In every industry, there are usually small and big players. And among the casino gaming industry’s top players, there are special contenders. The big players are called high rollers, and among them are the elite few called casino whale.
Who is a casino whale? Why are they called that? Are there any benefits to being one? The best casino online sheds more light on these questions in a clear, concise manner.
Casino Whales: A VIP Phenomenon Loved by Casinos
A casino whale is an elite player who gambles with large amounts at land-based or online casinos. Think of the maximum amount you can bet on any casino game, multiply it by five thousand, and you will get the starting amount for casino whales. If a regular player is placing a bet of $10, a casino whale will be looking at betting $50,000, which can get as high as $250,000 or even $500,000.
Casino whales are regarded as the crème de la crème of high rollers. They are the only players who can instantly make a gambling house wealthy or broke. These are people who are given special treatments, bonuses and promotions, and exclusive VIP games. The casino whales can also be found playing more skilled-based games like poker and blackjack rather than chance games like slots. Something we totally understand and for which we have a casino games section worth your while!
Casino Whales Vs High Rollers
In a nutshell, both a whale and a high roller refer to players who wager large amounts of money, but there’s a slight difference in scale and recognition.
A high roller is someone who regularly places big bets, often in casinos or on sports, and enjoys special perks like VIP treatment. They bet substantial amounts, but not necessarily to extreme levels.
A whale, on the other hand, is an even bigger spender—someone who bets extremely large sums, often far beyond what typical high rollers do. Casinos go to great lengths to attract and keep whales due to the massive amounts of money they can wager, offering them luxurious incentives and services.
In short, all whales are high rollers, but not all high rollers are whales. Whales represent the top tier of big spenders.
High rollers, for example, are more commonly seen placing bets like $1,000 through to $5,000 and sometimes $10,000, but not on the same level as casino whales.
In addition, Casino whales further stand out from high rollers because of their bet progression. When a regular player bets up to $1,500, and a high roller bets up to $35,000, a casino whale may have reached $400,000. These players are often worth hundreds of millions and sometimes billions.
The Benefits and Risks of Being a Casino Whale
There are benefits tied to being a casino whale and a few drawbacks to having that title. Below are a few points to note:
Pros
Big rewards and exclusive treatment
The biggest benefit casino whales enjoy is the rewards associated with the games played. They get many exclusive perks and services, like luxurious accommodations, dedicated staff, and VIP access to different functions on the site.
Improved gaming experience
All the perks casino whales enjoy help improve their gaming experience. Casino whales also enjoy special house promotions at online casinos, including high VIP statuses. However, casinos are often generous to both new and existing players.
Cons
High losses
Since casino whales only play high-stakes games, they are also bound to get huge losses. If a regular player loses $700 in one night, a casino whale might lose over $100,000. These debts can also quickly accumulate and cause further problems.
Addiction to the thrills of high-stakes
Casino whales are the easiest to develop a gambling addiction since the thrill is almost ten times that of regular players because of the high stakes attached to it. They are not often very skilled, but that is changing these days.
Too much attention
Being a casino whale can also attract much attention, especially if they win big one night. Since their gameplay is different, they often can’t build meaningful connections with regular players. Not many players can afford their lifestyle.
A Few Historical Casino Whales
There are quite a good number of whales, especially in poker and blackjack. Sultan of Brunei, Bill Benter, and Akio Kashiwagi arguably set a precedent for the casino whales we have today.
Zhenli Ye Gon is another casino whale who was a Chinese man involved in drug trafficking. However, unlike Don Johnson, he was known more for losing and had lost over $157 million in casino gaming escapades in Las Vegas. Also, there have been players like Terrence Watanabe, who lost $200 million on gambling in a single year.
Don Johnson is one of the most recent whales we’ve seen in the industry. He was never found using strategies like card counting, but he placed big bets and knew how to win. There is also Phil Ivey, one of the most successful poker players. He has over $48 million in live winnings. Both of these players are casino whales, and they are also good.
Core Takeaway
Casino whales are easily among the most admired gamblers, mainly because of how much they wager. Also, many are already successful men, ready to spend even more money to enjoy it. However, being one has pros and cons. Things can sometimes go down the hill from there.
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