So, I seem to be perpetually invisible to all casino marketing teams for up-front comps. I usually get a bunch comped off at the back end, but I'm wondering if it's worth contacting a host when booking my next trip. I stayed at the MGM Grand a couple of months ago and for a 2-night stay, I got rated at $99/hand for 15 hours at BJ and craps (this sounded about right to me -- I fluctuated between $25 and $200/hand), plus $13k coin-in for VP. I have no mlife offers other than 'tier discount' rates (I am platinum), which are often more expensive than the regular website rate for the general public. When I call to speak with VIP services for an upcoming trip in April, they say they only have tier discounts available for me. It really feels like I should qualify for something more than I'm getting. I know I'm not a mega-roller, but it's kind of ridiculous to not get offered *anything*. I have a feeling though that a host would basically laugh at me if I called them, since I don't bet purple. I love staying at the MGM and Aria, though I expect my comp dollar will go farther at MGM. Any thoughts?
It never hurts to ask. I was playing at your level a few years ago when I first approached a host. They couldn't do much for me at first (I play alrger now), but they would throw me something small every now and then. So I say go for it on your next trip. Walk into the host office and introduce yourself. But I would avoid Aria. The host staff is not very good. I am supposed to meet with an MGM host for the first time on my trip next week and suspect it will be more productive than my usual relationship with the Aria hosts I have had
if you did that play at cet hotels you would get better offers, my cet are great and mgm suxs ive done alot more per hand than you.plus at cet you can get free rooms without dealing with a host so its alot easier just use there calander
I always stay for 2 nights, and my last two trips were $92 for 13+ hours and $114 for 7.25 hours. I called a host at Mirage and he beat any offer I had on the website by a good margin. So your results may vary, but I highly recommend calling a host at a mid tier property.
I was approached by a host betting 200 a hand on BJ after about 3-4 hours at MGM, I suspect that you should be able to get some upfront comp, I would say definitly try to talk to a host
I'd love to do that, but one of the odd things at the MGM is that there isn't a host office on the casino floor -- there's a little 'host phone' at an empty end of the cashier's cage. It's kind of weird and impersonal -- that's the phone I have to use when I am about to check out to ask for back end comps. It directs to VIP services, then they put me on hold while they call a host. All very strange. And I hear ya about the Aria thing. I love the space, and I love the food there (Sage is amazing), but the couple of times I've gone in to talk to a host about back end comps, they sort of sigh when they look at my play and take off some of my food as a small gesture, even though I've been betting $75-100/hand. <shrug>
I've had similar experience with hosts at Aria too. But honestly I don't care for the property anyway. At your level of play you'd probably get a lot better offers at a place like NYNY. I'm a purple chip and above player, and I really like NYNY. If you need a host at NYNY I use Colleene Purdy.
I'm surprised you do not receive better offers. I generally play $100-200 per hand in baccarat (much less than 15 hours per trip). I have received offers from MB and Aria for free rooms. MB always sends 3 nights comped with suite upgrade. Aria just sends 2 night comps with buffet or something similar. In addition, I would think 13k in VP should get something. I would recommend playing only black chips when you play BJ instead of jumping from green to blacks. If you are not in high stakes, you will get rated much lower with your fluctuations in hands. For instance, if you start playing $25 per hand and suddenly bet $200 per hand for a bit. If the host doesn't see your or just doesn't want to enter the change in the system, you will be rated much lower. If you buy in for only blacks, it will bring more attention to the pit boss - it may increase chances of comps, etc.
I actually usually bet two $50 hands. Every time I had a new PB, I'd ask how they rate that, and they'd say without hesitation "Oh, that's $100/hand. We rate you the same as playing a black chip." But yeah... probably won't do the lower bets on my next trip -- last trip was a super losing trip though, so when the going got really rough, I'd drop back down. Funny thing as well... on my last trip I made a comment about how awesome all of the dealers at the MGM were -- seriously, every dealer I had was friendly, professional, competent. One of the best gambling experiences I'd had, so I asked if I could write a comment card commending all of the people I'd been working with. The staff loved me for it! I got hugs from cocktail waitresses, PBs off shift would come up to me and start chatting, etc. So I know I was on their good side -- hopefully that should've helped my rating.
Generally if you are friendly to the dealers, PB, etc. you may get rated higher than you played. I know if you tip, the PB will most likely rate you higher since most of them were once dealers.
