Page 18 - August 2004 • Southern California Gaming Guide

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA GAMING GUIDE
The Queen of Comps: The Frugal Gambler, Jean Scott
TaFlk to a Host!
or the frequent slot machine player, However, the best way, in my opinion, is to stay at your slot machine and tell a particularly dollar players, and in many change person you would like to speak to a host as soon as possible. Change people casinos even for the frequent and/or heavy are able to get the host your message by relaying it to a supervisor or by using their
quarter player, using a casino host system will let you reap more comps than just tapping into
slot club bene ts or depending on mail o ers. However, I have had more people tell me
that they have played in casinos for years, have never recognized a host, and wouldn’t know if they fell over one in the aisle!
Even if you’ve seen hosts in action and used one on occasion, you still might not be quite sure where you t in a particular casino’s system. So if you’re planning on staying or playing in a casino, you can talk to a host any time just to inquire about the requirements, even on the phone before you step inside the casino. Simply call the
casino’s toll-free number and ask to be connected to a player’s club host.
What if you’re in a casino, have played awhile, and wonder if you’ve played enough for any kind of a comp? How do you hook up with a host at that time? You can go to the player’s club desk and ask to speak to a host. Usually one can be paged and will meet you right there at the booth. Some larger casinos have a host o ce somewhere in the casino (sometimes called a VIP o ce although any level of player could get information there) where you can merely walk in and you will either nd a host on
duty or a clerk will nd you one to talk to.
pager. Having a host meet you at your machine has several advantages. First, hosts are often very busy and can’t always respond to pages immediately — so you can continue playing during a possibly long wait time.
Second, if a host sees you actually playing, she may write you an immediate comp based on the level of the machine you are playing, without bothering to go to a computer to check your past play record. is is why I suggest that when you are meeting a new host at a machine, you do so when you are playing at the highest denomination you ever choose in that casino. Don’t try to pull a fast one here and play for several hours on quarters and then move to a $5 machine and slow-play until the host arrives. You will get nothing but a “hustler” reputation when she does check the computer. However, if you have been switching back and forth between quarter and dollar play, then ask for a comp while you are playing a dollar machine. is may score you a higher-level comp, i.e.; a meal for two in a restaurant instead of the bu et or perhaps show tickets. For room comp requests, a host will always check your past play record on the computer.
Another advantage is that in many casinos, some types of comps are available only through a host, i.e.; show tickets or merchandise. Also, getting comps through a host often does not decrease your slot club bene ts or your direct-mail o ers. So learning your way around the host system can make the whole casino comp system more exible for you.
Page 18 August 2004