What Is a High Roller in a Casino? VIP Players Explained

One of the best things about heading to a night out at the casino (or even an online casino) is that it’s a place that everyone can enjoy. Casinos welcome those who have never played casino games before, like to wager small stakes and even those who don’t want to bet at all. 

Casinos are also often happy to open their doors to those who class themselves as high rollers. High rollers are players that like to play with high stakes. Let’s discuss the background of these VIP players in further detail. 

What sort of stakes do high rollers usually play with?

‘High roller’, ‘cheetah’, ‘whale’ – these are just some of the terms that you might have heard of that define these types of players. 

To be considered a high roller it is usually the norm and the expectation that these players will wager large amounts. Usually it is tens of thousands. It’s often fair to assume that during the course of one casino session, a high roller will place high volume wagers.

How can they afford to wager so much?

To be classed as a high roller, it is often the case that these players have a lot of disposable income to spend. The portfolio of a high roller is that they are either high flying executives, business owners, financial gurus or celebrities that come from the world of music, film or sport.

Don’t be mistaken in just thinking that high rollers are men, there are plenty of female high rollers that enjoy an evening at the casino when given the chance to do so. 

Do high rollers play at regular tables?

There could be a chance that you could encounter a high roller if they are betting a few thousand per hand, but usually high rollers have their own tables dedicated or reserved for them. Players may have seen these special high roller areas in a casino near them.

The idea of keeping high rollers together and away from the main casino floor is a common one. Usually high roller areas come with certain perks that aren’t found anywhere else. As well as having their own private tables, they usually have their own bars, direct access to hotel staff who are ready to act on their every need – they may also have a private area to eat and dine.

More importantly, by playing high rollers together this allows these people the opportunity to play together. These players are often afforded the time to decide their strategies without being distracted by questions by regular punters. 

Whilst some players will enjoy the atmosphere that wagering large amounts can create, others would prefer to do their gambling in a much more discrete setting which is what dedicated high roller areas certainly provide.

Do high rollers choose to play at the same casinos?

Although a high roller may choose to play at different casinos, it is often one where they choose to do the majority of their wagering. 

High rollers are treated as VIPs in every sense of the word with casinos usually rolling out the red carpet. 

Take the super casinos in Las Vegas. In return for betting high stakes, casinos will often let the high roller stay in some of the nicest hotel suites for free. Tickets to shows can be provided for free or free dining at exclusive restaurants can also be sorted. 

The biggest casinos often have staff that are hired to purely look after the high rollers. This usually means that anything the high roller desires is usually provided. 

High rollers like to feel that they are special and casinos will often go all out to ensure that this happens.

What games do high rollers like to play?

High roller stakes are often accepted at a whole host of games. Blackjack and roulette are often the most popular, however high stakes gambling can also take place at the baccarat or poker tables. 

Usually a casino will try to get several high rollers together at the same time so that an atmosphere can be built around the tables. 

Does high roller gambling take place at online casinos?

At live casinos such as PokerStars there are specialised tables for players of all levels to play at. At higher stakes tables stakes usually start at a minimum of a few hundred per hand.

Who are some of the most famous high rollers?

As we have outlined earlier in this article, high rollers usually take many different forms and come from many different walks of life. 

One of the most famous high rollers is Dana White. The founder of the UFC, White can sometimes be seen wagering at the blackjack tables. 

Film stars are no strangers to the tables, Brad Pitt, Ben Affleck, Tobey Maguire, Matt Damon and Charlie Sheen have all been known to play when given the opportunity. 

High roller players from the world of sport are common. NBA Analyst Charles Barkley is a frequent visitor of the tables as is former NFL great Peyton Manning. 

What are some of the biggest high roller wins in history?

Although it is the house that usually wins, there have been several instances over the last few decades where high rollers have been able to take home extortionate amounts.

Don Johnson is one of America’s biggest gamblers. A specialist in blackjack, it is reported that in one evening Johnson was able to take home $15 million from a selection of Atlantic City casinos. 

Casinos also attract royalty. The Sultan of Brunei is one of the wealthiest men in the world and has a taste for the finer things in life. Boasting a car collection which is the envy of the world, it is reported that the Sultan would bet $1 million a day on his favourite casino games.

Responsible Gaming

PokerStars encourages players to play responsibly by offering practical advice such as:

• Playing in a fun way, not as a means of earning money.
• Bringing a budget or sticking to a budget.
• Not gambling when you are stressed or upset.
• Balancing gaming with other activities.