Playing games and gambling in casinos has been a pastime of people for many centuries. In its impressive and varied history casinos have grown and expanded with the number and types of different games available growing year upon year. As the casino business has developed so has its language with many interesting terms and jargon being used to describe games, betting types and actions commonly. SCRABBLE® is a registered trademark. All intellectual property rights in and to the game are owned in the U.S.A and Canada by Hasbro Inc., and throughout the rest of the world by J.W. Spear & Sons Limited of Maidenhead, Berkshire, England, a subsidiary of Mattel Inc. Mattel and Spear are not affiliated with Hasbro.

  1. Gambling Slang For High Roller Coaster
  2. Gambling Slang For High Roller Lifters
  3. Gambling Slang For High Roller Skates
  4. Gambling Slang For High Rollers

A high roller, also referred to as a whale or cheetah , is a gambler who consistently wagers large amounts of money. High rollers often receive lavish 'comps' from casinos to lure them onto the gambling floors, such as free private jet transfers, limousine use and use of the casinos' best suites. Casinos may also extend credit to a player to continue betting,[1] offer rebates on betting turnover or losses,[2] and salaries of employees may also contain incentive arrangements to bring in high rollers.[3]

The definition of a high roller varies. At Crown Casino in Australia, for example, it involves bringing between AUD$50,000 and $75,000 to the table.[4] High roller players often have very high table limits allowing the high roller exclusive use. Casinos compete on bet limits. In Australia limits of AUD$300,000 are common, in Las Vegas they are between US$150,000 and $300,000, and in Macau they are up to US$500,000. Only casinos with 'substantial financial firepower' can accommodate high-stakes gambling due to the volatility of results.[2]

High rollers may also be subject to exceptions from various rules and regulations; for example the high roller rooms at Crown Casino in Melbourne, Australia are the only licensed venue in the state not subject to a ban on smoking.[5]

High rollers are said to provide only a small fraction of casino business. John Eidsmoe, in his book Legalized Gambling: America's Bad Bet, claims that it is actually gamblers from the lower and lower-middle classes in the United States that provide much of the gambling money. 'The occasional wealthy 'high roller' does indeed exist, but he is the exception, not the standard. The fact that more than 50% of Nevada's gambling income comes from slot machines as opposed to the card tables should be an indication high rollers are not the main source of revenue.'[6]

Gambling Slang For High Roller

One example of a high roller is an Australian man who turned over more than AUD$1.5 billion in a 14-month period from 2005, becoming 'one of Crown's largest Australian players but not in the same league as [its] top international players'.[3] There have been many cases around the world where high rollers have committed fraud to provide funds for gambling beyond their means, after becoming seduced by the lifestyle.[1][7][8] This was the case with famed gambler Terrance Watanabe who reputedly lost over $220M in Las Vegas over a 5-year period, and was ultimately sued by Caesars Entertainment for failing to pay up on markers he took out during the binge totaling $14.75M.[9]

While high rollers may not provide a significant portion of the revenues in the casino industry as a whole, they can have a major effect on the net income of casinos that cater to them. There are significant costs associated with attracting the highest-stakes gamblers, so if a casino takes this risk and the high roller wins, the casino's expenses can be extremely large. Likewise, if the casino's investment pays off and the high roller loses, the casino's gain can far exceed its expenses for the high roller's visit.

Related to high rollers are low rollers. These are people who do not wager large amounts of money, but are nonetheless knowledgeable about gambling and enthusiastically participate in casino programs such as comps and loyalty programs. 'Low roller' may also refer to average casino patrons who are not high rollers.

References[edit]

  1. ^ abRichard C. Paddock (February 15, 2009). 'Debt finally topples a Las Vegas high roller'. Los Angeles Times. articles.latimes.com.
  2. ^ abKate Hagan (June 4, 2009). 'Crown defends high-roller enticements'. The Age. theage.com.au.
  3. ^ abMichael Warner (June 5, 2009). 'Court told of concealed gambling by Crown Casino'. Herald Sun. www.news.com.au. Archived from the original on June 7, 2009.
  4. ^Muriel Reddy (October 5, 2003). 'Betting $330,000 on the turn of a card - National - www.theage.com.au'. The Age. www.theage.com.au.
  5. ^Michael Warner (May 16, 2009). 'Second high-roller deal for Crown casino'. Herald Sun. www.news.com.au. Retrieved November 1, 2012.
  6. ^Eidsmoe, John Legalized Gambling; America's Bad Bet, 1994
  7. ^Anson Cameron (June 7, 2009). 'High-stakes gamblers and the luck delusion'. The Age. theage.com.au.
  8. ^Chee Chee Leung (August 28, 2004). 'Casino glamor seduced lonely man into $1m fraud'. The Age. theage.com.au.
  9. ^Vegas Guy (May 15, 2015). 'Casino whale stories and profiles of biggest high rollers'. Vegas Guy. www.vegasguy.com. Retrieved April 22, 2016.
Roller

External links[edit]

  • The dictionary definition of high roller at Wiktionary
Retrieved from 'https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=High_roller&oldid=993595424'

10 Perks of Being a High Roller

Casinos love catering to patrons that spend a lot of money. They will go out of their way to keep those patrons happy and provide an experience that makes them want to come back for more. The lucky few that make the cut as high rollers can earn a number of lucrative perks. This can be a big deal for active players that are trying to make a living gambling.

Do High Rollers Really Get Great Perks?

What do you think of when you hear the term “high roller”? Perhaps you picture a legend like Kevin MacPhee or Byron Kaverman walking into a casino with a group of fans fawning over them? Extra recognition from casino staff and regulars isn’t the only benefit of being a high roller. Casinos often give fantastic perks to such players as a ‘thank you’ for bringing in extra revenue to the establishment.

Gambling slang for high roller skates

You don’t necessarily need to be a really good player to earn higher roller status. William Bennett, a conservative activist and author of Book of Virtues became a high roller after losing $8 million in the 1990s.

Casinos often give Bennett and other high rollers plenty of perks to keep them spending their money. Casinos also want to encourage high rollers to keep playing at their casinos to make the establishment seem more inviting to other patrons.

What Perks Can You Expect as a High Roller?

  • Cashback Offers

Many live physical casinos offer cashback bonuses to their highest rollers. These bonuses and the requirements to receive them vary by casino, but tend to be pretty similar. This is taken care via bonus play at online casinos.

Cashback bonuses are based on wagers you have placed, and usually start at around 10-15% of your wager. However, some casinos increase cashback benefits to 25% for some of their top VIPs.

+v Sweet Rewards

Most casinos allow all of their players to earn rewards. But the rewards are especially lucrative for players who spend and win a lot.

Many casinos have different player tiers, which allow players to qualify for different rewards. Players must earn a certain number of points each month or quarter to qualify for a tier. For example, some major casinos require high rollers to accumulate 2,500 points a month to enjoy status as exclusive rewards members.

These rewards can include the following:

● Cash ● Tournament entries ● Casino merchandise

The rewards become more valuable as you accumulate more points.

  • VIP Gambling Rooms

Do you hate dealing with drunk and obnoxious patrons? High rollers don’t need to worry about rubbing elbows with annoying gamblers and amateurs. Many casinos offer exclusive VIP gambling rooms for their top spenders.

Some casinos like Macau have actually scaled back on their VIP rooms. However, they’re still a coveted perk for VIPs at almost all casinos.

  • Designated Parking

Finding a parking spot can be one of the most frustrating things about visiting a casino, especially on a busy night during peak hours. Casino managers understand this and don’t want their high rollers going to another casino due to limited parking. As an incentive, free parking is offered to their best patrons to keep them happy.

  • Invitations to the Best Parties

High rollers receive invitations to some of the best parties in the city. As a VIP, you may receive special invites to the Playboy mansion, Marquis, and major pool parties.

Slang

VIP invites are probably the most coveted perk for high rollers. You have the opportunity to wine and dine with some of the most famous people in the world.

  • Ride in Style

Free parking spaces are a nice convenience, but the highest rollers don’t need to worry about parking at all. If you are a real hot shot, casinos may arrange other transportation.

Gambling Slang For High Roller Coaster

Many VIPs ride in limousines or party buses at the casino’s expense. And it can get even better than that – some casinos fly their most valued VIPs in a private jet.

  • Citywide VIP Status

Cities with many major casinos get busy. Hotels are frequently overbooked and restaurants have insane wait times, but that doesn’t hold back high rollers. Casinos arrange for preferential reservations and significantly shorter wait times at the best venues in the city.

Getting the star treatment at the hotel, restaurant, or casino can be a phenomenal perk. However, sometimes getting to cut to the front of the line is the best perk of all.

  • Citywide Discounts

Casinos work closely with other venues throughout the city, and will comp meals at high-end restaurants and help score discounts at hotels. Casinos know one of the best ways to keep their high rollers happy is to ensure a pleasant stay.

  • Meet Celebrities

Gambling Slang For High Roller Lifters

Casinos have deep pockets that help attract some of the biggest celebrities in the world. High rollers often meet the rich and famous when entering the VIP room. Many celebrities are high rollers themselves, so you may even have a chance to play against them.

Gambling Slang For High Roller Skates

  • Special Attention from Staff

Sometimes a little personalized entertainment is the best gift of all. Casinos go to great lengths to keep their valued patrons entertained, especially during special events like birthdays or bachelor parties.

Gambling Slang For High Rollers

Eli Pacino, partner of OAK in Las Vegas, talked about the extra attention that his high rollers can expect. “I treat everyone that walks into my club well, but obviously there’s more attention that goes to people that spend a lot more money,” he told Hollywood Reporter.

Actor Andy Samberg is a high roller and enjoyed the royal treatment during his bachelor party. “He’s got a group called ‘The Lonely Island,’” Pacino said. “They did a song called ‘I’m on a Boat’ with T-Pain. So we built a boat and did a big presentation. There were two busboys holding the boat and a girl inside. We played the song, and they thought it was the coolest thing they’d ever seen.”

Have you ever been a high roller at a major casino? Feel free to share your experiences in the comments below: