casino dealer tips - confiscated?

I read somewhere quite recently - not here on CC, been trying to find it but cannot - that on NCL the dealer tips were confiscated by the casino operator. I say "casino operator" because I believe some lines contract out operation of the casino and don't run it themselves. I could be wrong. I was on HAL in july and spoke with a dealer who seemed to indicate that a separate company ran the casino operation.

Anyone know anything about how it works on NCL (or really - any line) for dealer tips? I haven't been on NCL in a while (although my wife and I think we will stay with them in the future), but if all the tips get confiscated, well let's just say their rake is the highest I have ever seen, they don't need any more of my money.

I read somewhere quite recently - not here on CC, been trying to find it but cannot - that on NCL the dealer tips were confiscated by the casino operator. I say "casino operator" because I believe some lines contract out operation of the casino and don't run it themselves. I could be wrong. I was on HAL in july and spoke with a dealer who seemed to indicate that a separate company ran the casino operation.

 

Anyone know anything about how it works on NCL (or really - any line) for dealer tips? I haven't been on NCL in a while (although my wife and I think we will stay with them in the future), but if all the tips get confiscated, well let's just say their rake is the highest I have ever seen, they don't need any more of my money.

The dealers are paid from the tips. If they don't make enough in tips, NCL will pay them a set amount per day. Their benefits/crew parties and that sort of thing are also paid from the tips, the rest by percentage is then paid out to the dealers on that ship.

Don't hold back just because NCL handles the tips and doesn't just split and hand them out, the dealers still definitely benefit from your tips and rely on them. So many people are so stingy these days, you see big wins and nothing to the dealer.

So to answer your question, yes and no, but they aren't just pocketing the tips in the corporations coffers, they use those dollars to pay the staff, and apparently it is the same on other lines as well.

Wow, so the tips pay for the workers benefits and parties? So in essence, they pay for their own benefits and parties.....That sucks...

Sucks if you are energetic/joyful and interact with the customers to only see the guy 2 tables away, not talking or frowning all the time get the same amount of tip money.

Land casinos work the same way. That's why when people don't tip at a table or something I roll my eyes way up in my head.

Wow, so the tips pay for the workers benefits and parties? So in essence, they pay for their own benefits and parties.....That sucks...

 

 

 

Sucks if you are energetic/joyful and interact with the customers to only see the guy 2 tables away, not talking or frowning all the time get the same amount of tip money.

I agree that does really suck that the all tips doesn't go directly to them.

I would rather my job pay me more money than to take some of my money and use it towards a party. That party won't support my family or pay bills.

I agree that does really suck that the all tips doesn't go directly to them.

 

I would rather my job pay me more money than to take some of my money and use it towards a party. That party won't support my family or pay bills.

I would think that working on a cruise ship, Tips pay is the way to go. Even if a percentage goes to the crew parties, Tip pay is most likely more than even a decent hourly pay.

Example: Our friends daughter gets on average $1000 in Tips on a normal weekend at her (not so super fancy) resturant job waiting tables. 24 hours work. That is way better than a hourly wage. So good in fact, she is holding off getting a job in her line of work that she got a bachelders degree in.

Working on a cruise ship is a good job with a lot of folks competing to get the job. Hard work and a lot of hours, but you see so many people with many years experience

Many of the dealers have been there for years & years....if the system were horrible, they'd leave.

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I would think that working on a cruise ship, Tips pay is the way to go. Even if a percentage goes to the crew parties, Tip pay is most likely more than even a decent hourly pay.

 

Example: Our friends daughter gets on average $1000 in Tips on a normal weekend at her (not so super fancy) resturant job waiting tables. 24 hours work. That is way better than a hourly wage. So good in fact, she is holding off getting a job in her line of work that she got a bachelders degree in.

 

Working on a cruise ship is a good job with a lot of folks competing to get the job. Hard work and a lot of hours, but you see so many people with many years experience

Many of the dealers have been there for years & years....if the system were horrible, they'd leave.

I agree. It is still a lot better then if they do not join the cruise company

Thanks for the information, much appreciated.

I would never stiff a dealer, but I think that NCL is screwing their dealers.

Tips are given to dealers from us customers in appreciation of good service. Tips are intended as an "extra". Last time I was on an NCL cruise playing poker, the rake was 10% to a max of $25 per hand. This is obscene. The cruiseline is making a sh!tload of money in rake, and then, when the winner tips the dealer a buck for the win, NCL uses that money for his wage???? No. This is wrong. Don't know exactly what his wage is or should be, but tips should be over and above. And using that money for parties? That should be a crime.

Not exactly sure how things are run on land based casino's. I suspect not for all. I have been to several casino's where the tip bucket stays with the dealer, and as he/she moves, so does his/her tip bucket. I've also been to some where the tips stay at the table.

Anyhow, I appreciate the info. I was curious about how it worked. Not that it really matters, because until NCL changes its $25/hand max rake, no way in he!! will I play poker there again.

Cheers all!

...I think that NCL is screwing their dealers. ...

 

Not exactly sure how things are run on land based casino's. ...

Anyhow' date=' I appreciate the info. I was curious about how it worked. ...[/quote']

 

Unless somebody with VALID and COMPLETE factual information, most of this is just hot air. We do not know what they get paid, hourly, weekly, contract, benefits, rules, tips, etc. etc.

 

We just don't know.

It is a concrete, valid, factual fact that most large land based casinos pool all worker tips and divide them evenly in a weekly paycheck.

Tips are given to dealers from us customers in appreciation of good service. Tips are intended as an "extra". Last time I was on an NCL cruise playing poker, the rake was 10% to a max of $25 per hand. This is obscene. The cruiseline is making a sh!tload of money in rake, and then, when the winner tips the dealer a buck for the win, NCL uses that money for his wage???? No. This is wrong. Don't know exactly what his wage is or should be, but tips should be over and above.

Similar topic. The sea day tourneys e.g. poker and BJ - NCL seem to cream around 30% off the entry fees. Does a proportion of that 30% go into the dealer tip pool, or is a tip expected as well e.g. by those paid out.

Similar topic. The sea day tourneys e.g. poker and BJ - NCL seem to cream around 30% off the entry fees. Does a proportion of that 30% go into the dealer tip pool, or is a tip expected as well e.g. by those paid out.

When in doubt, tip.

Unless somebody with VALID and COMPLETE factual information, most of this is just hot air. We do not know what they get paid, hourly, weekly, contract, benefits, rules, tips, etc. etc.

 

We just don't know.

My thoughts exactly, thank you.

I noticed that no dealers or NCL reps posted factual information here as to how the dealers are paid. So, a good opportunity for some to make up facts and within moments they become reality? We will now probably see future posts about after removing the DSC we should also stop tipping dealers!!

As some have said, there are many dealers that I have interacted with that have been around for several/many years now. If it was a bad deal (pun) for them, they would be gone. If it is a major issue for some, ask the dealers next time how it works and if they are happy. I tip a good dealer in a land based casino and do the same on the ship. What happens after that is out of my hands and I will let the dealers and operators work out how they handle their jobs.

While I can't speak to the specifics of how tokes are split among the dealers, I do know that floor personnel also get a portion of the daily take. As a Vegas local, I always make it a point to try and get to know as much of the casino staff as possible and the topic of the floor getting a share did come up so that's also something to consider as you're tipping. Remember, it's the floor that's keeping track of your rating so if you're trying to get that next cruise for free, they have a vested interest in who tips and that might encourage them to bump your rating. :)

The dealers are paid from the tips. If they don't make enough in tips, NCL will pay them a set amount per day. Their benefits/crew parties and that sort of thing are also paid from the tips, the rest by percentage is then paid out to the dealers on that ship.

 

Don't hold back just because NCL handles the tips and doesn't just split and hand them out, the dealers still definitely benefit from your tips and rely on them. So many people are so stingy these days, you see big wins and nothing to the dealer.

 

So to answer your question, yes and no, but they aren't just pocketing the tips in the corporations coffers, they use those dollars to pay the staff, and apparently it is the same on other lines as well.

I think you are mixing the DSC with casino tips. From when I worked there, the casino staff were not part of the DSC pool. The tips that went to casino staff, just like the bar staff, did not get pooled into the "employee incentive" pool which gave a share to "crew welfare". The casino tips are split between the casino staff solely, but they are pooled within the casino staff.

I think you are mixing the DSC with casino tips. From when I worked there, the casino staff were not part of the DSC pool. The tips that went to casino staff, just like the bar staff, did not get pooled into the "employee incentive" pool which gave a share to "crew welfare". The casino tips are split between the casino staff solely, but they are pooled within the casino staff.

No, I meant just within the casino. They get a set amount for their salary, but the tips need to be a certain amount for them to get anything extra. Those tips are collected and some are used for their salary, benefits, etc. and some go to other casino staff, and then the rest are split between the dealers. if they do not make enough tips, they only get their salary.

I just wanted to explain that if they have a slow day and there are only $200 in tips, they won't see any of it. They don't take that $200 and divide by 40 dealers and each get $5. They have to earn a lot more than that before they see any of it.

I don't ask any of the crew how they get paid or how their tips work, because (1) I don't feel it is any of my business and (2) I would not be sure I'm getting the correct information. I've listened to other passengers over the years telling me stories of how a room steward, server, etc. are tipped and in most cases the room steward, server, etc., is laying the ground work so that they would get a bigger tip.

No, I meant just within the casino. They get a set amount for their salary, but the tips need to be a certain amount for them to get anything extra. Those tips are collected and some are used for their salary, benefits, etc. and some go to other casino staff, and then the rest are split between the dealers. if they do not make enough tips, they only get their salary.

 

I just wanted to explain that if they have a slow day and there are only $200 in tips, they won't see any of it. They don't take that $200 and divide by 40 dealers and each get $5. They have to earn a lot more than that before they see any of it.

In other words, you're saying the setup is the same as for bartenders. That they're given a monthly DRAW against tips, and if the monthly tips are OVER the draw then they get the extra, and if they're less than the draw they don't.

right?

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AmaZing what these cruise lines get away with. Appalling really.

AmaZing what these cruise lines get away with. Appalling really.

AmaZing what these cruise lines get away with. Appalling really.

Pooling of tips is a common practice in land-based casinos too...it's the rule in NJ for example, so the cruise lines are not doing anything that's not permitted by law or established labor contracts and practices in the US.

AmaZing what these cruise lines get away with. Appalling really.

No different than what restaurants get away with. Paying a waiter/ress $2.65 plus or minus, an hour and the tips they make they get to keep......after tipping out the bartender and busboys and sometimes even the hostess.

Harriet

In ANY casino, the tips are "pooled" for those on each shift. You'll notice that tips get put into a container,..and it's emptied each shift. ALL of the dealers on that shift split the tips.

Most restaurants (on land) have the host/hostess and bus person share in the waiter/waitresses tips, too

There is really no point to wondering about how anyone else is paid. Must be ok with them, or they wouldn't take the job!