To put it simply Brien, a casino host is employed by the casino to arrange for free stuff or discounts or upgrades for patrons based on the level of play of those patrons.

If you want to stay at a casino/hotel that you've never stayed at, ask for a host when you call to make a room reservation. Just by talking to a host while making the reservation, you should be able to get a better room rate. Most will tell you up front what average levels of betting and hours played per day at those levels will earn you in comp's. You then ask for a host when checking out of a casino/hotel on your first stay to see if they will discount or comp your room.

Once the casino knows you, they start sending you offers in the mail. The offers are dependent on your level of betting, and the larger it is, the more personal the treatment becomes, as do the incentives beyond free rooms and food. The two best comp's I ever received were both at the Paris. One was an 18th floor room overlooking the Bellagio fountains plus two heavy weight fight tickets. The other was a corner petite-suite on the 28th floor. Out one window were the Bellagio fountains again, and out the other window was a view of the strip to the south.

The best part is, you get this stuff even if you are winning!

Bob