Tutorial on casino management
March 20, 2009
Dear Mark: A
friend at Lake Tahoe is a dual rate dealer.
Since he broke his hip skiing, he can't reach
the pass line on the craps table. While he
recovers, he has been working "the Pencil".
He is spontaneous and multi-tasks well.
Can you elaborate on this position? Randy S.
Being that once upon a time I held both of these
positions – dual rate and Pencil, in that order
– let’s cover what a dual rate dealer is
first.
A dual rate dealer is both a dealer and a games
floor supervisor. When acting as a supervisor
(also known as a floorperson), the dual rate
dealer is responsible for compliance procedures,
but also supervises the performance of other
dealers to make certain that smooth and
efficient gaming occurs during the shift. In a
pinch, the dual rate dealer can also pitch
cards, so, when acting as a dealer, they are
responsible for dealing the game in a proficient
manner.
Typically, they must have a comprehensive
knowledge of at least three games, and must be
able to deal at least two of the three major
table games, Craps, Blackjack, and Roulette.
As for “the Pencil”, that is the floor
supervisor who is responsible for ensuring that
the dealers know their table assignments. When
on top of your game as the Pencil, sending
dealers to do battle is only a momentary
distraction from your normal duties, such as
supervising a pit of at least six table games
and lots and lots of schmoozing, to both players
and dealers.
As for your friend having spur-of-the-moment
skills, that is a must-have attribute when
things get harried, as they often do near the
end of swing shift, with tables closing left and
right, and dealers needing to be re-assigned or
sent home (EO’d or early out).
For instance, you could have a 60-table-games
spread around midnight, but you are going to
shut down 80 percent of them over the next hour
or two. Thus, you’ve got dozens of dealers
closing games and coming your way, with
staggered shift start times, breathing down your
neck at the pit stand. God forbid you jump
someone on the EO list. Oh, and while all this
is happening, some goof ball spills a 7-11 Big
Gulp across the roulette table.
The Pencil can be extremely demanding,
definitely requiring both spontaneity and the
ability to multi-task well. In my circumstance,
what made matters worse (besides my
self-diagnosed Attention Deficit Disorder), is
that I held the Pencil in a “go for your own”
joint, the gist of that being that dealers kept
their own tips – no splitting. One thing every
dealer knew is where the Whales – big tippers –
were, on every table, at any given moment,
creating an environment where the inmates
–dealers – tried to run the asylum, , at times
successfully, I might add.
I still get cold sweats at night thinking about
“the Pencil.”
Dear Mark: Do you think the casino would
set the bar video poker machines at say 7/5, and
the video poker machines on the floor at 9/6?
I seem to have better luck on the floor
machines. Tim F.
Absolutely, sure, happens all the time, Tim. Oh,
and the reason for having more luck on the
casino floor, is because you’re playing on a 9/6
machine (nine for a full house, six for a flush)
with far superior payback than you get from a
7/5 one.
Although every slot manager is different when it
comes to the placement and positioning of
machines on the casino floor, it’s still your
responsibility to be always on the lookout for
the best video poker opportunities available.
One 9/6 video poker machine can easily be
standing side by side to 7/5 one, let alone
across the casino at the bar.
Of course drinking and gambling are the casino’s
favorite mix. In the gaming business, we call
those free libations “chip removers.”
Free drinks (coin removers for you) have always
been part of the casino ambience. It speeds up
the process of losing. Unfortunately, influenced
by a sundry of alcoholic beverages, a lot of
inebriated patrons just don’t notice that
the bar top machine is only a 7/5.
Gambling Wisdom of the Week:
“As we all know, slots are hungry devils and
they can go through our money the way a school
of piranha can go through a cow.” --Frank
Scoblete, Strictly Slots
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