Theoretical is important mainly because that's how CET determines your value to them as a player.

I found out my theo from the last trip from that Tahoe host I was arguing with, because I was bragging about how much I played on my last New Orleans trip, and he responded by telling me that I "only" generated $1185 theo, which only broke out to about $400 per day.

I actually lost around $1800, which is just about the expected loss (slightly better) if you don't hit a natural royal in that game (which I didn't).