WSOP, opinions, viewpoints, problems, (real long)

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 only hope it will happen that way.


I made my little statement by boycotting the WSOP. That will have no effect, but I felt better about myself.


It's a weird thing - pathological relationships. The dealers will keep coming back, and whine about the little money they get. The players will keep coming back and whine about everything. Becky will laugh all the way to the bank.


Until a meaningful percentage of the dealers stand up and say, "No mas!" it'll continue.


Regards, Lee

how the heck do you expect the shoe to make money if theyre given all kinds of stuff away. how come so many say that becky is making too much money? why cant she make as much as she can? players have been whining about becky since she took over. shoe was takin it in the shorts on the wsop when jack ran the thing. why do players expect to get all kinds of freebies? if the dealers arent making money they should quit. why would anybody work if the money wasnt right for em? why do players think they have a right to have the series be a certain way?

Hi Larry- your post has many good points. However..., you are not correct that the players in Vegas do not pay for "good dealers". The best dealers in Vegas are at the Bellagio and they are paid "quite well". There are very few players who do not tip. As for the dealers at Binion's, they are some of the worse dealers I've ever seen. My sister has been dealing only 4 years and could run rings around most of the dealers at Binions. I'm sorry, but they are awful for the most part. You are an exception to the rule, Larry, as you take pride in your work, despite the low wages. Most of the dealers at Binions are not "professionals" in my opinion. Do you (and should you) tip for "horrible" service? I admit that some people are jerks and won't tip no matter what- but I think these guys are few and far between. The locals I know playing 10-20 through 20-40 at Binions are definately tipping the dealers- I am sure of it.


I firmly agree that Ms. Behnen is slowly bleeding the HS to its ultimate demise. I am saddened by this, if for no reasons other than "historical" ones. It is a disgrace how the property is run (or NOT run). I am horrified at the massive disorganization and confusion and the total lack of a "player friendly" atmosphere. The "customer service" at Bellagio, while still not the BEST by any means, is much, much better than at Binions. The games at Bellagio are run better (but still not as well as they could be)and are as full as I've ever seen them during the series. Bellagio would be a much better venue for the series for many reasons, IMO. Binion's has become an embarrassment to the poker world. I vote for a new location for the WSOP and also for a competent" staff to run it. I'm sorry that our town is giving a "bad image" to the poker world, just because the WSOP is in the wrong location. Hopefully, things will be different next year. Babe.

Anony- If you are visiting someplace where a "world-class" "professional" event is taking place, don't you think you have a RIGHT to a little "world-class" treatment? Whether it's poker, basketball, billards, or knitting, I firmly believe that all participants should be treated like they are the BEST at what they do. Yes, they deserve that. In business, as in poker, sometimes you have to "give to get", don't you? Many casinos lose money on food and promos, but more than make up for it by money left on the tables......

Good message Larry. I like the fact that a professional dealer "should" be able to make $1000 a week in tips during WSOP.


Hope your next gig turns out to be more profitable. Best of luck to you. LTL

Well said. I don't care what business your in, you treat your best customers like they are your lifeline, because they are. Pokerplayers that come to Vegas also like to play the other table games AND they attract people that like to play the other games. I've often felt that outside of Vegas, casinos that don't have poker rooms because there is more money in slots, fail to realize that Poker players bring people with them that do.

Great post! Time to move the big event elsewhere.

Another idea is the Cardplayer article by Mike Sexton (hope it has a better fate than the Tournament of Champions).


I was there in late April, played some 15-30 holdem, and left a couple of hours later. Noisy, old chips, and a lousy atmosphere.


Never again.


Michael Low

The best dealers in Vegas are at the Bellagio and they are paid "quite well".


I think it's fair to say that the dealers at The Mirage are also much improved and that room, like The Bellagio, is also well run.


While I also agree that Larry F does makes some good points, there is one over riding factor that he misses. It is the fact that dealer quality nationwide has been a problem for many many years, and most experienced players are just fed up with dealers in general.


That's why our company, in an effort to help in this area published [i]The Professional Poker Dealer's Handbook[i] by Dan Paymar, Donna Harris, and Mason Malmuth. To get this book done right, neither I nor Two Plus Two makes any money on it. But we have sold 2,200 copies and I believe that it is slowly having an effect nationwide.


As for the Horseshoe, I hope that eventually they will get all their problems behind them and it will once again become the great place that we all knew.

Do you really think that will happen? I have my doubts.