Appropriate Gifts For Casino Hosts
Gamble enough in Las Vegas or other casino destinations and you’ll get a casino host. This person helps you with travel arrangements. She also offers perks like free rooms and meals.
- 100% on the money Leo a gift from a customer in this instance is basically represents a conflict of intrest for the host as he has a contract with the casino to help make them money by giving customers cutbacks to keep them playing. Its the same reason why I cant take tips as an employee of a hospital, its just plain unethical.
- I asked the host what I was allowed to do for them for Christmas because typically hosts cannot accept cash or gift cards. She told me I could give her cash if I was discreet. What would be appropriate? The host has comped me thousands even though I probably do not play more than once or twice a month now.
- This measure of convenience is why players of almost any limit will benefit from having their own host. If you have a host, they will generally be able to cater specific offers to your play. For example, they can make sure you are the first to know about a gift card and free play giveaway. Perhaps the casino you are playing at is.
- Your host should be the one giving you the gift. Think about that for a moment. Think about how a host gets paid by the casino. If I haven't talked you out of it, then let me answer your question. Before you do anything, find out the casino's tipping policy. Do not give cash. It may be prohibited and it is awkward and tacky.
Hosts have a job that in theory would be cushy — selling dreams of casino action to people who don’t really need much arm-twisting, and giving them free stuff for betting big.
If you have a host, take advantage of the situation. Use their services for whatever you need.
But a casino host won’t tell you everything.
1- Which Games Offer the Highest Comps
The core of a casino host’s job is to get you to gamble as much money as possible. As long as they can get you to put as much money as possible into play, the casino advantage will eventually take the correct amount of it.
Good casino hosts know which games have the highest house edge and highest hold percentage. They also know which ones have the lowest. This information is usually directly tied to the level of comps you can get.
A casino determines a player’s comp level by how much the player is expected to lose. This is determined by the expected house edge on the game being played multiplied by the total amount wagered.
Here’s an example:
A player bets $100 per hand on blackjack. He plays 500 hands. His total amount wagered is $50,000.
With an expected win rate of 2%, the casino expects to win $1,000 ($50,000 X 2%).
The more money the player is expected to lose, the better for the casino host.
2- Which Games Offer the Lowest House Edge
The casino host doesn’t want you playing the games with the lowest house edge. So they probably won’t tell you which ones have it.
It doesn’t matter which games have a low house edge if you don’t play them with the best possible strategy. But your host still wants you to lose as much as possible. They won’t steer you to better games.
3- They Don’t Have Your Best Interests in Mind
Your casino host doesn’t have your best interests in mind. Sure, they want you to have a good time, but only because people gamble more when they’re having fun.
Your casino host wants you to gamble as much as possible during your stay. Everything they do is directly related to this goal.
4- They Don’t Like You
Not every casino host dislikes every one of their customers. But the host isn’t your friend, and she doesn’t like you. Depending on your behavior, she might not dislike you, but don’t make the mistake of thinking she likes you – no matter how she acts.
The casino host’s job is to get you to gamble as much as possible.
Thinking your casino host is your friend? Try this little test:
Call your casino host – tell her you need to come to town on business but won’t have any time to gamble at all. Ask them what they can do for you or recommend for your stay.
If you drop thousands of dollars a year, you might still get a room. The casino doesn’t want to risk losing your future play. But even this has limits.
And if they do comp your stay in this situation, expect them to encourage you to gamble.
5- They Don’t Care About Your Stories or Your Family or Your Business
Casino hosts listen to your stories and look at the pictures of your kids or pets. But they don’t really care.
Their job is to make you think they care enough to get you to start gambling.
6- Nothing in the Casino is Free
The free drinks, meals, rooms, and flights aren’t really free. They’re paid for out of your expected losses. The casino tells you all of these things are free. They want you to be grateful that they’re taking care of you.
Take the blackjack player who’s expected to lose $1,000 per 500 hands played. He comes to the casino and plays 5,000 hands four times a year. His expected loss for every trip is $10,000. He will have a winning trip every now and then. But on average the casino will have their percentages figured correctly.
The casino knows the player is going to lose an average of $10,000 every time he comes. They also know they can afford to give him thousands in “free” things and still make lots of money.
How much does a round trip flight, hotel room for a week, five buffet comps, and four or five nice meals cost?
Nowhere close to $10,000.
7- Everything You Get is Directly Tied to How Much You Play
Your casino host might hint at this if you aren’t playing enough. But they don’t like to come straight out and say you have to play a certain amount up front.
If you want more comps you probably need to play more. You’ll see exceptions to this rule, but for the most part, what you get from your casino host is directly tied to how much you gamble.
8- If You Don’t Ask You Won’t Get
Many players don’t ask their casino hosts enough questions. Your host will probably take care of your meals and room if you play enough. But you really have no idea how much more you may be able to get. If you don’t ask you’ll never know what you might get.
Want to see the Grand Canyon or the Blue Man Group? Ask if your host can help.
What about a trip to the spa for your spouse?
You don’t even have to ask for monetary value things. Sometimes information can be valuable. Your host should either have a great deal of information or be able to access it.
9 – You Can Get a Better Deal at Other Casinos
Your casino host doesn’t want you to consider another casino. She doesn’t even want you to start thinking about talking to another host.
Are you a big player?
You should shop your play as much as possible. Get as much in return for your play as you can.
10- You Can Get an Upgrade for $20
$20 is an arbitrary amount. But often you can get a room upgrade for a small amount of extra money. Has your casino host arranged for a room?
Ask her how much you would have to pay to get an upgrade.
11- When You’re Just Short of a Big Upgrade or Perk
Unless you track your play (which you should do) and know how the casino determines the amount of your comps (almost impossible to find out), you won’t know where you are on the scale of players at the casino. The bigger the player, the more you can get, but there’s always a line separating one level of play from another.
If you’re just a few thousand short of the next level of player it would be nice to know so you could play a little more.
A smart casino host may let you know when you’re close, but most of them won’t. If they do tell you, make sure you know exactly how much more you need to play and what you will get in return. You don’t want to lose twice what it would cost you to buy the same perks.
12- When You’ve Had Too Much to Drink
Why do you think casinos offer free drinks to players?
The more you drink, the more you gamble.
Because your casino host wants you to play as much as possible, she’s more likely to order you another drink than tell you it’s time to stop.
13- Where to Find a New Casino Host
The casino host business is competitive. Hosts protect their clients fiercely. If you start thinking about finding another host, don’t tell your current host.
Conclusion
Playing enough to have a casino host and getting perks from the casino feels great. But you still need to make sure you’re watching out for your best interests.
The casino host wants you to play as much as possible. Everything she does is done with this ultimate goal in mind. Remember this. You should be able to take advantage of their services and have a good time along the way.
Appropriate Gifts For Casino Hosts No Deposit
To many people, giving a gift to a host or hostess is a dying art. Because of this, learning the proper etiquette may seem a bit old-fashioned and antiquated, but that’s far from the case. The host or hostess has spent days, if not weeks or months, working to create a memorable celebration or gathering.
As a grateful attendee, you’ll want to show your appreciation in a way that is appropriate, but also interesting! This guide to hostess gift etiquette not only answers all of your questions but also provides a list of different gifts you can give that eliminate all guesswork.
What should you bring a hostess gift to?
Often the line between when you should and shouldn’t bring a gift to a hostess is unclear. Sometimes bringing a gift may seem like overkill, whereas other times it is expected to thank the host or hostess with a gift. These guidelines will help you determine your call to action depending on the most common occasions.
Casual Gatherings
These days, it may seem over the top to bring a hostess gift to a casual party. However, often a gift to the hostess is seen as a token of gratitude for their efforts. It doesn’t need to be formally wrapped, but instead can be given as an addition to the festivities.
Anything that will complement their efforts or help them in the future, even if it’s just a minor gift, will be greatly appreciated. For example, if it’s a dinner party, bringing a bottle of wine or appetizer as a sign of thanks.
Formal Celebrations
Whether it’s a birthday, bachelorette party or engagement party, you’ll only need to worry about getting a gift for the honorees.
However, if it’s you that is being celebrated, you’ll want to take the time to write your hostess a thank you note at the very least. If you can go the extra mile and send her flowers, chocolate or something else she loves like a gift certificate to her favorite spa, by all means, do it!
Housewarmings and Houseguests
Housewarming can include welcoming a new person to your neighborhood or celebrating a friend’s new home. Either way, it is customary to bring a gift that will help contribute to their new home, such as dish towels, wine glasses or a candle. If you know the neighborhood well, you can also introduce your new neighbor to the area with a guide or welcome kit.
As for visiting and staying in someone else’s home, you’ll always want to bring a gift to show your gratitude. The extravagance of your gift will depend on the length of your stay and the accommodations you are provided. Remember, this person is welcoming you into their home, so you’ll want to give something equally as thoughtful, like a coffee table book or kitchen supplies.
Hostess gift etiquette tips
Beyond understanding when you should give your host or hostess a gift, here are some additional gift etiquette tips to keep in mind:
- Be discrete when you give the gift. There is a possibility that someone else might not have realized they should give a gift, and you don’t want others to feel uncomfortable or guilty.
- Greet the host or hostess first, then give the gift. You don’t want to push the item on them right away and make them feel like you are just going through the motions.
- Don’t expect them to use the gift right away or unwrap it on the spot. They are in “hosting” mode and likely don’t want to divert too much attention away from their other guests.
- Ask the host or hostess ahead of time if there is anything you can bring to the occasion to contribute. This tip doesn’t always apply to things like housewarming celebrations or bridal showers, where the hostess may not be expected to receive a gift anyway. But if you sense they are preparing something ahead of time, don’t hesitate to reach out to help.
- Wrap the gift if it feels appropriate. Sometimes this can mean sticking a beautiful bow on it or it can be more intricate, such as wrapping it and writing a quick thank you note.
Hostess gift ideas
Now that you understand both how and when to best give a gift to your hostess, you can pick out the perfect gift to show your appreciation. Check out the list below for tried and true hostess gift ideas that are sure to earn you future invites.
Candles
Though not always the best gift for dinner parties given that the scent may clash with the meal, candles are a great gift to thank someone for letting you stay with them.
Cheese Board and Knives
Cheese boards and knives are a great gift on any occasion. Not only do they work well for a housewarming party, but they also work well at dinner parties and other occasions. Hosts can use them to serve appetizers they’ve prepared or store them away for future get togethers. Plus, if the board matches their home’s style, they may even use it as regular decor!
Coasters
Coasters offer a practical and stylish solution to every hostess’s fear of guests staining their nice wooden tables. With so many different styles and fun options, coasters can even create talking points, like with these cocktail recipe coasters.
Gift Baskets
Gift baskets make thanking your host easy because they offer a variety of items that your host may need or want. Not to mention, there are so many different varieties of gift baskets.
For example, if your host loves coffee, you can get them a coffee themed basket that goes above and beyond a simple coffee mug or bag of beans.
Glasses and Other Stemware
Whether you’re celebrating with a fancy dinner or saying thank you for someone’s hospitality, you can never go wrong with wine glasses and other types of stemware. These sets often get lost, misplaced or broken over time, so every great host is always in need of more. If possible, consider what drinks you all may be drinking at the festivities and gift accordingly.
Artisan Soaps
If candles aren’t your thing, soaps are another way to provide some apothecary to your host or hostess. A collection of three to four different soap scents ensures your hostess will find a scent she enjoys. The last thing you want to do is pick out a scent she hates! Additionally, as an added bonus, this saves her one more trip to the store to restock on the essentials.
Chocolate
Chocolate comes in many forms, so you can give this gift in a creative way that is still delicious. For instance, you can gift chocolate strawberries and truffles together, or just go with an organic, luxurious collection of different dark ones. Keep in mind that dark chocolate isn’t for everyone, so be sure to check beforehand or gift your hostess a few different types to be safe.
Appropriate Gifts For Casino Hosts Real Money
Flowers in a Vase
Though many will caution against gifting flowers to a host, when given with a vase you immediately take care of the task of finding a place to put the flowers. Plus, when the flowers die later, your host will still have a beautiful vase to remember you by!
Bath Bombs
Appropriate Gifts For Casino Hosts Wheel Of Fortune
Bath bombs are a great way for your hostess to pamper herself, especially after doing all the work to plan the occasion! Because you can only use bath bombs once, many people view them as “treats,” making them a perfect way to show your appreciation to any hostess!
Coffee Table Book
Whether your host collects coffee table books or just loves a certain topic, coffee table books make for a thoughtful and unique host or hostess gift. Not only are they often fun talking pieces, but they also can be about something your host is interested in as well! If needed, ask their friends or family for ideas for coffee table books they have been eyeing recently so you can be sure to get them something they’ve been wanting.
When it comes to thanking your hostess, it’s much better to risk giving something when you don’t need to versus forgetting to give one when the occasion calls for it. There are a variety of easy and affordable ways to show your gratitude for all the time and effort they put into the occasion. Even if you are just acquaintances with your hostess, you can always look to typical thank you gifts for easy, but fail-safe ideas.
Sources
Appropriate Gifts For Casino Hosts Buffet
Emily Post Huffington Post Manners Mentor