# Friday night, $2,000 at the casino **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [April 27, 2025, 6:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/friday-night-2-000-at-the-casino/1017555 "2025-04-27T06:39:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 9
**Author:** ![doreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/858c86/32.png) [@doreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doreen)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2025, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/friday-night-2-000-at-the-casino/1017555/161 "2025-04-30T16:40:56Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > Again, exactly how much money have you lost over the past 12 months? Is it enough to pay for your own place? Do you even know exactly how much you’ve won or lose? Do you track it in a spreadsheet or notebook? I don’t even track what my husband loses in a year - but let’s put it this way . It’s between $10-$15K most years. He gets comped rooms and food and sometimes flights - but not enough nights to live in casinos full-time. And if he doesn’t gamble enough , the comps get cut off. They aren’t going to comp him 365 nights if he loses$10-15K a year. > [@MW\_Degen\_Gamblr](#): > > If I’m out of town, my buddies who live in town will give up their comped room coupons because they are no use to them. What casino are you talking about that gives your friends coupons for comped rooms that they can give to you? Never heard of that. My husband can get other people rooms at a discount- but he has to call his host and make the arrangements. And it’s only a discount - free rooms have to be in his name and he has to check in. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2025, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/friday-night-2-000-at-the-casino/1017555/162 "2025-05-01T01:44:20Z")
> [@MW\_Degen\_Gamblr](#): > > Learning theories will only take you so far. There needs to be practice and experience. Aren’t you the guy who lives out of his car? ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2025, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/friday-night-2-000-at-the-casino/1017555/163 "2025-05-01T01:53:36Z")
I don’t think he’s quite said that (I could’ve missed it, not saying you’re completely wrong) I think he has a day job and a place. Maybe they’ll come back and tell us. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2025, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/friday-night-2-000-at-the-casino/1017555/164 "2025-05-01T02:00:42Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > I don’t think he’s quite said that (I could’ve missed it, not saying you’re completely wrong) He has in other threads (iirc). ---
**Author:** ![MW\_Degen\_Gamblr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ec9cab/32.png) [@MW\_Degen\_Gamblr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MW_Degen_Gamblr)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2025, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/friday-night-2-000-at-the-casino/1017555/165 "2025-05-01T02:17:32Z")
You must have me mixed up with someone else. I do not live out of my car, I still want to get pv$$y. ---
**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2025, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/friday-night-2-000-at-the-casino/1017555/166 "2025-05-01T02:24:34Z")
Moderating: > [@MW\_Degen\_Gamblr](#): > > I don’t have to close my curtains. I can dance naked if I want to. I can masturbate while watching the sunrise. > [@MW\_Degen\_Gamblr](#): > > I do not live out of my car, I still want to get pv$$y. Let’s dial it back with the Penthouse-like posts. You can make your points without referencing your sexual habits. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2025, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/friday-night-2-000-at-the-casino/1017555/167 "2025-05-01T02:56:35Z")
And if this rare process is abused, your friends can lose their privileges. Frankly, I think you would have to be gambling a lot more than you claim to be treated like the whale you say they treat you like. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2025, 7:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/friday-night-2-000-at-the-casino/1017555/168 "2025-05-01T07:45:20Z")
> [@MW\_Degen\_Gamblr](#): > > You must have me mixed up with someone else. My apologies. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2025, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/friday-night-2-000-at-the-casino/1017555/169 "2025-05-01T13:41:03Z")
As to whale or not, I suspect the sleazy dive casinos in the Midwest that cater mostly to degenerates ( 😉 ) have rather lower standards for everything than does one of the big hotels in Las Vegas. So getting a room comp for a $100 loss is not inconceivable in e.g. Keokuck, whereas at some fancy Vegas joint you gotta lose $5K to get a “free” room. I also would not be surprised at any venue regardless of (lack of) grandeur that the generosity of room comps varies a lot along with their paid occupancy rate. IOW a usually-full hotel gives out few comps and only to serious whales. A usually half-filled hotel would give out more, since the marginal cost of using an otherwise-empty room is pretty nil, and they hope to make it up on food & booze purchases and casino losses. No non-trump casino has ever gone broke by persuading high-frequency gamblers that they’re getting something for nothing. Now whether the OP is overall making a profit or is slowly sinking into economic oblivion is a different question. ---
**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2025, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/friday-night-2-000-at-the-casino/1017555/170 "2025-05-01T14:59:52Z")
Wait…“whale” is someone who loses money? And, you have to pay for booze? I thought it was free while you were gambling. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2025, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/friday-night-2-000-at-the-casino/1017555/171 "2025-05-01T15:00:45Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > Now whether the OP is overall making a profit or is slowly sinking into economic oblivion is a different question. And we’ll never know. I am willing to concede there are outliers that manage to come out ahead gambling. Anything’s possible. but how many of them also post on SD under the self-depreciating handle “degenerate gambler”? ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2025, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/friday-night-2-000-at-the-casino/1017555/172 "2025-05-01T15:05:33Z")
A whale is someone who bets a lot of money and therefore loses a lot of money ---
**Author:** ![doreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/858c86/32.png) [@doreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doreen)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2025, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/friday-night-2-000-at-the-casino/1017555/173 "2025-05-01T15:06:00Z")
It’s normally free when you’re gambling but not if you’re doing anything else - in a restaurant or club or show or at the pool. Or even if you just want better quality booze or wine which you will have to get at a bar. ---
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2025, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/friday-night-2-000-at-the-casino/1017555/174 "2025-05-01T15:13:42Z")
> [@wguy123](#): > > Wait…“whale” is someone who loses money? And, you have to pay for booze? I thought it was free while you were gambling. Spend a lot, lose a lot = whale Spend a little, lose a little, you’re just a minnow; no comps for you. Yes, some casinos will have cocktail waitresses who will walk around & take your orders for (free) booze. Typically well liquors or mass-produced swill beer (Bud, Miller, etc.). You want good stuff? That’s going to cost _you_…unless you’re a whale. ---
**Author:** ![DavidNRockies](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidnrockies/32/6279_2.png) [@DavidNRockies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidNRockies)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2025, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/friday-night-2-000-at-the-casino/1017555/175 "2025-05-01T15:16:26Z")
> Three measures of Gordon’s, one of vodka, half a measure of Kina Lillet. Shake it very well until it’s ice-cold, then add a large thin slice of lemon peel. Got it? [**Bona Fide Whale – 007 style**](https://www.jamesbondlifestyle.com/product/vesper-martini) ---
**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2025, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/friday-night-2-000-at-the-casino/1017555/176 "2025-05-01T15:29:16Z")
I was under the impression comped rooms due to being a “whale” was a status thing. Color me surprised to find out it means you are a huge loser. ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2025, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/friday-night-2-000-at-the-casino/1017555/177 "2025-05-01T15:36:32Z")
> [@wguy123](#): > > Color me surprised to find out it means you are a huge loser. The “say it out loud” part is “huge”. “Loser” is the the unstated but inevitable part. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2025, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/friday-night-2-000-at-the-casino/1017555/178 "2025-05-01T15:46:12Z")
Generally a whale means a customer who’s a big spender. That could be someone who buys a lot of jewelry from a shop or is one of the top donors to a charity or gambles a lot in a casino. Regardless, you give them perks and kiss their ass. ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2025, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/friday-night-2-000-at-the-casino/1017555/179 "2025-05-01T15:46:22Z")
> [@doreen](#): > > I don’t even track what my husband loses in a year - but let’s put it this way . It’s between $10-$15K most years. That’s around $1K a month. A typical mortgage payment in my area. Wow. ---
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2025, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/friday-night-2-000-at-the-casino/1017555/180 "2025-05-01T15:49:14Z")
> [@wguy123](#): > > I was under the impression comped rooms due to being a “whale” was a status thing. Color me surprised to find out it means you are a huge loser. You’re looking at it from the wrong side of the coin. _The casino_ is a huge winner. They _want_ someone like you to come back & will therefore give you perks, meal, rooms, concert tix. They especially like to give away rooms as it means you’ll be there longer & probably make them even bigger winners. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/friday-night-2-000-at-the-casino/1017555.md?page=8) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/friday-night-2-000-at-the-casino/1017555.md?page=10)