Casino Whales.

Casino Whales. They are Big All Right.

Have you ever heard of a strange creature called a Casino Whale? This isn’t something you’re likely to see surfacing off the coast of Vancouver or the Cape of Good Hope.

These boys and girls can be found in the gambling palaces of Las Vegas, Macau and Monaco and they are BIG. Big Spenders that is, and the casinos love ’em.

Let’s take a look into their mysterious world, shall we?

Casino Whales is an industry term for big spending high rollers in the world of gambling. These players can regularly bet hundreds of thousands or even millions of dollars in a single session.

If you follow movie trends, you might think that roulette and poker players make up most of the numbers (something to do with the James Bond film perhaps?) And yes, there are many roulette whales, but the game of choice for your typical Casino Whale is baccarat, particularly in Macau. One of the world’s most famous whales, the late Kerry Packer, probably had a lot to do with this statistic.

In April 2017, a group of Casino Whales won $10million at the Wynn Palace Macau. Ouch!

Casino Whales have been known to bet as much as $5 million in one night – you can see why casinos bend over backwards to try and entice them through the doors. They are a double-edged sword though- some businesses over the years have had to issue profit warnings too their shareholders after a lucky run from one of their high roller punters.

In July 2017, for example, Casino tycoon Steve Wynn reported during a conference call with stock analysts, that a group of Baccarat Whales won $10 million in his Wynn Palace in Macau in April 2017. The win even shocked the casino billionaire. One of his leading casinos lost money for the entire month.

How to Fish For Casino Whales

So how do you attract a whale to your casino? They can be slippery, elusive mammals.

Well, lots of free stuff helps like free luxury limos, cash back on gambling losses, and a free credit card to shop with – that’s always good for persuading the other half to come along for the ride.

You might want to to organise a private concert with one of the Whales favourite bands, and you’ll need somewhere flash for them to stay such as the penthouse suites in the Cosmopolitan. If you bet big enough, you’ll be staying for free (a so called “comp”) or you at least get a fat discount.

Attracting Whales, Some Ideas

Stealing whales (high-rolling gamblers) from competitors in Las Vegas is all about offering better incentives, an exclusive experience, and making them feel like kings and queens. Here’s a strategy that would work:

1. Offer the Biggest and Most Exclusive Perks

Whales don’t care about small perks—they want insane incentives. Try these:

• Crazy comps: Free private jet travel, Penthouse suites, personal butlers, 24/7 concierge service.
• Better loss rebates: If they lose $1M at a competitor, offer them 20% cashback instead of 10%.
• No-limit betting & private rooms: They want privacy and the ability to go big.
• Ultra-exclusive experiences: Think about things they can’t buy anywhere else—dinners with A-list celebrities, access to invite-only events (like VIP Super Bowl suites), or a weekend racing Ferraris with an F1 driver.

2. Personalized High-Touch Service

• Hire the best VIP hosts and pay them well to recruit these whales.
• Assign a dedicated concierge team that takes care of every aspect of their life (not just gambling).
• Have staff study each whale’s habits—their favourite drinks, food, games, and travel preferences.

3. Lower Rake.

• Lower the house edge slightly on their favorite games—make it feel like they’re getting better odds.
• If they win big, make cashing out ultra-fast (some casinos make it a pain to withdraw winnings).

4. Relationship Building

• Make them feel irreplaceable—treat them as the center of your casino universe.
• Have your dealers and staff play to their egos—praising their bets, their skills, and their importance.
• Create a sense of exclusivity—make them feel that they’re one of only a handful of VIPs who get access to the ultra-private gaming floor.

5. Signature Events

• Throw a one-night-only whale event where you fly in all your target whales.
• Offer no-risk bets (if they lose, they get refunded in promo chips).
• Introduce them to an even richer clientele—many whales have a competitive streak.
• Have celebs, sports stars, or billionaire guests attend—whales love networking with the elite.

6. Leverage Their Passions

• If they love nightlife, bring in the best DJs, best private parties.
• If they love sports betting, get them courtside NBA seats or owner’s box tickets.

7. Keep Them Engaged Once They’re In

• Use retention tactics: Offer better bonuses, immediate cashback, and get them emotionally invested in “their” casino.
• If they try to leave for a competitor, match whatever the other casino offers PLUS extra perks.

Here’s some potential whale accommodation: the Nobu Penthouse at Caesars. Not too shabby.

If you want whales, you’ll also need a special place for them to play as they only like hanging out in smaller pods (with other whales mostly). So make sure you have some swish VIP tables, and string some purple rope across the entrance with a few big bouncers on the door.

Whales Like to Eat

Joël Robuchon in the MGM Grand should sort the Whales out from the Minnows. It has 3 Michelin stars and a meal here will set you back around $500. Unless you go crazy on the wine list, in wish you are looking at a considerably higher price tab.

Joël Robuchon

These whales don’t care much for plankton, but they do like their grub, so if you want them in your casino, you’ll need some fancy restaurants, preferably with some Michelin Stars. A meal will probably set you back about $500 by the way, but if you’re a Whale, you might get a freebie.

Other things to pull out of your hat include amazing views of the Strip, an exclusive check-in service, and guaranteed privacy during their stay,

Oh, it’s a Whale’s Life alright!

Definition of a “Whale” in a Las Vegas Strip Casino

A whale is a high-stakes gambler who bets hundreds of thousands to millions of dollars per visit at a casino. Casinos consider them top-tier VIP players and offer luxurious perks, personalised service, and special treatment to keep them gambling at their casino.

Typical Whale Betting Ranges:

“Low-end” whale: Bets $100,000+ per trip.
Mid-tier whale: Bets $500,000 to $1 million+ per trip.
Elite whale: Bets $5 million+ per trip (Ultra-VIP level, private gaming rooms, and crazy comps)

How to Become a Whale

If you want to be treated like a Las Vegas casino whale, you need to:

Gamble with Huge Amounts of Money
You need to consistently bet at least $100,000 per trip to get recognized.
Most whales prefer table games like baccarat, blackjack, and roulette, but high-stakes slots and poker also count.
The bigger your average bet size (not just total losses), the more valuable you are.

The Best Las Vegas Strip Casinos for Whales

• Wynn/Encore (most luxurious, elite high-rollers, especially baccarat players)
• The Venetian (high-end Asian gamblers)
• Bellagio (famous poker, roulette and high-limit rooms)
• Aria (tech and hedge fund whales)
• Resorts World (newest, attracts crypto and international whales)