Whale Tales
In a recent trend, casinos have been dropping the high-roller requirement thanks to steadily decreasing revenues since 1984. World-renowned for its beachfront luxury high roller lounges, the Singaporean island of Sentosa is an indulgent escape for true VIPs. So, if you’re looking for somewhere to splash the cash for a glamorous weekend getaway, then look no further than the Atlantis. For anyone else, the Bridge Suite will set you back a staggering $25,000 a night and comes complete with a 22-carat gold chandelier, grand piano, and a staff team of seven who will wait on you 24/7. When casino whales visit Atlantis, the chances are that they’ll be staying in the iconic Bridge Suite, which offers the most luxurious experience and, of course, the utmost in all-round opulence. In order to stay at one of the 21 available suites, high rollers must tender a minimum buy-in of $1 million at the Reserve, the Cosmopolitan’s high-roller lounge, first. The exclusive penthouses on the top floors of these establishments have quickly become their top picks.
« My goal is to take as much money as possible out of these places, » Cipriani says. This guy is among maybe 100 people who can go to a casino and casually blow $1 million. My biggest player has a $10 million permanent line of credit. « Doctors and lawyers are stiffs; forget about them, » says Steve Cyr, director of player development at Palms Casino Resort. He claims to have gambled alongside numerous celebrities, including boxing legend Joe Frazier.
Wooing the big whales is far from easy, and each one of the highest-rolling casinos in Las Vegas competes for millions of dollars in potential revenue from the world’s largest bettors. They eat, drink, watch sports, use our gambling app to bet. » « Or they spend some time in the massage chair. »
These days, a night at the casino is about more than just the games themselves, and an increasing number of affluent, high-net-worth individuals are choosing to make a break of it.
While poker players have the leading role in most high-roller legends, baccarat is the game of choice for most whales, says Shaun Kelley, a research analyst at Bank of America Merrill Lynch. Here’s a look into the lives of high rollers — and what these perks involve. Most people will never step into the world of casino whales — but it’s fascinating to know it exists. If a player starts losing control, hosts are trained to step in, set limits, or even cut them off. That includes flying them in for major events, assigning multiple hosts, and even offering private lines of credit so they can gamble without carrying cash. So yes, they’ll go above and beyond to attract and retain those players.
While most casino resorts advertise their deluxe suites online, the real luxury isn’t available to the general public. These flights are arranged discreetly, and they’re not just about convenience. A growing number of Texans are showing up at casinos in Las Vegas, Atlantic City, or overseas, ready to play at the highest levels. Many of the country’s most well-funded gamblers either live in Texas or pass through it regularly. Let’s take a closer look at how the casino world courts these high rollers — and how it all works behind the scenes.
But if you are a high roller, odds are you are not taking the time to do your own shopping while in town. « Off-menu items, rare bottles of wine, special accommodations, you name it, » « Off-menu items, rare bottles of wine, special accommodations, you name it, » Rob says. Beyond that, restaurants tend to roll out the red carpet for visiting high rollers. We’re also big fans of the collection of luxury suites at the Venetian and Palazzo. « I spent 30 consecutive nights at the Duplex Suite at the Wynn, » he says of Jetset’s favorite two-story suite with the elevator in it.
Well, lots of free stuff helps like free luxury limos, cash back on gambling losses, and a free credit card to shop with – that’s always good for persuading the other half to come along for the ride. One of his leading casinos lost money for the entire month. Casino Whales have been known to bet as much as $5 million in one night – you can see why casinos bend over backwards to try and entice them through the doors. These players can regularly bet hundreds of thousands or even millions of dollars in a single session. Casino Whales is an industry term for big spending high rollers in the world of gambling. « Over the course of the trip, my player was up a lot and down a lot and ended up losing $400,000, » says the host, making it clear that his whale didn’t mind all that much and will surely be back for more. Chances are then that the Cosmopolitan will not soon be welcoming a wealthy customer who is known for putting ungodly sums of money at risk in casinos.
Casinos offer known whales perks like free luxury cars, discounts on gambling losses, and even shopping funds — which are especially helpful if they have a spouse who is less interested in spending hours in a casino. The most high-profile high rollers in the world of gambling are called « whales, » people who regularly wager thousands or millions of dollars in a single night. These players come from across the globe, but the United States has long been a key source of high-stakes gamblers. But for a small group of elite players — often called « whales » in the industry — gambling is a completely different experience. If you love to travel to ritzy casinos to gamble alongside some of the world’s biggest high rollers, then you may have experienced a tiny bit of the excess that casino resorts have to offer.