Casino Host Tips

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Alembert
Over the years I have learned that it is not appropriate to tip floor personnel in the pit. I have recently started to get attention from hosts at the small casinos I play in Vegas. If a host provides you with room and dinner or a show or other fairly nominal comps/perks, what is an appropriate tip? Is it appropriate to tip them when you arrive, when you leave, when they give you tickets?
Also, what is the best manner to hosts to your advantage? Keep asking until they eventually say no? Ask for everything you want before your trip begins?
Any advice from more experienced players will be greatly appreciated.

Casino hosts are paid a competitive salary along with possible bonuses and occasional tips from their guests. Casinos use mathematical calculations to determine each gambler's average daily theoretical (ADT), which is how much money a guest cycles through the system. One of the most important members of the casino staff you will meet is the casino host. Establishing a good relationship with a host can save you hundreds of dollars. The job of a casino host is to cultivate relationships with players who will become loyal patrons to the establishment. The casino host has the authority to issue comps to players.

AxelWolf

Over the years I have learned that it is not appropriate to tip floor personnel in the pit. I have recently started to get attention from hosts at the small casinos I play in Vegas. If a host provides you with room and dinner or a show or other fairly nominal comps/perks, what is an appropriate tip? Is it appropriate to tip them when you arrive, when you leave, when they give you tickets?
Also, what is the best manner to hosts to your advantage? Keep asking until they eventually say no? Ask for everything you want before your trip begins?
Any advice from more experienced players will be greatly appreciated.

A Hand shake with folded up money works best. Gift cards 2nd best. The Amount should be based on what they give you. $20 up to 1k. I would give half upfront and just say Ill take care of you again before I leave. Next time you can just do it at the end.
Do casino host get tips

You can usually get a good feel for what you can get. Their wording is key. 'Anything you want let me know' vs 'I can take care of SOME stuff for you.' If the use word like I might, or ill see what I can do, come see me before you check out. Are not so great
♪♪Now you swear and kick and beg us That you're not a gamblin' man Then you find you're back in Vegas With a handle in your hand♪♪ Your black cards can make you money So you hide them when you're able In the land of casinos and money You must put them on the table♪♪ You go back Jack do it again roulette wheels turinin' 'round and 'round♪♪ You go back Jack do it again♪♪
Ahigh
Now here's something I had no clue about. I would think that tipping your host would be against the house policy! Seems like a really dangerous thing for the casinos to be okay with.

Casino Host Tipping Etiquette

tongni
it really depends what kind of player you are. if you're a recreational gambler, you might get slightly increased comps, they may squeeze you into some invite only stuff that your play doesn't quite qualify for, take off an extra 10% of your loss off your room charges making your comp balance negative, etc. for that stuff, $50 is probably appropriate.
they can also reissue free play, hold offers that you didn't make it for and give it to you later, read back your player account to you, put you in free rooms when you're not technically on property, let you know about gossip/personnel changes, edit your player account, charge off way more than they should, get you prescription drugs/narcotics/women, get you unbanned from the casino, give you non-public information about drawings, explain the marketing system to you, and many more things. those things might be worth a hundred or two to a few thousand.
either way, if you're a nice guy, and you don't yell at them when things don't go your way or they have to say no, then i think you'll be in the top 5% of all their customers. remember, if you want something on either list, you should always ask. the worst they can say is no.
Wizard
Administrator
I've said this before, but tipping casino hosts is supposed to not be allowed, but routinely happens. It isn't expected, because hosts are already compensated for your play by the casino. However, in my opinion, and that of many, tipping hosts is well worth it if you're asking for things beyond your level play. I think it is only worthwhile for high-end players, who get over $10,000 in comps per year. A tip to the host can help you get into tournaments and other events that you might be marginally qualified for. You don't need to tip a lot. Personally, I like to make a $110 sports bet on the host's favorite team and hand him the ticket, emphasizing it will pay $210 if it wins. I think tipping cash to a host looks tacky and seems like more of an abuse of the rules. Any tip should be put in an envelope, in the interests of discretion.
Don't feel obligated to tip for things you're entitled to anyway.
p.s. I was thinking of making an 'Ask the Wizard' question out of this, but then found I already did in my Sep. 1, 2007 column.
It's not whether you win or lose; it's whether or not you had a good bet.
kewlj

I've said this before, but tipping casino hosts is supposed to not be allowed, but routinely happens. It isn't expected, because hosts are already compensated for your play by the casino. However, in my opinion, and that of many, tipping hosts is well worth it if you're asking for things beyond your level play. I think it is only worthwhile for high-end players, who get over $10,000 in comps per year. A tip to the host can help you get into tournaments and other events that you might be marginally qualified for. You don't need to tip a lot. Personally, I like to make a $110 sports bet on the host's favorite team and hand him the ticket, emphasizing it will pay $210 if it wins. I think tipping cash to a host looks tacky and seems like more of an abuse of the rules. Any tip should be put in an envelope, in the interests of discretion.
Don't feel obligated to tip for things you're entitled to anyway.


Mike, I don't mean to judge you or anyone. But isn't tipping someone, with the understanding or even hopes of receiving something back that you are not entitled to or would not otherwise receive, nothing more than a veiled form of bribery? The fact that such activities are commonplace and accepted by society, does not push it across the line from wrong to right in my book.
AxelWolf

it really depends what kind of player you are. if you're a recreational gambler, you might get slightly increased comps, they may squeeze you into some invite only stuff that your play doesn't quite qualify for, take off an extra 10% of your loss off your room charges making your comp balance negative, etc. for that stuff, $50 is probably appropriate.
.

Did I miss something? DON'T TIP FOR THIS AT ALL. That's what a host should be doing that's why they are a host.

Do You Tip Casino Hosts

♪♪Now you swear and kick and beg us That you're not a gamblin' man Then you find you're back in Vegas With a handle in your hand♪♪ Your black cards can make you money So you hide them when you're able In the land of casinos and money You must put them on the table♪♪ You go back Jack do it again roulette wheels turinin' 'round and 'round♪♪ You go back Jack do it again♪♪
Casino Host Tips
AxelWolf

Mike, I don't mean to judge you or anyone. But isn't tipping someone, with the understanding or even hopes of receiving something back that you are not entitled to or would not otherwise receive, nothing more than a veiled form of bribery? The fact that such activities are commonplace and accepted by society, does not push it across the line from wrong to right in my book.

Yes it is a form of bribery. However, it's allowed up to a point. The casinos allow it, they know its going on. They make it against the official policy just to cover their ass in case it goes to far.
Casino host tips
Don't forget hosts cant give out unlimited comps, they have a comp budget to work with. If it's to far out of whack they will eventually lose their job.
♪♪Now you swear and kick and beg us That you're not a gamblin' man Then you find you're back in Vegas With a handle in your hand♪♪ Your black cards can make you money So you hide them when you're able In the land of casinos and money You must put them on the table♪♪ You go back Jack do it again roulette wheels turinin' 'round and 'round♪♪ You go back Jack do it again♪♪
kewlj
Casino host tipping etiquette

Yes it is a form of bribery. However, it's allowed up to a point. The casinos allow it, they know its going on. They make it against the official policy just to cover their ass in case it goes to far.
Don't forget hosts cant give out unlimited comps, they have a comp budget to work with. If it's to far out of whack they will eventually lose their job.


The casino's allow it, so it must be ok? The casino's allow, encourage, push players to be over intoxicated and lose money that they can't afford. The casinos allow, implement a policy of enticement for working people to cash their paycheck and spend it at the casino, before they ever get home to pay the rent and buy food.
I don't allow the casino's to make the decision of what is right or wrong for me.
AxelWolf
Casino Host Tips

You can usually get a good feel for what you can get. Their wording is key. 'Anything you want let me know' vs 'I can take care of SOME stuff for you.' If the use word like I might, or ill see what I can do, come see me before you check out. Are not so great
♪♪Now you swear and kick and beg us That you're not a gamblin' man Then you find you're back in Vegas With a handle in your hand♪♪ Your black cards can make you money So you hide them when you're able In the land of casinos and money You must put them on the table♪♪ You go back Jack do it again roulette wheels turinin' 'round and 'round♪♪ You go back Jack do it again♪♪
Ahigh
Now here's something I had no clue about. I would think that tipping your host would be against the house policy! Seems like a really dangerous thing for the casinos to be okay with.

Casino Host Tipping Etiquette

tongni
it really depends what kind of player you are. if you're a recreational gambler, you might get slightly increased comps, they may squeeze you into some invite only stuff that your play doesn't quite qualify for, take off an extra 10% of your loss off your room charges making your comp balance negative, etc. for that stuff, $50 is probably appropriate.
they can also reissue free play, hold offers that you didn't make it for and give it to you later, read back your player account to you, put you in free rooms when you're not technically on property, let you know about gossip/personnel changes, edit your player account, charge off way more than they should, get you prescription drugs/narcotics/women, get you unbanned from the casino, give you non-public information about drawings, explain the marketing system to you, and many more things. those things might be worth a hundred or two to a few thousand.
either way, if you're a nice guy, and you don't yell at them when things don't go your way or they have to say no, then i think you'll be in the top 5% of all their customers. remember, if you want something on either list, you should always ask. the worst they can say is no.
Wizard
Administrator
I've said this before, but tipping casino hosts is supposed to not be allowed, but routinely happens. It isn't expected, because hosts are already compensated for your play by the casino. However, in my opinion, and that of many, tipping hosts is well worth it if you're asking for things beyond your level play. I think it is only worthwhile for high-end players, who get over $10,000 in comps per year. A tip to the host can help you get into tournaments and other events that you might be marginally qualified for. You don't need to tip a lot. Personally, I like to make a $110 sports bet on the host's favorite team and hand him the ticket, emphasizing it will pay $210 if it wins. I think tipping cash to a host looks tacky and seems like more of an abuse of the rules. Any tip should be put in an envelope, in the interests of discretion.
Don't feel obligated to tip for things you're entitled to anyway.
p.s. I was thinking of making an 'Ask the Wizard' question out of this, but then found I already did in my Sep. 1, 2007 column.
It's not whether you win or lose; it's whether or not you had a good bet.
kewlj

I've said this before, but tipping casino hosts is supposed to not be allowed, but routinely happens. It isn't expected, because hosts are already compensated for your play by the casino. However, in my opinion, and that of many, tipping hosts is well worth it if you're asking for things beyond your level play. I think it is only worthwhile for high-end players, who get over $10,000 in comps per year. A tip to the host can help you get into tournaments and other events that you might be marginally qualified for. You don't need to tip a lot. Personally, I like to make a $110 sports bet on the host's favorite team and hand him the ticket, emphasizing it will pay $210 if it wins. I think tipping cash to a host looks tacky and seems like more of an abuse of the rules. Any tip should be put in an envelope, in the interests of discretion.
Don't feel obligated to tip for things you're entitled to anyway.


Mike, I don't mean to judge you or anyone. But isn't tipping someone, with the understanding or even hopes of receiving something back that you are not entitled to or would not otherwise receive, nothing more than a veiled form of bribery? The fact that such activities are commonplace and accepted by society, does not push it across the line from wrong to right in my book.
AxelWolf

it really depends what kind of player you are. if you're a recreational gambler, you might get slightly increased comps, they may squeeze you into some invite only stuff that your play doesn't quite qualify for, take off an extra 10% of your loss off your room charges making your comp balance negative, etc. for that stuff, $50 is probably appropriate.
.

Did I miss something? DON'T TIP FOR THIS AT ALL. That's what a host should be doing that's why they are a host.

Do You Tip Casino Hosts

♪♪Now you swear and kick and beg us That you're not a gamblin' man Then you find you're back in Vegas With a handle in your hand♪♪ Your black cards can make you money So you hide them when you're able In the land of casinos and money You must put them on the table♪♪ You go back Jack do it again roulette wheels turinin' 'round and 'round♪♪ You go back Jack do it again♪♪
AxelWolf

Mike, I don't mean to judge you or anyone. But isn't tipping someone, with the understanding or even hopes of receiving something back that you are not entitled to or would not otherwise receive, nothing more than a veiled form of bribery? The fact that such activities are commonplace and accepted by society, does not push it across the line from wrong to right in my book.

Yes it is a form of bribery. However, it's allowed up to a point. The casinos allow it, they know its going on. They make it against the official policy just to cover their ass in case it goes to far.
Don't forget hosts cant give out unlimited comps, they have a comp budget to work with. If it's to far out of whack they will eventually lose their job.
♪♪Now you swear and kick and beg us That you're not a gamblin' man Then you find you're back in Vegas With a handle in your hand♪♪ Your black cards can make you money So you hide them when you're able In the land of casinos and money You must put them on the table♪♪ You go back Jack do it again roulette wheels turinin' 'round and 'round♪♪ You go back Jack do it again♪♪
kewlj

Yes it is a form of bribery. However, it's allowed up to a point. The casinos allow it, they know its going on. They make it against the official policy just to cover their ass in case it goes to far.
Don't forget hosts cant give out unlimited comps, they have a comp budget to work with. If it's to far out of whack they will eventually lose their job.


The casino's allow it, so it must be ok? The casino's allow, encourage, push players to be over intoxicated and lose money that they can't afford. The casinos allow, implement a policy of enticement for working people to cash their paycheck and spend it at the casino, before they ever get home to pay the rent and buy food.
I don't allow the casino's to make the decision of what is right or wrong for me.
AxelWolf

The casino's allow it, so it must be ok? The casino's allow, encourage, push players to be over intoxicated and lose money that they can't afford. The casinos allow, implement a policy of enticement for working people to cash their paycheck and spend it at the casino, before they ever get home to pay the rent and buy food.
I don't allow the casino's to make the decision of what is right or wrong for me.

I'm confused, are you saying you think its immoral? If so why? I assume its not illeagal, i don't the gaming laws on that. Let us assume its not.

Casino Host Skills

♪♪Now you swear and kick and beg us That you're not a gamblin' man Then you find you're back in Vegas With a handle in your hand♪♪ Your black cards can make you money So you hide them when you're able In the land of casinos and money You must put them on the table♪♪ You go back Jack do it again roulette wheels turinin' 'round and 'round♪♪ You go back Jack do it again♪♪




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