Wynn under fire for tip-sharing policy
11th August, 2008
Many in the Las Vegas gambling industry are surprised by the policy at Encore casino that requires dealers to share their tips with supervisors. This not a common practice and actually goes against policy of most casinos in Las Vegas.
Steve Wynn is known for making his employees happy at all cost, which is why many people can’t understand why he hasn’t budged on this policy.
“I can’t see any experienced dealer working in a decent casino giving up what they have to go over to Encore,” said Al Maurice, a dealer at the Mirage. “I believe he will have to settle for a lot of inexperienced help straight out of dealer’s school or from minor casinos.”
The Encore project is actually a $2.3 billion resort set to open by the end of the year and will be housed right alongside the famous Wynn casino. Many are saying this is a misstep by Wynn’s owner.
“His reputation is mud right now,” said an anonymous dealer at the Rio. “But if you’re only making $80 a day at a downtown property and you can make at least $150 a day at Encore, you’re going to take that job.”
Many of the dealers around Las Vegas have come out opposing this policy out of feat that other casinos will begin taking it up as well. They don’t want to see this become common practice because tips are critical for many in the dealing business.
However, Wynn has made it very clear that he is not backing down at all and sees this as the beginning of a new direction.
“This period we’re in is really key,” Wynn said. “This is one of the great creative moments. If we get happy souls that really like each other...we will prevail in the future in any economic environment.”
By Michael
