What exactly does a casino host get out of beign a host?

Yesterday, for the first time in my life, I received a letter from a casino host, offering her services for getting tickets to events, making reservations at the good restaurant, etc.

I make an overnight trip to the Tunica Mississippi casinos once every couple of months. My bankroll is usually $1,000, and I'll go to a few different places during the day but once it gets dark I play only at the casino where I have a hotel room.

I play only slots, and only the multi-line penny slots, usually betting 75 cents and once in a great while, if I'm up a couple of bucks, I'll bump my bet up to $1.25 but I rarely go above that amount. I figure I might cycle between $1,000 and $2,000 thru the machines over the course of 6 or 7 hours, but I would call that small potatoes.

I already get coupons for free hotel rooms and buffets and sometimes for free entries into slot tournaments, so why would a slot host offer me more than that?

I'm flattered that this woman thinks I'm a valuable enough player that I deserve my own slot host, and I'll certainly ask for a couple of extra comps if she's offering them, but I'm puzzled too. I've been going to this casino for over 10 years and I don't think I've ever gone past the lowest tier on the player's card so what happened that my name suddenly popped up on her list?

But what I really don't understand is how casino hosts operate anyway. What does a host get out of being a host? Do they get a percentage of the player's action? If so, I could understand her wanting to grab all the whales she can, but I'm somewhat less than a guppy, so this woman isn't going to make much on my meager $2k thru-put.

I could be wrong, but I don't believe hosts' compensations is based upon a cut of the play they bring in. You're a slot player, which are the most profitable players for casinos....$2k through a low denomination machine probably has an expected value of around $180 or so to the casino. The expense of a host giving you a call and offering a room and a reservation is a good tradeoff for them.


With the massive expansion of available slot play throughout the midwest, I'm sure that some places in Tunica are struggling to keep up their revenue. Here in Indiana, slot revs have been flat for several years. They are down in Vegas. So while you may have not been considered a priority a few years ago, you are now. Enjoy it.

This has been discussed before. I'll say again that I think hosts are compensated mostly according to the theoretical loss of their players. So they can truthfully wish you "good luck."

Thanks for the replies. Whatever it was that put me on the VIP list might always remain a mystery, but I'm gonna do like ruascott suggested and enjoy it while I can.

I've already emailed the host to ask for an upgrade to a suite for my next visit on the 18th, and comp'ed tickets to an outside attraction, if she can do it. It would cost the casino a grand total of about $80 to grant both requests. The worst she can do is say no.

I'm wondering if it would be in the casino's interest to sometimes reach out to nominal players. Getting attention by people like this might make you bring an extra few hundred the next time you go since you're thinking something is expected out of you. Even if they offer you next to nothing, I'm guessing the average person will gamble more than a free buffet they might give you.