What Las Vegas parlance calls “whales” is, in fact, the cream of the crop of the high-roller species. They are a handful of people who, in some opinions, do not exceed 500 individuals in the world. Las Vegas hoteliers are crazy about them; some say that four or five of those whales bet much more than the rest of the thousands of customers they receive daily. No wonder they are suspected of going so far as to sell their firstborn to bring one of those whales into their play area.
Five tips to recognize a whale
* the size of the bet: $50,000 is the minimum; Australian tycoon Kerry Packer likes to play seven hands of blackjack at once; his max bet was $375,000;
* the credit line: 4 to 5 million dollars for a weekend; a fortune for us ordinary earthlings, pocket money for a “whale”;
* the gift: the whales get all the gifts of the hotel they play in: fine dining, luxury accommodations, private jet transportation, expensive gifts… often the US visa for Asian high rollers;
* the escort: usually includes bodyguards, pretty girls and close friends; Las Vegas history has recorded a legendary tale in which Saudi Prince Adnan Khashoggi dropped by for a bet on Stardust with an entourage of a dozen people;
* generosity: whether they win or lose, everyone is happy while playing; The “whales” do not skimp on tips or gifts.
While “whales” number only a few hundred in the world, the numbers they can afford to lose are simply staggering; that’s why hoteliers pay for specially trained “whaling” staff. Asians form a large part of this exclusive market, around 80%. The bottom line is that they keep coming in, at the same rate, after eleven past nine.
Unfortunately, Las Vegas seems to be experiencing a decline in the number of whales these days. One reason, which all hoteliers agree on, is that they don’t get as much privacy in Las Vegas casinos as they normally would in other gaming destinations around the world. While Las Vegas hoteliers wait for their VIP lounges to be approved, the “whales” are playing it in Macao, Monaco or Australia.