Casino Host Meaning
A casino host is employed by a casino to deliver services to gamblers to help ensure that they become loyal patrons. A trained casino host team will understand the importance and opportunity in accepting phone calls, walk-ups to the Rewards Center, and casino table games pit and floor. Casino hosts used to be untouchable; a host had the cush job that everyone wanted. There was no calling up and harassing the hosts. Our host-line, the calls we get sometimes, I just stare at the.
By Jean Scott
How much should I play before I first contact a host? This is one of the most frequent questions I get and, unfortunately, there is no one-size-fits-all answer. Each casino has its ownparameters for its host system. However, it sometimes helps, for general guidelines, to divide casinos into three general categories, although keep in mind that this is a subjectiveevaluation.
• Top-level casinos -- These are usually the largest and/or classiest casinos, with luxury hotels attached and many extra amenities. They're often the newest -- although some are classicveterans. A general guideline might be that a dollar-machine player might want to wait until he has played two to three hours and a $5 player perhaps a half hour before approaching ahost. A couple who plays only quarters, but from morning to night, might want to consider doing so after one day of such heavy play.
• Low-level casinos -- These are usually the older and/or smaller casinos in a jurisdiction; they often look 'tired,' if not actually rundown and shabby. They sometimes don't offer anyaccommodations, and if they do, they're basic no-frills hotels or motels. Many don't even have a host system, but if they do, you can approach a host after an hour or two of quarter play or afew minutes at the dollar machines.
• Mid-level casinos – These are what you have if you can't place a casino in either a “top” or “bottom” category. Because there are so many of them, the range of compbenefits, thus the range of betting requirements, is broad. Off-Strip in Vegas and on riverboat casinos, both with a strong local market, comp requirements are usually based on a longer-termhistory of play, while casinos with a fly-in market give out comps on a trip basis. However, regular dollar players, even those playing only a couple of hours a day, will find that they'rewarmly welcomed by the hosts in most mid-level casinos, and heavy quarter players usually will also be surprised at the number of benefits they can receive.
But the best advice I can give you is to ASK. I don’t mean to ask a host for a specific comp, like a free meal. But it is always proper to speak to a host and in a polite,non-demanding tone ask for an explanation of the comp system. Although it is not out of line to talk to a host before you have played at a new casino, I suggest that players approach ahost after they have played to what they judge to be just below the bottom comp level. I have found that most hosts will try to “stretch” to offer comps to new players even if theiramount of play is on the borderline of their casino comp policy. And even if you don’t score a comp right then, you will get some information from the host so you will know how much youneed to play to get them in the future.
Jean Scott is one of the country’s most renowned and successful gamblers and has appeared on many TV shows, including 48 Hours, where Dan Rather gave her the nickname of Queen of Comps. Herfirst book, The Frugal Gambler, has been a best-seller for nine years. She also wrote a sequel, More Frugal Gambling, as well as a tax guide for gamblers. Her Web site is www.queenofcomps.com
Gamble enough in Las Vegas or other casino destinations and you’ll get a casino host. This person helps you with travel arrangements. She also offers perks like free rooms and meals.
If you have a host, take advantage of the situation. Use their services for whatever you need.
But a casino host won’t tell you everything.
1- Which Games Offer the Highest Comps
The core of a casino host’s job is to get you to gamble as much money as possible. As long as they can get you to put as much money as possible into play, the casino advantage will eventually take the correct amount of it.
Good casino hosts know which games have the highest house edge and highest hold percentage. They also know which ones have the lowest. This information is usually directly tied to the level of comps you can get.
A casino determines a player’s comp level by how much the player is expected to lose. This is determined by the expected house edge on the game being played multiplied by the total amount wagered.
Here’s an example:
A player bets $100 per hand on blackjack. He plays 500 hands. His total amount wagered is $50,000.
With an expected win rate of 2%, the casino expects to win $1,000 ($50,000 X 2%).
The more money the player is expected to lose, the better for the casino host.
2- Which Games Offer the Lowest House Edge
The casino host doesn’t want you playing the games with the lowest house edge. So they probably won’t tell you which ones have it.
It doesn’t matter which games have a low house edge if you don’t play them with the best possible strategy. But your host still wants you to lose as much as possible. They won’t steer you to better games.
3- They Don’t Have Your Best Interests in Mind
Your casino host doesn’t have your best interests in mind. Sure, they want you to have a good time, but only because people gamble more when they’re having fun.
Your casino host wants you to gamble as much as possible during your stay. Everything they do is directly related to this goal.
4- They Don’t Like You
Not every casino host dislikes every one of their customers. But the host isn’t your friend, and she doesn’t like you. Depending on your behavior, she might not dislike you, but don’t make the mistake of thinking she likes you – no matter how she acts.
The casino host’s job is to get you to gamble as much as possible.
Thinking your casino host is your friend? Try this little test:
Call your casino host – tell her you need to come to town on business but won’t have any time to gamble at all. Ask them what they can do for you or recommend for your stay.
If you drop thousands of dollars a year, you might still get a room. The casino doesn’t want to risk losing your future play. But even this has limits.
And if they do comp your stay in this situation, expect them to encourage you to gamble.
5- They Don’t Care About Your Stories or Your Family or Your Business
Casino hosts listen to your stories and look at the pictures of your kids or pets. But they don’t really care.
Their job is to make you think they care enough to get you to start gambling.
6- Nothing in the Casino is Free
The free drinks, meals, rooms, and flights aren’t really free. They’re paid for out of your expected losses. The casino tells you all of these things are free. They want you to be grateful that they’re taking care of you.
Take the blackjack player who’s expected to lose $1,000 per 500 hands played. He comes to the casino and plays 5,000 hands four times a year. His expected loss for every trip is $10,000. He will have a winning trip every now and then. But on average the casino will have their percentages figured correctly.
The casino knows the player is going to lose an average of $10,000 every time he comes. They also know they can afford to give him thousands in “free” things and still make lots of money.
How much does a round trip flight, hotel room for a week, five buffet comps, and four or five nice meals cost?
Mgm Casino Hosts
Nowhere close to $10,000.
7- Everything You Get is Directly Tied to How Much You Play
Your casino host might hint at this if you aren’t playing enough. But they don’t like to come straight out and say you have to play a certain amount up front.
If you want more comps you probably need to play more. You’ll see exceptions to this rule, but for the most part, what you get from your casino host is directly tied to how much you gamble.
8- If You Don’t Ask You Won’t Get
Many players don’t ask their casino hosts enough questions. Your host will probably take care of your meals and room if you play enough. But you really have no idea how much more you may be able to get. If you don’t ask you’ll never know what you might get.
Want to see the Grand Canyon or the Blue Man Group? Ask if your host can help.
How Are Casino Hosts Paid
What about a trip to the spa for your spouse?
You don’t even have to ask for monetary value things. Sometimes information can be valuable. Your host should either have a great deal of information or be able to access it.
9 – You Can Get a Better Deal at Other Casinos
Your casino host doesn’t want you to consider another casino. She doesn’t even want you to start thinking about talking to another host.
Are you a big player?
You should shop your play as much as possible. Get as much in return for your play as you can.
10- You Can Get an Upgrade for $20
$20 is an arbitrary amount. But often you can get a room upgrade for a small amount of extra money. Has your casino host arranged for a room?
Ask her how much you would have to pay to get an upgrade.
11- When You’re Just Short of a Big Upgrade or Perk
Unless you track your play (which you should do) and know how the casino determines the amount of your comps (almost impossible to find out), you won’t know where you are on the scale of players at the casino. The bigger the player, the more you can get, but there’s always a line separating one level of play from another.
If you’re just a few thousand short of the next level of player it would be nice to know so you could play a little more.
A smart casino host may let you know when you’re close, but most of them won’t. If they do tell you, make sure you know exactly how much more you need to play and what you will get in return. You don’t want to lose twice what it would cost you to buy the same perks.
12- When You’ve Had Too Much to Drink
Why do you think casinos offer free drinks to players?
The more you drink, the more you gamble.
Because your casino host wants you to play as much as possible, she’s more likely to order you another drink than tell you it’s time to stop.
13- Where to Find a New Casino Host
The casino host business is competitive. Hosts protect their clients fiercely. If you start thinking about finding another host, don’t tell your current host.
Conclusion
Playing enough to have a casino host and getting perks from the casino feels great. But you still need to make sure you’re watching out for your best interests.
The casino host wants you to play as much as possible. Everything she does is done with this ultimate goal in mind. Remember this. You should be able to take advantage of their services and have a good time along the way.