Massive Turnover in Caesars Palace Staff?
 

Earlier today, I spoke with a former floorperson of Caesars Palace (since they opened) who is now working in another big poker room on the Strip. According to this person, management has fired or driven away (this person quit) most of the staff of the poker room and replaced them with less experienced personnel.

I haven't been at Caesars Palace much lately except for this weekend. So, I haven't seen this myself. Does anybody else know anything about the current situation at Caesars Palace?

Re: Massive Turnover in Caesars Palace Staff?
 

Problem in two words, THE MANAGER.

Re: Massive Turnover in Caesars Palace Staff?
 

from the 2+2ers I read reviews from the caesar's room is preety good....

when did this change take place?

Re: Massive Turnover in Caesars Palace Staff?
 

I was there two days ago, saw the same personnel as I have for the last month.

Re: Massive Turnover in Caesars Palace Staff?
 

When I was in Vegas for the WSOP I played at Caesar's a couple times and one of the floorpeople (I forget his name - , maybe?) was really exceptional at his job - 6 of us came in drunk and asked if they'd start a $4/$8 HORSE game for us and he got a table up right away. A few nights later after the SSNL dinner he helped us start up 3 tables for all of us to donk around in a HORSE game (*TT* participated, and Mason Malmuth later stopped by and laid a brutal badugi cooler on me despite never having played the game before) which later turned into dealer's choice and a lot of hilarious variants - just like a home game basically, was a huge blast.

I was playing 2/5 at MGM towards the end of my trip and he sat down next to me - I started talking to him and he said he'd actually just quit at Caesar's because the management sucks. Stuff about how he was trying to help out the players as much as possible (which I def believe, cause he was awesome) but all the room cared about was the bottom line.

He said he was going to work at Venetian after that.

name edited out by *TT* to protect the innocent, we know that Harrah's corporate management read 2+2 on occasion

Re: Massive Turnover in Caesars Palace Staff?
 

[ QUOTE ]
Mason Malmuth later stopped by and laid a brutal badugi cooler on me despite never having played the game before

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LOL, that was fantastic. Mason didnt even know the rules of Badugi but totally pwned you with his knowledge of the Theory of Poker. It just goes to show how amazing that book really is, you can create a new poker game and still be the best player at the table without even knowing the rules just by understanding the concepts within that book.

Thanks to Mason's heavy beat on GoofyBaller he made me un-stuck, he was playing with my chips- hurray! [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

Re: Massive Turnover in Caesars Palace Staff?
 

[ QUOTE ]
Earlier today, I spoke with a former floorperson of Caesars Palace (since they opened) who is now working in another big poker room on the Strip. According to this person, management has fired or driven away (this person quit) most of the staff of the poker room and replaced them with less experienced personnel.

I haven't been at Caesars Palace much lately except for this weekend. So, I haven't seen this myself. Does anybody else know anything about the current situation at Caesars Palace?

[/ QUOTE ]

Hasn't this been their recent history since reopening a couple years ago? Their first two poker room managers were fired because they were knowledgable poker people. Now the manager is a Harrahs pit guy? And now they have a silly bad beat jackpot drop?

Pretty typical Harrahs poker decisions.

Plus there is the sneaky $5 rake that Harrahs is implementing property by property. And don't even get started on the wsop; last years color-up event and the player UN-friendly cards this year.

ok ok Rant Over

Re: Massive Turnover in Caesars Palace Staff?
 

Apparently I missed the chapter on coolering 101. [img]/images/graemlins/mad.gif[/img] It was like my 7-6 badugi which I'd been ramming and jamming to his 7-5.

This may not even be that sick since I don't know the game either, but it sure felt like it at the time, lol.

Re: Massive Turnover in Caesars Palace Staff?
 

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Plus there is the sneaky $5 rake that Harrahs is implementing property by property.

[/ QUOTE ]
Nothing sneaky about that $5, other than the very small print they use to change the placards on the tables when it goes up.

That MAY be on its way out. I mostly stopped visiting Ballys+Harrah's after they raised the rake, but I went back a week ago, or so. The scuttlebutt is the $5 rake has been a spectacular failure, and business in the rooms is off measurably. They're making more per table, when the tables are going, but they're getting fewer tables. They've basically driven away most of the regulars and are finding it's tough to keep things going with just the bleating tourists who don't know any better. So the dealers and floors were all quietly suggesting they figured it wouldn't last much longer, nor would the manager who pushed it at the outset. I believe the make/break was considered to be whether Flamingo could be coerced into adopting it, and so far Flamingo had resisted and was showing no signs of changing (guess Caesars is written off as never coming on board [apparently kinda vocally]).

Re: Massive Turnover in Caesars Palace Staff?
 

[ QUOTE ]
Apparently I missed the chapter on coolering 101. [img]/images/graemlins/mad.gif[/img] It was like my 7-6 badugi which I'd been ramming and jamming to his 7-5.

This may not even be that sick since I don't know the game either, but it sure felt like it at the time, lol.

[/ QUOTE ]

when you have a rough 7 Badugi, the median Badugi is a clean 9, and your HU vs a very good card player its usually good to stop ramming and jamming at some point [img]/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

Re: Massive Turnover in Caesars Palace Staff?
 

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[They've basically driven away most of the regulars and are finding it's tough to keep things going with just the bleating tourists who don't know any better.

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Assuming they could get games going and a percentage rake with triggers on thresholds I'd pay an extra dollar on large pots to play in a game with no Las Vegas regulars.

~ Rick

Re: Massive Turnover in Caesars Palace Staff?
 

You think that is +EV?

Re: Massive Turnover in Caesars Palace Staff?
 

Back in July I spoke to the guy who was running Harrahs poker room and he said he was moving over to manage Caesars. Seemed like a class guy who was trying to help the players, don't know how he fits into all this.

Re: Massive Turnover in Caesars Palace Staff?
 

Posted on a Dealers Website yesterday

"Today, the TWU, on behalf of the Dealers of Caesars Palace, has formally PETITIONED the NLRB for a VOTE for Union Representation!"

I do not know if this included the poker dealers. I do know that the union organizers reached out to the poker dealers and asked them to sign Union Authorization Cards.

Re: Massive Turnover in Caesars Palace Staff?
 

I played at Ceaser's this Friday, and there was a new Tournament director.

Young Hispanic guy... possibly gay. Not that there is anything wrong with that.

Re: Massive Turnover in Caesars Palace Staff?
 

Was that Jesus? He's not new, been there since it opened and had been doing tournaments (not full time) regularly.

Not gay either.

Re: Massive Turnover in Caesars Palace Staff?
 

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Was that Jesus? He's not new, been there since it opened and had been doing tournaments (not full time) regularly.

Not gay either.

[/ QUOTE ]

I don't think so. One of the dealer's needed some chips, and asked the other dealer what his name was. Someone said "You don't know his name?" and the dealer said "He's new, just started today."

Re: Massive Turnover in Caesars Palace Staff?
 

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Their first two poker room managers were fired because they were knowledgable poker people.

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Knowledgable poker people, yes, possibly.

Reason why they were "fired", lol, god no.

I sorta know why Mike was canned and definitely know the situation behind Vito leaving, but I can't disclose it here at all. Sorry.

Re: Massive Turnover in Caesars Palace Staff?
 

Oddly I got an email from Chris out of the blue today, he is now conducting business in China for Harrah's. So although he is not at Caesar's, he is still working for Harrah's.

Re: Massive Turnover in Caesars Palace Staff?
 

Don't really know why Mike was axed. The next fellow--yeah, he really needed to be shown the door.

While yes, they are an arm of Harrah's and yes, Harrah's is famous for screwing their people, not EVERY person they fire is fired because he knows things that might get them in trouble and force them to close hundreds of hotel rooms for weeks and is making waves about it and refuses to go away silently. Sometimes they get it right.

Re: Massive Turnover in Caesars Palace Staff?
 

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not EVERY person they fire is fired because he knows things that might get them in trouble and force them to close hundreds of hotel rooms for weeks and is making waves about it and refuses to go away silently. Sometimes they get it right.

[/ QUOTE ]

Huh what?

TT - Which Chris?

Re: Massive Turnover in Caesars Palace Staff?
 

[ QUOTE ]
Earlier today, I spoke with a former floorperson of Caesars Palace (since they opened) who is now working in another big poker room on the Strip. According to this person, management has fired or driven away (this person quit) most of the staff of the poker room and replaced them with less experienced personnel.

I haven't been at Caesars Palace much lately except for this weekend. So, I haven't seen this myself. Does anybody else know anything about the current situation at Caesars Palace?

[/ QUOTE ]

is that amber chick still cocktailing from big brother 8?

Re: Massive Turnover in Caesars Palace Staff?
 

Complaining on these forums tells the tale, but mostly to people who are not in any position to do anything about it. Most of the people who are in charge of poker these days have no clue about poker whatsoever, and certainly don't read these boards. The only way players will be heard is by saying what's on their mind in a way it will be heard by management. This means filling out a customer comment form. If you don't fill out one of these forms, you almost certainly are wasting your breath.

Al

Re: union
 

I am not for every industry blindly jumping into unions, but I am not against them either. In fact, I used to work for iatse (stagehand's union) and never had any complaints. I am not commenting on any current situations which may or may not exist regarding any given union.

That being said, I suspect harrahs (and most if not all casinos in vegas) would be terrified of another group of their employees unionizing. The ones that are already unionized have avenues open to them that others are denied and seem to be getting a better deal all around. More specifically, they have far better protection against getting railroaded by corporate bullcrap because they have representation.

As an aside, I've informally asked hundreds of people all over town what they think of their employer, and do they like working for their company. The results might surprise some people.

Harrahs - absolutely no one has ever said they like their employer, and virtually all have added negative commentary without being asked for it. Some do like their specific job and location. Harrahs is pretty much universally hated by most people who do now or have worked for them in the past. In particular the corporate bs is notorious for being deep and plentiful, and their payroll department is especially hated. .

MGM - similar to harrahs, but with less venom from past employees. Few really like it and some complain about corporate bs. Many do like their specific job and location.

Boyd gaming - a 50/50 mix with not many tirades of negativity

Stations - virtually all current or past employees say they like their company. No one has ever gone on a long tirade of neaative comments. Stations take good care of their customers, and apparently their employees too.

I haven't asked enough of venetian or wynn employees to have a real answer. However, most of these jobs are probably so good pay wise that people would put up with a lot.

Al

Re: Massive Turnover in Caesars Palace Staff?
 

I wont mention names, but can someone tell me if the swing shift manager is still there? He is a great guy, and worked his way up from the ground floor. I remember playing with him, then on subsequent trips seeing him climb the ladder. He was very accomodating, spreading many games for us, inclulding TORSE, and chinese. Hope he is still there. Not to mention some of the dealers there, both good looking and skilled (you guys know who I'm talking about). Oh well, sad to hear about the changes, but somewhat expected when dealing with the evil corrporation that is Harrah's.

Re: Massive Turnover in Caesars Palace Staff?
 

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[ QUOTE ]
not EVERY person they fire is fired because he knows things that might get them in trouble and force them to close hundreds of hotel rooms for weeks and is making waves about it and refuses to go away silently. Sometimes they get it right.

[/ QUOTE ]

Huh what?

TT - Which Chris?

[/ QUOTE ]

Chris Tessitore, GoofyBaller was talking about him earlier in the thread.

Re: union
 

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More specifically, they have far better protection against getting railroaded by corporate bullcrap because they have representation.

[/ QUOTE ]

conversely from the eyes of the consumer because of unions we get stuck with horrible dealers and staff when they cannot be removed. Lets face it, you really have to screw up bad at most casinos to lose your job - union or no union.

Re: Massive Turnover in Caesars Palace Staff?
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
not EVERY person they fire is fired because he knows things that might get them in trouble and force them to close hundreds of hotel rooms for weeks and is making waves about it and refuses to go away silently. Sometimes they get it right.

[/ QUOTE ]

Huh what?

TT - Which Chris?

[/ QUOTE ]

Chris Tessitore, GoofyBaller was talking about him earlier in the thread.

[/ QUOTE ]

The GoofyBaller part doesn't make sense... since Chris was, last I knew, still the Shift Manager on swing during the WSOP, and last time I went to Caesars (a week or two ago), he was still there.

Good guy, means well, but I know there was some minor internal strife with him from some dealers as he became a bit more "corporate" in his move up the ladder to SM and seemed to lose some of the enthusiasm and looseness he had displayed in the poker room prior to doing so.

Re: Massive Turnover in Caesars Palace Staff?
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
not EVERY person they fire is fired because he knows things that might get them in trouble and force them to close hundreds of hotel rooms for weeks and is making waves about it and refuses to go away silently. Sometimes they get it right.

[/ QUOTE ]

Huh what?

[/ QUOTE ]
Story playing out the last few weeks in the Review Journal.

A laborer was bitching at his boss and boss' boss and boss' boss' boss telling them "you're violating building codes, you can't do this, this is wrong, you have to have inspections, they just drilled through structural support cables and weakened the building, STOP." His bosses told him to STFU. He kept making waves...

Then he asked his boss if he could take home a sample of various types of fluorescent light bulbs to try out and see which his wife liked. Boss said "sure". Security grabbed him walking out with a box of bulbs, he couldn't produce paperwork proving he had permission, and they axed him.

So he called the RJ. They start nosing around and the county tries to brush 'em off. RJ won't go away and keeps digging. County sends the same "in their pocket, it seems" inspector out to look it over and he returns saying "looks fine to me". RJ calls BS--he's the same inspector who let all this happen in the first place.

Turns out, it's all true. All those major rennovations Harrah's did on the Rio and later-discovered, Harrah's itself, were done without building permits and didn't get proper inspections. And yes, they DID fail to fire caulk newly drilled holes, and yes, they DID drill through and break structural support cables.

So the last weeks large parts of Harrah's and the Rio were closed as they tore out walls and floors and fixed things while inspectors watched. At one point, simply because the fire alarms hadn't been properly inspected, Harrah's was ordered to station a security guard on each impacted floor 24x7 to manually report fires.

Moral of the story... don't fire the guy who knows all the dirt.

Re: Massive Turnover in Caesars Palace Staff?
 

Or stop trying to cut corners?

Harrahs is kinda the evil empire. Some day, maybe all of the stuff with these guys will come out. I have absolutely no faith that the new owners will be better, given the history of private buyouts.

Re: union
 

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I haven't asked enough of venetian or wynn employees to have a real answer. However, most of these jobs are probably so good pay wise that people would put up with a lot.

[/ QUOTE ]

I'm curious what percentage of Wynn's poker room employees are the original Canterbury transplants - I'd almost expect them to stick it out till retirement.

RB

Re: Massive Turnover in Caesars Palace Staff?
 

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[ QUOTE ]
Plus there is the sneaky $5 rake that Harrahs is implementing property by property.

[/ QUOTE ]
Nothing sneaky about that $5, other than the very small print they use to change the placards on the tables when it goes up.

That MAY be on its way out.

[/ QUOTE ]

SIGH. New rumor is the other Harrah's properties have been beaten into submission and all but Caesars are going to join the $5 rake club. Dealers are PO'd, claiming they definitely feel it in their pockets, and it's not just locals turning away from the rooms--they've had plenty of touristy players sit down, watch one full rake go down, confirm it was not an accident, and pick up and walk across the street.

Re: Massive Turnover in Caesars Palace Staff?
 

[ QUOTE ]
[it's not just locals turning away from the rooms--they've had plenty of touristy players sit down, watch one full rake go down, confirm it was not an accident, and pick up and walk across the street.

[/ QUOTE ]

That was me last week. Stayed at Bally's and was shocked they went to $5 plus the $1 for the jackpot. How greedy can you get? Hello Bellagio.

Re: Massive Turnover in Caesars Palace Staff?
 

At least you guys get 10% $5 cap + $1 jackpot. Here in LA everywhere is $5 + $1. 1/2NL, 3/6, 4/8, and 6/12 are pretty much unplayable due to the rake. And Nevada these games are still somewhat playable with a 10% capped rake.

Re: Massive Turnover in Caesars Palace Staff?
 

I'm a local Vegas player, Caesars USED to be my home room. No more. Myself and several others booked. Until we hear that the rake goes back, neither do we.
Two of the Station Casino's tried raising the rake, and they lost 3/4 of the local play. A few months later they sent out letters to players offering comps for them to come back and apologizing for the experimental raising of the rake. I never went back. Live and learn. Hopefully the other rooms (not Harrahs or Stations) are watching and learning from the others mistakes.

Re: Massive Turnover in Caesars Palace Staff?
 

[ QUOTE ]
I'm a local Vegas player, Caesars USED to be my home room. No more. Myself and several others booked. Until we hear that the rake goes back, neither do we.


[/ QUOTE ]

Sounds like the games out there that do manage to go might become noticably better due to this.

It's kind of like the tourneys on Harrah's properties. I know a lot of players won't play any Harrah's tourneys due to the W2-G situation. The fields in the daily tourneys seem to be a little softer at Harrah's properties than at others.

Re: Massive Turnover in Caesars Palace Staff?
 

I believe the W2G thing at Harrah's is fixed, isn't it? I haven't played a Harrah's tourney in a while but someone told me they had stopped with the W2G/1099G idiocy until the prize hit $5K.

And the claim is the rake at Caesars will remain capped at $4. They are the recalcitrant child, refusing to join the grand experiment.

Re: Massive Turnover in Caesars Palace Staff?
 

[ QUOTE ]
I believe the W2G thing at Harrah's is fixed, isn't it? I haven't played a Harrah's tourney in a while but someone told me they had stopped with the W2G/1099G idiocy until the prize hit $5K.

And the claim is the rake at Caesars will remain capped at $4. They are the recalcitrant child, refusing to join the grand experiment.

[/ QUOTE ]

I consider this the Grand Inevitable rather than the Grand Experiment, it might take 1-2 years but all of Las Vegas will be switching to a $5 max rake at 10% over time. Its inevitable.

Re: Massive Turnover in Caesars Palace Staff?
 

SHUSH! Don't give them ideas!

Re: Massive Turnover in Caesars Palace Staff?
 

Anyway, back to the mess at Caesars.

I found out in the past couple days that the place, internally, has become a f'n mess.

People are leaving and/or getting fired left and right.

Brandon (who ran the noon tourneys a while back), gone. Cindy, gone. TJ, gone. Bonnie, gone. Chris T., sucked it up, got his promotion, and ran to China to do some very interesting things.

Jason, who was brought in recently from Harrah's to be the TD, canned. A buddy of his who was brought in, canned.

All that's left from the original floor personel, from what I can tell, from when the room opened is Jed and Bill.

And there are some Full Time dealers that want out, but, they're FT, and there's jack for jobs in town, so they're basically stuck not wanting to give up the hours and benefits.

Not fun times.