Question of the Day - 25 May 2019

As always, it depends — on where and what you play. Even within MGM Resorts, there will be differences from casino to casino: A host at Circus Circus, for example, might have more leeway in comp criteria than one at Bellagio. Or vice versa.

You don’t say whether you play slots or table games, but slots are easier to quantify when it comes to qualifying for a host. Dollar machine players, and in many casinos even the frequent and/or heavy quarter player, certainly provide enough action to talk to a host in order to determine if it’s enough to reap more comps than just tapping into slot club benefits or depending on mail/email offers.  

Table games are harder to make any generalizations about. A $25 player at Excalibur will probably get treated differently than one at MGM Grand.

There’s an easy way to find out if you qualify for all the extra perks having a host at your favorite property can deliver. Ask. Spending 10 minutes with a host, on the phone before you arrive or in person on the casino floor or in the VIP office while you’re there doesn’t cost either of you anything and just might lead to a beautiful long-term relationship.

Call before you come and ask to speak to a host. Tell him or her what you told us: “A couple of friends who have hosts tell me they think my play qualifies to have one.” Discuss what and how much you play, then find out what you qualify for. If you don’t quite meet the criteria at Aria, for example, call a host at the Mirage, which is a little more downmarket these days. Of you could decide to play a little higher to qualify for the better comps (which is exactly what the casino wants you to do).

Jean Scott writes in More Frugal Gambling: “At the casino, machine players can go to the slot club desk and ask to speak to a host; usually one can be paged and will meet you right there at the booth. Some larger casinos have a host office somewhere in the casino (sometimes called a VIP office, although any level of player could get information there) where you can merely walk in and you will either find a host on duty or a clerk will find you one to talk to.

“However, the best way, in my opinion, is to stay at your machine and tell a slot attendant you would like to speak to a host as soon as possible. They are able to get the host your message by relaying it to a supervisor or by using their radio. Having a host meet you at your machine has several advantages. First, hosts are often very busy and can’t always respond to pages immediately – so you can continue playing during a possibly long wait time. 

“Second, if a host sees you actually playing, she may write you an immediate comp based on the level of the machine you are playing, without bothering to go to a computer to check your past play record. This is why I suggest that when you are meeting a new host at a machine, you do so when you’re playing at the highest denomination you ever choose in that casino.” 

Finally, if you’ve been staying and playing at your favorite casino, especially if you have a lot of history there, it’s wise to contact a host before you check out. It’s possible that you’ve qualified for comps that you didn’t even realize you should ask for.

Once you’ve established a relationship with a host, now you have a go-to person with the “power of the pen” — and you’ll be amazed how much he or she can do for you over and above what you’re accustomed to receiving.