From the emails and comments I get it seems “Comps” is a popular topic, and for good reason, we all like to get something free or reduced price. I’ve said before that you can often get free stuff from a casino even if you don’t gamble. Today’s post explains how to do this with coupons.
First the basics. Casino coupons are similar to other coupons you may be familiar with at the grocery store. They offer discounts, usually a percentage off, or 2-for-1, on food, rooms, gambling, shows, drinks, and other entertainment. We save hundreds of dollars each year by using coupons, and I’ll show you how it’s done.
What can I do with coupons?
The top non-gambling coupons we use are for discounted food. Many casinos use their restaurants and buffets as a draw to get you in the door. Often, they offer discounts via coupons. This year we’ve used many 2-for-1 buffet coupons, saving $7 to $25 each time. We’ve also used several coupons for discounted dining or 2-for-1 entrees that saved $10 to $50 off meals.
Another kind of non-gambling coupon is the free or reduced price show. You’ll find many different shows including stand-up comedians, magic shows, live bands, major production shows, and so on.
Discounts are also available for hotel rooms, sometimes it’s “second night free” or a very low flat rate for weeknights Sunday through Thursday.
Where do I get these coupons?
You’re probably asking at this point “where do I get these coupons”. Some are easy to get, and others you may have to search for. Here’s how it works:
Coupon books you buy: At the top of this post is a cover shot of the Las Vegas Advisor, Pocketbook of Values(LVA, POV). This is the best coupon book available for Las Vegas and you don’t actually “buy” it, it’s part of the $39 annual subscription to the LVA. At the left you see a cover shot of the American Casino Guide (ACG). More than a coupon book, this is the most comprehensive printed guide to casinos in the USA and includes many interesting articles on gambling and comps. The ACG has coupons from all over the USA. There are a few others of this type you’ll run into but the POV and ACG are the best.
Coupons books from the casinos: Casinos often give out a coupon book (frequently called a “fun book” ) to new people who join their players club, or to anyone who asks. These sometimes have a few good coupons inside, and it’s no effort to get one so it’s worth the time to visit the players club and ask.
Coupons from other sources: Here’s some of the places we look for coupons when we visit a casino, you may think of others:
- The casino’s website
- Local newspaper
- Free info racks in the casino hotel lobby or RV park office
- Ask when you check into the RV park
- Entertainment guides or magazines in casino lobby or RV park office
- Look for someone using coupons and ask them where to get them
Notes about using coupons
Read everything on the coupons; front, back, and fine print. If anything isn’t clear ask someone about it before you use the coupons. You’ll often find restrictions such as “only valid Sunday through Thursday”. Also look for expiration dates, and see whether you have to “do” anything specific to obtain the coupon’s benefits; for example, “must be presented at time of order”.
In this article I’ve focused on non-gambling coupons. I’ll talk more about gambling coupons in the future.
Questions and comments
I’ve started a discussion thread in the Open Roads Forum. Visit and tell us your coupon success story, or post a question or a comment.
Happy travels and good luck in the casinos,
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