5 ways a player's card can get you big savings

When you gamble at a casino, be sure to get a player's card. It can get you discounts and free stuff. Here's how:

• When you approach a table to play, give your card to the dealer or directly to the pit boss.
• They'll use it to enter your playing time and estimated total bets into the computer.
• With that information in the system, you can start getting deals all around the casino.

• Don't play the slots or any other machine game without inserting your card in the indicated place and making sure a light indicates it's been accepted.
• You'll get "credit" for your betting.

• If you've been playing more or less steadily for much of the day, ask for a casino host and see if the casino will comp you a meal or offer you a gift shop discount.
• They won't think you're being presumptuous. If the answer's no, they'll probably indicate how much more you need to play to be eligible.
• Unless you're a high roller, the casino isn't going to come up to you and say, "Gosh, you've been a good customer — let us buy you dinner." You have to ask.

• Before you pay your bill and go home, ask the casino host if you've played enough to get a break on the room rate.
• If you put in your time at the tables, you just might get it.

• When you make a reservation at a casino hotel that you've played at before, give them your card number and ask them to review your play record.
• See if you can get your room comped (that is, free) or at least get in at the "casino rate," which is usually a healthy discount.

The first thing you do when you walk into a casino is go straight to the players club and ask for a player's card. This card is free money, and your ticket to all kinds of hotel discounts and deals.