Swing Shift Bellagio--Bring floorman cash if you want to jump the list

[bread]

I am told by many that "usually" slipping the floorman $10 will put you ahead of everyone else on the list (including your unsuspecting friends who may have been on the list for an hour and don't know that you are doing this to them as well).

I do not know what it takes at busy times like during the WSOP when there is a full list for hours. Perhaps one of those paying off will enlighten us.

[r2p]

I think Steve Martin in My Blue Heaven put it best “ I tip everybody” – It is the Bellagio!

[chris206]

When the initial post about the problems on swing shift at the Bellagio poker room was posted I was very interested as I know a poker dealer there very well and tried to find out what I could. I have since inquired again for what if any changes have taken place. Basically none. The one thing that would stop or at least greatly slow down the seat selling by floormen on swing shift would be a visible list as Wynn, Commerce, and most other big cardrooms have but Bellagio refuses to do it.

The dealer I know is on swing shift and told me that it is too bad we don't get to hear what is said in the dealer's break room. The employee told me that most of the dealer's know what goes on but value their jobs too much to risk speaking up. I am told that the bribes have extended to other things which are equally bad. Several incidents were mentioned and one in particular deserves scrutiny as I will now mention.

What happened was that a player was involved in a 6-way pot and in the middle of the hand another player (a big toker of the floorman) claimed it was a misdeal IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HAND!! Incredibly, the floorman came over saw who complained then ruled that all hands were dead--after all that action! As it turned out there was never any misdeal at all, yet the hand was killed. I am told that the player who wanted the hand killed explained afterwards that she "gets whatever she wants" in that poker room. What does that mean and what are we to assume from this, the employee would not say but I think it is obvious. The employee felt bad for the guy who was clearly victimized. I was told that when the player complained to the shift boss (who was a relief shift boss that night as he is also a dealer) and he was told to go play somewhere else if he didn't like those type rulings. That statement was witnessed by several employees and players. If need be I can probably ask for the names of those involved and post them.

I was also told that this dealer had also heard another local another time tell one of his friends at the table that he "will never get a bad decision" because he takes care of the floorman. What will that fool do when he needs a decision and the other player in the hand tokes more?

If toking becomes a factor in floorman decisions how can anyone feel comfortable playing at Bellagio on that shift? This needs investigation and maybe the Gaming Control Board should look into this.

[nubs]

Some casinos do not allow floor people who make rulings to take tips. I think this is a very good policy.

[chris206]

That is a great idea! I never thought of that but it certainly causes suspicion if everytime a big toker gets a close decision over a tourist who has no idea what is going on. Good idea to ban those who make decisions from receiving tokes. It is an undeniable conflict of interest. I bet 90%+ of the players would agree with that.

[chris206]

I played again at the Bellagio yesterday and asked them about the two Bellagio topics being discussed here:

1. To keep people from bribing floormen for seats, will Bellagio put up a clearly visible list as is done at most other major cardrooms?

2. Do you think it is OK for a floorman who receives tokes to make decisions in games, especially if it involves anyone from whom he received tokes? Should anyone who receives tokes be allowed to make decisions?

These are reasonable questions, yes or no.

Their response was that nobody had heard of any plans to change anything. I guess, like everything else, nothing will change until it gets worse and more people complain. Until then, caveat emptor (or player in this case).

[Pairofnines]

It is amazing that after more than 5,000 viewers of this message not a single word of response or denial of any kind from the Bellagio. Are they hoping that people will ignore their ongoing waiting list scam?

[jdock99]

Stop whining, suck it up and bribe the floormen. Standard practice and no amount of whining by you is gonna change it. At the Commerce 40-80 game the floormen walk around with open palms waiting for the bribes to fall into them. In fact, I have seen floormen lock seats and instead of calling the board wait for someone to bribe them for the seat. Don't hate the player, hate the game.

[Pairofnines]

You are absolutely correct about the reality of the situation. It will take the continual shining of a spotlight on this mess to finally put an end to it. I have a friend who thinks as you do who recently complained that during the WSOP others who toked more than he did were put ahead of him. I asked him if he got a refund, he did not. At what point does this become a total mockery of doing things right? Not to mention if those tokes get those toking other unfair benefits.

We need to post all their names and let's see what happens then!

[Pairofnines]

The WSOP is finally over and I just got back home. I dropped by Bellagio Thursday to ask about the ongoing list problem with some of their floorpeople and whether they will put up a list visible to all as most other major cardrooms have. Employees I spoke with had no knowledge of any expected changes. Hard to believe that after thousands of people have read about their payoff for seats problem they want to continue it. Hopefully, more will notice these practices and Bellagio will eventually get tired of all the complaints from the honest players (as well as victimized tourists who mostly have no idea that this is going on) and finally put an end to this scam.