We’ve written about this many times (see QoDs 2/21/09, 9/3/08, 8/10/08, 5/6/08, 3/16/07, 1/5/07, and 7/13/05) and we published a book on the subject, Whale Hunt in the Desert. But in case you missed the QoDs and the book, here’re the basics.
The job of a casino host is to "develop players," meaning to cultivate relationships with customers in order to lock in their loyalty to the casino. To do this the host, also known as the player-development representative and casino marketing executive, befriends players: talks to them on the phone, meets them in the casino, answers questions, makes arrangements, and issues comps.
Hosts book rooms, restaurants, shows, events, limos, the spa, golf, tournaments, and the like. The comps they grant range from a buffet for one all the way to luxury sports cars and trips around the world (depending on their respective rungs on the marketing ladder).
Hosts have varying authority to set up credit lines and establish minimum and maximum bets for players (credit managers attend to players whose bets exceed the host’s authority). They can also make gambling deals with players. For example, slot hosts can issue free machine play, while table-game hosts can hand out "show-up money."
Hosts are, perhaps, the most visible representatives of a casino and it’s their task not only to earn the loyalty of players large and small, but also to walk a fine line between the players and the bosses; they have to hone their communication skills and business instincts to keep their players happy without giving away the company store. It’s easy to hand out comps, but they have to make sure their players are earning them.
To get a host, you simply call a casino, ask to be connected to VIP Services, and talk to a player representative. You tell him/her who you are and how large of a bankroll you’re planning on bringing with you on your upcoming trip to Las Vegas. Be sure to use the word "bankroll," which refers specifically to the amount of money you’re bringing to gamble with, as opposed to the total amount you’re bringing for your vacation.
Then you can ask him what kind of speed he and his joint’ll show you in return for your play ("speed" being a sort of code word for comps).
If you haven’t done this before, may we respectfully suggest that you don’t call your favorite casino first? It’s a good idea to get your sea legs, so to speak, by practicing on hosts at joints you don’t care about, before tackling a host at your favorite gambling hall. After calling a few different casinos and talking to hosts there, you’ll be an old hand at negotiating deals with casino marketing representatives.
