ask trying2learn about casino player ratings & the host position

[trying2learn]

[ QUOTE ]
T2L,

I would like to play Shadow Creek someday.

Do you know what kind of Blackjack play would get me on to the course. Assuming 4 hrs of BJ play per day, what would my average bet have to be to qualify for a comp like this?

Thanks,

KennyBanya

[/ QUOTE ]

Shadow Creek is beautiful, and well worth playing once if you're a fan of golf.

I would however, suggest not trying to get it comped. Something like that (if you're still interested) is going to be a decision made by a host and I don't even have a guess for you.

However, I believe if you stay at a big MGM-Mirage property you have the option to pay to play there now...which didn't used to be the case. It's a lot mind you, like $500 at least...but the place is paradise, and well worth seeing at least once.

[trying2learn]

[ QUOTE ]
t2l,

I am not a casino player. I simply play live poker for a living, or I have for the last year and a half or so. I moved out to Las Vegas about a month ago with a plan to play for awhile but to find a job. I have been very interested in being a casino host because it's a job I think I could be great at. I noticed that early on you gave some mention to getting a job; you said that it was all about who you know. Well, as a recent college graduate who knows NO ONE out here, is there any other way? You mentioned something about being a slot host, etc. You also said these were bad jobs. Any suggestions on how to network without the use of friends in power or current coworkers? Do a lot of these people play poker at the Bellagio or the Wynn? These are the only places I really spend my time on the strip. I would appreciate any advice you could give. If you can't offer anything more to the group than you already have in your earlier response a short pm would be fine. Thanks so much!

-Dave

PS- Responses from others would help to!

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I would suggest trying to get into Casino Marketing postitions if you don't know anyone. Some places will hire telemarketers, ambassadors, cash hosts, slot hosts, etc.

None of these are great jobs (I listed them from worst to best), but they all get you a foot in the door. I have a couple other suggestions, but you should send me a PM for more specifics than that, because it's more of a couple different people you could call that I shouldn't list publicly.

[trying2learn]

[ QUOTE ]
Thanks for all your help here. My question is about marketing offers vs. using a host. Currently I use marketing offers and generally do not use a host. My coin-in is not strong enough to justify a host most of the time.

Are the marketing and player developement departments totally different from each other? I know that you can receive an offer from marketing and call the host to see if the host can match the offer or increase it. I have done this previously at the Stardust.

When evaluating a person play at the end of the stay does your computer bring up past marketing offers use?

Thanks for your help to this forum.

Mark in Kansas City.

[/ QUOTE ]

Good question.

Marketing offers (depending on how aggressive the property is) are usually something the host can book for you, as well as add more from his/her end if applicable. Meaning, call a host. Some of them may seem bothered...but they can book the offer for you, and then you also have a contact for if & when you are able to get more on the tail end.

[trying2learn]

[ QUOTE ]
Trying2Learn,

How much do the casino hosts know about their video poker players' skill level? Do they generally know about the machines in their casino that can be beaten? Are the hosts responsible for not comping the professionals as well as the bad players, or do they just trust the software to spit out a number?

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This is a bit of a sensitive question, but it all depends on the property. I know hosts who don't have a clue, and I also know players who know much more about VP play than I, and I consider myself to be at least fairly knowledgeable.

There are things like 'card-pulling' and team playing - where it just depends on who you talk to whether or not they are wise to what's going on.

[cwl]

what, if any, special cases are there as far as getting comped apart from the normal system of basing it on the level of play in house games? for example if a famouse movie star wants to stay at the bellagio do they get comped just cause of who they are even if they arent going to provide the normally required level of play? what about someone like phil hellmuth, assuming he doesnt play casino games, does being a pseudo famous poker guy get him comps? what about someone like andy beal, again assuming he is only playing poker. does the fact that he is gonna be wiring 10mil to the casino get him something even without the expectation of him playing -ev games? are there any other similar types of situations that exist that lead to comps?

[shizant]

I've been reading through this thread and have a question to ask. Do any of the Vegas casinos hire proposition players? At any game, but specifically poker?

I just moved to Vegas and play a lot of poker at the mid to lower limits. I used to live in LA and at the casinos/poker rooms out there they would hire several prop players or as they called them "Hosts".

Thanks in advance...

[167-169]

As for the high rollers or whales, which type of people are best to deal with and which are the biggest pain intheasses? I've heard that Asians are very different, the ones from China are total nits and ones from Hong Kong and Taiwan are more loose. Japanese and Koreans are more reserved and less demanding, is that correct?

How about the sheiks? They are treated like kings for sure but in general who are the biggest whales?

Europeans seem to be either real classy or snobs???

[trying2learn]

[ QUOTE ]
what, if any, special cases are there as far as getting comped apart from the normal system of basing it on the level of play in house games? for example if a famouse movie star wants to stay at the bellagio do they get comped just cause of who they are even if they arent going to provide the normally required level of play? what about someone like phil hellmuth, assuming he doesnt play casino games, does being a pseudo famous poker guy get him comps? what about someone like andy beal, again assuming he is only playing poker. does the fact that he is gonna be wiring 10mil to the casino get him something even without the expectation of him playing -ev games? are there any other similar types of situations that exist that lead to comps?

[/ QUOTE ]

this is dependant on the vice president of casino marketing at each place. properties like the hard rock, the palms, the venetian, and mandalay bay have been more notorious for taking care of 'names' instead of gamblers. the venetian is the only property which caters highly to both high end players and celebrities. to the best of my knowldege, celebrities who stay at Bellagio are normally given discounts such as casino rate, but are not comped.

of course, there are some celebrities who play high enough as to get the full treatment. Elton Brand, for example, was a high action player at Paris while I was there, and he was given anything he wanted...Donovan McNabb on the other hand, didn't play - and payed for his trip.

[trying2learn]

[ QUOTE ]
I've been reading through this thread and have a question to ask. Do any of the Vegas casinos hire proposition players? At any game, but specifically poker?

I just moved to Vegas and play a lot of poker at the mid to lower limits. I used to live in LA and at the casinos/poker rooms out there they would hire several prop players or as they called them "Hosts".

Thanks in advance...

[/ QUOTE ]

I don't know the answer to this actually. It's not part of casino marketing if it exists, and would be a position filled through the casino operations department. They run the poker room - and it doesn't have anything to do with my department...sorry.

[trying2learn]

[ QUOTE ]
As for the high rollers or whales, which type of people are best to deal with and which are the biggest pain intheasses? I've heard that Asians are very different, the ones from China are total nits and ones from Hong Kong and Taiwan are more loose. Japanese and Koreans are more reserved and less demanding, is that correct?

How about the sheiks? They are treated like kings for sure but in general who are the biggest whales?

Europeans seem to be either real classy or snobs???

[/ QUOTE ]

Well, people are people. I haven't seen too many stereotypical situations. For one thing, most properties now divide casino marketing into divisions. For example, Far East marketing will hire people who speak the different Asian languages, along with the Latin marketing department, etc...So I never handled any of the international players while I was on the strip.

The one stereotype I do sometimes notice is - Los Angeles money is normally about show and nightlife. They want to gamble heavy for a short time, and then 'do' the town stuff. They are also some of the best tippers.

Northern California money is normally much more well off, with a little less gamble in them. This doesn't mean they don't play as much though...it's the opposite. They spend more time playing, but are generally more educated on the odds - and how to give themselves the best chance to win.

Texas has a lot of gamble in them, period. Some of those guys just want to come out and 'hit the lottery' so to speak.

Florida obviously is mostly the older, quater to dollar slot crowd. You know the number they are going to spend almost down to the dollar every trip. It's budgeted, and almost like clockwork.


Again, gross stereotypes...but there are some trends in there that are kinda interesting.