MGM: Which Host Gets Credit?

The last time i was in Las Vegas, i was staying at the Mandalay Bay Hotel and Casino, and I have a host there.

One evening, I wandered down to the New York, New York, also an MGM casino, and started playing craps. Shortly after I had bought in, a smiling young host (gosh, hosts have a lot of teeth) walked over, handed me his card and said that if there was anything I needed, please ask. I told him I was staying at the Mandalay Bay and I had a host there. He didn't seem fazed by that, and instead kept chatting with me for another 15 minutes or so, as I went on a hot streak and did quite well. I ended up playing at the NYNY for about 5 hours straight, and when the host dropped by again, he was smiling even more and told me again if he could do anything to just ask. He seemed to imply that I was his client.

My question is, who gets credit for my action. My host at the Mandalay Bay or this new guy at the NYNY? MGM is all under one umbrella but I know that each casino fights for customers separately. The same question goes for slot play. If I gamble on the slots at the Luxor, does my host at my primary casino get credit?

No client relationship if you didn't acquiesce to anything. NYNY guy was probably just trying to reel you in. Not sure how MGM works their host system, but some hosts are independent while others are tied to a property. They are just starting to cross-market their hotels. For the longest time each one was an island unto itself.

Keep his card but host stuff is for the casinos to figure out. If your host is at Mandalay, thats your host. If you also have a NYNY host, thats fine. You let the casinos work things out.

good question... Each casino operates as its own entity under the umbrella of MGM. Therefore, you cand have a host at each MGM property. Each host will get credit of bringing you in to his or her property. So your host at Mandalay would rather you stay at Mandaly, although they can not discriminate and say not to go to another MGM property.

Take for example a retail chain... the parent company could have 40 stores across the US. Each store has its managers and sales reps. Within each store, the managers and sales reps want to drive their sales which affects their bottom line and bonuses. Given, the total sales are for the good of the parent company.

I think nobody gets the credit. Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I think he would not officially become your host unless you accepted something he offered you. That is probably why he was trying so hard to get you to accept a comp. About this, I could be wrong, this is just how I think it works. There have been times I have wondered if a particular person was my host or just a host.

I'm also pretty sure the Mandalay host would not get credit. He might even think it showed disloyalty to play at the NYNY so much if you accepted Mandalay comps. I know it is the same company, but at this level they still fight for themselves.

Do the hosts work so hard to get your business so they can expect a tip in return? I heard that hots cannot accept cash/chips as tips, but gift cards are acceptable. What is the incentive for a host to work so hard to get a player, and provide comps for them? Does the players gaming loss yield them a bonus?

Quote: NicksGamingStuff

Do the hosts work so hard to get your business so they can expect a tip in return? I heard that hots cannot accept cash/chips as tips, but gift cards are acceptable. What is the incentive for a host to work so hard to get a player, and provide comps for them? Does the players gaming loss yield them a bonus?

Hosts are compensated based on the theoretical loss of their players. It is not necessary to tip them unless you feel they truly went beyond the call of duty on something. For example, getting you into a tournament you probably were not worthy to be in. Also, should you win a tournament they invited you to then I think a tip is in order. If you want to tip a host cash, put it an envelope. I think they would prefer to get cash as opposed to a gift card.

"A casino host is a member of a casino's marketing department whose primary responsibility is to build relationships with players in ways that enhance customer loyalty and develop the casino's business. The casino host maintains high visibility in gaming to build and maintain relationships with frequent players. His goal is to enhance the player's experience through efforts such as complimentary food and event invitations."

"The casino host follows the casino's procedures to resolve customer complaints and issues. The casino host monitors players' spending and preferences to tailor a marketing campaign (including email and personal invitations) in an effort to encourage return visits by the player. The casino host maintains a casino player database, updating and tracking any useful information regarding frequent players for marketing and business development purposes."

To me, a casino host is supposed to make you feel good as you're losing your shirt to the casino. If they had them in the 70's in Vegas, I never saw one. Its only been since the 90's that I've been aware of them. Most of them are very nice people, its their job to be nice. They kind of remind me of that guy in the Vampire movies who's in the Vampire's employ, and during the day his job is to get people to come to the Vampire's house at night for a big meal and good time. Casino hosts aren't the Vampire's, they just his bidding. While you're getting your blood sucked, they tell you it really doesn't hurt and you believe them, because they're so darn nice. Its a spooky job, I wouldn't want it.

If you haven't read it Whale Hunt in the Desert by Steve Cyr is an interesting read on the subject of hosts.

Your comparision is kinda apt, though.

Quote: thecesspit

Your comparision is kinda apt, though.

There's a woman of about 30 in a local casino who's the most beautiful host I've ever seen, she's just stunning. When she smiles, which is a lot, it knocks your socks off. She could tell me a rattlesnake was wrapped around my leg and I wouldn't care, as long as she kept talking and smiling. She's wasted there, she needs to be in Vegas.

Perhaps you should ask her out to a buffet. (Ok, I know, that was an underserved jab...)

Quote: TheNightfly

Perhaps you should ask her out to a buffet. (Ok, I know, that was an underserved jab...)

My wife doesn't let me date...

I am just curious. What level of play is required for a casino host's attention without you asking for it?

Depends on the casino and how hungry the host is.

I am bringing back this thread as there is a major update.

Pre-pandemic Mlife Host Credit: The host at the property can only get credit for your play if you play at his/her particular property. For example, if you had a host at Mandalay and Luxor. You booked through your host at Luxor and you're staying at Luxor. However 100% of your play was at Mandalay Bay, your host at Mandalay Bay (who did not do a single thing to help you book your vegas trip) gets all the credit for your play while your Luxor host gets nothing.

Post-pandemic Mlife Host Credit: Any Mlife host can book you anywhere in Las Vegas. The host who booked you gets all the credit regardless of where you book or play. It's very similar to Caesars. The only difference between CET vs Mlife is that you get one main host in Las Vegas for CET, while you can have many hosts to choose from from the Mlife chain.