JUST LIKE IN VEGAS, HIGH ROLLERS GET ALL THE PERKS
In Vegas, the more you lose, the more you get. High rollers are feted with a blizzard of perks and schwag — penthouse suites, plane rides, limo service, meals, drinks, shows, and if you believe the rumors, the occasional showgirl. But on the Internet, if you lose a few grand you get � nothing. Zippo. Nada. Until now.
This fall, online gaming giant BETonSports unveiled the VIP Club in San Jose, Costa Rica. The resort — a first in the $11.4 billion-grossing online gambling business — is a reward for loyal customers, who receive airfare and two-night stays on the house. The amenities include a four-star restaurant, a cigar shop, and an onsite casino. BETonSports, which already has more than 50,000 customers and pulled in $1 billion last year, is banking on buzz from its late-August opening-night party. The fiesta featured the burlesque overkill of Carmen Electra and attracted the B-list likes of That �70s Show stars Danny Masterson, Wilmer Valderrama, and Ashton Kutcher.
But don�t pack your bags just yet. To qualify as a loyal customer, you need to bet an average of $25 at least 10 times a week for 24 consecutive weeks — or about six grand. Will the offshore club rake in the high rollers online? For that kind of money, you might as well go to Vegas.
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