We all know that if you gamble lots and often in Las Vegas, you'll get free suites, free travel, and all the Cristal and Cohibas you can stomach. Gamble a little bit and you might get a couple of dinner comps and a discounted room.   But how, exactly, do you arrange
it? Whatever your level of play, Steve Cyr , is a "host" (Vegas slang for a guy who gives you comped stuff in exchange for gambling) you should know. He takes care of whales like Larry Flynt and accommodates plenty of consistently playing low rollers as well. Cyr
is unflappable, assertive, self-employed, and aggressive in getting the casinos to cough up as much as possible for his players (though, like any successful host, he'll push you to gamble to your max). He's the subject of a gritty and revelatory book ( Whale
Hunt in the Desert by Deke Castleman) and is the man you should contact before heading into town. As Cyr himself puts it, "After
a player's gotten here and checked himself into a hotel, he's already lost a lot of his leverage with a guy like me."