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Letter
# 25
Subj.: Toke
Drop
Date: Tue, 15 Aug 2000 20:35:35 EDT
From: Cheherzade@aol.com
To: Bronxguy37@aol.com
I work in Biloxi, Ms. Our dealers just passed a vote to go
shift for shift. When a dealer gets tapped off the game, the
dealer picks up the tokes and drops it in the designated
drawer. We currently have two pits and each pit has a podium
with three drawers, one for each shift.
I am the toke committee chairman for my shift. My concern
is the security of our tokes. I understand that since these
tokes are no longer casino money, surveillance has no
concern. The floor supervisors of course are busy and also
have no concern. I have often thought of ways a dealer can pick up tokes
from his table and walk out of the pit with the tokes in his
possession.
Can anyone give me some advice as to how to prevent theft.
I would greatly appreciate any and all comments.
Thank you.
Che
I got your letter
through casinodealer@egroups.
I am with the
NFGE, that's the National Federation of Gaming Employees,
operating from Las Vegas. I retired last September after dealing
for 25 years at the Flamingo Hilton-Las Vegas. From 1981 to 1994 I
was the chairman of the toke committee there, so I know a little
bit about the problem you're having with toke security.
Now, I'm not familiar with Mississippi law or your state's
gaming regulations, but I doubt that they differ much from
Nevada's law and regulations on the subject of toke ownership and
security. You said that, ... "these tokes are no longer
casino money...."
Tokes were never casino money!
They are always the property of the dealers. But, because
the dealers are not able to ensure their security from the time
they are received on the game, till they get into the toke box,
the casino must (and rightly so) establish and maintain their
security till they are deposited into the toke box. All the
dealers in the pit are on games and are safeguarding the games
they are dealing. It is not possible for them to do this and at
the same time watch every other dealer as they clap off and walk
to the toke box to deposit their tokes.
As the first step (and hopefully, the only step you need
take) in handling this problem you should head a small group of
dealers and request a meeting with casino management. The purpose
of the meeting will be to establish a firm and binding
understanding with management that although the money belongs to
the dealers, due to their responsibility of maintaining 100%
attention on their games, the casino must use surveillance and the
floor supervisors to make sure no theft occurs in the pit.
Remember, the casino benefits from the fact that dealers
receive tokes. It is in their interest to ensure there is no theft
and that the dealers feel confident that management has an
interest in making sure dealers receive all the money they earn.
An added benefit to the casino is that if there is an individual
taking liberties with dealer's money, it's just a short step till
they are doing the same thing with the casino's money too. No one
wants a thief in the pit. No one!
Although it is very, very rare to find a dealer stupid
enough to steal money, it does happen. Over this last quarter
century I've heard of some strange and devious schemes, and
actually witnessed some dealers actually caught in the act. One
old wheel dealer would kneel down at the toke box and
"help" the dealers leaving the pit put the silver in the
racks on the toke box. Some help! As he turned to leave the pit,
he would slip the last handful into his pocket and then go up to
his locker and deposit the silver there till the end of the shift.
Finally, surveillance caught him on TV and he was history. There
was even one guy in the Stardust years ago who would put chips
into his mouth till he left the pit. The bottom line is, if there
is money, someone will try to steal it, so you are properly
concerned about the problem.
If you get any response from management other than an
enthusiastic agreement with this proposition, contact your state
gaming control officials and ask them to enlighten the management
team at your casino. If they will not help, contact me and I will
develop a plan to help you.
You can reach me at:
<bronxguy37@aol.com>
or <dealers@nfge.com>
Also, checkout our web site:
www.nfge.com
Regards,
Jack Lipsman, VP NFGE
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