[FONT=Calibri][SIZE=3]Fire Harrah's and the WSOP,

I am a former WSOP and Harrah's employee. I have worked the WSOP for many years. I have seen the rise of poker as we know it and the fall of morale among the people who work these events. A little over a week ago I fired the WSOP and Harrah's or as some may say I quit. I know some of you could care less what a former WSOP dealer has to say, but trust me you will want to read this one.

This could be the last year the WSOP looks like it currently does. This year the WSOP hired over 900 dealers to work this event. They are only a little under 600 left. What kind of company can run off one of its most valuable assists? Well Harrah's can. You say valuable, yeah right. Well without this massive amount of dealers, there is no WSOP. Why are dealers leaving in the masses? Let’s just say flat out lies. Harrah's HR lied to many dealers about what they estimated they should make this summer, working conditions, and attitudes towards dealers from higher ups are just awful, treated more like a herd of cattle than humans. Enough with the whiney dealer speech. Let me give you a few reasons you as a player would care more about.

Let’s go with the schedule for this year’s events, lower the buy in to get the crowds, and cheapening the price of a bracelet event. One 1k buy in last year drew record numbers, but this year so many to choose from less average overall per day in smaller buy in events. Yes, they may get 4000 runner, but the 1.5k are getting 3000 just for one day. On top of that let’s not fail to mention that the staff almost let the most hideous thing happen in the first event. Oh yeah, the first 1k event this year almost cashed on day 1B. Oops!!! Good thing that didn't happen. It would have made the WSOP, Harrah's, and Jack Effel the laughing stock of the Poker community. The only reason this didn't happen, is because as always play tightens up and slows as you get closer to the money. Otherwise HAHAHAHA at Harrah and staff for letting this one almost happen.

Another trend coming more into vogue is High Roller events such as the 25k 6-max, the 40k no limit in 09, and the 50k players championship. So why did 2 years ago Harrah's, Jack Effel, and WSOP staff gets rid of Rebuy tournament? The reasoning was that we don't want people just buying bracelets. Huh? So, let’s just put in higher buy in events so only the richest of the elite can play. What is the real reason for getting rid of the rebuy events? Several in the poker community know this little hush secret, but maybe not as few as you would think. If a player would mention it, they could be 86'd by Harrah’s. They don't want that. If a media outlet were to publish this story, well, they would not be reporting on the Series any more. If an employee were to say anything, well, they would be out of work. Guess what? I don't care about that anymore, I don't work there. So what is the story? Here goes two years ago during the rebuy events WSOP staff was skimming off the top. Huh? What? Yes I said it. There are plenty of people who know about it and no one is willing to talk. Some say show me hard proof and I will print a story. Most of the people involved are seasoned vets at the WSOP, they knew what they were doing, and the only way to catch them red handed would be going back in time. Those closer to the WSOP know the real truth behind the end of rebuys. Jimmy Sommerfeld, Charlie Ciresi, and select other staff were skimming rebuys. Sommerfeld is one of the biggest crooks in poker. How else would someone with the gambling addiction the size of Sommerfeld go from almost bankrupt to buying a new house and boat in the span of 8weeks? Ciresi himself made enough that he didn't even work the following years event and was seen in several situations gambling enormous amounts on blackjack and other pit game that same year. These 2 individuals are Jack Effels right and left hands. If they would have went down so does Effel. So of course it all got swept under a rug. Players mention it from time to time when triple chance events are held, and staff, well they just smile. Many people knowing the real reason rebuy events no longer exist.

As someone who has seen the glory days of poker for dealers and players. I can tell you this is not the only place skimming goes on. As well not the only time Jimmy Sommerfeld would be a key contributor to it. Pay for dealers have gone down drastically over the past few years. Some of this has to do with the value given to the players by giving bigger and bigger chip stacks. That makes some since, but at the amount that dealer pay has decreased, that is not the only reason. Tournament directors (Sommerfeld and Frazier) finding ways to skim off the top has became the biggest reason that dealers are making less and less. If I would have stayed at the WSOP I would have made 33% as much as I did before Harrah's took over the series. I would have made 60% of what I made 2 years ago. I am not one to say dealer pay is bad. Dealers make fairly good money. I will never complain about that aspect. They fact that dealers are making 60% of what they did 2 short years ago. Oh yeah and work two to three times as hard. That is just stupid. The WSOP is one of the only places in the poker industry that the best dealer will only make 1/3 of what the worst floor person makes. Most places great dealers don't want to go the floor, because they will have to take a pay cut. Well not at the WSOP. The pay difference is awful and will just keep getting worse. You see when they decide to add a daily 200 deep stack to steal business from other casinos; dealers take a pay cut, while floor personnel get a raise.

So now you ask why won't the series ever be the same, I say this simply, when you have no more dealers willing to deal 7 hours straight without a break and still make less money than they would have 2 years ago getting 3 breaks a day. When dealers finally say nope not going to do it, then there will be no more World Series of Poker. When dealers stop making enough money to travel across the country and barely cover expenses. There will be no more circuit events. I don't blame players who don't tip well for this; I blame the greedy people in the suits at the top, while they are taking money out of the mouths of dealers and lining their own pockets. They are slowly killing the hands that shuffle, pitch, and feed them.

So next year when 400 returning dealers and 400 break in dealers are dealing the biggest event in poker, when dealers are flipping up cards, prematurely burning, turning, and making mistake after mistake. When more circuit events are handed over to the old boys club the Effel runs, Sommerfeld greatly benefits from. You can look at Jack Effel, Jimmy Sommerfeld and Harrah's for the fall of poker as we know it. So fire the WSOP and Harrah's just like I did. Tell them it is time for the old boys club from the south to fall, just like it has in previous stints of leadership, it is time for a change at the WSOP, time for dealers to be respected, and time for players to stop being lied to.

Hopefully this letter will not be overlooked and or ignored. Poker and it's most cherished event is on the line. If there is no one to work the event do to pay, poor working conditions, and no one to play the events do to players being lied to and stolen from. What will the WSOP become? Nothing but this thing we used to go do in the summers in Vegas, nothing but a great event brought down by the people who were supposed to protect it, nothing but a memory.

Thank You[/SIZE][/FONT]

so the casino decided to not run anymore rebuys bc they themselves were skimming money off the top and making more money?

deal highroller cash games imo

How much did dealers used to make at the WSOP and how much do they make now?

I would think with all the extra money they make from owning the WSOP (selling WSOP merchandise, forcing players to buy over priced food, etc) they would be able to pay for the best dealers.

 

Originally Posted by elimherr

deal highroller cash games imo

And what do dealers make in comparison to this. A few dealers I had insinuated that they make much more than dealing in high stakes cash games.

so what did you get fired for?

in before page 10

wow now i know why the dealers in every pic i see look so tilted

[SIZE=3]"They fact that dealers are making 60% of what they did 2 short years ago. Oh yeah and work two to three times as hard."
[SIZE=2]
Welcome to the really world... A lot of people are making a lot less then 2 yrs ago.
[/SIZE] [/SIZE]

Stop crying, you are a poker dealer... If you want a job that comes with respect, good pay, better hours, ect. go to college and get a degree. Poker dealer is very low on the chain of command at a casino and if you want more of a say you need to work your way up the ladder.

cant have poker tournaments without dealers? i guess we can't have schools without janitors either. trash would pile up, toilets would be dirty, oh the humanity.

wowza

 

Originally Posted by okse54

so the casino decided to not run anymore rebuys bc they themselves were skimming money off the top and making more money?

Seems unlikely, dont it?

 

Originally Posted by chromegrillz

so what did you get fired for?

Tell us.

They will find plenty willing dealers next year, dont worry.

As a WSOP dealer, Im fucking sick and tired of hearing my coworkers bitch and complain about everything. Our tourney downs are down because there's more daily tourneys and mega sattellites this year. This translates to more hours of work. Most of the people complaining about more hours are fucking lazy douchebags.

So every one knows, we're making minimum wage and about $16/down. So down is 1/2 hour. We're making close to $40/hour when we're working. Almost everybody is getting overtime. The lazy ones are the complainers.

I love my job and its incredibly easy to flip pieces of paper over. Im sick of these dealers sense of entitlement. You're making $40/hr with no college education and you flip pieces of paper and push plastic circles around. The most stress you have to deal with is a douchebag player. But guess what? You'll deal to them for 30 min and prolly never again.

God this OP tilts me sooooooooooo hard. Be fucking happy to have a job that youre getting waaaaaaaaay overpaid for. Ive had 0 problems with any floor people because im not a whiny pussy who's scared to work hard. I just worked 21 out of the last 22 days and I fucking had hoped they'd call me in on my day off.

 

Originally Posted by josephf

Stop crying, you are a poker dealer... If you want a job that comes with respect, good pay, better hours, ect. go to college and get a degree. Poker dealer is very low on the chain of command at a casino and if you want more of a say you need to work your way up the ladder.

You need to learn a little respect. Do play if youre going to downgrade a dealer or anyone at that matter. I am no dealer but who the fuck are you and where do you get off? The man has/had a job, some ppl have nothing! you dont even know he/she background so keep your mnouth shut, you are a worthless scum who should learn to respect ppl and whatever they do. It called fucking Opportunity!! everyone needs to start somewhere. You should stop playing poker since your losing ways are LOW on the poker chain of command and have 0 respect from anyone now!!!

Might have to side with goofy view of this thread