Gambling Career (Financial End)

Quote: rebelaccountant

I usually play BJ and VP with basic strategy and a halfway attempts at Wonging in and out...

I know this is beyond minimal, but just in case...

If you for any reason caught hell in a casino, you can pretty much kiss a casino job goodbye. Dan often tells the story of the capper that ruined his career opportunities; in the casino biz, it doesn't even have to be that bad. You won't even need an actual criminal charge, get on a list for anything and they won't even look at you.

You probably just count for fun, and it'll probably be no big deal, but I just wanted to put that out there. Better than "I wish someone would have told me!" ;) Also, these guys are right, it's much easier getting in from the inside. Even if you had to bus tables or work Security, most places give priority to hiring from the inside.

Just an FYI, as I know people who have done both forensic accounting, worked for casinos, and consulted for casinos.

As an employee of the casino, you can't gamble at any of their properties. If you're an accountant, don't think you'll be handling the money. They have separate people for that. Your role will basically be crunching numbers for financial reporting and checking those figures while you are surrounded by the luster of walking into a casino and never really being able to partake. Better yet, you might be stuck in a shoebox crunching those numbers. One without windows. Or you maybe in a corporate office, not even remotely close to the casino.

However, if all that appeals to you, public accounting firms have gaming divisions which they audit and consult. Working directly for a casino can be interesting depending on what you're doing. A security/surveillance department actually catches cheaters. An auditing department only cares about financial reporting.

And don't touch that chip on the floor. That = automatic termination if caught. But hey like I said, if you like that environment, go for it. By the way, you need to network and fill out hundreds of job applications. If you're fresh out of college, or fresh out of a low-tier mba program, a recruiting firm can only help if you have experience.

Quote: Face

IIf you for any reason caught hell in a casino, you can pretty much kiss a casino job goodbye. Dan often tells the story of the capper that ruined his career opportunities; in the casino biz, it doesn't even have to be that bad. You won't even need an actual criminal charge, get on a list for anything and they won't even look at you.

Very True. If you have a gaming license or work in the business (casino pit crew, slot crew, or distributor):
1. Don't count, bicker with dealers or floormen, or do anything that'll get you flagged as an AP, or noticed by surveillance. Just the bad rep alone of being a dick as a player while in the industry is deadly. The LAST thing you want to do at a table is cause a problem and say, "Well! I'm a dealer or floorman at such-and-such casino, and let me tell you...yada yada yada...." the answer is: we'll be calling YOUR boss at YOUR casino about this incident, moron!" [Opps!!] It's a very small and inbred industry. When I play, I generally don't play at sister properties, I don't play at BJ tables, I don't take shots, I don't stiff the dealer, etc. Now, casinos don't mind their dealers playing table games at other properties and slots (- it's like we're working for free when we lose!) - but any problem or incident gets around reputation-wise, - or even a paper trail. This is Not Good.
2. Don't play at sister properties within your casino organization.
3. If you're higher casino management (shift manager and above), don't play.

We do have a surveillance guy from a major strip casino play at Fiesta, but he is a total gentleman, totally honest and clean, doesn't touch BJ, and as invisible and as easy to deal to as can be.

If you work in the industry, be a model customer if a customer, or don't be a customer at all. If you work for a casino, the last thing you want to do is cause a problem for a casino.

Quote: Paigowdan

he is a total gentleman, totally honest and clean, doesn't touch BJ, and as invisible and as easy to deal to as can be.
If you work in the industry, be a model customer if a customer, or don't be a customer at all. If you work for a casino, the last thing you want to do is cause a problem for a casino.

Strange that you added "doesn't touch BJ".

I certainly agree that those who get sloshed and even innocently become involved in any sort of notoriety in a casino will wind up having the word passed to their supervisors. Someone will have recognized you even if you keep your mouth shut about where you work.

Actually, no. Once acquiring the ability to count, you cannot shut off or ignore this "skill" while in action at a table. furthermore, it is known to all pit personnel that BJ is a countable game. Before I was officially in the business, I went on a BJ winning streak that got me heat without me counting, just luck.
If you have a gaming license or are in the casino business, you really don't want to be anywhere NEAR at table that's getting heat or scrutiny. Always wise to play it safe.

Pai Gow Poker, clean dice play, poker room play are all okay, "safe," with good behavior.
I don't drink at a bar or go to the sports book at Fiesta. I certainly don't play table games there, I can't. I go to their steak house and buffet from time to time, and sometimes play some video Keno, but that's about it.
Mainly, I throw dice and play Pai Gow at the East Side Cannery or downtown (California, and Main Street Station, which are Boyd properties.) Sometimes I play Baccarat at Palace Station, and pretend I'm in Macau.

Quote: Paigowdan

and sometimes play some video Keno

Isn't that a 12 percent house edge or something?
Macau? Sic Bo and the three sixes bet repeating three times is what reminds me of Macau, the film.

I wonder ...

Do most casino executives gamble, or not?

It seems to me that Wynn's attitude is "only losers gamble."

How does he feel about the top men / women in his organization gambling?

Clearly, anyone with a clue understands the negative expectation of casino gambling, in the long run, and an argument could easily be made that if an exec hasn't figured that out and acted accordingly, "we don't need him."

FWIW, I made the most money gambling by buying MGM and LVS stock low, and selling high.

With a degree in Accounting, you won't be able to put that fresh face into a casino as a first job. You'll need experience first. Go to the normal job fairs, and pick up a job with E&Y, Deloitte, PwC, or KPM. That gives you the opportunity to network and see what you like. The big accounting firms will use you and abuse you, but you will be doing alot of things in alot of different roles for alot of companies. I can tell you from experience that almost all good accountants in senior positions with youth on their side that I see in the industry (and as a consultant who works with accountants every day, I've been to many many companies) started at one of the big four. So, that's my advice: get a job at one of the big four, get abuses, network, and settle down with what you like.

There are plenty of great jobs in accounting that doesn't involve a casino. The cool thing (if there is anything cool) about being an accountant is that your job is portable across industries. If you like financial services, you can start there and go easily into more boring insurance, or you can branch out to the indsutry of your choice, and that includes gaming.

I've worked for gaming before (writing financial reports), and it isn't illustrious. It's fun to see the numbers mind you, but you aren't close to the cash or to the excitement. And other posters are right -- you won't be able to play in the same house that you work at.

Quote: MrV

It seems to me that Wynn's attitude is "only losers gamble."

I understand that in Mob Days and a bit afterward all the surveillance men, shift managers and other vulnerable spots were staffed by Mormons because they did not gamble. Their religion allowed them to work in a casino but not gamble. Therefore they were considered reliable.

Quote: Paigowdan

...and sometimes video Keno

Quote: FleaStiff

Isn't that a 12 percent house edge or something?

Yup. $1 Keno at that, seven spots. WTH, if it's here and there. And so what, so as long as it's fun.
A Big Mac has xx grams of fats, yyyy calories, and zz grams of triglicerides, etc. I succumb to a Big Mac or a McRib Sandwich (LORD knows what's in that!) every once in a while. Yummie. Guilty as charged....I know the math and the calories, but I don't always subscribe to the Vegetarian Way of gambling.

Macau? Sic Bo and the three sixes bet repeating three times is what reminds me of Macau, the film.