05-16-2002, 01:48 PM
I could have made a more colorful long title but you'll get the point.
I've read a number of posts about dealing/dealers at the WSOP this year. Some posts were not directly about wsop, but dealing habits or bad habits anywhere. Others were directed at the dealers themselves at Binions even tho they were only following orders of management in regards to procedure.
In my first week during the series, dealing the high limit section upstairs I took more heat because I followed procedure to a "T". The heat came from the players. They didnt like the shuffle. They wanted scrambles. And when every single hand they got dealt wasnt the stone cold nuts they whizzed the cards back in disgust, occasionally flying off the table. And boy did the whine about the bad dealers then. I knew I was in for a rough 5-6 weeks. This was not going to be fun.
I am a good dealer. Not the greatest, nor the fastest. I make mistakes occasionally. I finally did a "burn n turn" but fortunately in a low limit game and there was absolutely in this case no effect whatsoever. It does happen. However, 90%+ of the time in the 50-100 Pot limit games I knew the exact pot amount when asked. I never chit chatted with playes but was inviting and welcoming no matter what at the table.
Apparently(I want to keep ego out of it) I was considered to be the best dealer on graveyard shift upstairs according to the floorman. I have NEVER turned the deck, leaned forward resting my elbows on the table looking lazy, not said "excuse me" if I missed something like a person quietly saying raise in a $50 round and throwing a $100 bill out there when he had no chips and I assumed it was a call. Yet most of the players doing this were taking a shot or mumbling and gave me heartache like the whiners they were for missing it.
On more then one occasion I was locked into one game only with 1 other dealer doing 1 up on break 1 down because the particular game was a shorthanded high limit game and they wanted only the 2 best dealers handling it. On those occasions we (myself and the other dealer) would miss the rest of the rooms lineup of games. And at the end of the shift what was our reward? We made $40 bucks if we were lucky.
I have never seen so much whining in my life. The Vegas regulars and the more famous players are the worst. And the Vegas bosses are afraid of them! The worst place in the world to deal has to be the WSOP live games. Followed closely by the tournaments only because dealers are not making a decent wage.
Matt Savage and Steve Morrow have done an exccellent job on handling players in the tournaments. While I've missed most of the events due to my shift, I have had occasion to visit and whatch.
Players want good dealers. So what. Players in LV dont want to pay for good dealers. Nor does the WSOP management. You get what you pay for. Dealers are being paid $5.15 hr in LV. Including at Binions WSOP. Many dealers travel from far and wide to deal this event knowing this in advance. But the upside was the tips were good and a dealer could make 5-6k during the event period.
Hence players got good dealers.
Binions has changed that. They took 6% of the prize pool out as entry fees. WHOA, talk about pissing of customers. Now they dont tip. Some events have been total stiffs. See the staff nor dealers got 1 red cent of the "entry fees". There has been some rumor the MRS. Becky Binion-Behnen
has starting adding small amounts to the event "envelopes" to help the dealers get up to 7-10 per down. Too little too late. Dealers even sent a letter to Becky. But no response was given. Some want to form a walkout. Some want a sickout. Most are afraid to stand-up. I for one would support a walkout. Main event, first 20 minute push, every dealer. It'll never happen. Maybe had there been open communication players and dealers alike would be happier, and many of the better dealers whom stayed away this year would be there. Maybe had the Horseshoe said they would give a certain percentage to the staff all would be happier.
Attendence is down. But like someone with there head in the sand there is denial. There are fewer big games then ever. I have strted my shift more then once to only 1-2 games and on one occasion there was not a single game in the high limit section(30-60 and above) In fact since the first week I do not recall seeing a 30-60 game. Many are playing at Bellagio apparently.
For the last 10 days I personnally averaged about $6 bucks an hour in tokes. (except one nite when I got to switch downstairs) Tuesday after 2 hours I had $8. That was it. The end. I quit. My floorman was great. It was not his fault. It wasnt even the players fault. However one cannot live on this income. Hell the IRS has a deal with the shoe to claim $8.50 an hour in tokes for dealers. I LOST MONEY WORKING! Kinda funny really.
Customer service. Huge concept. Binions Horseshoe has forgotten what got them there. Customer service. No longer are the wonderful buffets provided. No longer are you treated like a great customer they want to keep and make you feel wanted. Having owned my own business before I know what customer and employee satisfaction does for a business. Binions once had a reputation as a great place to work and play. Now customers and employees alike talk bad about the place. It's sad really. Because a few key people were not taught early on in life about this concept that what was once regarded as the place to visit is now only the location of an event that one has to tolerate and accept if they wish to participate. And they do so begrudgingly.
I wish only the best for the players and employees at this years WSOP. I pray that this event continues but with a renewed life after some serious change. I fear that this change will not take place and the lustre and electricity will be gone. It may take a very rude, huge awakening for this to happen. Bookmakers would give odds it doesnt happen. Rumors abound the Bellagio wants to take over the WSOP. Maybe that's the shot in the arm the event needs. Will it happen? Doubtful. With a "head in the sand" outlook, it must appear Binions HAS to have the WSOP to survive and stay afloat. This may be true. But for the event to survive Binions needs major change in philosophy. Will this happen? doubtful. Doubtful because when ones ego has there head in the sand they cant see the true picture.
It's sad to see that some of the "movers and shapers" have blown a smokescreen over the issues and once that smoke clears some will dumbfounded at what has happened. And this smokescreen was not intentional. Nope. Not when your head is in the sand. It couldnt be intentional. Just like whistling in the dark after a storm. "Everything
seems fine out here ma".
I've read a number of posts about dealing/dealers at the WSOP this year. Some posts were not directly about wsop, but dealing habits or bad habits anywhere. Others were directed at the dealers themselves at Binions even tho they were only following orders of management in regards to procedure.
In my first week during the series, dealing the high limit section upstairs I took more heat because I followed procedure to a "T". The heat came from the players. They didnt like the shuffle. They wanted scrambles. And when every single hand they got dealt wasnt the stone cold nuts they whizzed the cards back in disgust, occasionally flying off the table. And boy did the whine about the bad dealers then. I knew I was in for a rough 5-6 weeks. This was not going to be fun.
I am a good dealer. Not the greatest, nor the fastest. I make mistakes occasionally. I finally did a "burn n turn" but fortunately in a low limit game and there was absolutely in this case no effect whatsoever. It does happen. However, 90%+ of the time in the 50-100 Pot limit games I knew the exact pot amount when asked. I never chit chatted with playes but was inviting and welcoming no matter what at the table.
Apparently(I want to keep ego out of it) I was considered to be the best dealer on graveyard shift upstairs according to the floorman. I have NEVER turned the deck, leaned forward resting my elbows on the table looking lazy, not said "excuse me" if I missed something like a person quietly saying raise in a $50 round and throwing a $100 bill out there when he had no chips and I assumed it was a call. Yet most of the players doing this were taking a shot or mumbling and gave me heartache like the whiners they were for missing it.
On more then one occasion I was locked into one game only with 1 other dealer doing 1 up on break 1 down because the particular game was a shorthanded high limit game and they wanted only the 2 best dealers handling it. On those occasions we (myself and the other dealer) would miss the rest of the rooms lineup of games. And at the end of the shift what was our reward? We made $40 bucks if we were lucky.
I have never seen so much whining in my life. The Vegas regulars and the more famous players are the worst. And the Vegas bosses are afraid of them! The worst place in the world to deal has to be the WSOP live games. Followed closely by the tournaments only because dealers are not making a decent wage.
Matt Savage and Steve Morrow have done an exccellent job on handling players in the tournaments. While I've missed most of the events due to my shift, I have had occasion to visit and whatch.
Players want good dealers. So what. Players in LV dont want to pay for good dealers. Nor does the WSOP management. You get what you pay for. Dealers are being paid $5.15 hr in LV. Including at Binions WSOP. Many dealers travel from far and wide to deal this event knowing this in advance. But the upside was the tips were good and a dealer could make 5-6k during the event period.
Hence players got good dealers.
Binions has changed that. They took 6% of the prize pool out as entry fees. WHOA, talk about pissing of customers. Now they dont tip. Some events have been total stiffs. See the staff nor dealers got 1 red cent of the "entry fees". There has been some rumor the MRS. Becky Binion-Behnen
has starting adding small amounts to the event "envelopes" to help the dealers get up to 7-10 per down. Too little too late. Dealers even sent a letter to Becky. But no response was given. Some want to form a walkout. Some want a sickout. Most are afraid to stand-up. I for one would support a walkout. Main event, first 20 minute push, every dealer. It'll never happen. Maybe had there been open communication players and dealers alike would be happier, and many of the better dealers whom stayed away this year would be there. Maybe had the Horseshoe said they would give a certain percentage to the staff all would be happier.
Attendence is down. But like someone with there head in the sand there is denial. There are fewer big games then ever. I have strted my shift more then once to only 1-2 games and on one occasion there was not a single game in the high limit section(30-60 and above) In fact since the first week I do not recall seeing a 30-60 game. Many are playing at Bellagio apparently.
For the last 10 days I personnally averaged about $6 bucks an hour in tokes. (except one nite when I got to switch downstairs) Tuesday after 2 hours I had $8. That was it. The end. I quit. My floorman was great. It was not his fault. It wasnt even the players fault. However one cannot live on this income. Hell the IRS has a deal with the shoe to claim $8.50 an hour in tokes for dealers. I LOST MONEY WORKING! Kinda funny really.
Customer service. Huge concept. Binions Horseshoe has forgotten what got them there. Customer service. No longer are the wonderful buffets provided. No longer are you treated like a great customer they want to keep and make you feel wanted. Having owned my own business before I know what customer and employee satisfaction does for a business. Binions once had a reputation as a great place to work and play. Now customers and employees alike talk bad about the place. It's sad really. Because a few key people were not taught early on in life about this concept that what was once regarded as the place to visit is now only the location of an event that one has to tolerate and accept if they wish to participate. And they do so begrudgingly.
I wish only the best for the players and employees at this years WSOP. I pray that this event continues but with a renewed life after some serious change. I fear that this change will not take place and the lustre and electricity will be gone. It may take a very rude, huge awakening for this to happen. Bookmakers would give odds it doesnt happen. Rumors abound the Bellagio wants to take over the WSOP. Maybe that's the shot in the arm the event needs. Will it happen? Doubtful. With a "head in the sand" outlook, it must appear Binions HAS to have the WSOP to survive and stay afloat. This may be true. But for the event to survive Binions needs major change in philosophy. Will this happen? doubtful. Doubtful because when ones ego has there head in the sand they cant see the true picture.
It's sad to see that some of the "movers and shapers" have blown a smokescreen over the issues and once that smoke clears some will dumbfounded at what has happened. And this smokescreen was not intentional. Nope. Not when your head is in the sand. It couldnt be intentional. Just like whistling in the dark after a storm. "Everything
seems fine out here ma".