Steve Wynn Interview from 7/17

Wynn got the Everett license. Now the last hurdle is hopefully the repeal does not come through Nov. 4.

 

Has anyone ever gotten a quote from him about why he won't give comped drinks for bartop video poker? That's an interview question I would LOVE to see him asked. It doesn't make much sense to me from a financial perspective, every other casino including the very nice ones do it. It leaves a sour taste in my mouth since I am strictly a bartop player who likes my drinks.

 

Me too and I agree with you. It's the reason I quite staying there (not that he's gonna miss my business), but I loved everything else about the place.

 

I've read that he started out comping bartop players, but then found that bartenders were abusing the system by charging non-gamblers full price but ringing it up as a comp and pocketing the whole thing.

A few years ago a bartender at Eastside Lounge (Encore) told me that SW felt that it was unseemly for a place like W/E to have its bartenders keeping tabs on the players to make sure they were playing enough to warrant comp drinks so he just eschewed the practice altogether.

There may very well be some truth in either or both of the above. But ultimately, he does it because he can.

 

The only issue I have with those explanations is I'm skeptical on how much Wynn himself was involved in that decision, if at all.

 

But, theft is an issue in any part of the casino and people handling money have to be monitored. Even without comping drinks, the bartenders still have to be monitored (and are, I am sure).
And every casino I have ever been in simply wants you to have put in a $20 and playing max credits. The cocktail waitress have an obligation to make sure you are playing before they offer drinks.. And I'm sure if I ask for JW Blue at the Craps table they will also check my play or deny me altogether.

No, anyone worried about "unseemliness" would never refuse to comp drinks.

Well, he has a reputation for attention to minute detail, so I believe it. I just simply do not understand how it makes sense financially. Casinos benefit when players are drunk and most hard liquor or beer is relatively inexpensive.
The only explanation I could come up with is perhaps Steve is a teetotaller and has a blind spot about how important alcohol service is to many players.

 

Well, maybe he's a non-drinker. But from the interview I didn't get the impression that he's opposed to alcohol or alcohol + gambling at all.