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$20 Trick - A Tip or a Bribe?

Discussion in 'Misc. Vegas Chat' started by RWDPeanut, Aug 10, 2012.

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  1. RWDPeanut

    RWDPeanut Low-Roller

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    This sounds like a very serious infraction that can lead to termination or a casino losing its license if it impacts gaming regulation.

    We have a thread on this board that monitors the success rate of the "$20 Trick" and it is well over a 90% success rate with a few hundred trials. I would love for you to share your thoughts on why the success rate is so high, yet the infraction is so severe.

    Thanks!
     
  2. Travel Fanatic

    Travel Fanatic The Arbiter of Taste Caviar Kid

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    I never read that thread, but is it really 90%??? I would guess that more people who try it and fail don't report it. It's no fun to report things that fail.
     
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  3. cloudi63

    cloudi63 MIA

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    This is exactly what I was told by a host at a specific MGM propert, that the $20 trick is looked upon as a bribe!
     
  4. crussader

    crussader Low-Roller

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    I think a little perspective is in order here.

    I don't think the $20 trick has ever moved anyone from a basic room to a high end suite. It's more a matter of moving from a room without a strip view to the same level room with a view, or a GO room to a GO deluxe, or Bally's south tower to north tower.

    I have tried it twice at Excal, and was successful both times in moving from a standard room to a widescreen room. I don't think any hosts are out there putting premium players in Excal widescreen rooms.

    I would hate to see the practice investigated and shut down because of this thread.

    I see it as just a little perk for the regular visitors that know about it. It adds to a positive experience and encourages repeat business.
     
  5. leo21

    leo21 VIP Whale

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    I agree with you. Usually when people get moved to suites for no additional charge, it's because of their players card status or because of an oversold situation that is forcing them to upgrade.

    When the trick talk was really popular on TA, Harrah's did crack down. It was after the Red Rooms and GO rooms got launched and they got tight on letting those rooms go with an upgrade fee. I guess they aren't as strict now that those rooms aren't as new but don't think that the casinos don't know about the trick or that they could be getting more for those rooms.
     
  6. Travel Fanatic

    Travel Fanatic The Arbiter of Taste Caviar Kid

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    Exclaibur has hosts????? :evillaugh That does it. I'm swinging by the host's office and getting a Krispy Kreme comp!
     
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  7. Srvanwyk

    Srvanwyk Low-Roller

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    Hahahahahaha I was thinking the same thing
     
  8. RC

    RC Low-Roller

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    To me giving a check in person $20 to get an upgraded room is no different than giving the parking valet $5 to leave your car right there while you run in to the cashier ... which I've done multiple times. Would you say I'm bribing the valet with this $5 and breaking gaming regulations or am I just giving him a tip? I think you are just giving them a tip for service received much the same as you are tipping the hotel clerk for receiving an upgraded room. I think the notion that somehow some gaming regulation is being broken by the hotel clerk is comical. If you think a gaming regulation is being broken, then which regulation is it??

    Let's not confuse a gaming regulation with something that might be a casino regulation ... there is a big difference between the two.
     
  9. Reston

    Reston VIP Whale

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    I think there's a lot of suspect information in this thread, and implying the $20 trick (which is very well-known by all of the casinos) is a bribe that breaks gaming regulations is one of them.
     
  10. Travel Fanatic

    Travel Fanatic The Arbiter of Taste Caviar Kid

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    Actually, Reston, it does break gaming regulations. I'm not saying it is frequently, or ever, enforced, but it contravenes the very broad language of Reg 5. Of course, Reg 5 also prohibits serving patrons who are obviously intoxicated or allowing those persons to gamble. And we have probably all seen that regulation violated on multiple occassions! All of this is to say, the regulations are broad enough to classify the $20 trick as a violation of gaming regs, but the commission is unlikely to ever enforce it.
     
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  11. RC

    RC Low-Roller

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    What about the men who we used to "tip" or was it a "bribe" to get a better seat for one of the Vegas shows? We'd better round all of them up and put them in jail along side of these clerks who've accepted a $20 bribe as you call it. There would not be enough space in the jails for all of the people in Vegas who take "tips" everyday if you are going to call them "bribes" ...
     
  12. Travel Fanatic

    Travel Fanatic The Arbiter of Taste Caviar Kid

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    I'm not advocating any specific law or reg. I have no opinion on whether it should be considered a tip or a bribe. I was just stating that if the gaming commission wanted to crack down on that kind of activity, they could easily do so under the current regs
     
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  13. Reston

    Reston VIP Whale

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    Notwithstanding your use of the word "contravenes," let me go out on a limb and preemptively call that an absurd conclusion. But perhaps you can cite the "broad language" to which you refer and let us all mull it over.

    (Of course, keep in mind that any broad language that you cite as applying to hotel operations would also apply to tipping housekeepers for extra shampoo. There's a legal term that judges have for such broad interpretations: get the f**k out of here!)
     
  14. Travel Fanatic

    Travel Fanatic The Arbiter of Taste Caviar Kid

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    Just read reg 5. Pick virtually any section. There's a ton of broad language in there. And FYI, a judge would not have the chance to review the reg, or, as you put it, tell one of the parties to get the fuck out of there (a phrase I've never heard a judge use, and I have practiced in some pretty rural counties!). With this type of reg, the gaming commission decides how to inertpret it. If the regulated party disagrees with how the commission applies the reg to them, then the regulated party could appeal to the court system under Nevada's version of the UAPA. And under the UAPA, the judge will not substitute his or her interpretation of the reg in place of whatever interpretation the commission uses. All a judge can do in that situation is evaluate the process and ensure that the commission afforded the regulated party due process in deciding how to intepret and apply the reg.

    Anywho, I don't think anyone wants to turn this thread into law school 101. So if you want to discuss my "absurd" conclusion further, send me a PM and I'd be happy to discuss in whatever detail pleases you
     
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  15. JillyFromPhilly

    JillyFromPhilly Tourist

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    I think it's irrelevant whether or not it's breaking a gaming regulation - or even a law. I think what Casinoboss was trying to point out about the $20 trick is - from a management perspective - is that if the front desk employees are giving out upgrades to people who have paid them $20 under the table, the front desk employees are essentially costing their bosses money - they always have the option to upsell an upgrade on the books above the table - but taking the $20 and upgrading someone under the table is, at least morally, stealing from the company.

    Looking at it from my perspective as a business owner, if one of my employees were taking money under the table from a customer to give them a service that they could [and would] otherwise be charged for, they are costing me money and essentially stealing from me. Any employee of mine that did this on a regular basis would be fired. After all, it's not like those desk clerks are taking those twenties and putting them into the company kitty - they're going straight into their pockets.

    It might make customers happy when it works, and I'm sure it makes the front desk clerks who pocket the twenties happy too - but if management didn't care, then why doesn't it work every time? I have a feeling that more often than not, when the "$20 trick" doesn't work, it's more because the front desk clerk values their job more than they value the $20, and not because there isn't room in the hotel to give the customer an upgrade.
     
  16. Nevyn

    Nevyn VIP Whale

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    My one comment would be that a lot of the "upgrades" people get end up being very minor. Same room with improvement of view, for example, or same layout with renovation.

    If I was keeping score, I wouldn't count those towards the 90%.
     
  17. smartone

    smartone VIP Whale

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    VERY well put... agreed 100%!!!! I tried to make the same arguement out many months ago, though no where near as eloquently, and got ripped... it's a bribe, not a tip and as such, ripping off the company.
     
  18. Reston

    Reston VIP Whale

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    I give the clerk a $20 or whatever after I get an upgrade I like, but that's just me. I know others think it's cool to put the $20 between their credit card and ID, but if the clerk can see the money so can the cameras. I've never seen a bill passed under the table. The $20 trick works in those establishments where they still give the clerks a bit of discretion. It doesn't work elsewhere. Hotel management is fully aware of the "trick".
     
  19. leo21

    leo21 VIP Whale

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    I've gotten upgraded 100% of the time on my last 5 or 6 trips. However, I haven't offered a single tip. That's my proof that you have to take all this stuff with a grain of salt. Usually when people talk about their "successes" they don't ever tell you what their players card status is. Being Diamond and now Platinum led to automatic upgrades. They also aren't in a position to report on occupancy situations. Plus I don't really think that people always understand what they have booked in the first place let alone appreciate the value or lack of value of their upgrades.
     
  20. casinoboss

    casinoboss Low-Roller

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    Just a time honored tradition is my guess.
     
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