How to tip a host??

I have my host's number so I text her to ask when and where we can meet.

 

IME, an envelope (@DaiLun ,, especially a red one) usually works just as good as a card, I just write who its for, and my thanks on the outside,
leaving it at the hosts office, same about receiving a prompt thanks once they get it.

I do generally start with small gift cards, bigger tips are usually for something above and beyond done during the trip, or sometimes just me not completely losing my ass.

I still haven't cracked whether to hit the slot or tables host at cosmo, when both have been played, never got a thing from them, still tipped tiny gift cards.. still hasn't worked. yet.

 

@AyDee I agree, envelope/card. @Robertb1 I am absolutely certain hosts take tips in handshake form and other discrete ways, but they can absolutely get in trouble for this if it's caught. So IMO if you like your host enough to tip, you should do so in a manner that helps protect them as well.

 

When I tip my AC host it’s a handshake. Vegas host Thank You card with cash, always have a meal with her.

 

I agree. Also a red envelope is always appreciated.

Also, if you know your host has a favorite team, a sports bet slip is a great tip.

 

Now that I think about it, the only place I've heard that tipping a host with cash is forbidden is from posters on Vegas discussion boards.

I've had numerous hosts over decades of going to Vegas. Not a single one has ever said " Oh noooo, I cannot take this cash tip". I've never heard "That cash tip in the card you gave me is against the rules. PLEASE don't give me a cash tip again!"

I know some people think tipping their host gets them more than they are entitled to. I suppose if you're very nice and not a pest or an entitled asshole and give your host a card and your play warrants him comping all of your charges on the backend but $25 of it, the host might just comp off that extra $25. But just because you give them that gift card or $50 or a bottle of maple syrup because you're from Vermont, they're not comping you a huge suite if you aren't entitled and they aren't comping off that $500 dinner if your play only allows around $100 comp'd off on the backend.

Cash is king. If it was a strict, written in stone rule that tipping a host cash was expressly forbidden and they risked their job taking it, we'd all know.

 

Most players are just not aware of their comp value (or even what comp value is), and thus are less aware of how close to full value they are getting out of it (or possibly that they're nowhere close to "covering" what has already been comped). The job of a host is to help the high-value players realize as much of that comp value as possible -- and to do it in a way that gets the customer to feel like it is above-and-beyond service so that the customer keeps coming back (hopefully, giving even bigger action next time). It's always the players who would otherwise be severely undercomped who make mention of getting all those fancy things (rides in the house car, event tickets, etc.) from their hosts. That is truly tip-worthy.

The only thing that is as good as cash is... cash. If I could, I'd rather tip in experiences.

 

@AllenAndRossi your point makes a lot of sense. As to the putting it in a card, the theory is that they cameras have no way of knowing what was in the card. I put it in a card because sometimes my host and I can't connect and I can just text him that I left something at the VIP check-in, better than writing his name on a $50. But it was also explained by a post on a different board, or a vlog, that cash tips are at the very least frowned upon, kind of like walking up to your favorite dealer when they leave their shift and handing them a $100 bill. I agree that they won't do anything to jeopardize their job on either end (overcomping or taking a cash tip when it is prohibited), but for me I also like the card because I always include my player number and my wife's (even though she is unhosted) so that he can add her play into the pot.

I tip because my host (Atlantic City) has always done things for me I can not do for myself. When he books a room I request, I get it or better, but if I book my own comp I have been downgraded, also it has always been ready for early check-in despite the fact that we usually get at 9am. He knows this and has always had it noted on the reservation. When they host a bingo and I get an invite to each session but my wife gets none, he either books the second one in the first session for her to play, or has booked her for both sessions and let me go and gamble. We are on the cusp of being actually invited to the AC super bowl party, but he makes sure we get tickets for it every year. He also usually checks in on my play the morning before our check out day and let's me know if I should charge something extra to the room or if I should go use up reward credits on something else. This has allowed my wife to get some unplanned spa services, some nicer meals when we were going to use a lounger for dinner, or some gifts to take home.

 

I always tip my host. I’ll usually text him when I arrive on property and before I leave we will meet up for drinks at one of the property bars. Handshake. I used to tip 100 bucks and I wouldn’t get anything extra. Just the limo ride, vip check in, and around 500 in meals. I gamble about 8 hours a day with a avg bet anywhere from 60 to 120. To me the comps seemed fair To my gambling average. There was a trip I tipped him the morning before I caught my plane and I was up and tipped him 300. He texted me later that day that he appreciated my generosity and covered my bill which was about 2500 in good and beverage. Just left me with my retail purchases and tips. So that seems to be the lucky number! Rarely pay for food now a days even with the same Theo.

 

Huh, I’ve never really considered tipping my hosts. How are they paid? I always assumed it was based on my ADT like a commission for getting me to come in, is it that not how it works?

 

As I saw earlier, unless this is a "hands on" host....someone you meet, see, shake hands and occasionally meets you at a machine or table, no tip is warranted. You're being helped by a call center person assigned to you.

My host is hands on, see her every time. We're social media friends. We go to lunch and I took HER to an event.
When I leave her a tip, I buy a thank you card at one of the difficult to find CVS's and drop in the tip in cash.
If I am unable to see her that day (my last day is usually her off day) I leave it with someone at the host office with her name on it

 

My host just helped me out big time on my son’s birthday trip in August. I’m being severely over comped with her knowing that since there a ton of other activities planned, we might not gamble to that sort of level. She will be getting the envelope FOR SURE. I know she’s a sucker for Amazon (and let’s face it, who isn’t!) and traveling so I’ll get the appropriate gift card in a nice thank you card.

If host goes above and beyond, I feel an appreciation gift is warranted.

 

Tipping is a funny thing in casinos.

The primary job of a host is to make you happy and more importantly, to spend LOTS OF YOUR MONEY before you leave. That is their job. They are evaluated on how much money you/we bring and leave at casino.

With that said, I have tipped hosts for doing a bit more than than what is offered. The easiest thing for them to do is a better room. The FP and Resort credit is pretty much dicated by the higher ups and hosts for the most part can not do much about that.

Here is the question I often wonder about. Do hosts appreciate the tips, or do they just laugh at us for giving them some money for the privilege of leaving our life savings with them. LOL!

 

IMHO,

1)red envelope only works for Asian hosts

2)It's gotta be a "REAL" red envelope.

This

Not this

 

@nostresshere The one thing from my old host and he was adamant about this and told other people too, was that he wanted us to win and be successful. He said his evaluation was based on days booked and ADT, not actual hold. I'm not sure if he was just saying that, but he was basically saying if he gets my normal 3 day trips to be 4 days and then because I was winning I played more that is good for him even though I may have won. Where he said is he gets dinged is if people win and quit thereby reducing their ADT, that reflects "poorly" on him.

 

Interesting. I've always brought my host a GIFT....something from where I live. One time I even wrote one of the OTHER hosts and asked about her favorite sports teams and whether or not she was a teetotaler. Gave me some good ideas. I've never thought about giving cash

 

What’s ADT??

 

It stands for average daily theoretical loss. Its the casino's measurement of how much they expect you to lose on any given day based on how much you gambled

 

I have no idea what my ADT or Theo is. I play approximately 6 hours a day and play 3/5 lines $1 DDB VP or $2 single line with an average of 750 hands an hour. I'm 7* and I've never had an overall winning gambling year. I haven't paid for a room for maybe 8 years. Since I have a bundle of
CET Rewards points I've seldom had to pay out of pocket for meals either. So when I run out of Rewards points what can I expect for meals if I was in Vegas for 5 nights.
I'm up a bit for this year in AC but I haven't been to Vegas yet.
If you lose a whole bunch more than your ADT on a previous trip wouldn't that count for getting some extra comps?