The Role of a VIP Casino Host in High Stakes Gambling
VIP casino hosts provide a vital service, both to high stakes gamblers and to the high stakes casino itself.
But there is a lot of mystery behind the role and many people know little about the job description of a casino host and what duties they can be expected to perform. Our full guide to high roller casino hosts has all the details about this often-misunderstood duty, so read on for more information.
Written by:
Jamie Smith
Published: 23 August 2024
What is a VIP Casino Host?
Hosts are employed by casinos, but their role is misunderstood by a lot of players.
While the VIP casino host is working on behalf of the property, they also act as something of an employee for high roller players who are spending a lot of money on games.
Hosts can ‘comp’ various things on behalf of a casino, with players able to receive free accommodation at a casino resort as well as getting other perks such as free food and drinks.
Sometimes, a high stakes casino host will approach a player who is spending a lot of money on a game, but it is also possible to ask to get contact details for a host as well.
Essentially, the host acts as a kind of go-between for the casino and the player. Their role is to help the casino to make as much money as possible, while also making players feel they are getting a good deal.
Why Do Casinos Employ VIP Hosts?
The reason for operators giving jobs to VIP casino hosts is an obvious one: it makes them money.
While it costs cash to employ a casino host and they have the discretion to give out various freebies to high stakes players, in the long run having these positions will be profitable for the casino.
Operators of casinos in Las Vegas reason that by giving players complimentary food and drink budgets, as well as free accommodation in some of the best suits in the property, they will be happy to spend more of their money on games.
As the house edge is always in favour of the casino, they believe that the investment in a player’s comfort through the use of a VIP casino host will make them more money in the long run.
High stakes players can receive great perks by getting in touch with a VIP casino host.
It is not unheard of for a host to hook a guest up with luxury transportation to and from the airport, as well as free tickets to sold-out shows. They can also sort out last-minute reservations at popular restaurants at which it can be difficult to get a booking.
The role of a VIP casino host has been compared to a type of rep, while their role is also similar to a car salesperson in some ways. Hosts must be personable, friendly, and easy to get on with.
What Comps Can a VIP Casino Host Give Out?
When discussing the role of VIP casino hosts, attention normally turns to the matter of ‘comps’.
This refers to what a host is able to make available to a casino player for free. Rooms in top hotels are often provided to high roller players, who will get a food and beverages budget to use up as well.
The level of comps available depends largely on how much a high stakes player is gambling.
Comps are normally calculated on a basis of theoretical loss. Due to the house edge of casino games, players will typically lose money, regardless of how skilled they are, unless they get lucky.
Put simply, the more being spent at the blackjack table or the roulette wheel, the more comps a high stakes casino host will be able to dish out to the player.
Free play is also often part of the comp package that can be made available for high stakes players. This gives them a chance to try their luck with no financial risk.
The casino assumes that in the event of them winning money in free play, they will continue to gamble with their own funds – and end up losing.
Comps available depend on each casino, which gives the host a list of what they can and cannot award.
Skill Set Required of a VIP Casino Host
Discretion is one of the key abilities a person needs to be a great VIP casino host.
This is because a lot of high stakes gamblers will not want anyone to know they are playing casino games. They will often play at a private VIP room where other casino guests will not be able to hassle them.
A high stakes player will want to feel safe, secure and comfortable when enjoying their casino games.
Hosts can help with this, ensuring that they can move freely about the casino without having to deal with members of the public. Transport to and from the casino is provided if required to help with this.
Hosts are essentially at the beck and call of these high-profile gamblers who stake a lot of cash. Within reason, a VIP casino host will need to be able to get the player whatever they ask for.
As a result, problem-solving is one of the most important skills that they need to have to be successful.
The world of VIP casino hosts can be surprisingly cut-throat, so some ruthlessness is needed too. Each casino will employ a lot of different hosts and they might need to compete for clients with each other. Even in a busy casino, the number of high stakes players is always going to be fairly limited.
This means that there will not be that many visitors who are of interest to a VIP casino host.
How Much Can a Casino Host Earn?
Considering they work with high stakes players, casino hosts have a relatively low salary.
Base pay for a VIP casino host working in a middle-rank American resort is usually in the region of $40,000 to $60,000, though of course some employers may pay more. Casino hosts in Las Vegas tend to be paid more.
The reason why a high stakes casino host does not have a large starting salary is because their pay is heavily supplemented by bonuses, potentially multiplying what they are paid.
Earnings can be boosted by meeting a variety of productivity measures that are defined by the employer.
The more high stakes players a host is working with, the more they will be able to increase their pay. Of course, some gamblers might also decide to tip a VIP casino host if they have had very good service.
While tips are not necessarily expected for people who are working in this role, it can make a significant difference to the amount of money they are taking home.
Benefits add to the pay package for a high stakes casino host as well. Free tickets to shows are often included with the salary, as well as other perks that help to make this a highly appealing job.
However, the hours can be unsociable – a high stakes casino host is often ‘on call’ 24/7 for a particularly high-profile guest – and casinos are not normally the healthiest of places to work in either for a variety of reasons.
How a High Roller Casino Host Maintains Client Relationships
While bringing in new clients is always crucial for a VIP casino host, maintaining relationships with those that they have acted as a host for before is crucial as well.
With some high rollers visiting casinos on a regular basis, it can be very lucrative to work with one of these individuals – which a casino might deem to be a ‘whale’ – on a long-term basis.
A good casino host will work hard to learn about their client, including about their family.
This means that they can establish a personal relationship that will help them to remain the top choice of VIP casino host the next time the high roller decides to go to the casino.
Hosts will normally reach out to their client list whenever their casino is planning a special event.
If the guest decides that they would like to attend, the host can then facilitate transportation and accommodation. High rollers can expect to be put up in a luxury suit free of charge.
Hosts have access to a player’s payment record and their play history at the casino. This means the host can see how much money a high roller has won or lost, which will help them to decide what the best way to manage the relationship will be moving forward.
For example, a player who has just had a successful trip to Las Vegas and cashed out with a lot of money in their pocket might be receptive to accepting an all-expenses-paid return visit to Sin City.
From the point of view of the casino, the idea would be that the high stakes player would go on to lose the money that they won on their previous visit, meaning any ‘comped’ costs will pay for themselves.
A Day in the Life of a VIP Casino Host
One of the great things about working as a VIP casino host is that every single day is different.
Duties will depend on whether any of their existing clients are present at the casino on that day. If they are, then the host is likely to spend a lot of their shift handling any requests for the high roller.
Should the player require a dinner reservation to be made at a restaurant that is in-demand – like the highly rated é by José Andrés which is ranked one of the top spots in Las Vegas and is almost impossible to get a booking for, the host will call up the venue and see if they are able to get a table, for example.
Often, though, casino hosts will be primarily charged with finding new clients to add to their roster.
This means that a normal day in the life of a VIP casino host involves touring the floor and keeping a close eye out for anyone who is spending a significant amount of money on casino games.
While players are also able to visit the hosts’ office to be assigned a member of staff, most of the time they will sit tight and wait to be approached in the middle of their session.
Hosts will need to persuade players that they are the right representative to go with. Players often try their luck at different casinos, whereas the host wants to encourage loyalty to one specific operator.
All in all, a typical day for a VIP casino host is likely to be long – around the busiest times such as Chinese New Year a shift of 12-16 hours is not unheard of – but it is very rarely boring work.
The chance to work with high-profile individuals and high rollers helps to make the time fly by.
High rollers who are arriving might need to be helped out with checking in to their suite, while those whose stay is at an end will be contacted to ensure that they were happy with the accommodation.
Outgoing guests will need their bills to be settled up, which is another chance for ‘comping’ to occur.
At the end of the day’s work, the host will have a handover with any incoming members of staff.
This involves bringing them up to speed with anything they need to know about what has happened in the past few hours, as well as any jobs that need to be finished off.
Never dull and potentially lucrative, the life of a VIP casino host is full of thrills and responsibility.
