The Real Experiences of Casino Employees Presented by: Robert Jacobson Former Casino Employee & Executive Director of The California Council on Problem Gambling
WHO AM I? Robert Jacobson, Executive Director of CCPG Raised in Las Vegas Family in gaming since 1982 Fifteen (15) Years Casino Experience: Varied positions/levels in: F&B Table Games/Poker HR/Training
REAL EXPERIENCES: THE COWBOY
HISTORY OF GAMBLING Bone Dice & Cave Paintings Lotteries California, Gold Rush & Poker Vegas, No Vegas, Vegas 21 st Century / Internet
GAMBLING BY STATE 1975 1975 Casino (1) Lottery (13)
GAMBLING BY STATE 2013 Commercial and Tribal Casinos, Sports Betting & Card Clubs (4) Racetrack, Racinos & Lottery (2) Lottery only (3) Racetrack & Commercial Casinos, Tribal Casinos, Sports betting, Card Clubs & Sports Betting (1) Lottery and Commercial Casinos, Tribal Casinos, Sports Betting & Card Clubs (18) Racetracks and Racinos, Lottery, & Commercial Casinos, Tribal Casinos, Sports Betting, Card Clubs (20) None(2)
LAS VEGAS: THE CAPITOL OF CASINOS Sweating the money: the post-mob days Protection from cheaters or superstition? 1990s: A Family Town? A booming industry Teenage gambling & first experiences A big win? Turning $0.25 into $100! Casino marketing (free food and cigarettes for everyone!) 2000s: The Information Age Big Corporate, Mergers & Science Diluted talent
CALIFORNIA: THE UNEXPECTED COMPETITOR Prop 5 and the Media FBI raids? No way vote yes on 1A! Barns and trailers and tents, oh my? Now it s high rises touching the sky!
THE NEWBIE MEETS THE NEWS YEARS EVE GUY
POP QUIZ!!! Q: Which state has the highest annual gambling revenues? A: California, with over $7B/year even more than Nevada! Q: Which state has the most tribal casinos? A: Gotcha it s Oklahoma! Does anyone know why??? Note(1): Retrieved from 500 Nations website 10/8/12 Note(2): Native American casinos only; California, Nevada, etc. have more total gambling
GAMBLING IN CALIFORNIA Lottery, Horse Tracks/OTB Tribal Gaming vs. Card Rooms Unprecedented growth, 1999-2007
LET S TALK ABOUT MATH BABY What is the House Edge? What is Hold? Can casinos be beaten legally? Advantage Play vs. Cheating How are comps calculated? How do dealers make their money?
THE RESTAURANT OWNER
EMPLOYEE FLOW CHART Hierarchy Leadership (BoD/Tribal/Owner, GM/CEO) Executive (VP/Director) Upper (MOD/CSM/Shift Mg/Asst. Shift Mg) Middle (Shift Sup/Asst Shift Sup) Entry Level (Sup/Leads) Line Level Position Front of the house (dealer vs. hotel vs. golf) Back of the house (hr vs. marketing vs. chef)
WHAT IT S LIKE TO WORK IN A CASINO Atmosphere / Environment Drugs/alcohol (sometimes in their cars) Entertainment vs. Hostility Sweating the money? Comp systems Culture Short-term vs. Long-term Employee Pride Attitude towards guests (public vs. private)
RAGS TO RICHES TO RAGS
A DEALER S OFFICIAL DUTIES Deal a variety of table or poker games Accurately track results (won/lost) Do (often complex) math in their head Limit to 1 mistake/week (10,000+ decisions) Provide exceptional customer service Complex yet precise movements with hands, body, while sitting/stooping for long periods of time
AND THE UNOFFICIAL DUTIES: EMPATHY & ABUSE THE INHERITANCE GUY
AND THE RESULT IS Friends? Dispassion vs. Compassion Only see them in the casino (not @ home) Know about families, friends, etc., but don t know them Perceived professionalism Mental compartmentalization Closing Time! Cognitive Dissonance Disassociation from cause-and-effect Decreased value of money (desensitization & gambling for a living )
EMPLOYEE GAMBLING (WITH EDUCATED ESTIMATES) 7 times more likely to develop a problem* Desensitization Only see/hear the jackpots Tipped employees gamble for a living Win together / Splits & Doubles / Etc. Poker dealers go on play Gambling partners get tipped better Employees may return 30% of payroll** Miss work ( calling in from the poker room ) * Estimates range 5 to 15 times; no definitive studies ** Unverified estimate from some casino executives
IMPACT ON LIFESTYLE Smoking Sidebar: impact of smoking on gaming revenue Shift Work Negativity / Pain Drugs? Strict policies Pain, pain go away, come and test me some other day
A BRAVE NEW WORLD FOR CASINO EMPLOYEES? They want to help, but many casino employees can be confused, afraid or uncertain as to what they are allowed to do, and how best to do it. Still, many of today s casino executives are working to breed new cultures which have a better understanding of how gambling addiction impacts business. Addiction Cycle; Hitting Rock Bottom Public Relations/Word of Mouth Hostility, Other Personality Changes Employee morale The iphone Example
THANK YOU FOR ATTENDING! 1-800-GAMBLER California Council on Problem Gambling: 714-765-5804 www.calpg.org California Office of Problem Gambling: 916-327-8611 www.problemgambling.ca.gov