Gambling budget for a Casino Host?

Why people are so obsessed with hosts?

 

They are cute and cuddly and only need you to throw them a bone every few months - the perfect pet

 

I totally agree with JeJas on this...what are you looking for in a host?

If you are just looking for free rooms, RC and FP, you can easily do this without a host (depending on your play).

Just focus you play at one, MAYBE two properties (no bouncing), charge everything to your room (they can't comp things you charge to your card), and just hit the players desk pre-check-out and nicely ask if you're eligible for any extra comps.

I've had entire bills wiped this way, all room charges, down to resort fees, food, even taxes, just not tips (they can't comp tips.) I also then get killer upfront promos for my next trip. Case in point, I have a salone suite at Bellagio COMPED for 3 nights over Memorial Day weekend, with generous FP and generous RC (enough to cover all food for two people over the 3 days if careful)... all without a host, and I'm not a High Roller, more mid-level.

Hosts have a tough job, and I actually like the idea of someone benefiting from my play, BUT you have to remember, their metrics are based on your play....so what they want for comps can actually be a lot higher than what a corporate offer or non-assigned host (who isn't getting commission on you) might comp.

Now, if you need specialty things like special tickets, hard-to-get reservations, etc. a host might help...but nothing is free. This extra service often comes at the cost of you being required to play higher numbers to get what you want.

You can easily get free rooms/food (with a ceiling) and even FP without a host, often for less play... hosts can help you, but it's still a form of middleman... and thus, requires higher numbers. (PLUS I feel a lot more pressure to play when I know someone has put their name on my comps, where as if it's generic comps, I feel less pressure.)

I've had entire trips free without using a host---at GOOD hotels, including Aria. Corporate is more big picture...players that spend a decent amount, are loyal and are consistent, can win great comps. Once someone's livlihood is tied to your play? Well, those required numbers go up.

Just my two cents.

P.S. My method also works because I plan way in advance. If you're a fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants person, you MIGHT do better with a host, as generic upfront comps book up quickly. Also, I am pretty low maintenance, and not a high roller, just mid-tier. I can comfortably get by on $250-$300 RC for 3 days for two people, so for me, it works. And...the golden rule of comps for me, play where you're comped.

 

You're entire post is predicated on being content with whatever corporate offer you get. If you want more than 3 nights, you'll need a host. If you want a specific room, you'll need a host. If you want to adjust your room down and get more RC, you'll need a host. If you want to swap a portion of your offer for something else, you'll need a host. If you want to have access to VIP check in, you'll need a host.

If you only need 3 nights, don't care what type room or it's location, and are content with just using an offer (or not using a portion you don't want), and don't care about any extra perks (like ease of booking, VIP check-in, restaurant reservations, cabanas, etc.) then yes, you are just as well off not using a host, and that's fine, but if you've never used a host then how would you know it's not any better than what you without one?

Again I think a lot of this is predicated on the assumption that people make about hosts throwing lavish offers at them. Then they talk to a host and he/she simply offers up the same amount of FP and RC that they can get on their own and immediately think "Well what's the point of a host then". I'm just trying to provide real life examples of the extras they can provide and the tweaking that they can do to a comp that is significantly better. And I haven't even touched on the additional comps on the backend that you can get if you have a good relationship with the host vs. just going to the Mlife desk.

I know there are some people who DON'T want to use a host because they don't want anything above their standard offer and don't ever want to tweak anything, and they'd rather book it through some CSR over the phone who they'll never meet and isn't "tied" to their account. Nothing wrong with that, but to advocate that there's no point in booking through a host, especially when they have no experience doing so is a bit shortsighted.

 

Very well stated


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Also I should add that there is no "added cost" to using a host. If your play warrants a host, then it warrants a host. Now if you're purposefully increasing your play solely so you can use a host, well that's silly. But in no way, shape or form does using a host somehow come at a "cost". Sure if you lowplay a host you will probably get cut off (although again if you have a good relationship, a lower trip here and there aren't a big deal. But guess what, if you lowplay one of those corporate offers you book on your own, you're getting cut off too. To imply that there is some additional cost to using a host isn't not true at all. (Obviously if you get your host to add a lot of items like extra nights, upgrade to a suite, etc. you'll have to play enough to cover those items before you get backend comps, but that's a given either way).

 

It totally varies by property.

I have actually found that the higher end properties that aren't part of a mega group treat me much better. People need to explore options other than CET & MLife if it works for them.

 

Good points Stacking. I DO want clarify I am NOT saying there is no use booking through a host, for those whose play merits it, it can make a world of different.

Like you said, if you want cabanas, hard to find tickets, special reservations, booking rooms during blackout dates, a host can absolutely get you help that you couldn't get on your own. BUT I think there is a definite pecking order on who will benefit the most from a host, and many who might just toe the line on being eligible for a host, push for a host, when they often could get a lot of the same perks they're looking for just by doing a few extra steps. (I even received the Towers suites lounge VIP check-in without a host and am excited about it...but again, I am pretty easy to please.)

Part of it is my personality though too. I honestly don't like asking for extras, even from a host. (I know that's dumb, but I just feel weird asking for "more, more, more" even though I know they won't give it if I don't earn it.) Finally, I also am in a people-centered job, so when I am in Vegas, the less interaction, the better.

I actually do have a host for two rungs of my trip (I needed help tacking on 3 comped nights after an Mlife promo, so yes, this proves a host pulled some strings to give me 6 free nights in a row where as Mlife is strict on the 72 hour rule.)

So, it depends absolutely on what you need. for some, a host is a must. A host can absolutely get people great deals above and beyond, but I also think many people are looking to a host for things they can get on their own with a few small steps. Or they're looking at a host as a panacea to turn their mid-level play into epic comps.

If a hosts makes your trip better, absolutely go for it! Everyone has different needs, and I am just saying, many people see it black and white: "no host = bad comps" and "host ="throwing lavish offers at them", whereas I think there is middle ground between these extremes.

At my play level and needs, I have been able to get great extras beyond the original promo, without using a host , but my needs are pretty basic---I just want nice, free rooms, and enough RC to cover all my food.. For someone else, a host could make a world of difference...it's just going to depend on what your needs are.

P.S. I realized in my first post I said I don't want someone taking a microscope to my play. There was NO offense meant in this, it was purely for me personally, because I actually think I probably get better comps than I should, so i dont really wanr a spotlight on it. For people that ARE bigger players, it deinitely wouldn't matter, this was purely for my numbers, so my apologies if I phrased it poorly!

 

My only experience with a host at CET left a bad taste in my mouth. Back in 2008 we played a ton of money through the slots at Rio. I think we earned 2500 TCs during our stay. Few months later I get a congratulations you get a host letter. It listed names and numbers for hosts at different CET properties. Next trip was Paris around 6 months later. I called the number for the Paris host, got transferred twice and finally some snooty guy told me you don't play enough for a host and hung up. I never would have sought one out if they didn't send me the letter, left a bad taste in my mouth even after all these years. I never sought one out at mlife ...I accidentally got one at South Point and I just contact her now whenever I want to go there. Regardless of my mailer she always gives me a better room. I do think there are many people who are on the bubble so to speak, may be benefited, may /may not qualify.

 

Totally agree. Just do some good research on your own to get some good deals. Our play wouldn't warrant a host anyways because I would rather play less per day and have money left for more stays than to blow the whole budget on a quick 3 - 4 day trip.

 

Great points.
All the MLife corp. offers I get are for 3 nights without exception.
Flying from Philly,I always stay at least 4 nights.
A call to my host and I get 4 or 5 nights going in.
Most hosts automatically check your bill before checkout and wash all charges they can without asking at the desk.
If your loss is high but your theo is low,they take that into account.The boothlings will not automatically do that.

Hosts are also more likely to use discretionary comps if you have a track record with them.One low play trip can be looked at as an exception.

 

I would add in that another reason I would rather go it alone with whatever corporate offers I have available as opposed to a host is I don't feel like I have an expectation to play a certain amount. At the end of the day I probably just gamble as much as possible anyway but I've never been a credit counter I'm more concerned with how badly I'm losing and how much fun I'm having doing it.

I had one trip where I got just flat out wasted while playing craps and then VP. I wasn't sloppy but I know I was probably slurring a bit and when I woke up the next day I felt awful. I layed in bed for the first few hours just trying not to puke and when I finally got up I couldn't stand the casino (smoke and noise). I layed by the pool then I walked around the strip and maybe just before bed time I played a little VP. If I had a host I could have felt compelled to play more when I really didn't want to.

 

The reasons that losses are tracked is on the odd occurrence where actual loss exceeds theoretical and they calculate comps off of actual. I hope to never be in that situation but it's good to know.

 

If you put all that play on just one account, your offers would go up. Of course, if you sometimes travel separately, that may be a problem.

 

Yes, they know your losses. Exactly if on slots, and pretty close on tables.

Bankroll itself means very little for most people. Actually amount of money put into play is the #1 factor. Each $1 bet counts to that total. A $100 budget or bankroll could result in thousand$ of money bet, but reality will kill you long before that in most cases. And, a $50,000 upfront money is not worth even a free buffet if you don't play.

 

Yeah we used to play on one card but then we started going to Vegas with our Son every November and it sucked that I could only take either my Son or my Husband into the Diamond lounge so we both became Diamond. Our offers are ok, not great in the freeplay but we always get the NYE invites and all the other neat event ones. We also both get the $100 dining voucher and we each get the 2 free show tickets/month. We've also always had any charges to the room wiped out as well so I'm more than happy with what we get.

 

Odd Occurrence? I wish! My actual loss far exceeded my theo for 31 straight trips until last year. Loss was usually 4-6x theo. This past trip this weekend I escaped with a $400 loss against $3800 total theo for 3 days. I got just about 50% of the theo back in comps, so that is a win in my poor losing book.

 

You must completely overbet for your bankroll, or you're just the world's unluckiest person. No way should your actual loss exceed your theo on 31 straight trips, UNLESS you play at higher stakes than your BR allows for, which doesn't allow you to survive the first run of bad variance.

 

I think that's the problem with a lot of people (myself included)
take $1000 to the casino..lose it in a day. have a theo of $25.
THAT'S why it's beneficial to have a host, because they can comp you more with a much higher ACTUAL loss.

 

It's this. I could tell stories about unluckiness, but as my friends have said "they couldn't believe it until they saw it themselves." Luckily, it has improved over the past few trips.