Read Nick's advice to Vegas gamblers in Sights: Inflight Magazine of ATA Airlines.

Gambling Tips from a Pro

Care to know how the residents of Las Vegas live? How they learn their trades, hone their skills, pursue their ambitions, and kick back? In a city as weird as this one, those subjects can be more interesting than you'd think.

In Vegas, the American Dream is built on tips -- gratuities. Thousands come here every month because they know that the lack of a college degree won't hold them back as it will in other parts of the United States; that a high school graduate, or someone who never even made it that far, can earn between $45,000 and $70,000 a year just parking cars. Skilled jobs offer potentially bigger rewards. To help newcomers acquire those skills a number of schools and classes have sprung up around town.

Dealer Schools

Most common are the "dealer schools," where anybody who's reasonably math-savvy and coordinated can learn how to rook all of us vacationers . . . er, I mean deal cards. Some are fly-by-night operations, to be sure, but there's one with such an impeccable reputation and track record that it's considered the Harvard of gaming schools.

That standout, the Casino Gaming School (900 E. Karen Ave., Suites 216, 218, 220; tel. 702/893-1788; www.learntodeal.com), is run from a large second-floor suite at the back of the Commercial Center strip mall. Admittedly, it has no ivied walls or campus. But despite its faceless, somewhat grubby appearance, this is a dedicated center of learning, as intense in its own way as an Ivy League university. And that's largely due to the efforts of owner Nick Kallos, a slight fellow with bristly salt-and-pepper hair and a goatee, who has the looks and manner of a more-groomed Ratso Rizzo, but the enthusiasm, energy, and love of teaching of a Mr. Chips. Nick and his staff of veteran dealers (every teacher here has at least 5 years' experience working in a major casino) patiently teach novices the rules and rituals of each game.

Because the school is always looking for new students, they allow outsiders to come in and audit classes for free. You can stay for an entire morning or afternoon session, or come and go as you please. You don't even have to pretend to reside in the city. The no-nonsense but ultimately friendly Kallos, whose school has appeared in numerous Travel Channel specials, is rightly proud of his operation and welcoming of visitors.

Watching a session has varied pleasures. You'll definitely come away with some strategies for your own gambling. If you're like me you'll also leave with an appreciation for the complexity of the dealer's work. I spent about 10 minutes on my last visit just watching students practicing the mechanics of the job: One fellow pitched cards endlessly on a blackjack table ("You want Ray Charles to be able to read that from across the room," the teacher next to him exhorted) as another worked on picking up the chips without spraying them all over the table (harder than it looks; it's all in the pinkie), while still a third would-be craps "stickman" arched his stick in the air over and over, working to cleanly pull the die aside in a movement that seemed to have as much to do with fencing as gambling. "It's not brain surgery," says Kallos, "but it does take time and practice." Just as intriguing to peek in on are the sessions discussing various strategies for blackjack, poker, and the like. Anyone who enjoys gambling will get a kick out of hearing an insider's point of view on these topics.

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I've noticed that local folks are usually generous tippers. This observation has been supported by the many dealers, waitresses, maids and others I've spoken with. "Hawaii people are great... always happy and good tippers" is a familiar refrain. Generosity is part of our nature our mana, our Aloha spirit. We do it without thinking and without expectations it's as innate to us as breathing.

I've done my share of over tipping for the right and wrong reasons but what I've always wanted to know was... what the baseline should be. Then you can be generous or tight as warranted.

We all know that the usual and customary tip for nice sit down meal is 18%. But how much should you tip the dealer? When should you tip the dealer? What about the change person in the slot area? What about the maid, the bell captain and the valet?

Most people in Las Vegas do not earn great salaries but they don't pay State income tax this coupled with a low cost of living makes for a good lifestyle if you can take the heat. Because most of the jobs are in the service industry just about everyone supplements their income with tips.

Tipping is a personal choice and the following guidelines should be a good starting point. Give a little less if the dealer is no fun and more if they are watching out for you.

One of the least understood tipping protocols involves tipping (or toke-ing in the casino vernacular) the dealer. Who better to answer the question than Nick Kallos Owner of the Casino Gaming School of Las Vegas. They have taught more Vegas dealers than anyone else.

So when should we tip a dealer? Nick says "a good rule of thumb is when you double your buy in. If your initial buy in is $20 you should toke the dealer when you are ahead $20. If you buy in for a $100 and you've got $200 in front of you that's a good time to toke the dealer".

Tipping or toke-ing the dealer is a very personal thing and gamblers can be superstitious preferring only to toke when they are leaving the table. Other players chose to tip as they play.

How do you toke the dealer? Again this is as individual as the player. One thing to remember is the dealer can never take anything from your hands. All exchanges must be placed on the table.

Some like to just give the dealer the tip... put the chip(s) down and say "this is for you" or "thank you".

Another way to toke the dealer and most dealers prefer this is to place a bet for the dealer. You can put this wager on the felt in front of your wager or to the right of your bet (depending on the layout). Some players may even place a dealer bet on top of their own wager. When you put the dealers toke on your wager you are under no obligation to give it to the dealer.

Dealers are not allowed to press bets made on their behalf (let the bet ride for double the wager).

How much should you tip? Nick advises that if you buy in for $20 a buck or two after you double-up is appropriate and $5 is a fair amount after you've doubled your $100 buy-in.

What if you've doubled your buy-in but are still down for your trip? Well now that's a personal choice.

Remember a tip for the dealer is really a tip for ALL the dealers as most casinos split the tip money between all the dealers. Sometimes this is done by shift or game but it's almost always split.

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This week an all new Kimo’s Vegas TV show, we’ll chat with the guy who's taught almost every dealer in Vegas, Nick Kallos.

Listen to Kimo's radio interview with Nick Kallos!
(Fast forward to 31 minutes, 45 seconds)
 

If you can count up to 10 then you can do the job. The school is not that hard, it's just knowing the rules of any game that you deal, and practicing over and over again till you have it down. I am a poker dealer here in Las Vegas and I went to the Casino Gaming School of Nevada. It is on Karen Ave and is run by Nick Kallos. His school is one of the best in all of Las Vegas for sure. Go to www.learn2deal.com and you can see what it is all about.

It took me 3 months to get to the point where I was good enough to go for a job, but some only spend 1-2 months there before they go out for a job. The hardest part for me was learning how to pitch the cards right, and knowing what was in each pot, it takes a little time to do it right. For example if you have two side pots, and a main pot, you have to know what is in each one so you can rake the right amount from each. But the more you do, it the better you will get at it. The only downside is the stress in the job, and the fact that you will have to start at a low level casino for a year or two before you can move up to a prime job. Most casinos will hire you onto there extra board, this means on call for the most part, and you will get a lot of weird shifts as well, plus you may even start of as a chip runner at first. But this is the way it works.

As far as going for a job, just hit the casinos and ask them if you can show them how you deal your game, never ask if they are hiring dealers, and never just call, always go in person dressed in your black and whites. If they agree to take a look at you, they will have you enter a real game, just do the best you can and when you get tapped out they will tell you what they liked, and what they did not. Also give any tips to the dealer that taps you out because it is his table you are at, and it is his tips you are taking.

So make sure your game is good enough that your not wasting the floor managers time in the first place. If they like you they will send you to H.R. to fill out an application. Then if they hire you, you will have a drug test, and orientation classes, then you can get to work. I like what I do, and even though I had to rough it out at first I can't see myself doing anything else. Just make sure you have positive out-look and good people skills are a must. If you don't like other people I would not do this for a living. Fees can differ from school to school, but most are 200-300 for one game, or 500 for any two games, besides poker. Poker in the school I went to was 799.00, and it was well worth it. good luck.

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Additional Comments by same author on May 7, 2007:

I deal poker in Las Vegas and I went to a professional dealers school [Casino Gaming School] of Las Vegas. It is owned by Nick Kallos, he has been featured on many shows on the travel channel and other shows. You can go to www.learn2deal.com and see for yourself. His school is the most respected in all of Las Vegas. If you walk into a casino card room, everyone knows who Nick Kallos is. He has been in business for over 20 years. I think it's 399.00 plus tax to learn blackjack.

Advice from Nick Kallos:

How to Select a Dealing School

How to Audition for a Casino Dealing Job

Working as a Casino Dealer