for a different game or a different limit, it costs them about $6/hr just for the dealer.  The added expenses of the chip runner, the casino porter, the cocktail waitress, the brush, and the attendant adds up quickly.  In addition, they have to know ahead of time that they want the particular table open, so that they can schedule this staff appropriately.  So, even if 10 people show up wanting to play $100/200 Omaha HL on a Wednesday night, the casino has a tough time accomodating them.  Additionally, you’re unlikely to find a lot of low limit games.  The rake on poker hands makes a lot less money than the hold on table games.  So a casino really doensn’t like having a lot of $1/2 tables.  In online casinos, on he other hand, you’re likely to find an abunance of not only $1/2, but even $0.50/$1 tables.

Oponents.  This one really is limited to online poker.  When you play in a real poker room, you can see your oponents, and read their faces.  You can look for tells.  You can tell who is experienced and who isn’t.  Online, you know nothing about your oponent, unless you and them frequently wind up at the same table, which given the volume of players on any given site, and the number of tables, is unlikely.

Practice and learning.  This is, in my opinion, one area where online casinos hands down have the advantage.  First, for practice.  There are an abundance of sites offering free play money games, both in poker and in other games.  This allows a player new to the game to practice for free.  Casinos are not going to pay staff to work at play money tables, which do not generate revenue.  In terms of learning, nothing is more annoying than the person who consistently either asks the dealer or other players to explain things, or keeps pulling out a book or strategy card.  Don’t get me wrong.  You should definitely be comfortable asking for help, advice, or clarification.  Occasionally.  When it doesn’t disturb the flow of the game or the other players.  Online, you can have a table open in window, and a strategy or how to website in another.  You can have your book on your lap between you and your computer keyboard.  Also, if there is a question that you, the other players, or the “house” don’t have an answer to, you have a reliable source of information at your fingertips.

Atmosphere.  The atmosphere, obviously, is totally different, and this can be a pro or a con.  Casinos are exciting, and fun.  A great place to see and be seen, have a few cocktails, hang out with friends, etc.  On the other hand, particularly for new, or shy, players, the comfort of your own home can be great.  And you don’t have to worry about the person at the table next to you being drunk and obnoxious, or somebody spilling their drink on you, or whatever.  It’s also much easier to leave a table and join another one if you don’t like the conversation or the people at your table.  It’s not only easier, it’s more comfortable and less awkward.  Also, many times, you can just click a squelch, silence or ignore button instead!

Tournaments.  As with a variety of tables and limits, this is an area where I think that online casinos have a huge advantage.  Because of the lower cost of doing business, online poker rooms can offer tournaments almost any time.  Brick and mortar houses need to offer them during prime times, and can only offer so many.  Online, you can find a tournament with just about any buy in and format at just about any time.  Free rolls, high limits, sit and goes, single table, heads up, HORSE, whatever you want.

Convenience.  Depending on where you live, getting to a casino can be a real pain in the ass.  Even if it’s not (for example, you, like me, live in Vegas), I can guarantee it’s easier to go online and play.  If you don’t have a lot of willpower, this can obviously be a negative, but for most of us, this is a huge plus.  Also, it makes it possible to play in your downtime.  You can log on and play 20 minutes of blackjack or poker, something few people do at brick and mortar casinos.

Money making ability.  I would argue that in poker, this aspect depends more on your skill level and the place you play than anything.  For instance, in Vegas, you’re likely to find more of an online-like group of players.  You don’t know them, they don’t know you, they’re of varying skill levels, and you’re unlikely to see them at the tables again.  At local casinos and poker rooms, however, the game is entirely different.  If you are a regular, you likely know your opponents, their habits and their tells very well,  This can be an advantage, but keep in mind that they also know you.  Where it gets interesting is when you’re NOT the regular.  Similar to the stereotype about women who play, I always found that as a young man going to Indian casino poker tables full of old townies, I had an advantage.  I looked young and dumb, and nobody there knew me.  Quite frankly, I could follow the townies’ reactions to the other townies.  If one of them folded after a bet by another, I often folded borderline hands too.  On the other hand, none of them had any idea how I played.

This next bit applies to poker and other games.  It revolves around two key facts.  First, online games move quicker.  Second, it’s easier to walk away from online games.

First, the game moves quicker.  This means that you have the potential to win (or lose) more money faster.  For instance, many online blackjack tables pull 120+ hands/hour.  That’s right, two a minute.  If you hit a hot streak, you can (as I have recently done), win $1000 in less than an hour.  At a $1 or $5 table.

Second, it’s easier to walk away.  Or at least it is for me.  If I went to a real casino (even living in Vegas) to play blackjack, I would plan on making a morning, an evening, or a night out of it.  If I was up (or down) significantly in a matter of 15 minutes, and my money management strategy told me to leave, I’d likely chuck it.  I didn’t drive to the casino to stay for 15 minutes.  And I’m probably waiting for a free drink.

At home, if I’m way up, and lose a hand, I close the window and walk away.  If I am way down, I close the window and walk away.  I don’t feel cheated out of a good time.

This goes hand in hand with the key difference between recreational and professional gambling.  When I go to the casino, I go as a leisure gambler.  I am playing more for the fun of the game than to make money.  If I lose more money than I wanted, or win less money than I could have, it’s alright.  We pay money to go to the movies, a show, a tourist attraction, or the bar, right?  It’s entertainment.  Online, the fun of the game is still important to me.  But, if I need to cut my losses or quit while I’m ahead, I don’t feel cheated out of my night of fun.

 Closing words.  I play poker and blackjack online a lot these days, and I’m doing fairly well at it.  Very well, in fact, when you consider my starting bankroll.  I only play on one site, Absolute Poker, so that’s where I would recommend getting started.  User friendly format, a variety of games (including blackjack), and a great selection of limits and tournaments, including some wonderful freerolls.

Alright.  I’m not going to get into a lot of detail, as much as I’m going to justify the posts I plan on following this one.  Money management really is the big differential between professional gamblers and recreational gamblers.  People think it’s knowledge of the games, and to a certain extent it is.  But, the biggest knowledge that the pros have of the game is that the odds are always slightly against you (unless you’re counting cards or cheating).  Poker players have a little more light at the end of their tunnel, but they also understand that you never know who you’re playing against or what their skill level is.

 That being said, professional gamblers control the one thing that is not luck.  The choices they make about their money.  Some key points I’ll discuss in following posts: appropriate bankroll; how to decide what to bet; understanding and using table limits; when to cut losses; when to quit while you’re ahead.  All of these are important factors to people who actually make money gambling.

 And, as a final note, nothing I say in the following posts is meant to judge you or tell you that the way a winning player should manage their money is the way you should manage your money.  In fact, it’s not the way I manage my money when I play.  If you’re a recreational player, you should be more concerned about having a good time.   That means sometimes rolling the dice with less of a bankroll than you “should” have.  It means sometimes continuing to play when you should quit, especially if you sit down at the start of a short hot or cold streak.

 So, look foward to posts on this topic, and know that I plan on being a little hypocritical.

Alright.  I figured I’d break down here how getting free stuff at casinos works.  Some of the misconceptions and some basic tips.

 First of all, there are a few different types of rewards systems.  The main two I’ll divide by the high rollers and the rest of us.  And by the way, playing a hundred dollars a hand, you’re in the “rest of us” category.  Chances are no high rollers are going to be reading this blog.  High rollers generally receive comps without dollar values.  That is, they will be offered a complementary room, complementary food and beverage, and occasionally even complementary air fare.  Money values are never really discussed.  If there are limits, they are set in private by the host, and a restaurant, bar, etc. will call the host and ask if it’s alright.  The host will then tell the guest if it’s not within their limits.  The disadvantage to this type of comp is that they are tentative.  The understanding is, if we agree to comp your room, you agree to play at your normal levels.  And if you fail to do so, you will be presented with a bill at the end of your stay.

 For the rest of us, there’s the Players Club and slip comps.  First, don’t be afraid of Players’ Club.  They won’t call your boss and tell them your play levels.  They won’t sell your address.  They mail you stuff, but again, it won’t have any personal financial information on you.

 Second, don’t be afraid to use your card when you’re winning.  The people tracking your play and the people tracking the performance of the tables and slots are different people.  You get rewarded based on how long you play and how much you play, not on how much you win or lose.

Third, don’t be afraid to ask for things.  From cigarette comps to more expensive liquors, to dinners to rooms, nobody is going to make the offer.  Occasionally casinos will send coupons out to their players.  These are based on general “tiers” of play, and not personalized to you.  It took me a while to get this, but the people in the Players Club booths, the Poker Room Supervisors, and the Slot and Table Floor Supervisers have job duties which include asking questions about comps.  They won’t get annoyed.  At the same time, it’s their job to make sure comps don’t get out of hand.  So don’t be shocked or offended when they say no.  The bottom line is, you could accumulate thousands of dollars in rewards, and until you ask, you’re just wasting your time and the plastic that went into your card.

Finally, a word on how the actual rewards work.  They are usually based on either “points” or actual dollar values.  Using the figures they have on holds (the percentage of money brought to a table or put in a machine that the casino keeps at the end of play), they calculate a “theoretical” or “theo” value for each player, based on the amount of time and money spent on a machine or table.  This value is independent of whether you are winning or losing.  Then, they calculate things such as the cost of labor, maintenance, bills, etc. and take that away.  What they’re left with is the theoretical profit that the casino makes off of your play.  They then take a percentage of this and give it back to you in the form of rewards.  One tricky thing is that at some casinos, slots, poker, and table games points accumulate separately; at some casinos they accumulate together; and at some casinos, the rewards are company wide.

 So, here’s a brief recap of everything you need to know about comps to start making the most of them:

1) Don’t be afraid to ask.

2) Don’t be afraid to be told no.

3) Rewards are based on play, not winnings or losses.

4) Don’t be afraid to ask!

This post is designed to explain how you can use your dealers as resources at table games.

Let me first state two basic facts which confuse most people.

First, the dealer wants you to do well.  Players tend to tip more when they win more, or lose less.  This is good for dealers.  Dealers want their players to do well.  Also, their job is to deal the games, not to win the games.  They get paid the same regardless of what the hold is on their table (assuming that they are not cheating).  The games themselves are designed to win for the house, and this is entirely out of the dealer’s control.

The casino also wants you to do well.  Players who do well tend to a) bet bigger, and b) attract more players.  Remembering that in the long run, the casino will always win, and taking into account the law of averages, the more bets are out, and the larger those bets, the better the day for the casino.  Even if you cash out ahead, the attention that an excited, winning player, and the large stacks of chips they hold, draw to a “hot” table will make the immediate loss worth it for the casino.

Now, for the three reasons I consider the dealers and other casino staff to be your best resource at a table.

First, as a new player, they will teach you the games.  Again, both the dealer and the casino benefit from having full tables.  People are more likely to start to play, or continue to play, if they know the game.  Dealers are trained in not only dealing, but explaining, the games.  They have taught so many new players to play that they can provide a clarity and ease to entering a game that a player will never get from a book, a website, or a blog.  If you’d like to try a game, sit down at the table, and say to the dealer, “I’ve never played this before.  How does it work?”  I was fortunate enough to actually learn blackjack, craps, roulette, and Hold ‘Em dealing them for an events company.  But Baccarat, 3-5-7 Poker, Let It Ride, and Three Card Poker were all games that I learned with the help of dealers at the casino.

Dealers will help you with strategy.  The extent of this varies from casino to casino.  At some casinos, dealers are allowed to answer the question, “what would you do?” or “what’s the book say?” They may also be able to offer you odds on the Craps table even when you don’t ask for them, or tell you what the odds of specific bets are (either specifically or relative to other bets).  At others, dealers are required to be more subtle.  They will still help you, particularly in tricky situations, you just need to pay more attention.  For instance, while a dealer may not be able to tell you whether they would hit or stand, they may call a Soft 18 an “18,” probably a good sign that you should stay, or, when the dealer shows a 6, call a Soft 15 a “5,” a good indication that you should hit.  Remember, the dealer cannot make up your mind for you, and you must play your own hand.  That’s right, if you ask to double a blackjack, or split a 20, the dealer must deal the cards as you’ve asked.  But, the dealer can be a resource.  Also, note that there is a common misconception that the casino doesn’t want players to know how to play the game, and that’s why the dealers are not allowed to offer advice.  This is not true.  The main reason casinos do not allow dealers to help players is the risk of a possibly intoxicated individual holding the casino or its staff accountable for a losing hand if the dealer advised the player to play it in a certain way.

Finally, dealers can “babysit” you.  If you’re tired, or have had a couple of drinks, you will sometimes forget something.  Whether it is putting out your odds or your come bet like you always do, or something as simple as picking up your winnings in blackjack or on a field bet in Craps, it happens all the time.  The dealer can remind you either a) of your own style of play, or b) the need/option of picking up your bets.  Keep in mind that a dealer does not have to do this.  If your money is out when betting is closed or the dice are rolled, technically, you just “stacked ‘em”, “parleyed,” or “let it ride.”  Which brings me to my two final notes.

First, you should seriously consider tipping your dealers for three reasons.  The first is selfish, and the others are more a matter of principal.  First, dealers remember players who tip.  They are more likely to do all of the above things for you when you do.  Remember, they are not required to do anything to help you, especially babysit your money.  Dealers who I have tipped are always quick to say, “Sir, do you want your odds?” or “No come bet this time, Zach?”  Second, if someone in the service industry (including the gaming industry) provides good service, especially if they exceed your expectations of someone in their position, it is the right thing to do to tip.

Finally, and this applies mostly to Las Vegas, it is impossible to say that dealers do not make a decent living.  That living, however, comes almost exclusively from tips.  In a city where, because of the union, even servers, bartenders, and other tipped employees make between $10 and $20 an hour just in wages, dealers are paid less than $8 an hour, often making minimum wage, with the exception of the Wynn Las Vegas, where the dealers have gone Union.  They are not guaranteed full time hours, benefits, or job stability like their peers in other areas are.  Particularly with casinos cutting both hours and bodies because of the economy, dealers depend on tips to feed their families.  And while they may be “just a dealer” in your mind, in Vegas, dealers, along with other casino staff, are considered professionals.  They have training, certifications, and years of experience.  They take pride in their jobs.  And, most importantly, without them, you couldn’t enjoy the game you’re playing, or even Las Vegas as it is today.  Remember, tip your dealers.  Especially if you are winning, or they are helping you out a lot.

Lastly, always treat your dealers, and other casino staff (yes, this includes cocktail servers, however short their skirts) with respect.  You may be on vacation, and this may be Las Vegas.  But it’s not the Vegas of the ’70s.  First of all, remember, the dealers only deal the cards, they don’t pick them.  It’s not their falt if you’re losing.

Second, as I mentioned, this is a career for the casino staff.  The table which is your vacation is their workplace.  You wouldn’t like to have your ass grabbed, or commented on, every time you went into work, would you?  You wouldn’t like it if your customers started swearing at you.  That being said, dealers, cocktail waitresses, etc. usually have a sense of humor, and enjoy having a good time.  That’s why they’re in the service and gaming industry.  A comment like “What are you doing to me, Joe?” with a smile is alright.  But harrasment is not.  That’s right.  Workplace harrasment can come from customers as well as coworkers.  This includes in casinos.  In fact, if you make a dealer, cocktail server, or other casino employee feel uncomfortable, you may even be “86′d” from a casino.  Complete with a security escort and a possible visit with law enforcement, is that really the kind of attention you’re looking for on your trip to Vegas?  So remember, it’s okay to have a good time with your dealers and other staff.  It’s not alright to have fun at their expense, or to make them feel threatened or uncomfortable.  These people deal with drunk winners and losers all the time.  If you are crossing their threshold for inappropriate behavior, chances are, your behavior is flat out unacceptable.

Alright.  This post is going to be dedicated to making sure that people used to Las Vegas strip gambling are able to adjust to Indian casinos, and vice versa.

 Let’s talk about the important stuff first.

Selection of games

At Indian casinos, you will almost always find a poker room, slots, and bingo.  Most of the time, they will also have blackjack tables.  A good number have craps, roulette, and poker-based carnival games.  The carnival games are likely to be limited to 3-5-7, 3 card, and Let it Ride poker based games.  I have never seen baccarat in an Indian casino.

Vegas casinos will always have machines, rarely have bingo, and sometimes have poker rooms.  The pits are still dominated by blackjack, but I have yet to find a strip casino that does not offer Craps, Roulette, and a wide variety of carnival games.  You will also, almost always, find baccarat, whether in a separate, high limit area, or on the main casino floor.  The carnival games are likely to include two of the three found in Indian casinos: Let it Ride, 3 card poker, and 3-5-7 Poker.  But many casinos do not offer all three.  Many also have Hold ‘Em based carnival games, as well as Pai Gow based carnival games.

Betting Limits, Odds and Rules

For most of us low-limit betters, Indian casinos will tend to be a better deal.  They often have lower table minimums (although you won’t find $2 and $3 tables like you will in downtown Veags or at Slots-A-Fun, Bill’s or O’Shea’s).  They also usually pay 3-2 on all of their blackjack tables.  Many will also allow you to take more odds on the Craps tables.  In fact, Indian casinos are usually 5x or 10x odds.  In poker rooms, there are often $1/2 limit and no limit games, or even $0.50/1.  But, since they are usually not as busy, there may only be one or two tables, and thus one or two games going on.  They will almost always be Hold ‘Em.

Vegas casinos are usually higher limit.  Few casinos offer anything less than $10 minimums on weekend nights on the strip.  They often feature single and double deck Blackjack tables, on which Blackjack will only pay 6 to 5.  And on Craps tables, although this is changing, most offer 2x odds, although some now offer 3,4,5x odds.  Poker games are generally going to be a little more expensive than at Indian casinos, but, because of the volume, this is not always the case.  They may have a $10/20 game going on right next to a $1/2 hand.  Also, if you are interested in more than just Hold ‘Em, Vegas card rooms are more likely to offer other varieties of poker.

Bonus Bets

Bonus bets in Indian casinos are limited.  Some trends sweep the tribal casinos for a little while, then go away.  Bonus bets are everywhere in Vegas.  In Craps, it’s a fire bet.  On Let it Ride, they offer not only the $1 bonus bet, but also a 3 Card Bonus.  In baccarat, there’s the Dragon Bonus.  In Blackjack, there’s the Pair Square, the Lucky Ladies, Hi Lo, and any number of other varieties.

Poker Rooms

In my personal opinion, for occasional poker players, Tribal Gaming is the way to go.  If you play a lot, and are aware that you have a distinctive style of play, Vegas may be for you.

At Indian casinos, you will often find the same players playing the tables all the time.  This gives the occasional player a huge advantage.  The players know each others’ tells, likely partake in table talk, and are generally pretty complacent.  As the outsider, yes, all eyes will be on you.  But, by the time the players figure out your tells or your style of play, you could have cleared the table.  My second time playing live poker, I won $1400 off of 7 locals in the Upper Penninsula of Michigan.  I saw about 5 flops in an hour and a half, and the cards I did have were not that great.

On the other hand, if you are one of those regulars, but you are a skilled poker player, a Vegas poker room may be for you.  You will likely be playing against a wider variety of players.  That is, some will be much better than you find at home, and some will be far worse.  But, every night you play, although you may see some regulars, the vast majority of players will be different.  This means the game can be less predictable, but also a lot more fun.  Pay attention to tournaments in town when you are playing, particularly at the hotel you play at.  Often, poker tournaments are held in lounges or banquet facilities.  The poker room may be open to the public, and just seem a little crowded.  What you don’t realize is that the 6 players at your table are all here for the World Series of Poker Championship, which starts tomorrow.  Not a good situation to find yourself in.

Comps, drinks, etc.

Most Indian casinos do allow drinking on the casino floor, although some do not.  Most now have players’ clubs, although the benefits are often limited to free play, cigarettes, and key chains, since some do not have hotels or restaurants.  Expect to pay for your alcoholic beverages at a tribal casino.  Sodas, coffee, water, etc. are comped, but alcohol is not.  If your alcohol is comped, it will be done using a traditional slip comp.  That is, the floor supervisor will walk through their pit or slot aisles and occasionally hand out “Free drink” slips with their signature on them.  Unless you have one of these, expect a bill with your beer.

Vegas casinos have multiple bars on the floor.  Cocktail servers come by frequently (generally between 5 and 10 times each hour).  They all have some type of players’ club, and, if you gamble enough, you can pretty much get whatever you want comped.  With so many casinos owned by multi-casino corporations, you can often use your comps at other properties as well.  And, of course, alcohol is usually comped, as long as you are actively playing.  So hold off on that trip to the bar, sit down, and wait for a cocktail server.  If you’re playing, and drinking a normal drink, it will be free.

Just a fairly obvious point.  There are hundreds of casinos in Nevada, and hundreds of tribal gaming establishments around the country.  Each casino is different, and has its own policy.  This is a general account of the differences that I have noticed, and does not necessarily apply to every casino.  If you have had a different experience, please comment.