What Exactly is a High Roller?

Willie Nelson, if you answered, we'd send you back to Colorado for some better jokes. If you thought it was the 550-foot-tall Ferris wheel at Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas, you'd be right - it's called the 'High Roller,' but that's not what we're talking about.

What we're talking about in this article are the 'Whales,' or 'Money Players,' who have the deepest pockets of any casino player. It is not enough to have a lot of money; you must also gamble that money. To be considered a high roller, you must place large bets. You must walk the high roller's walk, pay your dues, tip generously, and arrive in style.

What Characteristics Define a High Roller?

It's not just about money; it's about a way of life, a club, or a concept. It's a different take on value, standards, and, most importantly, generosity. Some celebrities are high rollers, but not everyone famous is a known gambler and thus does not qualify for the 'High Roller' title.

A High Roller Participates

Here's the deal. You are not a high-roller if you do not gamble. To achieve high-roller status, you must play the game. Nobody cares about the bets you considered placing. It's all about a gaudy display of wealth and recklessness; you must participate.

To be classified as a high roller, you must wager large sums of money. It doesn't matter where you're from, what you're wearing, or how much money you have in the bank; it's all about the money on the table. The more money you put on the table, the more appealing you will be to casinos.

Most casinos in Las Vegas, where there are many mega-resorts competing for customers, hunt whales. "Catch a rabbit, and the family eats for a day," as the old Alaskan proverb goes. Catch a whale, and the village will have enough food for the entire year." That is why high rollers are known as whales; their massive bets usually bankrupt the casino.

Tip Well, High Rollers

If you put your money where your mouth is, you're a true high roller. You'll want the best service if you want to live the lifestyle. You won't get good service for long if you don't tip. The point is, if you're a serious gambler, tips should be a minor part of your session.

Consider it from the other side. Wouldn't you rather have a high roller as a customer than the average Joe as a service worker, waiter, bartender, or driver? The average customer will give you an average tip, show you average appreciation, and provide little social opportunity. A high roller can change your life for the better, make your job more exciting, and even make you feel special just for having the opportunity to serve them.

This social trade-off has always appealed to me. I tip everywhere I go, even when it's specifically forbidden. If they refuse your cash tip, get them a drink or at the very least a genuine compliment.

Every High Roller is 'Comped.'

Getting 'Comped,' or complimentary concessions, are something that casinos do in order to stay competitive and reward the loyalty of their best customers.

As a high roller, you can expect anything from a free bottle of Champagne and a luxury hotel stay to a free car. High rollers are compensated for both wins and losses. In the eyes of the casino, it's not about individual wins or losses; they just know that if they keep big players at their hotels, the math will work out.

Don't be surprised if the house sends you a small gift after you lose a large wager. They might even give you a discount to get you back into the game. If your loss was significant enough, you might be able to obtain the keys to a lovely villa. The casinos don't want to ruin their perfectly good relationship with your money.

Casino executives will want to be your friends. They are not afraid to put on a show in order to gain your focus and attention.

Your high roller lifestyle does not end when you leave. You've probably made some new friends if you've won or lost enough money at the casino. These are the casino employees who send you gifts, call you up to kick it, and constantly offer you free stays at your new favorite home away from home; their casino.

Imagine having a celebrity chef personally cook you a meal just for going to a location to play a game you enjoy. Most gamblers are at ease playing in their pajamas, and as a high roller, casinos will do everything they can to keep the game going for you.

The 'High Roller' Exploit (Summary)

Could you be a high roller, even if only for a day? I believe you can, but only if you know how to hack it. When I say "hack," I really mean "change your mindset." Even if you can't afford it forever, you can always live the dream for a day or an hour. With cheap plane tickets, you could visit a gambling mecca like Vegas. You can shop in the same stores, drink in the same clubs, and get discounts on the same meals as a millionaire. You can drink the same glass of wine and have the same chef prepare your meal for a pricey but reasonable $40-$80 per plate. You could close your eyes and imagine yourself as anyone if you bought yourself a $20 cigar, a $20 glass of scotch, and sat on some beautiful furniture in the high-stakes blackjack area.

Just because you don't have the high roller's bankroll doesn't mean you can't impersonate it. You'll need to maintain your 'High Roller' attitude and act the part. You won't be able to pull it off completely with a wrinkled $20 bill, either; you'll need some cash. It's nothing like what the whales do, but you're only looking for some comps. To even consider it, you must have a mental tolerance for extreme gambling, but it is possible.

If you observe the casino staff watching you and notice when they are counting your bets, you can bet more when they are watching you. If you bet a lot for a long period of time, you'll start to get comped.

Another option is to obtain a large credit line from the bank. To pull it off and get their attention, you'll need at least $50,000. You'll want to keep some of it in play to keep it realistic, but if you don't lose any money, it could mean a nice vacation. And by sweet, I mean things like a better hotel room, show tickets, gifts, food, drinks, and service. It may not be a villa at the top of the resort, but if you get on their radar, you can begin to receive some of the high-roller perks. If you play your cards right and get some of the house's money, you might be able to live the high roller dream on a budget.