Free play is just what it sounds like, and it's the equivalent of cash for your bankroll. It can take several forms, and the rules governing how you use it vary from place to place. For example, some Las Vegas casinos offer a free roll of nickels; you aren't required to play the nickel slots with it, but you are expected to drop at least some of them into the machines.

Match Play

Match play coupons are issued for table games and usually are valid only on even-money bets like blackjack, red/black or odd/even bets at roulette, or pass or come bets at craps. They come in different denominations, too; you might get a $5 or $10 match-play coupon, or one that pays $7 to $5, for instance. It's called “match-play” because you have to match the coupon's value with your own bet.

Match play coupons essentially double your money without risking more of your bankroll. Here's how it works: You place your bet, along with the match-play coupon, on the table. If you win, you get paid for your bet, plus whatever the value of the match play coupon is. For example, suppose you have a $5 match-play coupon and place a $5 bet on red at the roulette table. If red comes up, you'll get your original $5 bet back, plus your $5 winnings on that bet, plus $5 for the match-play coupon. If you lose, you've bet $10, but you've only lost $5.

Many people, particularly those who prefer the slots, ignore match play. But this is an easy way to see some action at the table games, and you can do it one wager at a time. It's also an easy way to stretch your gambling dollar.

Coupons

Funbooks, vouchers, and coupons are particularly prevalent in Las Vegas, where competition for the casino visitor is fierce. The offers vary from discounts at shops to free slot tokens, double points, half-price show tickets, or match-play coupons. If you're a member of a player's club, you also can expect to find coupons and other promotional offers in the mail or, more rarely, in your e-mail. Often such promotions will be cyclical, designed to boost attendance and revenues during a casino's slack times. Keep an eye out for offers that make the most sense for you.

Online Bonuses

Online casinos can't offer you free drinks, free food, or free hotel rooms, so the only way they can build loyalty among their players is by offering cash-equivalent bonuses. Most offers are either a fixed dollar amount, advertised as “$100 free,” or a percentage of your initial deposit, advertised as “100 percent deposit bonus.” As with match play at a bricks-and-mortar casino, these bonuses extend your bankroll without putting more of your own money at risk.

Usually, you have to make wagers totaling three to five times the amount of the bonus before you can cash out at online casinos. For example, if you get a $100 cash credit for signing up, you have to bet $300 to $500 before you can close your account. As with land-based casino comps, it doesn't matter whether you win or lose for most online bonuses (although the longer you play, the more likely you are to lose); the important thing is the amount you wager, not the amount you end up with in your account.