iStockphoto / VitalyEdush
Achieving ‘high roller’ status in Las Vegas as a VIP can be achieved in many ways. The ‘perks’ vary heavily across games (tables vs slots) so those serious about achieving VIP status want to choose their path wisely.
A recent Twitter thread went viral from @RickGolfs who describes himself as a ‘mediocre but prolific golfer’. Rick is a Las Vegas high roller and shared how he achieved VIP status at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas.
His path was through the slot machines. Rick says got lucky and achieved Las Vegas high roller status by an early massive win on the $5 slot machines. That propelled him to a big win on the $25 machines. From there he achieved Gold status and got a taste of the Las Vegas high roller life.
Las Vegas ‘VIP’ Reveals How Expensive ‘High Roller’ Status Is To Achieve And If It’s Worth It
Thread: What it's really like being a Vegas Casino "VIP"
I've been a high status player at the Cosmopolitan resort for 7 years. Here is how I got there, how much $$$ it took, the benefits, the actual net gain/losses, and whether it was worth it: pic.twitter.com/BZiJtIYAHy
— Rick Golfs (@Top100Rick) January 18, 2023
From humble beginnings ($5 tables) to Gold status in a night:
How I got status took a lot of luck:
I was playing a $5 slot machine at the Cosmo, expecting to lose a couple hundred and leave. Instead, I played for hours. Then I took the winnings and played a $25 machine for hours as well.
I ended that night with Gold status.
— Rick Golfs (@Top100Rick) January 18, 2023
Once Gold status was achieved as a VIP he got free rooms but he wasn’t yet a proper Las Vegas high roller. That would come later.
With Gold status, my rooms were now free, as well as much of my food and beverage. I was now hooked.
I put $66,188 through the slots in 2016 with a net win of $2,190.62. This is crazy lucky, do not try this at home!!
— Rick Golfs (@Top100Rick) January 18, 2023
In the following year, he leveled up to Platinum Status. You used to get the VIP lounge check-in if you held an Amex Platinum card, I’m not sure if that’s still the case.
2018 I felt like a king. A limo would pick me up. I checked in at the VIP lounge. I was now getting 900 sq foot suites with giant balconies overlooking the Bellagio fountains.
But this came at a cost. $183k through the slots with a net loss of $14,308 dollars. pic.twitter.com/ZrNYSR8sWb
— Rick Golfs (@Top100Rick) January 18, 2023
Rick does NOT want anyone to attempt this with their own money. Here’s his spreadsheet of wins and losses since 2015 playing slots:
I managed to maintain my VIP status to today, with surprisingly (relatively) low losses. Keep in mind, this is NOT normal, my expected return would be losses MUCH higher than this. DO NOT TRY THIS lol.
It's insane that I put $811k through slot machines lol. pic.twitter.com/M4G6tzQv70
— Rick Golfs (@Top100Rick) January 18, 2023
Here’s where it all gets interesting. Rick breaks down the math of becoming a Las Vegas high roller and if the benefits outweigh the costs.
So 7 full years of high limit slots, I lost $34,847. Not great, right?
But going in, that's to be expected. The question is do the comps cancel out the losses? Did I do well enough that essentially gambling was free entertainment?
— Rick Golfs (@Top100Rick) January 18, 2023
$500/night is a low estimate here. Those Cosmo suites are nice. But maybe this Las Vegas high roller is living in a bubble:
In that time, I got 105 free nights at the Cosmo. Most of those suites on weekends, which often run over $1k a night.
I decided to average it to $500 a night value. Also estimated $5,250 in free F&B, and $2,800 in free limo rides. pic.twitter.com/uChHtEzZUf
— Rick Golfs (@Top100Rick) January 18, 2023
In total, this Las Vegas VIP claims to have lost $34,847 in gambling since 2015. But he claims to have gained $60,550 in Las Vegas high roller comps:
So I lost $34,847 gambling.
But I gained $60,550 in "free" suites, food and beverage, and limo rides.
Now, is this a win? Not really, bottom line I still spent the money. BUT, I was going to Vegas regardless, so those free rooms and benefits really did matter.
— Rick Golfs (@Top100Rick) January 18, 2023
He doesn’t advise anyone to follow his lead:
Was it worth it?
100%. Tons of great memories. Also, I visit Vegas 5 times a year regardless to visit my mom, so quite a bit of the money I would have spent anyway.
Should you do it? No, lol. I got insanely lucky. But if you do gamble, get a players card. You never know.
— Rick Golfs (@Top100Rick) January 18, 2023
There are some interesting follow-up questions about being a high roller in Las Vegas. He touches on what it’s taken to maintain his VIP status over the years.
Nope I think slots are just luck. The only skill is knowing that higher limits have better payouts. Penny slots are the worst.
I had to grind to keep status. I had to play a lot even if I didn’t want to lol.
— Rick Golfs (@Top100Rick) January 18, 2023
‘Comps are way better with slots’
Comps are way better with slots.
I did play some tables, just not enough to talk about. These days the odds at blackjack are pretty bad as well.
— Rick Golfs (@Top100Rick) January 18, 2023
He says you shouldn’t follow his lead. Believe him. It seems like there’s an extraordinary amount of luck involved.