Wynn Las Vegas Casino Sued by Dealers on Tipping Policy

Wynn Resorts is being sued by three dealers from its eponymous Las Vegas casino, charging that their rights are being violated by tip-sharing policies.

Three dealers from the Wynn Las Vegas Casino and Resort are suing the gaming establishment for requiring they pay management a portion of their tips. While Steve Wynn's operations used to have the reputation of being employee-friendly, the disputed policy has rankled dealers since it was instituted in 2006.

Dealer tips are kept in lockboxes until it comes time to divvy up the proceeds. At this point, Wynn has supervisors claim as much as 20 percent for themselves.

Pit bosses and managers are paid salary, while dealers work on a low hourly wage, relying on tips to support themselves. However, when business is hopping, tipped personnel sometimes make quite a bit more than salaried employees.

The Wynn solution to the problem is to give the managers a piece of the tipped pie. But the dealers contend it's up to Wynn to pay its salaried workers, and that the tips are left for them by customers, not the casino nor its managers.

The lawsuit contends that, by taking the tipped money from dealers, Wynn is violating minimum wage laws by effectively paying them nothing. That, is, the low hourly wage they receive is more than offset by the money charged them to keep managers happy.

A previous lawsuit was filed in state court when the policy was implemented,but the Nevada Supreme Court ruled the case should go before the state labor commissioner, who still hasn't ruled on it. The current motion is before US District Court, where the dealers hope the lock the casinos hold on state political power won't prevent them from receiving justice.