I learned new things about Las Vegas while managing a high-roller suite at the Cosmopolitan

The Boulevard Penthouses, which consist of over 20 suites, are considered the most desirable rooms in town due to their exclusivity. They can only be accessed by invitation, requiring a minimum of one million dollars, preferably two, spent at the Reserve, the hotel's private casino on the 75th floor. The gaming experience is so exclusive that not even James Bond could charm his way through the door. Welcome gifts may include obscure objets d'art or vintage Chanel. The hotel has even hired a full-time chocolatier to create custom-made, edible sculptures inspired by a guest's Instagram account. However, the most popular option is booze. During my shift, guests spent over US$1100 (NZ$1684) on liquor, including a Macallan and Yamazaki whisky bottle. A colleague once told me about a gamer who had basic tastes. They request bottles of wine from the Rothschild estate that cost US$14,000 (NZ$21,440) or Louis XIII cognac, priced at US$4,300 (NZ$6585) per bottle. However, some guests at the Boulevard Penthouse have high-roller stakes but lowbrow tastes. The guests' riders detail everything from their favorite brands of ice cream to the exact number of minutes they like their eggs hard-boiled. On one occasion, I spotted comical instructions. The guest requested American cheese but wanted cheddar. Room service orders can range from green juices to fresh seafood, and off-property requests come with a US$25-per-hour service fee. It is essential to fulfill guest orders accurately. Room service orders can range from green juices to fresh seafood, and off-property requests come with a US$25-per-hour service fee. These requests often involve sending butlers to places like In-N-Out Burger and Target. Regular trips are also made to Chinatown's 99 Ranch Market and T&T Ginseng. These emporiums sell a variety of rare teas and herbs. One of the most unusual items they sell is cordyceps worms. Although called worms, cordyceps are caterpillar-eating fungi hand-picked in the Himalayas and sometimes used like Viagra. They are worth their weight in gold. The Reserve's wins and losses equal the GDP of a small nation. Brian Benowitz, Cosmopolitan's vice president of casino operations, can have the Reserve unlocked, set up with the client's preferred games, and fully staffed within 25 minutes when a high-roller is ready to gamble upward of US$2 million (NZ$3 million). Baccarat is the prevailing game of choice, as it is familiar to more than 50% of Reserve guests who hail from Asia and play it in Macau. The Cosmopolitan has a significant house advantage, which will better incentivize play. The higher the risk, the higher the reward. The Cosmopolitan Hotel receives many pet requests due to its animal-friendly policy. The butlers take care of the pets by walking them around the designated area, purchasing additional dog beds and leashes from Petco, and ordering gourmet feasts from the on-site culinary team. Although dogs are the most common pets, other animals are also pampered at the hotel. The weirdest animal guest was a sugar glider (also known as a flying squirrel) with severe separation anxiety. The highest-maintenance animals were nocturnal snakes that required dozens of blackout shades. Superstitions among high-rollers can quickly escalate from demanding to absurd. Some millionaires will even sleep on the couch because they believe a bed with a headboard will bring bad fortune. Others fill their suites with citrus fruits, often with holes poked in them to 'unleash the luck.' They scatter pierced oranges and lemons around the room, letting them rot during more extended stays. Another lucky practice for clients from the Far East is filling water basins to the brim. One high-roller even flooded his bathtub and the suite below.