Who in their right mind would deal the WSOP???

youtalkfunny · #1 08-08-2006, 04:15 AM

In the WSOP Discussion forum, a poster named Foucault has been posting daily about his deep run in the ME (some of the best posts to ever appear on 2+2, IMO). Here's a link to his last one.

The part that I thought would be of interest to the B&M crowd is when he tried to tip the dealers, after busting out in 279th place, good for close to $40,000:

I fill out some paperwork, including tax forms (I cringe to think at the bite they will be taking out of my prize), and tell the cashier I would prefer a check over casino chips or cash. I'm surprised and disappointed when no one asks me if I want to leave a tip for the dealers, and worse, that when I ask about how to go about doing this, the woman tells me, "I don't know." Tipping dealers is standard practice at a casino, and my understanding is that it is customary after winning a tournament prize as well. I asked one of my favorite dealers about the matter discretely, and he said that 1% would be a good amount, maybe a little less if I won a really big prize (in the context of this tournament, $40K is not a really big prize). I ask the woman if she can find out what I need to do to leave a tip, and she returns to tell me that I can leave cash with her. Well, I don't have $400 in cash on me, so I have to pay exorbitant casino ATM fees to withdraw the money for a tip.

This is really, really shameful. I understand, though don't respect, the fact that Harrah's doesn't feel they need to provide competitive pay and accomodations for dealers at the WSOP. Some good dealers will continue to deal it anyway, just to have the honor of doing so, and from Harrah's perspective a green dealer straight out of training is worth nearly as much as someone with twenty years' experience. Most players will continue to play the event because it is the World Series, even if the quality of the dealing deteriorates. So Harrah's really doesn't have much economic incentive to provide compensation that will attract world class dealers to a world class tournament.

But why make it so difficult for players to leave tips? I had at least 50 different dealers during my four days of play, and felt that all but 2 provided exceptional, professional, and friendly service. I think they deserve tips above and beyond the cut of the prize pool they are getting, and I know that it is in the interest of players to be sure that good dealers feel it is worth their time to keep dealing the World Series.

Photoc · #2 08-08-2006, 04:26 AM

There is a 6 or 7 page tipping discussion in the WSOP forum and this is some of the stuff said there as well. Harrahs is f'ing it up for everyone and yet people keep coming. Baaahhh says the sheep. [img]/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img]

youtalkfunny · #3 08-08-2006, 04:46 AM

[ QUOTE ]
There is a 6 or 7 page tipping discussion in the WSOP forum and this is some of the stuff said there as well.

[/ QUOTE ]

Link?

Photoc · #4 08-08-2006, 04:56 AM

http://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/showfl...e=6#Post6643110

chesspain · #5 08-08-2006, 07:25 AM

[ QUOTE ]
I fill out some paperwork, including tax forms (I cringe to think at the bite they will be taking out of my prize), and tell the cashier I would prefer a check over casino chips or cash. I'm surprised and disappointed when no one asks me if I want to leave a tip for the dealers, and worse, that when I ask about how to go about doing this, the woman tells me, "I don't know."

[/ QUOTE ]

Would the cage have refused to write out a check for the majority of the amount, while giving the OP the remainder in cash?

tom10167 · #6 08-08-2006, 07:51 AM

That's exactly what I was thinking.

Either way, that sucks, and while people (Harrahs) is thinking that it won't matter because it's ThE WsOp the are wrong. Maybe for five years they can ride on this but there's no way cutting costs has ever worked long term in anything; they're being greedy and very stupid.

RR · #7 08-08-2006, 10:30 AM

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
I fill out some paperwork, including tax forms (I cringe to think at the bite they will be taking out of my prize), and tell the cashier I would prefer a check over casino chips or cash. I'm surprised and disappointed when no one asks me if I want to leave a tip for the dealers, and worse, that when I ask about how to go about doing this, the woman tells me, "I don't know."

[/ QUOTE ]

Would the cage have refused to write out a check for the majority of the amount, while giving the OP the remainder in cash?

[/ QUOTE ]

I don't know their policy, but many places if you want a check you have to take a check for the full amount.

MiamiDave · #8 08-08-2006, 11:16 AM

Well, I don't have $400 in cash on me, so I have to pay exorbitant casino ATM fees to withdraw the money for a tip.

Not trying to be a jackass because I entirely agree with your post that it's a shame in how unorganized they seem, but is $2 or $3 exorbitant?

More on topic though, the tipping of tournament dealers in tournaments I've played across the country has generally been treated differently from casino to casino. In a Binion's Vegas tournament I made the FT a few months ago they seemed surprised when I offered a tip (I'm sure their standard tournaments they expect tips but in this case it was a lower-level buy-in played mostly by tourists and the like), whereas at the local tourneys here at home or on the local cruise ships, a person who doesn't tip is pretty brutally ostracized by players, and the tournament directors aren't afraid to speak up.

I think in general most casinos have gotten used to the small-charge add-on fees in smaller tournaments to ensure a pot for their dealers and let non-tippers slide, and assume that at the higher buy-in tournaments that the players know what they're doing and will tip, or hope a fellow player will prod them into doing so.

bigfishead · #9 08-08-2006, 01:40 PM

Well a very large number of regular tournament circuit dealers did not deal the wsop this year. Many dealt as temps at Bellagio.

While most regulars on this forum know my thoughts on Harrahs management of wsop and customer service being shameful, I wouldnt even consider working the WSOP strictly from a financial standpoint. I could just as easily work a few extra ours at "B" and make more with less aggravation. And during WSOP time, aggravation runs rampant with some of the pukes that show up to play!! Why add more aggravation by getting screwed with by clueless idiot management running around the WSOP floor?

bernie · #10 08-08-2006, 02:18 PM

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
I fill out some paperwork, including tax forms (I cringe to think at the bite they will be taking out of my prize), and tell the cashier I would prefer a check over casino chips or cash. I'm surprised and disappointed when no one asks me if I want to leave a tip for the dealers, and worse, that when I ask about how to go about doing this, the woman tells me, "I don't know."

[/ QUOTE ]

Would the cage have refused to write out a check for the majority of the amount, while giving the OP the remainder in cash?

[/ QUOTE ]

I don't know their policy, but many places if you want a check you have to take a check for the full amount.

[/ QUOTE ]

Really? My place used to split it up if you want.

Though that may have changed now. I haven't got a big check from there in awhile.

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