The Truth About Online Casino VIP Hosts

When you log in to your go-to online casino, you’re greeted by a familiar friend who knows you, your favorite games, and maybe even your dog’s name.

Your online casino VIP host is not only your buddy but someone who supplies you with a steady stream of perks that are hard to pass up. When you stop to think about it, maybe that’s not such a good thing.

Are they simply providing you with a specialized experience, or are they expert enablers trained to drain your bank account? In this article, I’ll explore the role of online casino VIP hosts, the controversy of their practices, and what you need to watch out for.

Are Casino VIP Hosts Really Trained to Keep You Gambling?

Online casino operators will tell you that VIP hosts are simply there to offer the player a bespoke experience. On the flip side, many responsible gambling advocates feel that VIP hosts focus on keeping gamblers engaged to their detriment, prioritizing profit over the player’s well-being. 

Here’s what we do know. Hosts are there to build a relationship with you, offer you tailored promotions, and make you feel special. Why? The casino wants to keep your patronage, of course. The goal of its special treatment is to get you to maintain your level of gambling, if not increase it. 

Which is fine if the player is in control and gambling within their means.

But do they also know how to identify problem gambling behavior and offer solutions? Most operators would say, yes, that responsible gambling training is part of their protocol.

While that may be true, there are no laws in the US ensuring its practice, so how and if they implement it is entirely up to the operator.

When VIP Hosts Push Too Far: Real Stories of Addiction

There has been much debate and controversy surrounding the ethics of VIP hosts. Many are worried that not only could they create a gambling problem but that they ignore the signs when it’s already there.

A recent string of high-profile cases in the US has brought to light how hosts have supposedly encouraged gambling in those who display clear signs of addiction.  

Kavita Fischer: From High Roller to Mortgage Pleas

Psychiatrist Kavita Fischer lost $400,000 over the course of a year when she was upgraded to VIP status with DraftKings, receiving frequent promotions and encouragement from her host. She is suing the sportsbook for allegedly promoting her to gamble while showing signs of addiction.

She says that despite increasingly concerning behavior and hints to her host that she had a problem, the incentives to gamble kept rolling in, even after she asked her host for a loan to afford her mortgage. 

Sam Antar: $24 Million Lost Under VIP Watch

Sam Antar, an electronics chain heir, sued BetMGM and other entities for allegedly enticing him to gamble away $24 million online between 2019 and 2020. He claimed that his VIP host encouraged him to gamble by contacting him repeatedly with offers despite being aware of his addiction.

Amit Patel: 100 Messages a Day

Amit Patel, a former Jacksonville Jaguars employee, sued FanDuel for incentivizing him to gamble while showing obvious signs of addiction. The suit stated that Patel’s host, Brett Krause, contacted him up to 100 times a day between late 2021 and early 2023, including on days he wasn’t gambling, to find out why. 

While most of these cases did not rule in favor of the plaintiff, their stories highlight how VIP hosts are potentially manipulating their clients.

How Some Regions Are Reforming VIP Host Practices

Despite numerous lawsuits being brought against online casinos and sportsbooks in the US for their VIP host tactics, the laws have not changed. However, other regions of the world are making moves to reform how VIP hosts interact with clients.

The UK Gambling Commission implemented new rules in 2020 that target predatory VIP practices. Casino operators must meet certain guidelines before making a player a VIP, which include requiring proof that a gambler is playing within their financial means, assessing their gambling harm risk, obtaining current proof of identity, occupation, and source of funds, and conducting ongoing gambling harm checks. 

Under the regulations, there was a 70% reduction in players elevated to VIP status. However, these standards only apply to UKGC-licensed online casinos. Other sites may not have to follow any protocol when it comes to players at risk.

What You Can Do to Protect Yourself

For the most part, protecting yourself from the potential problems that come with VIP access is up to you. Here are a few things you can do.

Know Your Boundaries

Online casino VIP hosts offer access to exclusive perks, but it’s a fine line between an enhanced experience and being exploited. Their tactics of engagement are designed to encourage gambling and could be a problem for vulnerable players.

Until more protections are in place, it’s up to you to know your boundaries and recognize if special treatment becomes manipulation.