Swain Scheps - Casino Gambling For Dummies

Dealers have a wide range of personalities. Some are polite and outgoing, others efficient and brusque. Although finding a compatible dealer doesn’t change the cards or the size of your winnings, it can make your gaming experience more enjoyable and, sometimes, that’s as much as you can ask for. You can spot a good dealer by their smile, humor, demeanor, and often the size of the crowd at the table. When you find one you like, sit down, but remember the dealer has no control over the outcome. Most dealers prefer that you win because they make their money primarily from tips.

The average American casino makes nearly two-thirds of its profits from its various slot machines. Much is at stake along the rows and rows of jabbering slots and other digital games. Therefore, casinos are diligent when it comes to maintaining and stocking them for long-term play. Just like the pit bosses and dealers who watch over the table games (see the previous section), the staff members assigned to the slot machines — the slot attendants and the slot supervisors — keep a careful eye on their vast realm.

The person you’re most likely to deal with if you have a problem or question about your machine is a slot attendant. Slot attendants are on constant vigil, ever watchful for the next jackpot or flashing light requesting service. The attendants are the perfect people to ask if you’re not sure how to play a particular machine; they know every bell, cherry, and bar like the back of their hands.

If you need change, assistance with a game, or simply a bill that’s just a tad crisper than the one you have, summon a slot attendant, who’s usually at your beck and call. However, if a machine needs repair, the slot attendant calls a slot technician.

The slot supervisor rules the realm of the slot machines, managing employees and overseeing the maintenance and upkeep of the machines. The slot supervisor generally has several slot attendants as direct reports. For casual gamblers, slot supervisors normally play a part in your life only if you hit a jackpot that can’t be paid out in coins.

For those rare but exciting payoffs when you defy the gods of gambling and win more than the machine can pay out, a slot attendant — and, in some cases, the supervisor — responds to your flashing machine. The slot attendant arrives with a big wad of cash to ceremoniously peel off the bills, one Franklin at a time, to you, the happy winner. And if the payout is $1,200 or more, you also receive an IRS form (called a W2-G) reporting your win to your favorite uncle — Uncle Sam. (Check out Chapter 4for more tax-reporting issues.)

In addition to the employees who ensure the smooth-running operations on the floor, a host of other casino personnel contribute to the success of the house. As a beginning casino player, you may not come into contact with any of these people. However, if you do, management employees such as the casino host may become familiar (and friendly) faces.

Modern casino hosts best resemble a successful hotel concierge: They’re both at your service. Whether dealing with new guests, loyal customers, or high-rollers, the casino host focuses on service, service, and more service.

A typical casino host is an affable and professional employee whose mission is to serve your every need. Hosts are hands-on people who greet VIP guests at the door and pamper them throughout their stay. Depending on the size and popularity of the casino and the thickness of your wallet, a casino host may

Comp your rooms

Arrange for greens fees at the golf course

Get tickets to sold-out shows

Give away free meals

If it’s your first time in a casino, don’t expect to have the keys to the Hangover suite at Caesar’s Palace handed to you. But even low rollers can make a relationship with the casino host profitable. Keep the following in mind:

Join the club: The casino host expects you to be a casino loyalty club member before you’re offered many comps. And don’t forget to use your players’ club card whenever you play so the casino can track how much you’re gambling. (See Chapter 20for more on players’ club cards.)

Express yourself: Don’t wait for the host to find you in the penny slots area; go introduce yourself to the host.

Be loyal: Find your favorite gambling locale and stick to it. Even small-scale visits can make you a valuable customer if they’re repeated regularly.

Just ask: The players who get comps are the ones who ask the casino host. Don’t be rude or demanding; just ask politely and see what benefits you qualify for.

Player development is all about forming relationships. Casino hosts are eager to wine and dine you if they believe they can create player loyalty through these lavish perks. Although player-development departments often employ telemarketers or other representatives to reach out to gamers through databases, casino hosts achieve their goals one-on-one by working their cellphones and roaming the casino floors, seeking ways to make their clients’ gaming experiences more enjoyable.

As in other walks of life, every casino employee has to report to somebody, and those somebodies are the shift managers. The shift managers then report to the casino manager. As the name implies, shift managers are responsible for their areas of casino expertise (such as slots or table games) during a particular shift (day, swing, and graveyard). Most land-based casinos are 24/7 operations, so shift managers must be prepared to work weekends, holidays, and late-night shifts.

When player disputes arise, money needs to be accounted for, or items need to be authorized, the shift manager takes on these duties as well. Shift managers are responsible for employee schedules, customer service, comps, credit, and a host of other duties that make for a mind-boggling job.

The only position above the shift manager is the casino manager. You rarely see this head honcho on the floor, but they’re the ultimate decision-maker for most gaming operations. As a beginning casino player, you shouldn’t be too concerned about who the casino manager is. The only time you may ever interact with the manager is if you win enough money to buy the casino.

In today’s massive casinos, five-star hotels merge with gargantuan, themed buildings, encompassing entire city blocks and housing restaurants, bars, theaters, nightclubs, gaming tables, slot machines, ATMs, snack bars, gift shops, and even the occasional theme park. Therefore, a casino’s security division must function much like the police department of an entire town.

This section explains who the security personnel is, lets you in on who’s watching you, and details how you can be proactive to protect yourself when betting your hard-earned money.