Much of what you say is probably true in many, if not most cases, but I've commented on the specific differences below. I can tell you that from my perspective, it is a great deal for the player: I get everything I normally get from HET as a Diamond, plus other things like the occasional suite, gift baskets, show tickets I did not get in the "my offers" site. And we can take part in various free junkets and cruises if we want to.
I've never been shut out from getting a room when I want one, and I've never paid for food, etc. And I am not a weekly or even monthly player. We now make only a couple of trips per year to AC, and maybe one every 2-3 years to LV. We used to get down to AC more often, maybe once every 6-8 weeks or so, but since we moved, we more often hit Mohegan.
An indepedent host is one you will almost never find on property, they >might not even be located in Vegas.
Actually, mine is AC-based, but is quite often at the various casinos she represents. She nearly always finds us on the floor at least once during our trip
Usually they work with several properties, usually independents like Hard >Rock, Palms, Golden Nugget or they might work exclusively for a mega >company like Harrah's. They must be licensed by in Nevada or at least >approved as independent hosts by Gaming.
She does work mostly with Harrahs, but as far as licensing, I don't know if NJ requires it
In Nevada, I think they must be compensated off theo, at some >percentage, not win or loss. Many Indian tribes use the same independents >and they are often paid only if you lose.
Don't know what the compensation structure is for her, but she's never pressured us for more play, etc. She did mention once that a particular cruise or junket, I forget which, was looking for 4 hours a day of play.
From a player standpoint, they are not best because if you need something >on property, a host on property will give you the brushoff if you were >brought in by an independent in many cases, but the same would apply if >you were brought by a regional marketing person who was an employee, >but say based in NYC or Dallas.
Not true in this case, she is immediately available by beeper to get us whatever we need(entertainment, late checkout, reservations,etc.)
Who becomes independents? , burnt out older hosts who can't get a regular >job, but the casino is willing to pay them on "contingency"
Sometimes the independents are good, but have problems working in a >corporate enviornment because they are too entreprenuerial, but usually >it is the former.
In this case, definitely NOT the former. She started & has built up a business that employs several people and has been around, I would estimate at least 20 years
You cannot find an independent by accident, they find you - as newbie >they won't but when you have been around for a while, your name ends up >on everyone's mailing list, rolodex etc - hosts move around and soon you >will be getting mail from hosts you have never met, but claim they met you >at XXXX property - they stole a list on the way out the door - happens all >the time.
She originally was working as a host at Casino X, and was our host. She called us before she left and said that she was leaving X and would be working with Y. When I told her that I guess we were moving to "Y", a long-term relationship was begun.