Most players who play large in any casino expect to be approached by a casino host at some point and time. However, with more and more ‘large’ players coming onto the scene in the Tunica, Mississippi casinos, it’s often hard to find a host who will still take the time to help you get a room on a sold out weekend or will make sure you are taken care of when you’re in town. There are a few of those hosts left, but very few. If you’re a player headed to Tunica and you play $25.00 plus hands, then you need a host and listed here are two of the best in the online gambling business.

Casino Hosts are a very important asset to the casinos. In my humble opinion, they can make or break a casino by their ability to (or inability to) develop player relationships. Some of the best casino hosts in the business keep their players at arm’s length at all times. By this, I mean they know what their UK bingo players are doing while they are guests of the casino and they know how their doing when they return home. They’ll give them a friendly call to invite them to lunch or take them to dinner when they’re in town and overall, enjoy being able to develop friendships with their players. And that’s what it takes to be a good host.

I used to play at Sam’s Town Hotel and Gambling Hall pretty much exclusively when traveling to Tunica, Mississippi mainly because I traveled from Knoxville, Tennessee on one of the junkets which left the area and because it was convenient. The casino’s junkets were planned by one of their Casino Hosts, John Rice and since I liked him, I went on their junkets.

What makes John a good host is his ability to maintain a friendly and open line of communication with his UK casino players no matter what’s going on with your gaming. There have been some occasions where I was losing at Sam’s Town and would have gone somewhere else to play, but because I was on John’s junket, stayed at Sam’s Town . I wouldn’t have done that for the average host. Normally, I don’t like anyone well enough to stay anywhere and lose my money. However, John has a way about him with his players and he will take care of you, if you take care to play at his casino. He’s mastered the art of becoming friends with his players, which is something any good host should do. That’s why players are loyal to him.

Good hosts also have the ability to come up to you after a losing session and ask, “Are you having fun?” And even though you just left a couple of thousand behind you at the craps table and you don’t feel the best in the world, they’ll make you feel like you had fun losing your money. John has that ability. He’ll ask you if you’re having a good time and even if you say you’re losing , he can laugh it off and say , “ yeah, but you’re having a good time, right?” Then, you’ll laugh about golf stories or he’ll send you off with whatever comps you need. Once you walk away from him, it’s almost like you are thinking to yourself, “wow, it felt so great to lose!”

Another casino host in Mississippi who is top notch can be found across the street from Sam’s Town. Charles Banks is a player development host for Hollywood Casino and Hotel. What I like about Charles is that there is nothing not to like about Charles. He is very visible in the casino and frequently checks on his players during their stay to make sure they are having a good time. I met Charles at a Craps table at Hollywood one morning when I’d won quite a bit the night before and still couldn’t bring myself to walk away and get some sleep. Charles came up, offered me his card and told me if I needed anything to let him know.

That particular trip I started out at the Gold Strike when I first came into town because I just ‘landed’ there when I met up with some friends to play baccarat. My landing at the Gold Strike lasted about 2 nights and because I was on the 18th floor, I wasn’t too happy to be there so I moved to Hollywood based on Charles’ recommendation and invitation.

This is what I really like about a host. They give players options and I like options. If you know a good casino host, then you don’t have to think about your next trip, you just call and tell them you are going to be in town and everything is taken care of for you. They know that you like to have a room close to the casino floor (at Hollywood I like to look out over it) and they know that you like your refrigerator stocked with water, diet coke and ruby red grapefruit juice. Charles knows that if I’m traveling by myself I may not go out to eat much so he puts a fruit and cheese tray with lots of Swiss cheese and strawberries in my room. He pampers me and I like that.

What really sets Charles apart from other hosts is that he will call to say, “Hi, how are ya?” Without the typical spill of “when are you coming back to play?” That’s appreciated.

So, when your bags are packed and you’re headed out the door to Tunica, Mississippi; call and ask for player development. At Sam’s Town, call for John Rice at 800-456-0711, or call Charles Banks at Hollywood (800-871-0711). These guys will take care of you and you’ll quickly understand why they are the two best casino hosts in Tunica’s gaming business!