When calculating a players comp points, land-based casinos rate a players value by using a cost-per-hour formula, which is able to determine what a player's expected win or loss will be.

The factors used in this formula are the the amount of the average bet, time spent gambling, the speed of play, and the particular House Edge of the game played (which is usually adjusted, depending on the player's ability).  And while most casinos only use this formula as a guideline, it will give you a rough idea of how much you can expect to receive in comps.

The casino must first calculate the expected win/loss, which looks like this:  Expected Win/Loss = (Amount of bets per hour)(hours played)(amount of average bet)(game House Edge)

Once this value is calculated, it is then multiplied by the comp percentage a casino gives back for the game played, which usually ranges from 20% to 40%.  For a game that gives back 25% of the expected win/loss in comps, the value of the expected win/loss would be multiplied by .25.

Let's say a player spent three hours total gambling at the blackjack table, playing an average of $10 per hand.  An approximation of a player's comp value would look like this:

(100 bets per hour)(3 hours played)($10 average bet)(.025 House Edge)(.25 comp exchange) = $18.75 

Remember that this does not mean you are guaranteed this amount of redemption.  Some casinos may want to see the player gamble more hours, while others may give an even greater redemption value.  If you gamble more often, let this be a factor in choosing a casino where you spend most of your time gambling at.

And always keep in mind that comps are often handed out via what certain casino personnel feel is warranted.  This does not mean you need to make a scene every time you gamble, but that you should always be aware of your behavior and interactions with the dealer and pit boss.

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