What Is the Role of a Casino Host? What’s the best way to get one?
You’ve probably heard on social media or from friends that their casino host in Las Vegas “took care of” costs like resort fees, room service meals, or show tickets, and you’re probably wondering how you might join in their good fortune. Many people are left wondering, “What is a casino host?” and “How can I be assigned a host myself?” after witnessing personally how beneficial a host can be.
We thought it could be useful to define a casino host, what they can do for you, and how to find one in Las Vegas.
What Is the Role of a Casino Host?
A casino host is a casino marketing specialist whose duty is to attract and develop relationships with major players in order to keep them coming back. Hosts accomplish this by remembering their guests’ preferences, making sure they have a good time, and minimizing friction from the trip planning process.
Casino hosts can assist you with hotel reservations, show tickets, lunch reservations, and more. Many, if not all, of your expenses, can be covered by your host at the end of your stay, depending on the resort and your level of play.
Theoretical loss, or how much the house expects you to lose, is used to make compensation decisions. This is determined by looking at the casino games you play, the house edge on those games, the length of time you spend playing, and the amount of money you risk.
Finally, hosts exist to maintain a positive relationship with desired players, to keep them happy, to make them feel wanted, and to keep them returning to a specific resort.
Must Read: Printable Casino Map
What Is the Best Way to Find a Casino Host?
If your play is worth pursuing, a casino host will often contact you directly to begin a relationship. If you have not yet received outreach but believe your play merits a host, we recommend asking at the loyalty club desk if your play is adequate. They can put you in touch with a slew of people. During that chat, you might get a sense of what types of comps you might be eligible for depending on your previous performance.
Players are sometimes hesitant to do so, fearing getting “shot down” and the disgrace it entails. That is not the case. In the worst-case scenario, you find out that your game isn’t good enough to warrant a dedicated host or other advantages, and you’ll never see those folks again. Don’t be afraid to speak up.
It’s worth noting that different casinos have varying play requirements in order to be assigned a host. A luxury hotel like Wynn, for example, will almost certainly have a considerably higher bar to clear than a lower-tier property on the Strip or in downtown Las Vegas. Slot players are more likely to receive the services of a host than table game players, but it all depends on how much money you’re willing to spend.
For obvious reasons, gamblers who are new to a resort or a network of casino properties will not have a host. Stop by at the end of your current stay so they can run the statistics and see if anything can be compensated. It has the potential to be the start of a wonderful relationship.
What Are the Best Ways to Make Use of Your Host?
Don’t be shy once you’ve been given a host in Las Vegas! When you’re ready to arrange a trip, reach out to see if they can help. You’ll often obtain a better rate than if you booked the trip yourself. Consider your host to be a concierge who can organize all elements of your stay and, in many cases, will comp those products if your performance merits it. Don’t leave anything to chance; find out ahead of time what kind of play will be required to comp key portions of your Las Vegas vacation.
Check-in with your host at the conclusion of your trip to see what meals, entertainment, and other items invoiced to your room can be comped based on your play.
As you plan your next vacation to Vegas, keep an eye out for deals from competing properties, whether it’s rooms, bonuses, or even payback on losses, to see if they’ll equal or exceed your expectations. The worst-case situation is that they decline.
Should You Give a Casino Host a Gratuity?
In Las Vegas, tipping a casino host can be complex, as the resort determines the regulations. Tipping isn’t always expected because hosts are well compensated and don’t rely on them, but it is always appreciated. You should be aware that some resorts do not allow tipping at all, while others will accept cash or other gifts. To avoid any awkward circumstances, we recommend asking ahead of time if they can receive a tip as a symbol of your thanks and what form of tip they can accept.
If you’re a big gambler, a casino host can help you save time and money by arranging your reservation, remembering your preferences, and wiping away any fees paid during your stay based on your performance. However, we urge you against chasing comps with gambling because those freebies will almost always cost you more than simply paying for them while gambling responsibly.
