How Do You Get a Casino Host in Vegas?

Las Vegas gamblers commonly believe that casinos only cater to high rollers. Some might envision a whale basking by their infinity pool, while a host works on their daily schedule and room service feeds them grapes.

Okay, so maybe room service doesn’t feed anybody grapes. But high rollers do have access to hosts and many lavish amenities.

The average gambler may think that only the elite can be hosted. However, the truth is that anybody can enjoy a casino host’s services with enough knowhow.

That said, I’ll discuss what exactly what a host does. I’ll also cover how any player can work with a host to get their favorite comps.

What Is a Casino Host?

A casino host discusses comp options with players and fulfills their requests. Employed by a casino, the host has the authority to issue just about any comp within reason.

• They commonly offer buffet passes, hotel stays, limousine rides, meals, spa visits, and show tickets. Hosts may also deliver more-exotic rewards, including choice nightclub tables, custom room décor, and shopping credits.
• They’re willing to offer specialized perks to the biggest gamblers and high rollers. This aspect is a big reason why many believe that Vegas casino hosts are only available to whales.

In reality, though, these employees’ main role is to make sure relevant players have a good time. If an average Joe gambles enough to be worth the casino’s time, then they too deserve a host’s services.

What Does a Casino Host Do?

A casino host carries two main roles:

• Ensure that players have a good time and want to come back to the casino
• Bring money into the gambling establishment

Regarding the first duty, a host isn’t just a booking agent who does the gambler’s bidding. They also develop relationships with players, get an idea on their preferences, and use connections to fulfill requests.

Everything begins with the host introducing themselves and chatting with a gambler. They can use this meet-and-greet tactic as a means of learning what the person values most in terms of comps.

Does the gambler want the best dining their play can afford? Are they into lavish hotel suites? Or do they want a VIP section in a top-notch Vegas strip club?

Of course, the host has limits to what they can do. They’re not going to break any laws just to give players special treatment.

Generally speaking, though, these employees can make just about anything happen within reason. They do the grunt work behind setting up unforgettable experiences and save gamblers time in the process.

As for their hierarchy within the casino, hosts are essentially midlevel management that deal directly with players. They report to the casino marketing manager(s).

Most casinos employ more than one host. Therefore, these employees compete with other hosts at their own casino and beyond.

Assuming a player is unhappy with their experience, they may switch to a different host within the casino or simply go to a new gambling establishment altogether.

Why Should Gamblers Care About Having a Casino Host?

Three great reasons to seek out a casino host include:

• Avoid the work/time associated with setting up experiences
• Gain access to the host’s connections and knowledge
• Feel like a VIP

The first two points are connected in many ways. Most gamblers don’t want to spend time worrying about where the best bars, restaurants, and spas are. They want to gamble.

Meanwhile, the host can quickly fill them in on some great Vegas hotspots. They have knowledge of the town and where the best places are for each interest.

A host’s job is to make the gamblers happy. They’re not going to send somebody who’s seeking a vibrant club experience to a dive bar.

As for the third point, many players just appreciate being catered to. They like having an employee discuss comp options with them and hook them up with a great meal or limo ride.

Tips for Getting a Casino Host

Unfortunately, not every gambler can expect to be hosted. Those who put $20 into a penny slot machine and expect a lobster dinner will be severely disappointed.

However, these same players can work towards being hosted by following a few simple tips. That said, here are some important steps that’ll help one raise their VIP status.

1 – Sign up for the Player’s Club

The first step towards getting rewarded at the casino involves joining the player’s club. If one isn’t gambling with a player’s club card, then they won’t rack up comps and get noticed.

Gambling venues feature signups for the loyalty club both in their land-based establishment and online. Once a player is eligible for VIP rewards, they simply need to start gambling on machines and table games.

Regarding the latter, a gambler needs to hand their card to the dealer and ask to be rated. The dealer will pass the card along to the pit boss, who’ll briefly monitor the player’s betting patterns.

Each bet will count toward loyalty rewards. Enough play will convince the casino that a gambler is worthy of being hosted.

2 – Forget VIP Tiers

Casinos often group players into different loyalty clubs based on various factors. For example, they might offer the following VIP levels:

• Bronze player’s club
• Silver player’s club
• Gold player’s club
• Platinum player’s club

Looking at these tiers, platinum gamblers seem like they’d automatically earn the most rewards. However, the levels have less to do with comps than everybody thinks.

Players can achieve a higher tier based on their previous play. But they won’t necessarily earn more rewards on a consistent basis than the person next to them.

3 – It’s All About ATL

Continuing off the point above, casinos use average theoretical loss (ATL) to determine how many comps players deserve.

Hosts look at ATL to determine how valuable a gambler is to the casino. They then decide how much to comp the player based on their theoretical losses.

Here’s an example:

• A gambler plays blackjack at $50 per hand for eight hours
• Approximately 60 hands are dealt per hour
• 50 x 8 x 60 = $24,000 total wagered
• Based on their skills and the table rules, the player is facing a 1.5% house edge
• 24,000 x 0.015 = $360 in losses
• The host comps the player on 10% of their losses
• 360 x 0.1 = $36
• The player receives a free meal for two at a low-end restaurant

This gambler isn’t a major high roller but has still proven themselves worthy of receiving a decent comp. The host will likely work to retain their future play as well.

The higher a player’s ATL, the more attention they’ll receive from the casino. Assuming they don’t have a very large ATL, though, then they may not even get to speak with a host.

4 – Gamble at Nearby Casinos

Gambling venues are much more intrigued with the person who plays two to three times per week versus the typical vacationer who gambles for one week.

Sure, the vacationer may bet a lot during their stay. But unless they’re a high roller, they’re probably not going to play more than the local.

Hosts are often interested in somebody who lives nearby. They can look forward to a higher playing volume from such gamblers.

5 – Play at Lower Class Casinos

People who gamble in Vegas for the first time are often shocked at their miniscule rewards. They’re especially disappointed when playing in popular Strip casinos.

The most-popular gambling venues don’t care as much about smaller players. They’ll still offer comps, but they don’t want hosts bending over backwards for such gamblers.

Meanwhile, downtown casinos are more accommodating of small players. Hosts at these venues still won’t roll out the red carpet, but they’ll at least give low rollers more rewards.

Getting the Most Out of a Casino Host

Casino hosts and gambling establishments in general were much more generous with comps in the past. These days, though, they’re stingier and need to better watch their bottom line.

Nevertheless, players should still speak with or email hosts to see what kind of rewards to expect. The host can give them a good idea on what type of play they’ll need to offer for certain rewards.

Gamblers can also inquire about extras as well. Maybe somebody just lost $2,000 and wants to see if they can get another free night in the hotel. Or perhaps a $50 blackjack player wants to know if they qualify for a spa visit.

A casino host’s duty is to make sure that gamblers enjoy their stay and get what they’re looking forward to. They’re flexible in many cases and willing to do what it takes to keep players happy.

However, gamblers also need to be realistic about what they qualify for. Just because one is betting $50 to $100 per hand doesn’t mean they’ll receive a penthouse suite and 24/7 limo transportation.

Casinos factor in how much gamblers are betting and theoretically losing. It’s especially important to a gambling venue’s bottom line. It’s also crucial to hosts, because they work to meet quotas in terms of the money they bring into casinos.

Conclusion

Gamblers don’t have to wager thousands of dollars per hand or sit at $25 slot machines just to get hosted. They merely need to play enough to be worthwhile to casinos.

A $25 blackjack player is the perfect example a cut-off point for many casinos. They don’t bring in lots of money to the house, but they may lose around $200 over the course of a session.

Gambling establishments rely on a large quantity of players like this. The host wants to keep these gamblers happy and coming back frequently.

In order to make this happen, the host establishes a relationship with gamblers and finds out what they’re looking for. They can then suggest comps and make arrangements that’ll satisfy the players.

Every gambler is looking for something different. Some want fine dining, while others are interested in strip clubs.

The host tries their best to accommodate any reasonable demand. Assuming a request is unreasonable, then the employee politely explains this to the gambler and risks them going elsewhere.

Luckily, though, hosts and players are usually able to see eye to eye. In this way, they’re both able to win out in the end.