The Life & Perspective of The Life & Perspective of Casino EmployeesCasino Employees

Presented by:Presented by:Robert JacobsonRobert Jacobson

Former Casino Employee & Executive Director of

The California Council on Problem Gambling

WHO AM I?

• Robert Jacobson, Executive Director of CCPG• Raised in Las Vegas• Family in gaming since 1982

• Fifteen (15) Years’ Casino Experience:• Varied positions/levels in:

• F&B• Table Games/Poker• HR/Training

• Original Project Director of ADP #10-00213 (TA Contract)

WHO ARE CCPG AND OPG?WHO ARE CCPG AND OPG?

• California Council on Problem Gambling (CCPG) is a non-profit agency founded in 1986.• Helps problem gamblers and their loved ones• Operates the 1-800-GAMBLER Helpline• Website: www.calproblemgambling.org• Emphasis on Awareness, Education & Outreach

• OPG is California State Office of Problem Gambling• Created 2003; funded by Special Distribution Fund• Funds research, treatment, prevention & more• Website in 7 languages - information in 21 languages• Website: www.problemgambling.ca.gov

WHAT IS “GAMBLING?”WHAT IS “GAMBLING?”

The legal definition of gambling :

Gambling “includes any activity when a person

pays something of value (consideration) to

participate in an event that presents the

possibility of winning something of value

(prize)whose outcome is determined at least in

part by chance (Rose, 1986). “

HISTORY OF GAMBLINGHISTORY OF GAMBLING

• Bone Dice & Cave Paintings• Lotteries• California, Gold Rush & Poker• Nelson Rose’s “Waves”• 21st Century

AVAILABILITY OF GAMBLING IN 1975AVAILABILITY OF GAMBLING IN 1975

Casino (1)

Lottery (13)

1975

GAMBLING AVAILABILITY IN 2010GAMBLING AVAILABILITY IN 2010

2010Casino only (incl. tribal)(5)Lottery only (12)Lottery & casino (15)

Lottery & tribal casino(14)Racetrack only (1)

THE CAPITOL OF CASINOS

• Sweating the money: the “post-mob days”• Protection from cheaters or superstition?

• 1990s: A Family Town?• A booming industry• Teenage gambling & first experiences

• A big win? Turning $0.25 into $100!• Casino marketing (free food and cigarettes for

everyone!)

• 2000s: The Information Age• Big Corporate, Mergers & Science• Diluted talent

CALIFORNIA:THE UNEXPECTED COMPETITOR

• Prop 5 and the Media

• FBI raids? No way –instead vote yes on 1A!

• Barns and trailers and tents, oh my? Now it’s high rises touching the sky!

POP QUIZ!!!

Q: Which state has the highest annual gambling revenues?

A: California, with over $7B/year – even more than Nevada!

Q: Which state has the most tribal casinos?

A: Gotcha – it’s Oklahoma! Does anyone know why???

Note(1): Retrieved from 500 Nations website 10/8/12Note(2): Native American casinos only; California, Nevada, etc. have more total gambling

GAMBLING IN CALIFORNIA

• Lottery, Horse Tracks/OTB

• Tribal Gaming vs. Card Rooms

• Unprecedented growth, 1999-2007

PROBLEM GAMBLING CAN HAVE DEVASTATING CONSEQUENCES

RISK GROUPS.RISK GROUPS.• Some populations are more likely to have or develop a

problem:

Young people, especially males, age 29 or older Alcoholics, drug addicts, or people with other

addictions Some cultures, including African American, Hispanic

and Native American Inmates Casino workers, Law Enforcement, Day Traders, etc.

• Problem Gambling can be even more harmful to some groups of people, including:

Elderly Low income

IMPACT ON THE FAMILY AND SOCIETY

Q: Does anyone know why there are no balconies in most Las Vegas hotels?

A: Gambling addiction results in higher suicide rates than any other addiction.

Problem Gambling leads to family devastation through the loss of homes, college education funds, retirement savings, and more

IMPACT ON THE FAMILY AND SOCIETY

Problem and Pathological Gamblers are:

• About 50% more likely to have filed bankruptcy1;

• 2.5 times as likely to smoke cigarettes2

• 2 to 7 times more likely to use illegal drugs (rates vary by drug)2

• Twice as likely to binge drink alcohol (taking 8 or more drinks in a 24 hour period)2

Sources Available Upon Request

IMPACT ON THE FAMILY AND SOCIETY

Problem and Pathological Gamblers are:

• About 50% more likely to have filed bankruptcy1;

• 2.5 times as likely to smoke cigarettes2

• 2 to 7 times more likely to use illegal drugs (rates vary by drug)2

• Twice as likely to binge drink alcohol (taking 8 or more drinks in a 24 hour period)2

Sources Available Upon Request

IMPACT ON THE FAMILY AND SOCIETY

Problem gamblers are arrested almost 3 times more than regular citizens: 35.1% to 13.5%1

… and incarcerated more than 3 times as often: 20.5% to 6.3%!

1

… and account for as much as $8 billion dollars in annual social costs2

Studies suggest that roughly one third of inmates are problem or pathological gamblers – the highest prevalence of any population! 3

Sources available upon request

EMPLOYEE FLOW CHART

Hierarchy•Leadership (BoD/Tribal/Owner, GM/CEO)

•Executive (VP/Director)•Upper (MOD/CSM/Shift Mg/Asst. Shift Mg)•Middle (Shift Sup/Asst Shift Sup)•Entry Level (Sup/Leads)•Line Level

• Position•Front of the house (dealer vs. hotel vs. golf)•Back of the house (hr vs. marketing vs. chef)

WHAT IT’S LIKE TO WORK IN A CASINO

• Atmosphere / Environment• Drugs/alcohol (sometimes in their cars)• Entertainment vs. Hostility• Sweating the money?• Comp systems

• Culture• Short-term vs. Long-term• Employee Pride

THE ALTERED PERCEPTIONS OF THE CASINO EMPLOYEE

• Closing Time!• Mental compartmentalization • Disassociation from cause-and-effect

• Value of Money

• Dispassion vs. Compassion• Only see them in the casino (not @ home)• Don’t know families, friends, etc.• Perceived professionalism

EMPATHIZE OR EMULATE?

Casino workers often form close relationships with the players. But does this create a stronger bond of empathy… or emulation? Consider these examples:

•The Cowboy•The Inheritance Guy•The Restaurant Owner•New Years’ Eve Guy•Rags to Riches to Rags•The Worst Story

EMPLOYEE GAMBLING(WITH EDUCATED ESTIMATES)

• 7 times more likely to develop a problem*• Desensitization• Only see/hear the jackpots• Tipped employees “gamble for a living”

• “Win together” / Splits & Doubles / Etc.

• Poker dealers “go on play”• Gambling partners get tipped better

• Employees may return 30% of payroll**

* Estimates range 5 to 15 times; no definitive studies** Unverified estimate from some casino executives

IMPACT ON LIFESTYLE

• Smoking• Sidebar: impact of smoking on gaming

revenue

• Shift Work• Negativity / Pain• Drugs?

• Strict policies• “Pain, pain go away, please come test me

some other day”

A “BRAVE” NEW WORLD FOR CASINO EMPLOYEES?

They want to help, but many casino employees can be confused, afraid or uncertain as to what they are allowed to do, and how best to do it. Still, many of today’s casino executives are working to breed new cultures which have a better understanding of how gambling addiction impacts business.

•Addiction Cycle; Hitting “Rock Bottom”•Public Relations/Word of Mouth•Hostility, Other Personality Changes•Employee morale•The “iPhone Example”

THANK YOU FOR ATTENDING!

1-800-GAMBLER California Council on Problem Gambling: 714-765-5804

www.calproblemgambling.org

Office of Problem Gambling: 916-327-8611www.problemgambling.ca.gov