Ask The Slot Expert

Dear John,

My husband and I have been going to Atlantic City casinos for probably the last 3 years. We enjoy the slots as our main form of entertainment. We have joined all the slot clubs, and have been fortunate to receive many comps from the casinos and our rooms are usually paid for w/additional money for food comps plus cashback bonuses. We usually visit every three months or so and stay two nights/three days. I have two questions that I would like to ask you.

1. Usually our comp offers are during the weekdays with an occasional Friday. Is there some way to extend these free rooms into the weekend (a Saturday night), or is that something that only comes with additional wagers?
2. I have never talked to or met a slot host or casino host. Do they really exist? Am I missing something? Can they provide something other than the comps we are receiving now? At the Sands casino in Atlantic City, I actually asked about a slot host we first started visiting and they looked at me like I was from mars!

We frequent many of the casinos during our visits and I have never been approached by such a person. We are not huge gamblers, usually play the quarter and fifty-cent slots, and the dollar machines at times. I believe we have "left behind" (and won sometimes) enough money at the casinos to warrant some contact with a casino host.

This is the one area of playing that I am still confused about. Thanks for your help.

GB

Dear GB,

Slot hosts do exist and I've even had them come by and introduce themselves while I was playing. In Las Vegas. Never in Atlantic City.

Most Atlantic City casinos just have hosts. They don't have separate hosts for table games players and slot players. In my experience, the hosts most frequently deal with table games players. The slot players use the kiosks or go to the players club booth.

The host system isn't as well developed in Atlantic City as it is in Las Vegas, but the hosts are there. My impression, though, is that AC's hosts only deal with high-level players.

Here's my suggested game plan for getting to a host: Ask at the VIP desk to speak to host. You're going to ask the host for some very small favor--for example, three buffets when the kiosks only offer two. The host will check your record and probably give you the buffet. If you're lucky, the host will give you his or her card and tell you to call if you need anything in the future. If not, you still have the extra buffet.

As for your first question, room offers that include Friday and Saturday night do require a higher level of play than you're currently giving. Unless you have a problem getting time off from work, I suggest sticking with the easier-to-get and less crowded weekdays.

Best of luck in and out of the casinos,
John

Send your slot and video poker questions to John Robison, Slot Expert, at slotexpert@comcast.net.