Customer Reviews

Whale Hunt In The Desert: The Secret Las Vegas Of Superhost Steve Cyr

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4 star:		(3)
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1 star:		(1)

 

 

If you want to read about Las Vegas's highest of high rollers, "whales," and what a casino will do to keep them happy, then this book won't fail to satisfy. Along the way you'll meet Steve Cyr, a young Turk casino host. A host is the casino's employee whose job it is to look after the big players and to keep them happy and, more importantly, keep them coming back and gambling more and more.

Much of the book is built around Cyr and his style (his style can be both inspiring and annoying). Cyr is about 70% time-share/condo salesperson and 35% cruise director and 10% Kato Kaelin (yeah, he's 115%). But the book is more than Cyr and his successful effort to modernize the way casinos market to high rollers. You'll meet some of the whales themselves. You'll find out about the mini-palaces casinos have built just for them. And one subject usually kept off the record is covered: do casinos provide sex to their top players?

The book is not a superficial People Magazine of famous celebs who frequent Vegas. It's about both sides of the table, the whales and the casinos and hosts who harpoon them. The dark side of gambling is offered up as gamblers spin downward out of control, losing millions. There are plenty of details and that's what really distinguishes this book. Other books have touched on the fantasy of the high roller's life. Such as Lifestyles of a High Roller, Anderson's Burning the Tables, Rubin's Comp City and a couple specials on the Travel Channel, but nothing has offered up the depth or detail of Whale Hunt.

The only thing missing from the book is more.

An utterly spellbinding behind-the-scenes look at the world's highest rollers and the professional sycophants/enablers, called casino hosts, who cater to their every whim while encouraging their every base instinct. I couldn't put it down. And Castleman's brief essay on gambling and religion at the end is worth the price of the whole book.

If a non-fiction book can be classified as a page-turner, this is the one. Casino superhost Steve Cyr and the international cast of whales spring from the pages as larger-than-life, almost mythical, characters. Cyr takes center stage as the free-wheeling, fast-talking whale hunter, always pushing the envelope (and changing the entire industry in the process).

I especially enjoyed the cat-and-mouse interplay between Cyr and his "clients." On the one hand, he represents his casino bosses; his earnings are directly tied in to the big money losses of the whales. On the other hand, he must seem like the whales' best buddy, taking their side and making himself available 24/7 to satisfy their every whim. It's a fascinating balancing act, especially when a whale goes on "tilt" and runs the risk of permanently tapping out, thereby damaging Cyr's long-term revenue. I found myself going back and forth, sometimes rooting for Cyr, other times identifying with a particular whale, all the time knowing I could never be either. The later sections on whale psychology (and pathology) are equally fascinating. For anyone who's ever been to Vegas and peeked with amazement into a high-roller salon, marveling at the vast sums of money exchanging hands, this book is a must read.

As a gambler, I learned alot from the book. I never realized my casino host's bonus was tied to our losses. I always thought they were sincere. The book covers most subjects is good detail, however, it seems to loose steam towards the end. It is worth reading, especially if you gamble.

Although the last few chapters are clunky, the rest of the book is so good that I really didn't care! What a fabulous glimpse into the good, the bad, and the truly ugly sides of the cream-of-the-crop gamblers and their relationship with the casinos who host them.

I just was fascinated to peek behind the curtain (or in this case, above the ordinary hotel rooms and inside the high-roller gaming areas).

The next time I'm in Vegas, I'll be doing a lot more than looking for a "fun" slot machine or table game to try out ... I"ll be whale watching!

I've read dozens of books on the subjects of gambling and Las Vegas, and "Whale Hunt" is by far the most entertaining I've ever come across. I've had the opportunity to hang out with Steve Cyr and this book captures him in all his rocket-fueled glory. What an incredible character!

Anyone interested in the history of Vegas and its high-roller culture is going to love the stories that Castleman shares...he has managed to pull back the curtain on a fantasy-world that few mortals will ever glimpse. No punches are pulled and no details are spared. It's also a terrific read...Castleman is a superb writer who keeps things moving at a brisk pace. This one is a must-read.

I enjoyed this book as it informs the reader how the behind the scenes casino hosting business works. What a job to have!

Steve Cyr work's in a fascinating area. He specializes in finding and kowtowing to rich gamblers, using any lures he can to bring them into his host casino. Cyr is an interesting person; all salesman, egotistical, and partly, a real jerk. However, the book itself is very entertaining. Getting a glimpse into the world of high rollers, and the politics involved in hooking them (like fish) is fascinating. I would definately recommend this book for anyone interested in Las Vegas and high rollers.

This book tells the real Vegas!-I was so sick of all the T.V shows that show the old sterotype stories. This book is funny and cool--It let's the real Vegas out into the open--Great read if your a salesman or just want to live like a rock star!!

read it in 2 days. Some great las vegas stories, including all types of different personalities and characters. A good look at whales and how they spend their time in the desert.