A Whale of a Tale – Las Vegas Style!

February 24, 2012

In Las Vegas, the high rollers are called Whales because they have the money to live large in a city that does nothing in a small way. To be classified as a Whale, a gambler needs to have financial resources that permit him/her to obtain a five million dollar line of credit.  Bets of over $50,000 on one hand of cards are not uncommon. An Australian mega-gambler recently lost twenty million dollars in one weekend.

Naturally, with this kind of money involved, Vegas rolls out the red carpet for Whales.  Every aspect of a Whale’s Vegas experience is “compted,” or provided for free, by the casino.  A private jet picks up the Whale in his hometown and flies him to Vegas.  A chauffeur driven limousine meets the plane at the airport and is available to the Whale for the duration of his Vegas stay. A super suite at the top of the casino’s hotel is provided.  These suites are never rented and are given out by invitation only.  They typically have five bedrooms, a luxurious living room, and a fully stocked kitchen and bar.  When the Whale checks into this suite, his personal butler greets him.  This butler will make sure that the Whale’s every need or desire is met.

Where does the Whale dine? He has his choice of the finest and most expensive restaurants in Vegas. The casino, of course, picks up the tab.  Two restaurants often frequented by Whales are Wolfgang Puck’s Spago and Picasso at the Bellagio.

The Via Bellagio is popular for shopping as it houses upscale stores like Hermes, Prada and Tiffany & Co. Those on a “Whale spotting expedition” can also glimpse them at The Forum Shops at Caesar’s Palace where designer shops like Gucci and Versace can be found. If a Whale want to partake of the nightclub scene, he can party with the elite at The Moon inside the Palms or The Bank inside the Bellagio.  And if a Whale wants the ultimate in pampering, he can check out one of the many spas like the Canyon Ranch Spa Club at the Venetian.  It’s the largest spa in North America and one of the finest.

Unfortunately for the rich, only the super rich are wealthy enough to be classified as a Whale.  In fact, there are only about 5,000 mega-gamblers worldwide who rate Whale status.  Viva Las Vegas – and Viva the Whale!