What exactly is a "host" that is often mentioned in the forums?

I googled it and basically got people asking how to become hosts. So, what does a host do, and why would I need one- OR WOULD I need one?

 

A host helps you with comps in a casino. A host will book your reservations and set up and additional amenities that you require.

It is not absolutely necessary to have a host, but it does help sometimes.

I'm sure that others will fill in where I've missed stuff. I have hosts, but not at all casinos. I'm (apparently) not a big enough player to rate one at Mirage or Venetian/Palazzo.

 

A host is an employee of the casino whose job it is to be an interface between the customers and the casino. When your play warrants it, you can get a host. Hosts assist with hotel reservations, and can hand out perks to you. They can make dinner reservations for you, arrange transportation, or other special services. The bigger player you are, the more they can do for you.

When you check out, the host can assess your play and have the casino pick up charges that otherwise you might have paid for.

At smaller casinos, like downtown, you can talk to a host if you are playing $3,000 to $5,000 a day coin in. Having said that, no matter where I stay and play, I always speak to a host at the end to see what they can comp off.

If you develop a strong relationship with a host, you might get more from the casino than the marketing department might offer you in mailers or whatever. Just remember that the host's job is to get you to play and lose more, no matter how else the relationship seems to you.

Here's an example. I've played at the Cal for a number of years and have cultivated a relationship with my host. Now when I want to stay at the Cal I email her and say, "I'm coming in these days, can you please arrange limo pick up and drop off for these flights, a gold card (which gets me meals at all the restaurants Boyd has at the Cal, Main Street and Fremont), and a suite.

I know that she expects to see $10K coin in a day for these perks, because we've discussed it. But she also gets me into slot tournaments that I didn't specifically get invited to. At the same time, I make sure she is well 'taken care of' when I leave.

 

Basically a personal assistant at the casino.

 

This is pretty much spot on.

Host is both a personal assistant and also the person who makes sure you keep your play up to par for the level of "free stuff" you receive, whether it's just a rooom or room plus meals, shows and more.

Like mentioned above, (My Host is a CET Paris/Bally's host) I can email her and say "I'm coming on this day, can you take of me?" and since we've worked together so long, she knows what I do an don't like and when I arrive I have a limo and usually a plate of fruit/cheese/snacks and beverages in my room, or shortly after I arrive.

Host tries to make you feel comfortable and welcomed, but also works for the casino, so they politely make sure you play enough in the event you "short play" (don't play enough)
My relationship is good enough that I can tell my host when I am going to have a slow play week/weekend because I may be there for work, and she's ok with that, knowing she'll get my play next time. I also make sure that if I am going to "short play" that week/weekend, I don't go charging a ton of shows and expensive dinners to my room, expecting them to be comp'd off.

Hope that helps

 

Thank-you all very much for that most helpful info. Nothing for me here, as I visit once or twice a year and bet under $1000 the week I'm in town.

 

But don't let that stop you from stopping by the host on duty stand or the players club before you check out. Even a minimal amount of play could get resort fees or maybe a buffet knocked off if you charged food the room. You won't have a host specifically for you but most are more than happy to take a look at your plays and knock a little something off.

 

Totally disagree that a host's job is to get you to lose more. A host's role is to help you enjoy your stay, win or lose.

Yep, within reason.

The "coin in" numbers are the total amount of play through. If you play 300 (just a few hours) hands of Blackjack at $10, that's $3,000 coin in.

 

The reason I say this is that the host works for and is paid by the casino. If a host has nothing but players who win consistently in their stable, they're not going to be a host for long. I'm not say they are proactively out there enticing you to make stupid bets and lose, but ultimately, their job his to help wring the most profit out of each customer. And that is done by losing.

 

You should look at your relationship with your host as a business relationship. You can be friendly, you can even have dinners or play golf together, but ultimately you are both there because you gain a monetary benefit from it. As a player you get comps, as a host he/she gets paid. Don't ever think that a host is there to be your friend.

 

To clarify, just because a host is not there to be your friend, does not mean that they can't or won't be your friend.

 

True.

 

A host is a salesperson. There is nothing wrong with that but just go into it with your eyes open. After a time you may build a friendship with them, like anyone you do business with but primarily their role is to earn money for the casino (and themselves).

Regardless of how well you know them you will never get more out of them than you deserve (in the long term).

Effectively they are no different to the timeshare people on the strip in that they give you a low value reward (contextually. The low value thing could be 6 first class airfare tickets if you're prepare to wager enough money) in return for something worth a lot to them (your money).

 

Not sure I fully agree with that.

If a player wins a few hand pays and goes home with a profit, the casino is not going to be mad at the host, how can they be? The host doesn't set up the slot machines or deal the cards.
Now if a player comes in and only plays a total coin-in of $1000 over a week and is getting a nice room, 3-squares a day and a show or two, then the host is going to catch crap because the host is giving away more than the player is playing or worth, all things within the control of that host.

Hosts don't care if you win, they care if you DON'T PLAY.

Time is in the casino's favor, so a host cares if you only play one hour a day, even if it's at a High Roller level, they want you to get in that (around) 4-hour play time, if you come out ahead, more power to you, if you lose, that's how it goes. Host wants you to win, it makes you happy and coming back, as long as you do so within their parameters....total time played x min bet x bets per hour.
Win or lose

 

Lotsa good info. As a former salesman, it seems that the host has a similar job- to make the guest(purchasing agent) happy so that he will play(buy) more.

 

I can see why you'd need to ask such a seemingly simple question.

If you read this board enough you'd think hosts are some super high-level execs only available to the privileged few that you are blessed to get access to and who you are supposed to fawn over and make sure to keep happy.

If you're new to it all its enough to make you scratch your head and think the quid pro quo sounds awfully strange.

 

Yeah- bottom line I doubt I'll be using or asking to see a host anytime soon!

 

I used to play $25 a hand at BJ and would get free rooms and food comped on the back end with a $600 bank roll, even when I won.

 

by having a host? You mean they will actually "refund" the money you spent on a room and/or meal during checkout?

 

Both. I have a host and our rooms and food are taken care of up front. When we checkout, zero balance. At other places you charge it to the room and they look at your gambling and take off some charges, if not all charges.