With the Wise Guys gone,
Wall Street rolled in
22 September 2000
By Mark Pilarski
Dear Mark,
Is it true that the reason Caesar's treats the
customer so well is because it is one of the
last casinos still owned by the Mafia? Just
curious because I love that place, even when I
lose. Chris K.
Sorry, Chris, "The Family" doesn't own Caesars,
but you can own a piece of the joint, even
without Italian lineage. It trades on the NYSE
as ITT. The present ITT Corp. is three publicly
traded entities, which brings their
hotel/leisure, gaming and entertainment business
together under the name ITT Corp. ITT Corp's
gaming operations consist principally of
Caesar's World, ITT Sheraton's Desert Inn Resort
and Casino in Las Vegas and ITT Sheraton Casino
in Tunica, Mississippi.
In the past, Chris, the underworld did have
involvement with certain casino operations in
Las Vegas. Today, because of strong state gaming
regulations and the active participation of
public corporations, the last remnants of direct
organized crime in the gaming industry are long
gone.
Dear Mark,
Though the amount was not substantial (25¢), I
believe a roulette dealer intentionally took my
chip off the winning number. Then what started
out as a disagreement escalated into a huge
argument with both the dealer and the pit boss.
To cool me down the pit boss agreed to call the
eye-in-the-sky. He came back and said the dealer
was not in error and I did not have any money on
the winning number. Because I've been playing
that same number for over 20 years, I still
believe I was right and demanded to see the
film. I was refused.
I would first like to know what disciplinary
action should be taken against a dealer if I was
correct? Also, don't I have a right, on demand,
to view the video tape? Jack M.
As you noted in your question that the amount
was insignificant, here's how it should have
been handled. Casino security should bury the
dealer in a shallow grave and then casino
management fire him for "No Call, No Show."
Come on, Jack, we're talking an $8.75 payout
here. Plus, dealers can, and do, make mistakes.
I've made plenty, once involving a $7,000
overpayment. Aided by surveillance film, the
casino got its money back and I received a
non-paid week on the streets to think about it.
I took advantage of the imposed mini-vacation by
spring skiing and taking part in late night
revelry for seven days.
But your question deserves a sober answer; you
do have the following option in a casino
controversy. Here in Nevada, if you are
dissatisfied with a decision made by casino
management, you may appeal to the Enforcement
Division of the Nevada Gaming Control Board.
Enforcement agents will review the video tape,
if it exists, and inform the casino and the
player of their decision.
There is a reason, Jack, why most casinos are
averse to showing patrons video tape of any
casino activity. Cheaters have been known to
make false claims over small amounts of money
just to dispute a payoff and then demand a
viewing of the film. The charlatan is really
trying to observe the kind of surveillance
coverage that the casino has on a particular
game.
Dear Mark,
Do casinos have shills at the dollar machines?
Andy A.
A shill, or game starter, is an individual
employed by the casino to induce gambling on
table games, not slots, that are being
underplayed. The only place you would find a
shill today is in high-limit gaming pits.
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