Two sister casinos in downtown Las Vegas, Binion’s Gambling Hall & Hotel and Four Queens Hotel and Casino, have implemented a new tip-out policy that allows their dealers to keep their own tips instead of pooling them. This change, according to their parent company TLC Casino Enterprises, has resulted in a significant increase in earnings for the dealers, nearly tripling what they used to make in a day.
The decision to allow dealers to keep their own tips, known in the industry as “going for their own,” sets Binion’s and Four Queens apart from most other Vegas casinos that typically practice tip pooling. Glenn Casale, the Director of Casino Operations at both casinos, stated that dealers who used to average $50-$60 a day are now making around $150 on the swing shift following the policy change.
Casale mentioned that Binion’s has been running the tip-keeping policy for about three months, while Four Queens will start implementing it on October 28. The motivation behind this change was the realization that allowing dealers to keep their tips would result in higher earnings, attracting more dealers from other casinos.
However, not everyone is in favor of this new policy. Some argue that tip pooling reduces favoritism and provides consistency in earnings for all dealers. Seasoned Wynn casino dealer and union member Kanie Kastroll highlighted the benefits of tip pooling, stating that it mitigates volatility in earnings and prevents popular dealers from receiving preferential treatment.
One downside to the new tip-keeping policy is that dealers are now required to report their tips at the end of each shift for tax purposes. This adds an additional administrative burden for the dealers and the casino staff.
Overall, the implementation of the tip-keeping policy at Binion’s and Four Queens has had tangible benefits for the dealers, significantly increasing their earnings. While there are differing opinions on the practice of tip pooling versus tip retention, it is clear that this change has had a positive impact on the dealers at these downtown Las Vegas casinos.