Replying to "What are casino comps?" hinges on a single number. Most casinos hand out loyalty points on every stake, often called comp points, and let them be exchanged for credit, spins or items in a shop. The exchange rate is where their value lies, and it is rarely shown next to the points balance. Working out what a single point is worth in money turns a vague reward into a percentage of the stakes behind it.
Stakes made with bonus funds often earn no points at all, or earn them at a reduced rate, and the loyalty terms say which. The account page usually shows the current balance and the points still needed for the next reward, although the conversion rate may sit elsewhere. A quick note of the balance before and after a session shows the earning rate in practice, which is a useful check on the published rate.
Points expire. Some programmes wipe the whole balance after a few months without play, others expire each point a fixed time after it was earned, and a few reset everything once a year. A balance left to build toward a larger reward can vanish before it gets there. Checking the expiry rule when joining, and redeeming small amounts regularly where the rules allow, keeps the points from turning into a number that pays nothing.
Often they earn nothing, or earn at a reduced rate, and the loyalty terms state which rule the programme follows.
Rates often get better as a player moves up a loyalty tier, and the gain can be measured with the same stake to credit calculation.
Slots usually earn the most points per stake, while table and live games earn a fraction as much because their lower edge leaves less margin to share.
Sometimes it is cash, and sometimes bonus funds carrying wagering; that difference matters as much as the conversion rate itself.
Compare the points a shop item or batch of spins costs with what the same points would fetch as credit at the cash conversion rate.
Many programmes refuse any exchange below a set number of points, and some convert only in fixed blocks, so small balances wait until they reach the threshold.