Quote Originally Posted by ubiquitin View Post
In Inside the Edge, KC mentioned playing unrated at first to get confident in his game, and then establishing a line of credit in Vegas and playing high limit, rated until he was burned out. Basically using playing rated without previously burning himself out as cover to get big bets down. Is this not the best strategy? I know the doc was filmed a while ago, so are the countermeasures better now where this would quickly fail?

I believe Don Johnson had already established himself as a losing player/whale (this is just what he did and not a some type of cover strategy), and then saw an opportunity to take advantage of the comp system. How is a player's card useful if you're not going to establish yourself as a losing player?
There isn't one answer. Comps are going to have different value to different players. If you're on a very short bankroll and insisting on trying to build up your bankroll through only counting, then it can be a way to lower your costs, which will dramatically lower risk of ruin for someone with like a $10,000 bankroll. As an aside, you're probably better off just grinding away doing doordash or something until you get a bigger bankroll.


For a big team, it might make sense to have one guy playing more for comps and/or Don Johnson type of plays (rebates, coupons, etc.). He plays a difficult to detect game that is unlikely to draw heat, and likely to pull a lot of comps. Get a giant suite or a block of rooms for everyone to stay in, and maybe some comped meals. Even on a million dollar bankroll, not having to pay for thousands of dollars worth of rooms every time your team goes to Vegas for a week is important to the bottom line and risk profile. Even more important from a morale perspective. Players don't have to risk their identities, but they still get to live the high life.


For a mid-level solo player, it may not make sense to risk your identity for comps at all. If you have $50,000 and you're making $100 an hour at the tables, you can just deal with the expenses.