What Games Count Most Toward Cruise Casino Comps?

Casino game floor on a cruise ship highlighting slot machines and table games relevant for comp rating

Not all games contribute equally to cruise casino comp qualification. The reason isn’t arbitrary — it comes down to how casino math estimates theoretical loss (theo) and how games generate decisions per hour.

This page explains which games count most toward comp qualification and why the differences matter. Understanding this helps you structure play in a way casinos can clearly read and credit.


How Game Type Affects Theo and Comp Value

Casino cruise comps are based on theoretical loss and average daily theo (ADT). Different games produce different theo per hour, not just different wins or losses.

Two components matter most:

  • House edge — how much the game mathematically expects to win over time
  • Decisions per hour — how many bets you make in an hour

Games with higher house edge and higher decisions per hour tend to generate more theo — and therefore more comp value — all else equal.

Games That Typically Produce Stronger Theo

The following game types tend to generate more theo per rated hour:

  • Slot machines — steady decisions per hour and trackable play
  • Video poker — high decision rates, deck-based, trackable
  • Blackjack — table decision intensity and house edge
  • Craps — varied bets with strong theo contribution

Slots often appear to generate the most theo because they:

  • require frequent decisions
  • have clear win/loss streams
  • are continuously rated by the casino system

Games That Generate Theo More Slowly

Other games tend to produce theo at lower rates because:

  • decisions per hour are lower
  • the house edge is low or variable
  • tracking is less consistent

These include:

  • Low-speed table games — e.g., some poker variants
  • Non-rated social play — entertainment games not tracked for comps
  • Extremely low house edge games — minimal theo over short sessions

That doesn’t mean these games are worthless — they contribute — but at a slower rate.

Why Minimum Play and Session Structure Still Matter

Even if you choose games that generate theo well, how you structure play still matters. Casinos prefer:

  • sessions with continuous play
  • longer rated hours, not many short bursts
  • consistent game choice per session

Fragmented sessions — switching games frequently — can dilute theo reporting.

How Cruise Casinos Track Game Play

Cruise casino rating systems track:

  • when you’re active on a machine
  • when you’re making decisions
  • the duration of play and bet frequency

This is why some games — like slots — generate clearer theo signals than others.

Where Gamblers Host Adds Value

Gamblers Host does not tell players to play only one game. We help players understand:

  • how different games influence theo generation
  • how to structure sessions to protect rating
  • how to avoid dilution from game switching

The goal is not to “win every bet.” It’s to make your play measurable and consistent.

The Takeaway

No game is magically better for comps. Games generate theo at different rates — and casinos reward clarity and consistency.

Understanding which games produce theo faster — and why — helps you structure rated play effectively.