Video Poker Employees

Here is a quick look at some video poker employees you may have some interaction with when plaing this slot variation.

Changepeople

You can't help but notice the number of changepeople constantly on patrol through the slots area, even in smaller casinos. The main job of these employees is to provide ready coins or tokens for any player who needs them. A secondary job of these "front line" employees is to keep the player happy, whether through commiseration with a losing streak, exchanging small talk, or giving hints that a player might request.

Casinos are well aware that a moment's hesitation in getting a customer his or her change could cause that player to get bored or annoyed and leave the area, so they've kept the area well-stocked with changepeople. It is not unusual to see two or even three changepeople patrolling a section.

Waitpeople

Playing video poker is supposed to be fun, and to make sure you agree with the casino on this issue, they keep you well stocked with drinks while you play. You have a full choice of the drinks available, from coffee, tea, milk, and sodas, to beer, wine, shots and mixed drinks. You can also request cigarettes if you're a smoker.

And all this is without charge.

However, just like any place that serves drinks, such as a bar, it is customary to tip the server 50 cents or a dollar, perhaps more if you've ordered a bunch of drinks or if a big time win has you feeling large.

Slots Hosts

Most major casinos, and many smaller ones, have hired an employee specifically assigned to take care of the slots and video poker player's needs. This employee, called the slots host, often works out of a booth set aside for these players. The booth may have a placard that says "Slots Host" or "Casino Host."

The slots hosts spends much of their time working with slots club members, issuing new cards and memberships, processing special requests, or dealing with issues that come up. Their job is to take good care of the slots and video poker players and make sure that their experiences at the casino are as first rate as they can make them.

Tipping

Tipping is sort of an expected service in casinos, just as in the table games, and many other service industries, like restaurants or bars for example. There are several employees you may want to tip. First of all, you have the waitpeople bringing you drinks. It is customary to tip them every time a drink or round of drinks is brought. One dollar or 50 cents will generally do, unless you order a bunch of drinks or are really winning big, where you may feel a little more generous. If luck is pretty bad, the normal tip will do.

However, if you're losing or not doing anything special at the machines, you really don't need to be giving out gratuities to the changepeople. Tips, the way I look at it, need only be given by winners, you've already donated enough to the coffers. Tips usually won't be expected from losers, unless a changeperson has given you such incredible service that you feel obligated.

By the way, so you know how to talk the talk, tips are known as tokes in the casino.