Fittingly, a player known as a whale is a reference to being the biggest fish in the metaphorical casino sea.
Whales vs. high rollers – what exactly is the difference? Truth is, there isn’t one. Both references refer to a casino player that consistently wagers large amounts of money and has an incredibly large bankroll to back them.
Whales typically have a budget (front money or a credit line) ranging anywhere from $1M to $20M and in a weekend could easily be up or down millions. They‘re usually betting over $25,000 per hand and enjoy the absolute cream of the crop when it comes to comps, freebies, and other perks from the casino.
If you’re into high-stakes gambling, or want to get to that point, check out this guide to high-roller online casinos. We’ll cover the top online gambling sites, bonuses, VIP perks, & more:
Top Sites for High-Roller Online Casinos
We’ve reviewed dozens of casinos to assess their VIP treatment, and our top five truly offer a great casino playing experience and excellent customer service to all their players.
Players who don’t have that kind of budget can still enjoy a great casino playing experience by playing these casinos because they tend to treat players like a VIP as soon as they have some betting volume.
If you’re not a whale yet but still want to be treated like a VIP, we recommend:
Throughout the world, it’s estimated that there are probably less than 200 mega whales ($10M bankroll and up) so the casinos are fiercely competing for this segment of the market since it can have a huge effect on their profits each quarter.
So, who are the biggest whales of all time? Below we’ve compiled a comprehensive list that profiles some of the most prolific high-rolling gamblers ever to grace the casino scene.
How Casinos Attract Players
Every casino, whether land-based or online, has the same goal – to attract players and keep them happy. Both land-based and online casinos must take a dynamic approach to gain a competitive advantage over the competition which includes the design of their property and websites, its amenities, the level of customer service provided, online perks, and its rewards program.
When it comes to whale gambling, a great deal of effort is put into making sure every detail of their requests and expectations is met each time they visit.
Suites & Villas
Always free for these players, accommodations are the first step in courting the biggest players and since they usually are traveling with family and/or friends. The accommodations are multi-bedroom penthouse suites or villas that are thousands of square feet. These will always include a butler to attend to any needs, a personal chef, a private pool, massage rooms, fully stocked bars, and much more.
Casino Host
The casino host is the gatekeeper, confidant, and the person that makes things happen. They work for the casino and manage relationships with big players. Their only job is to keep players happy and deal with their requests, which could range from organizing a dinner to getting free show tickets, booking a jet, arranging private gaming tables, and much more. The host is the most important player-facing person in any casino’s operation and a good host can easily help bring in millions of dollars in revenue each and every month.
Comps & Casino High-Roller Perks
In addition to the host, the player will also have negotiated a list of comps, perks, and incentives with the casino. This would include things such as upfront cash bonuses, discounts on losses above a certain amount, free dining credit, and lots more. The range of comps provided to high rollers can vary greatly depending on their play, but when you get to this level you can be sure that you will receive pretty much anything you want from the casino to keep you gambling within their property.
High-Roller Sports Betting
High-roller casinos aren’t exclusive to slots and table games. Many of our recommended sites also feature high-roller sports betting.
High-Roller Bonuses
Many online casinos offer high rollers an exclusive set of bonuses and online perks that are not available to the average gambler.
VIP Rewards
Similar to comps you would receive at a land-based casino, various online casinos offer VIP rewards for their best players.
Rewards, or comp points are received in exchange for bets. The points can be used toward game play or cash bonuses, depending on the casino.
How We Rank High-Roller Casinos
Our casino experts have an extensive list of criteria they check for when ranking high-roller casinos. We take the worry out of the equation and only suggest reputable, secure sites so you can jump right in and start wagering.
The sites we recommend go through a rigorous testing process:
Banking Options and Withdrawals
A secure high-limit casino will offer a multitude of banking options. You’ll find various deposit methods at the sites we recommend including:
- Credit cards
- Cryptocurrencies
- E-wallets
- Checks
- Bank wires
When you hit the jackpot or are ready to withdraw your winnings, the last thing you want to worry about is how long it takes to get your earnings. The sites we select offer fast payouts and a variety of payment methods. A high-stakes online casino with the best payout criteria have high payout percentages, reasonable wagering requirements, and minimal fees.
Bonuses and Promotions
Who doesn’t love a high-roller casino bonus or a chance to boost their bankroll with an online casino promotion? Just because you’re a casino whale doesn’t mean you don’t want the opportunity to indulge in the perks that the best high-roller casino offers.
The casinos on our list above offer the best bonuses available.
When you play at an online casino high-roller bonus site that we recommend, expect to see a large variety of bonuses and promotions.
- Welcome Bonus
- Deposit Bonus
- Referral Bonus
- Crypto Bonus
- Reload Bonus
- Cashbacks and Rebates Promos
- Weekly, Monthly, and Event Promos
Some sites will even offer a high-roller no deposit bonus to entice you to play.
Online Security and Safety
When you gamble online, the last thing you want to worry about is whether or not the site is secure. All of the sites we recommend are licensed, legitimate platforms.
Game Selection and Quality
Gambling at online casinos should be just as enjoyable an experience as gambling in a land-based casino. One feature that makes casino wagering fun is the variety of games to play.
Legit high-roller gambling will offer an assortment of games for their players to experience. Here are some popular high-roller game choices you’ll find at our recommended online casinos.
Reputable casino sites use RNGs (random number generators) to ensure the games are fair. They also use trusted software providers.
Another factor we look for when evaluating trusted sites is the number of games available. Many of the sites our experts have vetted for you include a plethora of game variations and live dealer options. Whether you want a slot machine that’s Santa-themed or features members of the band Kiss, chances are you’ll find something you like.
Managing Bankroll Wisely as a High Roller
Whether you’re a baccarat whale, a blackjack whale, or a sports betting whale, you still need to manage your bankroll wisely.
Even the best high-roller casino players need to have a solid strategy when wagering at a real-money casino. Bankroll management equates to setting limits based on what you’re financially comfortable with.
Once you determine what you’re comfortable with, the next step is to set a budget and stick with it.
Bankroll Management Tips
Managing your bank roll requires discipline and self-control. Here are some universal tips to keep in mind for smart bankroll management.
- Set a Limit – Not only are you setting an overall limit – but also consider setting a per-hand limit.
- Bring Only What You Will Spend – If you have more funds accessible than the budget you’ve allotted yourself, you may be tempted to spend more.
- Take Your Time – Don’t rush through the game, instead, play slowly and savor the anticipation. Avoid auto-play on slots and multi-spin and multi-hand versions of table games to make your bankroll last longer.
- Bet Small – You can still be a high roller and bet small. The smaller the bet, the more hands you can play. Staying slow and steady will help stretch your bankroll further and keep you playing for longer.
- Look for Low House Edge Games – Blackjack, baccarat, craps, and poker all have a low house edge.
- Don’t Let Your Emotions Guide You – Avoid being reactive to wins and losses. Instead, use a more aggressive strategy when winning, and don’t bet per round or raise the stakes if things aren’t going in your favor.
- Take a Break – Even casino whales need a break. Being tired, hungry, thirsty, or in need of a bathroom break can be a big distraction. Stretch your legs, practice deep breathing, and take frequent breaks to stay calm and collected.
- Avoid Chasing Losses – Elevating your bets when you start to lose does not usually work in a player’s favor. Stick to the limits you set for yourself before you started playing.
- Stick to the Budget – Don’t negotiate with yourself. Anticipate that you may have some bad beats or things may not go the way you expected. Avoid giving in to the gambler’s fallacy and fooling yourself into thinking that if you exceed your bankroll, you’ll come out ahead.
- Set a Win Goal – Before you start to play, pick an amount you’d be happy to win. Once you win that amount, end your gambling session.
- Have Fun and Take Your Winnings Home – It may sound simple enough, but sometimes gamblers forget to enjoy the game! To keep track of what you win and what you spend, don’t re-wager your winnings. Keep them separate from your bankroll and you’ll know exactly how much you won and lost.
Stories of the Top Casino Whales of All Time
Adnan Khashoggi
An international arms dealer that stiffed the Ritz Casino in London, England for over £3.2M over 12 visits to the casinos in the 1980s. The son of a personal physician to the Saudi King, Khasoggi mainly played baccarat during his gambling sprees and was known to spend long amounts of time playing whenever he was on trips to the casinos in London.
Archie Karas
On his arrival in Las Vegas, Karas had only $50 in his pocket, and somehow managed to run this up to over $40M before losing it all. Although he’s an avid poker player, his love of craps is ultimately what allowed for this massive run to take place, which occurred over a number of years across multiple casinos in Las Vegas – he still plays to this day.
Akio Kashiwagi
Perhaps the biggest gambler to grace Las Vegas during the 70’s and 80’s, Kashiwagi was a fearless baccarat player and often wagered upwards of $100,000 to $200,000 per hand during his sessions. Akio was found murdered in his home in Japan in 1992 and it’s widely suspected that organized crime played a role in his demise.
Charles Barkley
Famous NBA star Charles Barkley is admittedly fond of gambling and estimates he’s lost close to $30M over his lifetime. His main game is Blackjack and the BestUsCasinos.org team has actually seen him play live at The Wynn hotel before. He usually plays on the main open floor and is very friendly, allowing people to watch him play
Don Johnson
Johnson became famous after the media published articles on how he won almost $15M from two different casinos. It turns out that the casino wasn’t very good at math and offered Don a comp plan that basically flipped the house edge in his favor. This allowed him to amass huge winnings by playing blackjack and working to his advantage.
Fouad al-Zayat
Fouad is a Syrian businessman that is estimated to have lost over $42M over a 12 year gambling binge. Known as “The Fat Man” in gambling circles, Al-Zayat visited some of London’s top casinos over 600 times during the binge and was ultimately sued by one casino for bouncing a cheque for millions in gambling debt – he says he’s stopped now.
Kamel Nacif
Nacif is a very successful businessman from Mexico who made his fortune in the textile business. He visits Las Vegas many times per year and as with most whales plays almost exclusively Baccarat, wagering up to $200,000 per hand. He’s said to have a hair-trigger temper during his sessions if his luck turns for the worse.
Kerry Packer
An Australian business magnate, Kerry Packer was one of the most fearless gamblers of all time, constantly risking tens of millions on every session he played, and he won a lot. Packer booked estimated wins of $9M from Hilton Las Vegas in 1992, and it’s also rumored that he won upwards of $33M from MGM in one particular session at $300K per hand.
Larry Flynt
Flynt was the founder of Hustler adult magazine and a frequent Las Vegas visitor for decades. He was mainly a Blackjack player and risked up to $50,000 per hand. Historically Flynt played mainly at the Las Vegas Hilton but then moved to Hard Rock and other hotels as new hosts courted his action with generous comps.
Mo Chan
A Chinese native high roller, Mo Chan went on an infamous run in Australian casinos taking over $10M from the table playing $300K – $500K per hand in Baccarat. Apparently, he had a falling out with the casino when they limited his play and he vowed never to return. He’s also an elusive gambler as we couldn’t find a picture of him for the page!
Phil Ivey
Arguably the best poker player of all time, Phil Ivey is the embodiment of a true gambler and is known for going on worldwide “craps tours” where he flies to 5 or more casinos in different places around the world. No one knows exactly how much he’s up or down, but he wagers over $100K+ per roll on the craps table and is known to play Baccarat up to $200K/hand.
Ramon DeSage
Ramon was a very well known casino whale on the Strip and was indicted in a fraud scheme by the US Government. It’s estimated that using the funds obtained from his frauds, he wagered and lost close to $175M in various Las Vegas casinos. He’s one of the biggest gamblers of all time to ever grace the Strip and will probably hold onto that record.
Sultan of Brunei
Known as an avid gambler both in London and Las Vegas, the Sultan of Brunei has been known to lose up to $1M per day inside casinos. His main game is Baccarat and he was known to go on long and highly secretive trips where he would spend hours on end at the tables and enjoying all of the comps provided by the casinos.
Terrance Watanabe
Watanabe is the man who has arguably lost the most ever in the history of gambling. While the numbers have never been 100% verified, it’s estimated that he lost upwards of $220M in Las Vegas over a 5 year period. A true house player, Terrance played everything from Blackjack to Keno and slot machines at the casino.
Zhenli Ye Gon
The owner of a huge chemical company in Mexico, Zhenli has been accused of supplying the Mexican drug cartels with precursor chemicals for drug production. He’s also a huge Vegas gambler and is estimated to have lost over $100 million in numerous Las Vegas casinos. When police raided his house, they found over $207M in cash in a room…must be nice.
High-Roller Casino FAQs
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How do I become a high roller?
High rollers play with a large bankroll and make significant bets per hand. Online casinos look for amounts wagered, games played, player behavior, and payout amounts to help pinpoint high roller players. If you’re lucky and wealthy enough to reach this status, the perks will start rolling in.
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Are high rollers eligible for bonuses?
Yes, high rollers are often offered special bonuses, perks, and reward programs not available to the average player. Many casinos pull out all the stops to keep that revenue machine happy.
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Is there a minimum wager to be considered a high roller?
Yes, the amount varies by casino. Information may be found by contacting customer service or reviewing the terms and conditions.
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What are some perks of being a high roller?
High-roller casino players have access to new games before other players, access to higher-limit games, and may have higher limits for deposits and withdrawals to accommodate their bankrolls.
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What’s the difference between a high-roller casino and a regular casino?
High-roller casinos have larger minimum wagering amounts, and offer special rewards, bonuses, and comps to their players.
