– Ask away. I'm a 20+ year casino PD guy. My typical player is $250k+ a trip up to a couple million nowadays, but I started small, just like everyone else. I currently work for a prominent Las Vegas property.
Any questions? Ask away, and I'll do my best to try to answer everyone.
– What is the number of players you manage at any given time and what percentage of them visit more than once a month?
At my level, I only have around 100 players.
But your standard host can have upwards of 1000 people assigned to them. They are all overwhelmed most of the time. It's always better to text a host rather than call them, they'll like you a lot better. Believe me when I tell you, none of them want to talk on the phone. It's a 24/7 business, so a lot of times there with their families or in the middle of doing something, etc... and it's hard to manage life whenever you have to stop and answer a phone call several times throughout the day. Texting helps them make life more manageable.
Non locals will go out to LV 4-6 times a year at the most, generally. But they will visit their local casinos (2-3 hrs driving) many more times a year than Vegas. But they bring the bigger bankroll to LV since it's less frequent visits.
– Having to deal with 1000 people seems stressful :(
It certainly can be for most. It's a job everyone thinks they want until they have it. I've seen people breaking down the door to get the job (from other departments), and once they have it, they have a nervous breakdown. They all think it's eating, drinking, and hanging out.
Always text your host, they will hate you if you're a dialer lol. Texting makes their life much more manageable.
– How is the new tax code affecting play from your regulars this year?
Great question...it's going to be a problem. In Nevada, they are actively addressing this and looking to get that fixed in the new law.
It's not affecting yet, but it will after this year when people start doing the taxes.
– Do you think that your players don't realize how bad it is going to be for them, or they know how to do some tax shenanigans?
I've only had one person talk to me about it...I don't even think about it, honestly, I've forgot about it. doesn't seem like they are thinking about it either 🤷🏻♂️
– 1.) What is the largest tip you have seen a player give a dealer/cocktail waitress?
2.) Are you allowed to accept tips from players?
I know a guy who has literally walked around the casino and gave away around $600k to random people...tens of thousands to cocktails and hundreds of thousands to dealers.
We are technically not allowed to take tips, but it's done on the slick.
– When you say $250K + a trip are you talking losses? Theo? Credit line? Also I think the other poster was asking if you were with one of the independents (ie FB, Wynncore, V/P, or chains (ie CET or MGM).
(Editor – Theo means Theoretical Wins/Losses)
Yes, their bankroll is $250k+. It could be cash, wire, or credit. Now, they won't always lose that, but they are giving the casino a legitimate shot at it.
I'm not independent; I am an employee of the casino I work at.
– What is the wildest thing you’ve ever comped off a player's bill on the backend?
It's not that high on tables as it would be on a high-limit slot player. It all depends on the time played. If they lose fast, nothing. If they are winning or up and down, it can be a lot. The last million-dollar BJ player I had in, did $247k in Theo in 3 days.
– Holt crap, so like $80-$90K in comp value? That’s impressive. Do you guys offer loss rebates/discounts to players of that size? I know that used to be pretty common for whales but I don’t actually know any whales so I don’t know if that’s still a thing.
I will do 10% discounts on $350k-$899k. 15% after that. Some places do more, some places do less.
I didn't offer this guy any chips walking in because I sent a jet and that's a big expense.
– How do you deal with comps if they lose huge real money but didn’t generate shit for Theo?
I have a rule of thumb that I have stuck to that seems to keep things fair for the player and casino by the end of the year.
I will comp 10% of the actual loss or 15% of Theo. Whichever is greater. It typically balances out fairly by end of the year.
– Let's say a player with a $1 million bankroll comes to you to play blackjack. What's their negative expectation over 2-3 days?
The casinos are at the point of wishing they could just do away with table games, especially blackjack. I have a million dollar BJ player that they were always crying about him being a "highly skilled player" before I brought him in. Took a lot of pushing on my end. He was down 1.3 million but came back and won 175k in the end. Lost a million the 2nd time. I just looked at them like 🤷🏻♂️
He's not a card counter, but he basically plays perfect basic strategy and will walk when winning or not playing enough time (4-5 hours a day is kind of standard expectations)... That right there is good enough for them to not want your business... But again, this is a million-dollar player.
If you're gambling under $50k on tables a trip, nobody is going to blink an eye, unless you're counting.
– Ever seen a "friend" go completely broke?
I have a few times over the years. It's tough. You see it coming a mile away and I've tried to give it to them straight about the road they're heading down, but unfortunately they never listen. They are going to gamble somewhere
It's not as often as people think. Only about 7% of gamblers are a "problem gambler".
However I do firmly believe the online sports betting wave is going to be a massive problem and will be one of the worst things to possibly happen to people. I would recommend that nobody ever bet sports online, make yourself have to get up and go to do it. It's far too convenient to just pick up your phone and make a bet.
– Besides the obvious like theoretical losses, do you ever track the players behavior on the floor, like being nice to the staff, or being generous tippers to the cocktail waitresses so it creates a good overall casino floor experience?
I don't really pay any attention to it unless someone is an asshole. It's a poor reflection on me personally and I won't put up with it. I have once told a 2 million dollar player to get the fk out of my hotel. Don't care how big you are.
– Can you give the story on that? If not that exact one anything similar where you had to kick out a super high roller?
Well I flew the guy in on a jet. He was kind of an iffy dude.
He starts making some BS beef about how he had a minimum bet. I said everyone has a minimum bet. His minimum bet was $1000 on his limits. 25k max bet. The guy's low bet would be around $10k...so he's just being an asshole for no reason.
So he goes over to another casino and starts sending me pictures of him at the table at another casino. By the 2nd day, he was doing the same thing.
I finally told him to get his shit and get the fk out of my hotel, and X casino can fly him home.
He actually called me back and told me he knows where I live and threatened to have people show up at my house. I said okay I'll be waiting. He left, and I never talked to the guy again.
– What’s a realistic expectation for a $10k a trip player? Do you ever find switching loyalty programs to be beneficial to the player?
Slots or tables? Don't expect much other than the room comp if you're playing $10K on tables. You might get $100 Free bet chips or something around there as well and a $50 food credit after the trip... But don't expect anything more than what they are going to send you.
Everything is theoretical based as it pertains to generating comp dollars. You're hardly going to generate any theoretical playing tables with a $10K bankroll. I see somebody walking in the casino with $10,000 and play slots all weekend, they will generate more comp and theoretical than a $50,000 table player...and they will get better offers sent from the casino
As far as switching loyalty programs... Honestly, not really. They may match your offer walking in the door the first time and then everything's going to be based on your play after that. Just find a spot that you like and stick with it. The longer history you have, the better. You could have a trip where are you bringing some family and maybe they'll pick up some extra stuff for you based on a lot of past trips.
– How does compensation work for casino hosts?
Let's say your host has 700 players. That group of 700 players has an expected amount of Theo for the year. This is the hosts quota for the year. This is typically calculated through what that group of players did last year with a growth percentage number of around 5%. It could be more, it could be less.
Actual win or loss doesn't matter. . Although I'm sure there are some clubs out there that will bonus their hosts off of either actual or Theo, but it's almost always theoretical only.
Theoretical only sucks for the host. For example, I've had a table player go in recently and lose $650k in around 2 1/2 hours. Only did 35k in Theo. So the $650k means nothing towards the quota, only the 35k Theo.
So it's a collective thing, not an individual thing.
– I'm a local (Vegas) and want another perspective on this: at your level of player, do you see a slowdown?
The high-end resorts are killing it... Wynn, Bellagio, and Venetian. It's the lower-end priorities that are seeing the slowdowns.
– Why does bubble craps not count towards comps even if you swing big on that bitch?
Craps...ugh lol just teasing.
But no Theo so no comps. It's not worth the time for most hosts. I've had maybe 3 craps players my entire career.
Well on the tables, a pit boss could have called a host and said "Hey there is a new guy down here playing pretty good." But there are different levels of hosts, so even if you weren't playing that big, it's big enough for an entry-level host.
On the slots, you can pull up at any time and see every player currently playing and where they are at. The hosts that work on the property constantly look at this and will go down to introduce themselves to the player before another host beats them to it.
– Do you know the financial background of the whales? I was at Fountainebleu last week, and these Chinese dudes walked from baccarat table to table, betting carrot chips. Had to be carrying over $200k.
These days, we basically have to. If something looks sketchy, they have to fill out a form basically saying where their money is coming from, etc. It's called know your customer.
Back in the day you can have a guy coming in with duffel bags of cash and there were never any questions. It doesn't operate like that anymore.
– I’ve heard that it takes a deposit of $250k for gambling to get a top PH at like Cosmo comped. The very top ones... is this true?
I'm not sure what it is at Cosmo, but that could be around their range. At my place, it's $500k+ to get the biggest rooms, and sometimes that's not high enough depending on the amount of play that's coming in.
– How did you get started in this career?
Well, I was waiting tables when I was around 24 years old. A new casino was being built in my city. By chance, I waited on a group of guys who worked for the casino, and he gave me a referral card and told me I should apply for something. I had no clue what he was talking about.
The next day, I went on the website and applied for a few things. I got hired part-time in the players club at minimum wage. Before the property opened, a host came and talked to us to tell us about what they do. I thought, "That sounds cool." I asked her what would be the best route to get into that role one day and she told me a few things, like reservations. I got into VIP Reservations about a year later, working closely with the host team there. I applied for a host job every time it came available and they finally gave me a shot after the 5th time applying lol. I've been doing it ever since.
I was struggling so bad making ends meet going from cash tips to minimum wage, I almost quit and went back to the restaurant I was working at. Thank God I didn't!
– How does your employer prevent you from taking these clients to another property? Guessing the clients have a strong rapport with you.
Also is compensation for your role based on their spend or a salary?
We have contracts, non-competes, and non-solicitations. Most of the time, they're not worth the paper their printed on.
In my case, if I were to leave, I would have a 3-month wait period before I could start contacting guests to go to another property within a certain mile range... I can't remember what it is.
I'm not sure I understand the 2nd question. I make a salary and also make a bonus at the end of year.
– On these larger players on average what’s their average RTP?
Is there a level of loss where the casino pauses and doesn’t let a player continue?
Well, I wouldn't say there is a level of loss, but If a guy has a credit line, we will run their central gaming and see what he owes elsewhere. If he has a bunch of money outstanding, we would not open his / her line of credit until other debts are paid.
I have a buddy ($250k-$350k a trip) who's lost a million over his last 3 trips, which were within about a 4 month span. Normally he would clock in a big win in between a couple of losses to keep him rolling along. But he'll have to slow down a bit after these past 3 trips. Not that he can't afford it, but you just can't keep losing over and over again. This particular guy, had had several huge wins over the years...hundreds of thousands plus on a trip
"The guy"? Well, I guess that would be me. I don't really take on any new players unless they're at least $100k a trip. I do have quite a few $50k players etc, but these are mostly people I've known for a long time and have history with, or else I wouldn't take them on.
– Do you, on occasion, give a few apology rolls if a player loses on craps, blackjack, roulette, etc?
And, the most unusual request from a player?
No, we wouldn't give anyone anything extra mid trip if they are losing, but we can consider extra on a following trip.
Most unusual request? Hmmm, once I had an old Filipino woman offer me $20k to watch me masturbate... no, I didn't do it 😆
– What types of fields/work do your typical clients work in?
Well, mostly business owners...but things that come to mind are oil and gas, tech, restaurants, CEO's, athletes, big lawyers, trust fund babies.
A few young Bitcoin lottery winners. Didn't care for them much lol.
– Biggest tip you received?
I plead the 5th.