Name | Price | DKP | Value | Proj Own | Real Own | Diff |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
De’Aaron Fox | 8200 | 43 | 5.2x | 12.5% | 12.1% | 0.4% |
D Rose | 6800 | 43.25 | 6.4x | 2.5% | 9.7% | 7.2% |
Trevor Ariza | 5400 | 31.75 | 5.9x | 22.5% | 12.5% | 10.0%!! |
Ibaka | 5700 | 17.75 | 3.1x | 5% | 12.2% | 7.2% |
Cody Zeller | 4400 | 19.5 | 4.4x | 5% | 7.2% | 2.2% |
Justise Winslow | 5500 | 32.5 | 5.9x | 7.5% | 9.7% | 2.2% |
Luka Doncic | 8300 | 50.25 | 6.1x | 10% | 13.8% | 3.8% |
Montrezl Harrell | 5700 | 48.25 | 8.5x | 10% | 27.5% | 17.5%!! |
Total | 50000 | 286.25 | 5.725x |
Name | Price | DKP | Value | Proj Own | Real Own | Diff |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
De’Aaron Fox | 8200 | 43 | 5.2x | 12.5% | 12.1% | 0.4% |
D Rose | 6800 | 43.25 | 6.4x | 2.5% | 9.7% | 7.2% |
Trevor Ariza | 5400 | 31.75 | 5.9x | 22.5% | 12.5% | 10.0%!! |
Ibaka | 5700 | 17.75 | 3.1x | 5% | 12.2% | 7.2% |
Cody Zeller | 4400 | 19.5 | 4.4x | 5% | 7.2% | 2.2% |
Justise Winslow | 5500 | 32.5 | 5.9x | 7.5% | 9.7% | 2.2% |
Luka Doncic | 8300 | 50.25 | 6.1x | 10% | 13.8% | 3.8% |
Montrezl Harrell | 5700 | 48.25 | 8.5x | 10% | 27.5% | 17.5%!! |
Total | 50000 | 286.25 | 5.725x |
Questions | Answers |
---|---|
So if he was making more than 500k it would be okay in your book? That's pretty messed up. | Seems like I'd be even more of a piece of shit if I was that successful. |
Are you involved much with the general goings on of the casino? If so, what goes through your head when you see huge amounts of money being gambled away by someone who doesnt know when to walk away? | Yes, I'm an executive so I'm in touch with most everything that goes on. Most of the time when I see something like that, I just say "good for us" and try not to think about whether or not the person can afford it or not. |
How much do you make a year? Unless you are making like $500,000+, then you are a piece of shit. you are destroying thousands of people's lives so that you can make a living and afford your bmw and other status symbols. | I don't make $500K a year so I guess that makes me a piece of shit. |
What is the worst most tasteless thing you or the casino in general did to make money? | I, obviously, like to think I'm uber classy. But in general I think paycheck cashing promotions are pretty tasteless. E.g., Cash your paycheck and get 5% of the total value in free slot play. |
Can you ELi5? Sorry, to me that just sounds like you hand over your $1000 you earned, and get back $50? Which seems wrong...? Or do you get an extra $50? Hmmm... Thoroughly confused myself. | Let's say your check is $1,000. The casino will cash your check and then also give you $50 in promotional credits to be used on the slot machines. The idea is that since we've given you some "free" money to begin playing the machines you will also dip into the $1,000 cash that we also handed you. |
Are there any clauses that prevent you from just spending the $50 in free bets and cashing out the $1k without actually playing with it? | No, you get the $1K in cash and the $50 can only be used in the slot machine. I've done this once when I started my new job and my direct deposit wasn't set up yet so they issued me a live check. |
How many people just walk directly out of the casino after cashing the check with their 5% bonus? | I don't know, I've never run this promotion but generally speaking when we give away promotional credits, the "walk rate" is in the 25% range. |
How often do you go to the strip clubs in vegas? If you go how much do you spend? Do you get treated better if they know what your job is? | I really don't like them so not often unless someone is in town that wants to go. I don't have a moral objection, just think it's a waste. "Hey do you like to eat steak? Give me $20 to smell this delicious steak! No, you can't try it!!!". |
So that having been said, I might spend $20 to give to the girls on the stage and maybe a lap dance. | |
No, I don't get treated better because of my title really. They usually just care about how much money you spend and that's it. | |
What are some sneaky strategies that you use to get people to spend more money? I don't mean obvious things like having ATMs...but things related specifically to gambling.. | Ummm... Off the top of my head I think the sneakiest thing is probably side bets on table games (e.g., play an extra $5 and if your two cards are a pair then you win $25) because the odds are terrible or things like advertising low table game limits but modifying the rules (e.g., blackjack pays 6:5 vs 3:2) to increase the house advantage. |
Some casino customers are super cheap and only play $1 Blackjack. Others are whales and the casino spends a lot of money to attract them, but they are rare. Somewhere in between, I imagine, there are customers who spend a significant amount and exist in numbers to make most of the casino's profits. | First, we quantify most everything by "theoretical worth". That is, how much we can expect to win from you based on the house advantage of the game you play and how long you play. The general formula is decisions per hour X house advantage X hours played X average bet. So, $25/hand at blackjack X 1.5% house advantage X 2 hours played X 60 decisions per hour = $45 in theoretical worth. |
Is that true? How much does a "bread and butter" customer gamble in a day? | Second, It really depends on the particular property. The number is a lot higher for Wynn then it would be at Joker's Wild (a really, really dumpy casino on the outskirts of Vegas). That having been said, most places will be very happy to have you if you are in the $150-300 a day in theoretical worth range. |
That sounds pretty affordable. Assuming a 30% comp return I guess that comes out to $50-90 in comps a day. | 30% includes the stuff we send you in the mail generally too so at the $300 range you could expect a room and a meal a day. |
What kind of awful rules are you using to have a 1.5% house advantage, or is that number based on the average player being really terrible? How much in comps would I actually generate for two hours of $25 a hand Blackjack? | I just threw the 1.5 number out there. We also factor in skill into house advantage so as to be more favorable to the player, comp wise. comp wise we'd probably give you 15% of the $45, or $6.75. That's just in what we call discretionary comps that the pit supervisor or host can give you. Then you could expect another 30% in the mail via free bets, hotel, food, etc. |
I guess you need to register with the casino loyalty club so you know what we are spending. | Correct. |
I currently reside in Arizona, where you can't swing a dead cat without hitting an Indian reservation and - as a result - a casino. | Well I've worked all over the country and, yes, of course we always keep an eye out on new competition that would impact our existing customer base, especially as the business has seen much more legalization in new jurisdictions in the past 20 years. |
The casino/resorts are getting increasingly sophisticated. Better facilities, better entertainment, and better marketing. | For Vegas, I think most strip properties have dealt with this by investing in properties in regional markets so as to send their customers to their Vegas properties so it is pretty accretive. Someone from Harrah's Ak-Chin in the Phoenix area gets offers from Harrah's Las Vegas quite often. |
Is this something the Vegas casinos consider a rising threat, welcome competition, or something else? How do you - as a marketing guy - react to the fact that a trip to a casino no longer necessarily means a trip to Nevada or New Jersey? | The bigger problem really is for the markets where they were a monopoly for some time and really rested on their laurels. Reno and Atlantic City come to mind. Those markets are dying fast and there really isn't much upside. In Atlantic City, for example, you have casinos buying competitors just to close them so as to reduce the inventory. |
What really happens when somebody wins on a slot machine? Like, what is the behind the scenes stuff that we don't see? Are they checking out the cameras to make sure it was that specific person before they payout? What if you switch seats? What if an underage gambler wins?... What if they switch seats with an of-age gambler?? Honestly, I've never done that, but I've always wondered the underage stuff because I've never ever got carded on slots! I've won hand-pays before (nothing really exciting) and they always hit me with the tax form. What do you guys do with the tax form? Does it get sent out from you guys or does it remain my responsibility from thereon? | I worked as a slot analyst (analyzing machine performance) years ago and never on the floor so I don't know/remember the exact steps. Essentially, though, it's verifying that the machine is functioning properly and recording the details of the jackpot for audit/regulators. If it is a taxable jackpot ( >= $1,200) then we are required to fill out the IRS W2G form to report it to them for tax purposes so at that point we have to get your ID, etc. to facilitate that. Then of course, there is the matter of actually paying you the money, verifying that it is the correct amount, etc. The tax form does get sent to the IRS. You can request the taxes not be taken out of your jackpot as you are only taxed on the net win at the end of the year. |
How did you get involved in the casino bussiness? | 1/2.) Just needed a job and applied to a very entry level job and worked my way up. |
Did you set out to work at one or did it come about another way? | 3.) It can be fun and exciting. |
What do you enjoy most about your job? Least? | 4.) There's a lot of pressure to make money/meet your budget so all of the bullshit that goes along with that. Dealing with politics, having to adjust staffing, etc. And I don't like that at my level the usual tenure is 2-3 years so you move around a lot. I'd like to be more settled, especially in a place I'd really want to live for a long time and I don't feel like I have much control of that in this business. |
1) When you talk about being moved around a lot, is that relating to being moved around in what you do at a particular casino? or more like which casino your working at? 2) Do you feel that your skills at this current job gives you fallback options should your tenure run out? ( Such as in other service based industries?) | 1.) I mean there is only one of me at every casino so if something happens whether I don't like where I work or what something different (e.g., more money) or they don't like me (shocking, it happens!) then the likelihood that I have to move is high, especially if I'm in a city that only has a handful of casinos. 2.) I obviously feel like my skills could take me anywhere! But in reality, it has been tough to change industries when I've tried. Usually places like hotels don't pay as much as casinos and look for more sales-related skills and restaurants don't really have marketing people except at the corporate office whereas my skills are more analytics-oriented. And both usually pay less than casinos. |
time I went to Vegas (around 30 years ago) it still had that "mob" vibe. When I got married there in the 90s (I joke now that I gambled on marriage in Vegas and lost half my stuff) it was much more "corporate" and "family friendly." The "What Happens in Vegas" campaign seemed to try and change that perception. Do you think there's value in returning Vegas to a more "wise guy" kind of feel...playing up the classic vibe, or is it just a big collection of theme parks with gambling? | The problem with returning to that type of vibe is that it's difficult/impossible given how big the casinos are. Sure it was easy for Benny Binion to control everything and not be "corporate" when the old Horseshoe was literally 1/10th the size of MGM Grand. |
What was UNLV like? Did you live in the dorms? It seems like a strange school where everyone commutes and there's no college life around the campus. What are the pros and cons of going there? | I went there for grad school so was older and had a wife and a house. It is definitely a commuter school so there's not a lot of school spirit. I went to undergrad a school with a huge, huge, huge, football program so it was a bit of a change for me. I also didn't find the students to be terribly bright (with exceptions, of course). On the upside, a lot of people like living in Vegas and the Hotel Administration College (where I went) has very, very good brand recognition. |
Do you find people have lots of misconceptions about the casino industry? | That the games are rigged and that we love giving away a lot for nothing/little in return are probably the two biggest. |
So what's up with prostitutes and the casinos? I understand that prostitution is illegal in Vegas, but that they're still there. Is it like the movies, where they're just hanging out in the casino bars waiting to be picked up? | Yes, they hang out at the bars and then there are services you can call and have them sent to your room. If it's overt, casino security will clear them out of the bar area but the vice cops generally focus on human trafficking kind of stuff. |
As an insider, what do you think the job prospects are in the industry for someone with a similar education background, but no casino experience? | 1.) The industry relies heavily on industry experience so job prospects are good if you're willing to start in a low position and work you're way up. If you go to UNLV and get the degree I got and expect for some casino to make you a Director of VP with no experience then you're going to be very disappointed. |
Is that just bizarre luck? | 2.) Bizarre luck. |
What does the industry think about states with Indian reservations that prohibit casinos like Texas? | 3.) Definitely potential opportunity. I've read about that small tribe in Texas. It'll happen eventually in Texas. The people in Louisiana will not be happy, though. |
Is it viewed as a potential opportunity for growth with a small tribe, more competition, or a wedge to open the state to gambling? | 4.) No problem! |
For every average person out there, would you suggest not playing? I mean, in the sense that, it's just not a viable option? | Viable for what? Making consistent money? Then definitely not. If you are entertained by thrill of gambling and have the discretionary funds to do it, then by all means. |
Aw okay! cool. Any idea why people do it? Is it just a thrill? Would being a "whale", make more of a difference? | For the people that do it for entertainment, it's the thrill of anticipation. |
Was it hard getting a job with such a detailed degree? | My undergrad degree is pretty bland, political science, so it wasn't hard at first. I did my grad degree in casino management because I was living in Vegas, wanted to get an MBA, didn't want to take 2 years off from work to get a full-time degree, didn't have the support of my job to get an executive MBA, and didn't like UNLV's MBA program. |
EDIT: Thanks for answering my first AMA question! Really good answer too! | NP! Keep asking away! |
What's your favorite aspect of your job? And do you like to gamble yourself? | 1.) It can be exciting. Picking new acts to play in your showroom seems more exciting to me than selling propane. 2.) Yes... |
What is the best way for tourist to get the best bang for buck in your casino for entertainment, food, gambling etc to have a good time and not go broke? | I'm currently working at a Vegas strip property. |
If you can answer in terms of Vegas, that would be great also. | Unless you have something more specific in mind, the first place I'd direct you to is the Las Vegas Advisor Top 10 Deals List. |
With legal online poker gaining momentum which might mean eventual legal online gambling for other house games online; are the casinos doing what they can to kill this before it starts or your thoughts on this? | Las Vegas Sands / Venetian is actively trying to kill it (which I don't really understand) but everyone just sees it as a means to make more money so are ready to pounce when it's legal. |
I don't know if you're still answering questions, but what are the qualifications for being, say, a Texas Hold'em Dealer in Vegas, specifically your casino, and are the dealers specific to just one game? I.e. omaha, hold 'em, pai gow, stud... Also, without being too specific, what is the average annual income for said occupation? Are the dealers payed solely by tips/do they get to keep all tips? | 1.) Generally there are poker dealers and table games (e.g., blackjack) dealers. Few do both. Among the table games dealers, most know multiple games as the more you know the more hirable you are. In terms of the qualifications it's just that you've gone to some sort of dealer school (there are commercial ones and some casinos do it in-house), experience, and a live audition. 2.) Really depends on the market and the casino. At the high end like Wynn or Venetian they will do close to $100K/year but at an entry-level place it could be more like $25K/year. It's base salary plus pooled tips (aka tokes). |
3.) You've never thought of dealing the WSOP? They need as many dealers as they can find. | |
Do Casino's design their decor for different target groups? | Of course. Hard Rock and Cosmo are designed for younger demographics and Wynn and Venetian for older affluent ones. |
I find all Casino's to be outright horrible to my senses due to the noise/flashing lights. | Encore and the new Barrymore are definitely designed for the Asian gambler. And you'd, obviously, have to assume the casinos in Macau are, too, although I've never been. |
Could you describe your typical work day? also I've had some great times a Joker's Wild! | Ha! I honed my dice skills at JW! |
Typical work day is get to work and look at the previous day's financial results and react accordingly. I.e., ask the analysts to pull numbers, talk to the head of a certain department about their opinion on something, etc. | |
Emails emails emails. | |
Then it's usually a lot of meetings about upcoming things whether it be planning an event, approving new advertising, doing the strategic planning for the property for 2015, meeting with vendors, etc. | |
Emails emails emails. | |
By this time the numbers or reports I've asked to be run are ready so I sit down and look at them and act accordingly (e.g., hey, looks like we're spending too much on postage to mail to customers too far away, let's change the way we do this for next time), etc. | |
Emails emails emails. | |
Then it's usually time to go home but 2-3 times a week I'll have a dinner or event to go to with a vendor or colleague or someone from the press. | |
Emails emails emails. | |
Probably 2-3 Saturdays a month I'll go in and work for a few hours just to catch up on stuff or if there's an event to meet and greet players, make sure everything is going well, etc. | |
Emails emails emails. | |
Has the rise of 6:5 blackjack been hurting the game's popularity, or are there enough people who don't "get" the odds change (or don't care) that it all works out in the end? Is the odds change enough to swing the game back in the casino's favor in the long run even if players count cards? And what about continuous shuffling machines: have any of the casinos you've been with used them, and how did the players react? | The masses don't care about either especially if you're able to offer low limits. The limit and the number of decks is what attracts people to a bj game. Still never going to allow counting. |
Is is harder to get jobs in the background or management functions of the casino? | Well certainly there are more what we call "front of house" positions (dealers, porters, servers, bartenders, etc.) than "back of house" positions (accountants, IT, warehouse, etc.) so in terms of pure numbers, yes it's easier to get -any- FOH than -any- BOH position. |
I'm an IT grad looking to move back to Vegas and wondered if there were more "non-floor" jobs than actually functional jobs. | That having been said, if you're wanting an IT position shouldn't be too hard if you're willing to work anywhere and have a little experience. If you're wanting to just jump into the CIO job at Bellagio, more difficult. |
Great! thank you. I've got about 8 years under my belt, but dear god...no CIO for me. This really eased my worry about options. thanks. | You should be OK as long as you're not too picky. |
Just how rigged are the automatic roulette machines? | They aren't. The games have to go through pretty rigorous testing by the state or an agency of the state to be allowed to be sold. Gaming Labs International is one such company. |
I would think that SEO campaigns and similar web based marketing would be ineffective techniques for a casino in a place like Las Vegas. Is this the case? I know I'm quite late but I would love to know if you have time. | We definitely do SEO/SEM campaigns but primarily for hotel related keywords for people looking for hotel rooms. I worked at a place a little outside of the main city in the south one time and we'd buy broader search terms for people looking for "entertainment in main city" in case they didn't know there was a casino nearby. |
Thanks for the response. I was just curious about engaging people in person in public? Do you operate campaigns on the street such as call to action flyers or similar? Are there laws specific to this type of promotion in Las Vegas? | Not a typical marketing channel most casinos explore, but it's not entirely unheard of. Sorry I'm not entirely sure of the laws. |
Who owns the casino you work at? Is it one guy or a publicly traded company? | I'd rather not say as I don't want to be outted but I have worked for large publicly traded companies, privately held companies (e.g., owned by hedge funds), and publicly traded companies where one individual owns the majority of the shares. I've never worked at a privately owned casino owned by one individual, though. |
How do I get over 65 year olds excited about my product? | Without knowing what said product is, the best thing I can say is to figure out how to make it relevant to them. |
What does a marketing exec. at a casino make a year? | Depends on the size of the property. 75 at a small riverboat casino to 250 at a large place like Bellagio. |
To succeed in marketing, what is the first step to landing a successful job? and what should be the over arching goal in mind to maintain a competitive advantage over fellow competition as well as new shifts in market trends? | 1.) be tenacious. take any job you can get. be a sponge and learn everything you can. |
2a.) don't be afraid to fail, but be smart (and profitable) about it. | |
2b.) don't rest on your laurels. stay in touch with your customers. | |
Go on ... What does a casino do in that regard? | From a gambling standpoint, people in that age range like penny slots so we offer a lot of penny slots. We put on shows that would appeal to them. We would make the decor more classic vs hip. Etc. |
I've always wanted to work in the gaming industry. I have a strong sales background and a B.S. degree... which department would you recommend to get my feet wet? | Probably player development which is the department that deals with VIP guests or maybe special events/promotions. |
What's the best movie you've seen this year? You did say we could talk about life in general... | Absolutely! 12 Years a Slave. |
Edit: Also, Dallas Buyer's Club. | |
Dang, haven't seen it yet...will have to wait for it on DVD or streaming. Edit: Haven't seen that one either. I'm starting look like a Philistine. | It's pretty heavy but sometimes that's good. |
Do you prefer to market for families or adults? Casinos are adult fun, but I've noticed a shift in the past decade. | Definitely adults. |
Your AMA was one of the best, you answered almost every question, so if you're still answering here's one: If a young person comes in and wins more than 100k and then just leaves, would you suspect him/her of anything? | It really depends more on the manner in which you win and how you behave. We're required by law to fill out a Currency Transaction Report for transactions over $10,000. So if you got to that point you would have already given us your ID, etc. We'd obviously make sure that surveillance is watching you to make sure you're not cheating but if you're on a random hot streak and betting $10K/hand then it wouldn't be a huge deal at most strip properties. |
How about a free load just this once? lol. But hypothetically what would 10 grand get you :( | At my place, (which is not an uber classy place like Wynn or Venetian), you'd get pretty much whatever you'd want. Suite, dinners, limo from the airport, show tickets, etc. We'd generally reinvest in you 30% of your loss so just figure out what $3,000 in comps would get you. |
What advice can you give to new grads who want to get into marketing, but can get work due to lack of experience? | As I mentioned in a previous post, I believe you really just need to be tenacious and take anything to get your foot in the door. It's a very crowded field, especially on the what I call "pretty picture" side of marketing. I wish I had a more specific answer to give you. |
What does being a marketing executive involve? | I usually say I'm in charge of driving profitable revenue. The departments that report up to me are charge of advertising, promotions, entertainment, public relations, direct mail/database marketing, and VIP marketing. |
I'm coming to Vegas in December from Australia, can you PM me your email address? | Just PM me. Happy to see if I can help |
Do casinos hire interns? I'm currently a student at a public university. | Absolutely. I think most of the major companies have management training/internship programs. Go to their careers websites. Caesars Entertainment, MGM International, Pinnacle Entertainment, Penn National Gaming, etc. |
Would you recommend a job in marketing? what skill sets would be helpful for marketing? i'm interested in it but not entirely sure what it's about. | I think the best combination in today's world is to be more right brained with a creative bent as more and more the question asked of marketing folks is "quantify how your idea makes me money?" and less and less "what's the most most creative idea you have?" |
It's a crowded field especially on the left brained side (e.g., advertising and public relations) because people think it's "cool". So if that's you're interest, I'd say being tenacious and creative is what is going to get you far in that world because it's tough to get your foot in the door and you have to have thick skin and then when you do get your foot in the door you are going to have a very short leash to prove yourself. | |
Any specific company you recommend? | If you're at the intern stage, apply liberally. |
Do you have the sides backwards, or do I? | Um, well I think of left brained as creative and right brain analytical? |
How selective is the casino management program at UNLV? | The hotel management program in general is not selective but the casino management program is difficult because it's pretty quantitatively-focused so there's a lot of attrition. |
What do you do for family entertainment in Vegas? | I'm single so that having been said, there's all your typical family stuff to do here: parks, camping, hiking, movies, bowling, etc. |
You don't have any family in Vegas? What's something that you go do with your friends, then? | I'm not from here and my ex-wife hated living here thus why she's my ex. My friends and I go and see concerts, go to bars, we like guns so go shooting sometimes, and most Sundays cook for each other. |
Sounds like a nice life! | It's OK. City is kind of soulless and superficial. |
One of my favorite aspects of Vegas is that if you want your experience to improve, it's usually a strategic $20 tip away... whether that be a tip to upgrade your room when you check in, to skip the long line at a club, to get a table with a great view at dinner... What potential 'Experience' improvements would you recommend in Vegas? | Link to thetwentydollartrick.com |
Vegas or Macau. Which is better? | Better for what? |
Have you read The Stars My Destination by Alfred Bester? | I haven't. |
So basically I should just buy from the half off kiosks? | Yes. |
How do you feel about those who are addicted to gambling and those who have lost everything because of it? | Bad, obviously. |
Late to this ama, are you still taking questions? | Sure! |
Sure buddy. | Do you mean to say that you don't believe me? |
I just got started in hospitality marketing, any advice? | Doing what, exactly? Just be willing to make not a lot of money for awhile and be willing to relocate frequently if you want to move up the ladder. I guess those are the first things that come to mind. |
Have you had any good marketing ideas that you couldn't do due to marketing regulation. | Not necessarily due to regulation but a lot of times you're gun-shy to do a promotion because well, what happens if no one shows up? |
Bastard. | Danka. |
Questions | Answers |
---|---|
Have you ever caught anyone cheating? Ever see someone cheating and not report it? | I have caught people cheating before yes. The most common are card counters and people stealing chips from other players. I highly recommend to not get completely trashed while gambling especially if you're a male and gambling by yourself as there are certain females who'd be more than happy to steal your chips while you're not paying attention. |
The only time I won't report cheating is when they're tipping. If they're a douchebag or stiff, I'll let my Pit Boss know immediately. | |
Here's an interesting article on cheating in Vegas by the way. | |
How can you call card counting cheating? | Vegas has very liberal rules to their blackjack games compared to other cities that have casinos. Vegas offers double deck, stand on all 17s, moving down shuffle points, etc. |
I don't consider card counting cheating, but the casinos do. They are a private business. They can kick anyone off of the property for any reason unless it's illegal discrimination. The casinos don't want players to have an advantage over them. | |
To be honest Vegas casinos don't care about card counting unless you're playing on a double deck. You want to play a six or eight deck shoe? It's all yours. But they want no advantage players on a double deck. | |
You won't report cheating if you are getting tipped, but you will report it if you don't? | I'm talking about card counting. Most card counters are douchebags because they already think they're smartemore arrogant than everyone else though so it's very rare that I'll keep my mouth shut. |
We don't consider card counters cheating. We just refuse service to those who can count. | I think you're mixing up "card counting" with actually counting cards. |
Who sets the specific rules of the game for say Blackjack, such as how many decks, what the little pre bet rules are, etc? Is there like a standard across Vegas? When would they ever be using a double deck? | It depends on the casino and what type of clientele they cater to. |
Certain higher end casinos will have better rules for the player while the lower end casinos will have terrible house rules. | |
I am not a professional card counter just good at math, what are the specific rules that you keep the deck even? | Link to en.wikipedia.org. |
The most basic system is the Hi-Lo card counting system. | |
10, J, Q, K, & A = -1. | |
2, 3, 4, 5, 6 = +1. | |
7, 8, 9 = 0. | |
With enough practice, you'll be able to figure out the count in real time. | |
My casino doesn't consider card counting cheating 1) because it's next to impossible to prove & 2) because with a 6 deck shoe it gives negligible advantage. i'm relatively sure that very few casinos if any consider card counting cheating. | Casinos (should) only care if you're card counting on double deck. |
It seems like being able to call the odds is just part of the game and what it means to be skilled at it. I don't see how that can be called cheating. | Card counting is a dying art now anyways. With the technology casinos have their disposal, card counters can't get away with it anymore. |
Can a card counter win while playing single deck? | You could, but it would be more luck than skill. Most casinos only allow 6 hands to be dealt on a single deck. Not a lot of hands to make a move imo. |
I work in a casino in Melbourne Australia. . 6 deck automatic shuffler where the cards are fed back in whenever there is roughly a deck out. . and people have still tried. . its quite funny. | Seems legit. |
It's such a waste of time to try and count cards. I never gamble, but this is what I do...go with friends, get completely smashed, expect to lose the money, and have a good time. | |
What was the biggest tip you have ever gotten from someone? | The biggest tip I received was $250,000 from a customer. He won $10 million playing baccarat. |
What is the usual tips you get from the players? | The usual tips? Most of the time I've dealt on a $100-$500 blackjack game. I'll usually make a couple hundred from each player give or take. I'll usually make 1-5 units of whatever they're playing with whether it'd be $5 chips, $25 chips, $100 chips or $500. |
Do you get to keep all that? | I wish. We pool our tips every 24 hours and everyone gets a share of it. I ended up making $1000 that night. We never make money like that so don't think this is a normal occurrence for us. |
I did meet up with the customer at the strip club when I got off of work. One of the most amazing nights I've ever had. | |
Should have told him to keep it and tip you later that night at the club. Rookie mistake. | My regular customers do when I go to dinner or go out with them. |
Are you allowed to keep all of that tip, or do they take a cut/something else? | We pool all of our tips every 24 hours so I did split it with everyone else. |
How was your reaction at the table when recieving a $250,000 tip? | It threw me off. I thought he wanted change at first, but then again it was 10 $25,000 chips. |
Let me get the details. | Customer paid for everything. Ended up spending about $50,000 that night mainly on alcohol. Never drank so much champagne in my life. |
Could you theoretically tell the big winner to tip you when you're off the clock and keep the $250k for yourself? | I wouldn't because I would lose my job as it would be considered "hard hustling". |
You had to share that with over 250 people? | The big casinos on the Strip have a lot of dealers in a 24 hour shift. |
At Cosmo, on the weekdays there are about 150 dealers in a 24 hour shift. On the weekends, it can be close to 250-300 dealers and Cosmo is a small casino compared to the rest. | |
Does this violate any policy the casino might have about interacting with customers? | Technically no. The only thing the casino reminds you is to not be seen gambling with the customer at other casinos and that you're still responsible for your own actions. |
You must have been real popular that night. | Bitches love money especially strippers. |
Yeah I notice whenever I tip a dealer he/she puts in a slot, so I was thinking how would they know how much each dealer got, | Regardless, it's still the right thing to do if they're providing you a service. Thanks for tipping :) |
I'm curious. Since on a night where you received an exorbitant tip and only made $1,000, what is your average tip out per day/week/weekend? Also, what is the largest amount that you yourself have walked out with in a single night? Are you tipped out daily, or is it added to your paycheck? If it is done by paycheck; largest tip out at the end of a paycheck? | At the big casinos (Wynn/Encore, Cosmopolitan, Aria, Caesars) the dealers usually make $150-$200 a night during the weekdays. On the weekends, they'll make around $200-$300+. |
The medium casinos (Bellagio, Planet Hollywood, Paris, Mandalay Bay, MGM Grand) will make around $120-$150 during the weekdays, $150-$200 on the weekends. | |
I personally can't accept tips while at work. Outside of work, regular customers would throw me some extra cash on the side on top of whatever they gave me at the table while they were playing. The most someone gave me outside of work was $1000. It was a regular customer. | |
Of all the celebrity players you've dealt to, which one seemed the most genuine and cool person to interact with. | Coolest would easily be Matt Schaub. 99% of athletes are douchebags, but he's super nice and super cool. Awesome tipper too. Down to earth and extremely humble. Runners up goes to Chris Evans. Captain America can't handle his alcohol and is an arrogant prick too. "Do you know who the fuck I am?" was probably his most overheard line while I was dealing to him. 2nd runners up goes to Chef Tim Love. He's a stiff and a cry baby. Constantly boasts about all the $10,000 bottles of wine he drinks. |
Who was the worst and why? | Ironically the worst would be Will Farrell. The guy is a huge asshole when he's gambling and the camera's off. Huge prick. |
As a huge Redskins fan, I notice DeAngelo Hall has some attitude issues on the field. Was he any nicer when you dealt to him? | Really nice guy. From my experience, he plays by himself and doesn't have a huge entourage like most athletes do. Even when he loses, he doesn't have an attitude problem. |
That's pretty disappointing. Will Farrell is one of my favorite actors and I always assumed he'd be a cool, down to earth guy off-camera. Oh well, it's not like I'll ever see him in real life anyway. But if I do, I'll know to punch him in the balls. | You know who is also a cool guy that surprised me? Rush Limbaugh. |
The guy is an awesome tipper and kind of cool to talk to even though he's an extreme right-winger. | |
If a celebrity ever said "Do you know who the fuck I am?", I would instantly say something along the lines "Why should I give a fuck who you are?" | I pretty much said that to Chris Evans every time he said that. |
Maybe in public but go have dinner with his family in Springfield, MO-- Racial slurs everywhere! | Any stories you'd like to tell me? |
What was your impression of D Rose? | Derrick Rose is a cool guy. Played a little bit of blackjack and roulette with Durant. |
Hope is ACL is good to go now :( | |
Doesn't Tebow know gambling is a sin??? | I wasn't going to ask him that especially with the Broncos offensive line surrounding him. |
How many times have you heard someone say 'Vegas baby!' or 'you're so money' when Vince Vaughn was at the tables? | Never. |
You know what I hear the most and is like nails on a chalkboard for casino employees? | |
"WINNER WINNER CHICKEN DINNER!" | |
I am going to go to every single casino and scream winner winner chicken dinner. When I finally get punched in the face I'll know it's you. Then we can go party with some celebs at the strip club. Deal? | Seems legit. |
Do you get the asians who yell monkey who want a 10 in blackjack? It seems like 90% of asians in the casino I frequent do this. | Gamblers scream out monkey regardless of their race. White, black, asian, spanish, etc. |
Whats the most money you've seen lost by one person in a day? | Craps - $5 million. |
Blackjack - $5 million. | |
Baccarat - $10 million. | |
European Roulette - $2 million. | |
Just out of my own curiousity, was it an asian person that lost $10 million on baccarat? | You are correct. A Chinese businessman to be exact. |
Holy shit that's crazy! How often do you see someone lose money in the millions? | I deal to million dollar players quite often. But getting their ass handed to them? Not that often. I want to say like every 3-4 weeks. |
Players win often and players do lose often, but it's rare to see them tap their line. | |
What's the usual reaction when someone loses money > million? | I've seen customers smash glasses, break things, punch the wall, punch the roulette readerboard, etc. They usually keep their cool most of the time, but once in a while... |
"OMG WTF ARE YOU KIDDING? ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING DUDEITSPANDA! THIS IS SOME FUCKING BULLSHIT. I CAN'T BELIEVE THIS JUST HAPPENED TO ME. YOU ARE THE WORST DEALER EVER. YOU GIVE ME THE WORST FUCKING HANDS ON BLACKJACK. WHY DO I EVEN PLAY THIS STUPID FUCKING GAME!!!" | |
WHY DO I EVEN PLAY THIS STUPID FUCKING GAME!!! | Most players like to play Captain Obvious or Captain Hindsight. |
Maybe the only important thought the person should be considering. Hah. | "DAMN IT I SHOULDN'T HAVE BET THAT MUCH. DAMN IT I SHOULD HAVE BET MORE!" |
Heh, I've seen that happen at the $5 tables in Indian casinos in Michigan while waiting for a seat in the poker room. | I usually just giggle whenever a $5-$10 players loses $100-$200 bucks. |
"Is it really the end of the world losing $200?" is typically what I tell them. | |
How are high-limit dealers paid? Salaried? Benefits? Would you be willing to say how much (ballpark) high-stakes dealers make in a year? what about low-stakes? Are dealers allowed to gamble in the casino they work for? Thanks, this is a sweet AmA. | Dealers are paid the same regardless of what games they play and it's minimum wage. Yes you heard it...casinos only pay us minimum wage. We rely completely on tips. |
Casinos are normally run businesses so full time employees are offered insurance, 401k, vacation time, etc. | |
Dealers are NOT allowed to gamble in the casino they work for. It's mainly to prevent collusion. Dealers are allowed to play slots in the casino they work for, but cannot play anything with a progressive jackpot (Megabucks, Wheel of Fortune, etc.). Dealers are allowed to play whatever they want in any other casino. | |
I think it's pretty awesome that dealers get a 401k and insurance. That plus the decent money you mentioned below make dealing sound like a pretty awesome job. | It isn't that bad of a job, but dealing to douchebags and degenerates wears on you after a while. |
What are the best casinos and hotels in Las Vegas? As in the top 5 casino/hotels? What is your favorite and why? | Wynn Las Vegas/Encore |
Oh and why are there hundreds of Mexican people handing out those cards for prostitutes on the street and allowed to just litter the whole strip with them? | The loiters have first amendment rights basically. They changed the law this year so now whenever cards they pass out fall to the ground, they're supposed to pick them up. I was never too happy with the escort ads on the Strip. 1. The girls don't actually provide the service most of the time. They're just there to rip off guys. 2. It puts a negative light on the city. |
Thanks for the answer. I was in vegas for about 3 days staying at circus circus (don't laugh) and the first night we walked the whole strip (i had no idea it would take that long) and it really annoyed me to see the streets just littered with the prostitute cards. | We Vegas locals don't like it either trust me. We also don't like those stupid street performers that are on the Strip. The only one that's cool in my book is the guy that will let you kick him in the nuts for $20. |
How much do you think the avg "street performer" say for example, the dudes wearing Mario and Luigi costumes r the Tranformer guys would make in a night? | No clue. Maybe get one of them to do an AMA? |
This might be a longshot, but one time I was there, there was this older black guy in a motorized chair that had this little speakemic/beatbox thing and would freestyle about you and your group (for a tip) and he was phenominal. It was a hightlight of the trip. I've been back a couple of times and always look for him but never find him. Do you know if he's still around/popular? | Nope. Never seen the guy. |
What's your flexibility on game pacing, in Blackjack for example? | There is plenty of flexibility on game pace. Casinos instruct dealers to deal at a moderate pace. Not too fast where you seem like a robot and not slow enough where players will fall asleep at the table. |
Tl;dr: does the house allow you to deal fewer hands-per-hour in high-limit? If so, why are some dealers doucheclowns about it? | The best scenario for you if you want to play slightly high limit blackjack are blackjack pits that are outside of high limit. It's basically high limit without the title. They're usually $100 6-deck shoe games that stand on all 17s. |
Baccarat, on the other hand... shit, I need a book to pass the time. Whoever installs video poker machines into Baccarat tables is going to make a killing. | Dealers are going to be douchebags no matter what. From my personal experience, if I deal fast...I'm trying to get rid of you. |
Though my restaurant right now doesn't have it, we do have tip outs to runner ,bussers and bar. Do any casinos impliment this policy? Do you see yourself making a career out of this? | Casinos have tried to implied a tip out policy as a way to subsidize other wages with dealers tips, but it has failed. Wynn Las Vegas/Encore is in court with the dealers right now over it. Wynn won initially, but it got overturned and looks to stay that way. I don't see myself making a career out of it. Casinos are now run by corporations. The way they treat their employees is ridiculous. They show no dedication to us. |
In your opinion - what's the best strategy for Craps? | Pass line with full odds. Come bets with full odds as well. |
Pass line bets and taking odds on it after the come out? Boxcars, Snake Eyes, Big 6's, Horn High Yo's? | You can place bet, but the edge is still high for the house. |
I'm curious too hear what a dealer thinks about this. | Stay away from the prop box at all times. The only time I'll mess around with the prop box is if I throw let's say $1 hardways and ask to parlay at least once if it hits. |
Do you know of other dealers who have ever completely lost their cool at a high risk table when either a large amount of money has come into play, or some big time celebrity has come to their table? | Happens all the time. I've seen dealers sweat profusely like they just finished doing cardio on the treadmill, seen dealers completely freeze up or seen dealers crack under the pressure. |
I've seen a couple get in trouble because they tried to take a picture with them after they go on break. That's a huge no-no. | |
Are the high limit tables the most desirable tables to work? Are dealers sometimes reprimanded by removing them from a high limit table and placing them at a low limit table? (similar to getting a shitty section in a restaurant/bar) | Physically yes. You'll most likely be on a reserved game. The customer doesn't play the majority of the time while you're on shift. So instead of dealing for 8 hours straight, in high limit you might deal one or two hours. The rest of the time you're just hanging out and watching whatever they have on the TV. |
Are you a gambler yourself? If so, has working as a dealer improved your game any? | Dealers do get reprimanded and sometimes even get kicked out of high limit for a extended period of time. It has never happened to me, but one day you'll see a dealer dealing to a BIG player. They make a huge mistake and the next day they're on casino war or the Big 6 wheel. |
They make a huge mistake. | In the business we call it a jackpot. Jackpot is basically a small mistake that turns into a big mistake. |
Like what? | Dealer make mistakes all the time. Wrong payout, messed on the procedure, etc. |
What route would you recommend for anyone wanting to get into working as a dealer? Can you give us a brief outline of your rise to the high stakes table? | Go to a dealers school. Learn the basics of dealing, handling chips and game protection. I learned blackjack and craps. It takes about four-eight weeks depending on how fast of a learner you are and how often you show up to school to practice. It took me about five weeks. |
Once you're sufficient enough, you can apply to audition at a low end casino also known as a "break in house." Historically, casinos Downtown such as the El Cortez are well known break in houses for new dealers. Shitty local casinos are also considered break in houses as well. You don't make any money, but it doesn't matter. The whole point is to get experience dealing on a real live game. | |
While you're dealing at the break in house, you can learn how to deal all the other games. That's how I learned baccarat and roulette. Once you get enough experience, you start trying to move to better casinos until eventually you get a good, full time job on the Strip. | |
How long did it take you to move up from a "break in house" to the limelight on the Strip? What's the average? | For most dealers it takes forever. They don't have the skill set or have the connections...aka "juice" as we call it in the business. |
It only took me about two-three years, but for most it can take from five-ten years. | |
I love playing blackjack at the El Cortez! $5, single deck, 3:2 games. | El Cortez is fun. I love hanging out at the bars next to it. |
"You don't make any money"... can you give us a ballpark on what you made at the break-in and how much you make now, including tips? | Break-in dealers barely make $30,000 a year. |
Wow, that's a long time to work your way up to a (relatively) low paying job. You said in an earlier reply that high end dealers only make $200-$300 on a weekend night, right? I made close to that in my first bartending gig when I was still in college. | You're probably right. But like I told you, the best dealer jobs pay around $85k a year. It's about $325 a day give or take. |
What would you say set you apart from the other dealers? Are you more talented (by which I mean you're just naturally smartebetter) or is it a difference in work ethic or what? If it's a work ethic thing, do you think that had you applied yourself to something else with the same level of dedication you could have succeeded, or have you just been in the right place at the right time consistently? | Glad that you enjoyed the AMA. |
Also, as someone who generally does not like AMAs in the last ~2 years, yours has been both informative and interesting. Cheers. | What sets me apart from most dealers is that I have the skill to deal the games properly while being quick on my feet with calculations and knowing what the players feelings are like at the time. Sometimes dealers can talk to the players while sometimes players just want you to shut up and deal. Just got to know when the situation is right for certain things. |
Ever seen a grown man cry? | Yes. It's pathetic that a guy can guy from gambling, but yes I have. |
Ever hear about someone killing themselves after walking away from your table? | Yes. I tell them they're full of shit which they are 99.9% of the time. They're desperate for attention after they lose. |
How funny was Will Ferrel? | Not funny. I was expecting Elf or Stepbrothers, but got Casa de Mi Padre. |
Could you tell us how the upper management of the casino works? I guess start with the dealers. I know you guys have pit bosses, but then who is above them? Who reports to who? Who is in contact with the surveillance room? I don't care about the hotel management. | Dealers report to Floor Supervisors. Floor supervisors report to Pit Boss. Pit Boss reports to Shift Manager. Shift Manager reports to Table Games Director. |
Did you ever get beat up by joey porter at applebees? | For those that don't know, here's my interaction with Joey Porter. |
I haven't got jumped by Joey Porter...yet. He liked me and other dealers on his game that night. I think he still wants to beat the shit out of my shift boss and pit boss. My shift boss still hasn't eaten at a Applebee's or even a Chili's yet since then. | |
Yo, man. I been looking for you! | DO YOU EVEN LIFT BRO? |
How was Joe Flacco? | He was cool. Not a big player. Kept asking me where he can find a $15 blackjack game haha. |
NBA fan here. Did you have any memorable interactions with either James, Wade, or Durant? How was Derrick Rose? | No real memorable interactions. I just loved busting LeBron's balls before he got his first ring. |
I remember before Derrick Rose got serious media attention, I remember telling him two years ago "I like how you're an amazing basketball player, but no one recognizes you right now". Not the case now. | |
Kevin Durant is a nice guy. | |
Have you seen or heard of any casinos that actually rig games? | Nope. Even though most casino managers are idiots in my opinion, they wouldn't be stupid enough to rig a game. Not only would they would lose their gaming license, the casino would get a huge fine and could possibly lose their license as well. |
One thing I tell players if they're gambling...gamble only if there's a gaming commission. You don't even know how many times I've heard stories of players getting screwed over by Indian casinos or cruise ships because there are no gaming commissions overseeing them. | |
UK here - what's the deal with Indian casinos? clearly they're less regulated - are native Americans known for running 'shady' joints? | I'm not saying that Indian casinos are completely shady...they just do shady things once in a while when the players aren't noticing it. |
I always wondered how casino workers were able to handle working in a smoking environment all day. Is there a high rate of respiratory problems with casino workers? Tips for dealing with the smoke? | I don't smoke personally. It's brutal. I try to do more cardio than weightlifting to make up for it. |
My allergies have gotten worse since I started dealing. Whenever I'm on a game, I just try to move the ashtrays in a certain position so I don't get hit with all the smoke. | |
Obvious question--what kind of experience do casinos require before you're given the keys to a high stakes table? | It's mainly just being able to handle the high action. Dealers tend to freeze up a lot when they see big numbers in front of them. It's also being able to control your game regardless of who is playing on it and regardless of how much they're betting. |
Do they make you do a whole back ground check and a lie detector test like they show in movies? i know.. stupid question. just curious. | We get background checked when we apply for our gaming card and when we apply for a new job. We also get hair drug tested and have a credit check done as well. |
Casinos only hire employees with good credit. It shows that the employees are responsible with their money and less susceptible to collusion. | |
I have a strong interest in playing and dealing cards. Have since I was a kid. How much does dealing become a grind as opposed to something you don't mind doing? I haven't hit that point yet dealing in home games. | It honestly becomes a grind the second you start working. It's exciting the first couple of years because you're seeing new bets or action you haven't dealt with yet on the game, but after a while it becomes the same. |
Which of the soccer players that you dealt with won the most? | Probably Rooney. I think he won like $300k. Soccer players aren't big gamblers generally. They just like to hang out at the pool, go clubbing once in a while and do a little bit of gambling. |
What was Wayne Rooney like in person? He always seems like a dick to me. Also, how much do you earn? | He's a nice guy. Takes pictures with fans and socializes with everyone. |
Dealers at the most popular casinos (Aria, Wynn/Encore, Cosmopolitan, Caesars) can make $80,000+ a year. | |
Dealers that work at the medium properties (MGM Grand, Mandalay Bay, Bellagio, Paris, Planet Hollywood) make around $60,000-$80,000 a year. | |
What is the most you have seen a person win? | $10 million on baccarat. The customer was playing $175,000 a hand on baccarat. |
Baccarat didn't seem to big when I was in Vegas a few years ago, has it picked up? | Baccarat has picked up a lot in Vegas. All the big casinos have baccarat now. |
I was a dealer in Australia, high stakes as well and the average for some customers was $2000+. Not bragging or anything, just wondering if Vegas is working on getting the Asian baccarat junkets a bit harder these says. | The problem with baccarat junkets is that the players just rotate between casino to casino. They take advantage of baccarat tournaments and whatever promos they have. The junkets technically don't bring in any new business and they get paid a huge chunk of whatever the player's theoretical is. |
Questions | Answers |
---|---|
What's you're best story about someone trying to con/steel from the casino? | I figure you're looking for some kind of crazy Oceans 11 story (of which there are several in the industry but none on my watch), but honestly the best ones are people trying to steal from the fucking buffet. |
Mom comes in with two kids and says they're not eating so she shouldn't have to pay. The cashier says OK. | |
Fast forward 15 minutes and the cashier notices that the kids are missing. | |
THE FUCKING MOTHER IS FEEDING THEM UNDER THE TABLE LIKE FUCKING DOGS. | |
Best AMA response ever. have an upvote! | We had set out in the foyer those bags for your umbrella so the floor doesn't get wet. |
Lady takes one, goes to the buffet, and starts filling it with food. Brazenly. Not trying to hide it. | |
We stop her and she says "what? this is all you can eat?!" | |
"Sit down and eat the contents of the bag then..." | We found a HUGE ziplock bag of food by a table. The "customer" had obviously left it behind. |
She realized she forgot it and came back to get it about 30 minutes later. | |
You should hire me as a buffet monitor i can pose as a customer then obnoxiously call them out for stuffing their purses with chicken fingers and mashed potatoes w/gravy. "HEY FAT LADAYYY I SEE YOU STEALIN THEM CHIKKAN FINGAZ!" | Have a lady who consistently bitches about having to pay full price since she can't consume a lot because of her gastric bypass. |
Do you actually have a policy to ask people to leave if you feel they lost more than they can afford? i watched a piece by loius theroux once where he asked this question to some of the managers of a casino and they all said "oh, i know they can afford it, of course we would ask them to stop if they couldnt". but obviously, from a business perspective, this is counter-intuitive towards making profits. so what is your take on this whole thing? and what is the overhead like for running a casino? what are some expenses you have which may be surprisingly high? | We never make judgment on whether or not they can afford it. We really only step in if they come to us or start doing something overt like begging for money or asking for loans, etc. In the macro view, it's very bad for business if we don't do something about problem gambling when it presents itself. |
Overhead... EBITDA margin of 30% is great. | |
Expenses... I guess crab legs would be too obvious? Besides that, maybe table games labor. You have a 0.5% house advantage at blackjack and have to have a physical person here 24/7 plus a supervisor for every 5-6 games. | |
What games are the biggest money makers for the casino? and coincidentally, Ace, ever ran a sports book? | Penny slots by far. |
Ha. No. But have worked in casinos that have them. | |
But why do I always win/come out ahead max-betting on the fucking Sex and the City penny slot? | Google "law of large numbers" |
1) How do you like the city? (So many people hate on it, and I don't understand why). Also, how did you like UNLV and when were you there? | 1.) I actually just moved away for a job. I just think Vegas is OK. I moved there when I was in my mid-20s with a decent job so it was cool and exciting then. Fast forward a decade or so and the allure isn't there anymore. It's not "home" and I don't think it will ever will be because of how transient the population is. |
2) to me it seems like a pretty small about of locals gamble (at least at the strip properties), do you guys keep tabs on those numbers? If so, what is the ratio of your gambling customers? | 2.) I don't have the numbers in front of me, but we did a study one time and showed that Vegas has the highest incidence of regularly gambling activity in the nation. I always just felt that was a function of accessibility and self selection on the part of the residents. But you're right that locals don't go to the strip. The marketing offers are terrible compared to the non-strip properties and it's a pain to get to the strip just to get your gambling fix. |
To what extent is organized crime still present in or around the casinos? Any personal encounters? | Virtually none AFAIK. |
The industry is very, very heavily regulated. When you get to the executive ranks you have to go through very, very thorough background checks. 5 years of tax returns, 5 years of all cancelled checks, explanations of all withdrawals > $200 and deposits > $500, in depth interview with an agent, etc. | |
The last time I've heard of legit organized crime here in the states (places like Macau are an entirely different story) was in Rosemont, IL I think in the mid-90s. | |
Link to casinoconnectionac.com | |
Damn, all withdrawals over $200? For the past 5 years? "Uh, I dunno, I don't really remember why I withdrew $300 from an ATM 3 years ago. Maybe I spent it buying some off of Craig's List, I dunno." | Yeah, it's really ridiculous. |
Explain Macau? | The Triad are heavily influential there. Kind of like what you'd imagine in Vegas in the 50s. |
Holy shit, I live in Des Plaines. | Des Plaines' only problem now is how to more quickly count all the money they're making |
The scene from Skyfall comes to mind. | Yep. |
Organized crime is the muscle of the casino, the security guards, the directors of security, the private investigators, the small business owners, the gamblers who launder money through the casinos. Of course the mob isn't like the movies anymore. | Well i'm going to have to respectfully disagree with you on everything except the money laundering despite the fact we have to live by Title 31 Link to en.wikipedia.org |
It is true that if a person is on a helluva winning streak and is consistantly winning and you cant figure out why... you will demand that he take his winnings and leave and never show his face in the place again? (kick him out for winning). | It's possible but relatively rare. you have to have enough cash to really turn out our lights to get to that point. for the vast vast majority of people, we have more money than you so as long as feel like we can get you back in the door, go ahead and win away |
So that scene in Rain man is totally bullshit then? Where they consistently win and make $80,000 from a couple of thousand... then are told to GTFO after the casino guys couldnt figure out how they were doing it. | Bullshit only in the sense that couldn't figure out what was going on |
What gives a person the best odds when playing Blackjack-playing with more decks or less decks? i seem to win more with tables that use 6 decks and my friends do better with 4 decks.. | It's a lot more than the number of decks and the casinos use that information asymmetry to their advantage (e.g., $5 SINGLE DECK BLACKJACK!!!) Everything being the same, the less amount of decks the better but we will change the payouts for BJ, rules for splitting and double down, etc. to our advantage. So you can have a 6-deck shoe with otherwise very liberal rules that have a lower house advantage than a single deck show with very unfavorable rules. |
So with the same set of rules, less decks is more favourable? | Yes everything else being equal |
Is that just because it's easier to count or is it fancy math stuff. | Fancy math stuff. |
USING FEWER DECKS. | |
Six Decks: -0.02% Five Decks: -0.03% Four Decks: -0.06% Two Decks: -0.19% One Deck: -0.48% | |
Link to www.onlineblackjack.com | |
Ever seen anyone get naked or have sex in the casino or bathrooms? | Boobs pop out of the cocktail waitresses' uniforms relatively often because they'll get tops 3 sizes too small in order to get bigger cleveage/tips. |
Saw chick blowing a dude at a slot machine at the entrance of a club. | |
And Vegas has all of these European-style pools so if you're out there "inspecting the grounds" then all those girls are topless. | |
Sweet. What'd you do with the BJ couple? Pic of one of the pools please? | Security was running towards them so I just assumed they got the boot. |
Pools = just go to imagefap and look for topless beaches. | |
Do you ever feel guilty for all the money people lose to your business? | Of course. |
Did you see the fictional series "Tilt" on ESPN about 5-7 years ago? Any opinions on it? Did you find it entertaining? Did you find any of it accurate at all? | Vaguely. And when I say that I mean I remember the series and watching a bit of it and that's it. |
To us, the holy grail of Casino movies is Casino and Rounders. | |
Thanks for the response! I love Rounders, but it seemed to focus more on the players, and more on non-casino-based games, whereas Tilt was as much about the casino management as anything else. I should watch Casino. | Yeah if you're interested in the casino management piece then Casino. |
Does your casino make any efforts to stop problem gamblers from betting more than they can afford? | Every casino company has policies regarding problem gambling that are audited by the state. Each state also has its own minimum guidelines like mandating that brochures be placed in very visible areas of the casinos, hotline numbers printed on every ad, etc. |
It's a delicate situation when you think someone might have a problem because, well it might not be a problem. So we generally only do things if they specifically ask us to (e.g., they can ban themselves) or if they start doing something really egregious like asking players or employees for loans at which point we'd probably pull them aside and hand them a brochure and ask if there's anything we can do to help because what they're currently doing is unacceptable (the begging). | |
There's a casino near my house that keeps a full time car appraiser on staff. I've always felt that's a little shady. You ever run into anything like that? | No way. |
Even though I believe casino gambling should be legal, I find the practice of casino's providing credit to be morally indefensible. What is your opinion on the practice? Would it be a reasonable compromise to allow for more casinos on the stipulation that gambling on a margin is banned? | So if I'm a high worth individual who likes to gamble, your expectation is that I just bring in a suitcase of $100s to gamble with? |
No, a debit card. | Reasonable. |
A debit card? not reasonable...a credit limit is the only feasible way some patrons can gamble...most people do not want to walk around with 50k in there pocket...and I'm not sure how you would go about withdrawing thousands of dollars from an ATM machine. | I was being sarcastic. It's a huge competitive disadvantage to not be able to offer credit (e.g., Missouri) because no high roller wants to play there. You'd have to physically go to the bank, withdraw 20K cash or whatever, somehow survive walking to your car, and then somehow survive walking to the casino from your car. TBF, there's also what is called front money which is where you can wire money to us and we will hold it for you but you have to pay the fees vs us offering you credit free. I did have a millionaire player who strictly got his money off of a variety of credit cards and would just do cash advances. We obviously never questioned it but he had apparently had a huge credit line (evidenced by the amount he was able to withdraw) and enough to pay it back (evidenced by him able to come often). |
notjabba...no one cares if "you believe casino gambling should or shouldn't be legal" | |
How do you know if i am card counting, and do you care if i am not playing for big money? | Primarily odd fluctuations in your betting patterns. $5, 5, 5, 5, then $1,000, then $5, 5, 5, 5 would catch our eye big time. |
, big money! | We care. Small wins add up. |
What if i went 5,5,5,20? Would you care then? | At those low levels no one would be on the lookout for you. |
How automated is the alerting system for this? Pit boss getting info from the sky I assume? | Not very automated. There are a variety of technologies out there designed to thwart this but they're expensive and casinos are too staid to invest. |
So basically it's just either surveillance or the pit supervisor noticing something odd then starting to keep track of the bets. | |
Might be a silly question, but does stuff ever go down like it does in the movies? Like, say some guy is cheating in one way or another or doesn't take a hint to leave. Is he going to get taken into a back room and get his ass kicked or just escorted out? Taking fingers, breaking knee caps etc. etc. | Nah, too highly regulated these days. |
At what point do you start looking for card counters? If I'm playing with a $50-200 bet spread am I noticeable? Is the the spread (4:1, 8:1, 20:1) the dollar figure or a combination? | Sorry this isn't my area of expertise so I can't with this level of specificity. I'd think a 4X spread wouldn't be bad, though, but just an educated guess. |
You could buy a membership to the Green Chip forum (bj21.com), though and read up on the reverse engineering they've done. | |
I would venture a guess that electronic card games have pattern recognition built right in? | I don't know how they do the shuffle. I'd imagine it's a fresh shuffle before every hand like in video poker thus nullifying counting. |
Well I understand that, but profits on a casino are through the roof, are they not? I assume that there is a relatively low amount of card counters , and that you still will make a very good profit. | Profits aren't as good as you'd think post 2008 economy. |
Bottom line is that it ain't ever gonna happen. Sorry. | |
What is the biggest amount you have seen someone lose? | I was working at Wynn when Andy Beal played "The Corporation" so that was like $16.5MM he lost to them I believe. |
That's fucking cool, I read the book detailing the events of this, Link to en.m.wikipedia.org. Any cool stories etc from your point of view from then? | Honestly, everything I found out about it at the time was from 2+2. I didn't have direct access to the players so it wasn't really like I could analyze the session with Phil afterwards. |
Urban legends of someone winning big at the slots but having it taken away to a glitch. Has this really happened to your knowledge? | Not urban legend. Many cases like this. The player never wins. Google it and you'll find tons of them. E.g., |
Link to www.lasvegassun.com | |
This one is international but I think is the funniest. Not only did you "win" $55MM on a machine that stated the max jackpot was $50K but after winning $55MM, you went ahead and played another spin... just in case... | |
Link to www.thanhniennews.com | |
Damn that sucks. Well here is one for you. Did you know that in Panama you can double down at the black jack tables at any point. It gives you a huge advantage and you can win a lot of money that way. | I'd heard something like that. My best friend (avid gambler) went to Costa Rica and basically came back saying he had to totally re-learn BJ when he was down there because of all of their crazy rules. |
If that's true about Panama, I'm surprised there aren't people haven't just set up shop down there and pillaged that place until they went bust. | |
No i didnt have sex with the hooker but my friend did make out with her drunk. | As would I. What's up with fucking people who just make out? Fucking amateur hour. This isn't fucking 7th grade. |
He didn't know that she was a hooker and was just putting the moves on her. He thought he was just really smooth with his broken spanish. What he didn't know what that I paid her to keep quiet about it. He looked REALLY sad when someone else bought her and he realized what she was. | I actually did something similar for my friend after he split up with his whore wife. We wanted to boost his spirits so gave a hooker $100 to go and flirt with him. |
Shit man in Panama you can get a lot more than flirting for a hundo. Granted she won me a grand and i think i threw her 50 back. Well that and she got to make out with my friend...Worth it. Did your friend end up with the hooker hilarious movie style? | Nah, this was in Vegas, he's cheap, and we're not that generous. |
How do Vegas casinos differ from Native American casinos? Or are they essentially the same? | Depends in the jurisdiction. in some there is no difference (e.g florida) while others are wildly different (e.g north Carolina) |
I'm curious as to how they differ. I'm from NC but haven't been to any of the casinos around here. | In NC, for example, games have to be "games of skill" so like on the slot machines you don't just pull the handle and watch the reels go round and round, you have to physically touch the game to stop each reel. |
That's not true (I've been there). | Admittedly it's been awhile since I've dealt with them (I used to work for Harrah's) but it was like that for awhile. |
Link to wizardofodds.com (scroll down a bit) | |
They might have some that are like that, but the handful I played (there are a shit ton) were not. Apparently they've got table games there now, too, which is new from when I was last there just a year ago. | Well the states quickly understand that they're leaving money on the table (no pun intended) but creating this arcane regulations. |
Fastest growing casino region? AC? Vegas? Macau? | Macau. |
Absolutely nothing domestically. | |
Why? Distance to the large volume of middle and wealthy chinese? | Yes, and whose culture has a high propensity for gambling. |
Why isn't counting cards allowed? Lets say I was a math genius, isn't it just part of the game then? | Because we reserve the right to serve whomever we please as long as we're not discriminatory against a protected class. |
I see. It just seems like mocking people for being good. Maybe if I was a black math genius with down syndrome I could get along with it. No offense to either btw. | Perhaps but we're not particularly concerned. |
Btw, I'm a bit of an advantage gambler myself. I only play low house advantage games, maximize my coupons and promotions etc. so I'm sympathetic but there's just nothing that can be done on the card counting front. | |
Private business CAN discriminate based on protected classes, just bad business to do so. | Then don't come to my casino. |
Semi-serious question: have you ever crashed someone's hand with a hammer because he/she was found cheating? | Boy do I wish, but no. |
Could you explain why it is so difficult to get casinos in states that do not already have them? Im from Dallas, and it seems that the Oklahoma casinos are 70%+ Texans. It seems our state is losing a ton of $ to other states. (Oklahoma, Louisiana...) | In Texas it's because your legislature meets relatively irregularly. expansion since the 90s has been predicated on budget shortfalls and using gaming to patch up those holes. |
Texas' economy has been relatively good so combine that with a conservative legislature that doesn't meet often as we'd have have to have the perfect storm of you having a bad economic run at the same time the legislature is meeting. | |
Trust me, we are ready to pounce when that happens. | |
Okay so a couple of years ago there was a show called "Las Vegas" and it was about a casino. | Hosts are basically your sales team to high worth players. The compensation structure is just like any other salesperson: base + commission. |
Not sure if you ever saw it, but there was a character named Sam and she was a casino hostess and she was kind of a bitch but I always wanted to be that (casino host not bitch). How can I get into that? | So, if you've never done that kind of work before or sales at all for that matter, you just need to take anykind of remotely similar job and then just keep trying to plug along with the job search. |
Well I cant wait until it happens. I will gladly donate my fair share for a free Paula Dean buffet. | We've owned land for decades in preparation. |
You see where companies like PENN have already bought stakes in racetracks there, taking a bet that racinos (adding slots to tracks) will be the states first foray. | |
The owner of Landry's (also owns the Nugget) has said repeatedly that as soon as the law is passed he can have working slots in Galveston overnight. | Yeah. His family (Fertitta) started Stations casinos in Vegas (and MMA) and really big shots in town. |
Yeah, as a Houstonian and gambler, I am really hoping one day it finally happens. I hate hate HATE driving to Louisiana and I haven't been able to make it out to Vegas in 2+ years. | The folks in Lake Charles and Shreveport do not share your sentiment. |
I'm sure they don't. Bud of mine wanted to make an ad campaign of just going to Isle of Capri and showing the license plates. | You mean Pile of Debris. |
Highest progressive payout you've ever seen paid out? And what was the game? And any good stories about throwing out patrons? | That I've physically seen? Probably like a $75K Caribbean Stud. |
I have been encouraged by many people to get a job there, but no one, even me, knows where I should start. Personally, I don't enjoy gambling and have only been in the Hard Rock a couple times, just to see the lobby and buy shirts with some out of town guests. | Probably on the non-gaming side. Not sure of your educational background but NA with degrees go very, very far very, very quickly. |
So my question is where would you recommend someone to start in the casino industry, if they don't particulary like/understand gambling? | If you want to work the front line, then hotel front desk or something like that. |
I don't have a degree yet, but I do have 10 years in B2B (business to business) sales in telephony, so I know a lot about circuits/phone systems/general telecom. | Native American. |
EDIT: what does "NA" stand for? | So then in your case either work in IT or maybe some kind of sales position like convention sales? |
Oh I didn't know there would be some sort of sales team with a casino. Sweet. I considered IT, but I assumed it would be in the realm of network security, which I know little to nothing about. | Who do you think maintains the phone switch, PCs, servers, etc.? |
Proof? | What would suffice without outing me? |
You would know best what you have, however this sounds like it would be easier to prove confidentially to the mods. Things such as work ID, paystub, business card, etc are acceptable forms of confidential verification. | I'll send a pic over to them. Never done this before so wasn't sure. |
I have a BA in Accounting and am currently a Project Manager (Prior exp in Cost, Tax and Accural accounting, worked for the Big 4, Now I make Warheads for the Army). If I wanted to get into the Casino industry what jobs should I persue. What is the best way to persue them? Do people telecommute? Whats the pay range? | We always need good finance people. There are always other industries they can work in so it's hard to find good people. |
So I'd say just go be an accountant? | |
We post on all the major job boards and casinocareers.com is the main industry-specific job board. | |
Telecommuting is not a regularly accepted practice. | |
For finance, it's just market rate salary. | |
How did you get your job? | Was in undergrad and needed a job. responded to ad in paper for entry level job. worked my way up. |
I'm going to guess that wasn't a typo. | Not going to edit for the lulz. |
You know what, why the hell not? Best way to make money fast? | Well, assuming you have one and only one bet to make, the math always says banker on baccarat. |
Any tips/secrets for slot machine players? Which one's your favorite type/brand? | Learn to play video poker, blackjack, baccarat, or craps. |
Anything video scares me..are there 'rules' in place for video poker or Bj blackjack to guarantee payouts or is it completely random? If random, how do we know the game isn't rigged in your favor? | Completely Random. |
Because it behooves the state not to let us rig the games so they employ strict regulations to prevent such. | |
For example, many states mandate that this company verify the legitimacy of a game: Link to www.gaminglabs.com | |
Those states that don't, do it themselves. | |
I accidently got my gf addicted to video poker but it paid well. Its a better chance and payoff than video slots IMO. | No opinion about it, it is true. |
Does this only go for high roller tables? Or does it also go for some guy that hits a big jackpot on the slots? | Both. |
Are security as horrible as people say in Vegas? I've heard from my relatives that purse snatching and such happens quite a bit and security shows up minutes after they were called (so pretty much useless). On the other hand, I've heard some amazing quick response time in Macau. Are these myths? | Need some reference point. Horrible as compared to what. You've got a 3-mile long street with literally a million people on it. There's gonna be crime. |
Hmmm... how about relative to san diego or fort worth? | I'd say on par to Gaslamp but I'm no criminologist. |
HOW DO YOU SLEEP AT NIGHT!? I'm serious, I want the gritty details... You use a sleep number? Memory foam? Standard matress with some box springs? And what kind of pillow to. Oh, oh, and what is the thread count of your sheets... | I'm a minimalist. Same mattress I've had for literally 15 years that I got at a department store. Hypoallergenic pillows from Target. 800 count. Also from Target. |
Nice! Glad I registered my wedding at Target. Sounds like they got the good stuff. | Decent and reasonably priced. The girls can't tell the difference between it and the really nice stuff. |
Counting cards actually means that you are playing the game very well and it isn't cheating. How can you justify kicking someone out of a casino for being too good at the game? Also as far as I'm aware it isn't illegal. | No it is not illegal but just like any other business we reserve the right to serve whomever we please (as long as we're not discriminating against a protected class, of course). |
In essence you are keeping track of how many 10s/face cards and low cards are in the deck because high cards help the player, low cards help the dealer. | |
So if you know that the deck is rich in high cards you bet more and vice versa. | |
I will be attending UNLV for hospitality management in the fall. any tips? | For undergrad? Make the program what you want out of it. Just by graduating no one is going to hand you a huge job but if you do well the brand recognition can really work in your favor. |
Yep for undergrad. thanks for the answer! | Go Rebels! |
Does your business invest in gambling addictions or have employee training to prevent those who are gambling addicts from playing in your casino? | I take it you mean gambling addiction treatment... And yes, we do: Link to www.americangaming.org |
And every employee, at least in the majority of casinos, is trained on how to identify problem gaming. | |
How do you hire trust worthy people, meaning do you have some dude or gal that is like HR on steroids watching people? I imagine you have seen more than one case where there is employee theft or people who are running a front for money laundering? | Well everyone goes through a background check through the state with fingerprints and whatnot then executives go through an FBI-style background check where they check all of your bank records and stuff. |
But with so much cash floating around there is theft but it's basically like a bank so I can't imagine the incidence to be much higher than with tellers at banks. | |
How much do you make? | Six figures + bonus. |
Awesome. What was your path to this career choice? Like education/jobs. | I just happened into it. Got entry level job during undergrad and worked my way up. Picked up master's while working. |
Nice. Went to school for business I presume? | For my master's yes. Have doo doo lib arts degree for undergrad. |
Awesome! So you managed to get the entry level job with just an arts degrees then worked your way up? Or was the MBA necessary for where you are at now? | I was in undergrad I got the job. It as entry level. $10/hr. |
Master's not necessary but very helpful to stick out of the crowd. | |
Just noticed your name...classic. At around what limits are you able to get comps for free rooms out in either AC or Vegas? I would assume that Vegas is easier due to the vast amount of rooms, but what are your tips to earning comps faster? | Depends on the property and depends on the game. And by rooms, do you mean like direct mail offers or the ability to walk up to someone and say "bitch, I'm a baller - hook me up!" |
What do you know of online gambling? | I did a bunch of preliminary work when I was a corporate person. |
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