The standard luxury hotel room in a major casino resort is beautiful, but it represents only the absolute bottom tier of what the property offers.
They exist for one reason only: to entice multi-million dollar ‘whales’ to stay and gamble massive sums of money at that specific property.
Inside the $100,000-a-Night Empathy Suite
Designed entirely by the famous contemporary artist Damien Hirst, this two-story sky villa is a massive, livable art installation.
While wealthy tourists occasionally rent it for massive parties, the suite is primarily reserved as a free ‘comp’ for casino players with a $1 million credit line.
- Guests of the suite are instantly granted the absolute highest tier of VIP status on the casino floor, skipping every single line in the building
- The villa features a massive Himalayan salt room, designed to provide private wellness and detox treatments after a long night of gambling
- Because the suite is primarily a marketing tool for high-rollers, the actual ‘cash’ price is rarely paid; it operates as a loss-leader for the casino
The Mansions at MGM Grand and Macau’s VIP Villas
Hidden behind a massive, unmarked gate within the MGM Grand complex is a completely separate, highly secure Tuscan-themed village.
These Asian villas are designed to allow a high-roller to gamble millions of dollars in absolute secrecy without ever having to step onto the public casino floor.
| Business Strategy | The Casino’s Cost | The Expected Return |
|---|---|---|
| The Villa Build | $20 Million to construct the suite | A single whale losing $5 Million in one weekend |
| The Staffing | Employing 5 full-time staff for one room | Ensuring the whale never leaves the property to gamble elsewhere |
These ultra-luxurious suites are a fascinating testament to the incredible amount of money generated by the high-stakes gambling industry.