I was on a podcast with VitalVegas & his girlfriend Melissa about tip shaming

[Dan Druff]

Short background:

Sometime in 2019, VitalVegas (Scott Roeben) took offense to something I said to him on Twitter (I forget what) and he blocked me. However, when the Sahara sued him for spreading rumors that they were closing soon, I took his side, despite still being blocked by him on Twitter. From everything I could see, Scott appeared to be in the right. It seemed that Sahara was close to liquidating and had already gone through some motions to research doing so, but then found a way to remain open. They got really pissed at Scott (who has a pretty good reach among Vegas visitors) for continuing to push with this rumor after they denied it, and they sued him.

He hired Marc Randazza (the same attorney representing Veronica Brill in the Postle matter), and beat Sahara by using an anti-SLAPP defense. After various failed appeals, Sahara had to cough up $94k (!!) to Scott for his attorney's fees. So it looks like Randazza was the big winner in all of this.

Anyway, Scott has a girlfriend named Melissa, who is also active on social media. She was ranting about the Sahara and all of the appeals, but said she couldn't reveal the whole story yet. I decided to research it more at that point, and responded, "I'll be the one to reveal it, then", and posted all of the details. I also did a few segments on my radio show about it.

Melissa and I then had a private conversation where she praised my analysis, and thanked me for it. I told her that Scott still had me blocked, and she went to him and convinced him I was a good guy, and to unblock me. From this point forward, I got along with him, even though I didn't always agree with everything he posted.

Since then, I have come around about him, and have appreciated that he brings a lot of correct Vegas-related rumors well in advance of other outlets. Even though he's sometimes wrong, he actually has a pretty good batting average with this, despite the fact that he's usually operating on thirdhand info.

---

Most recently, he has been posting a lot about tipping, and making a lot of negative comments about people he feels aren't tipping enough. In one instance, he gave a hard time to a woman (without naming or picturing her) who gave a $200 tip on a $120k jackpot. He and I had a (friendly) disagreement about it, and then I covered the matter on my show, which apparently he listens to sometimes.

He and Melissa both contacted me after, and I was invited to appear on her podcast to debate with Scott about tip shaming, especially when it comes to casino jackpot handpays.

We recorded it last night, and it was released today. It's about an hour. It will be replayed on PFA Radio this week (Melissa already gave permission), but you can listen to it now if you want.

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcas...s/id1496082232

[TheXFactor]

If there is one thing Todd is a master at, it's being a cheapskate.

But if you win a $120,000 jackpot who do you tip?

Cocktail waitress? $100 is more than enough for her.

The guy who filed out your tax form? Fuck him.

You kind of have to be a cheapskate to hold on to any money. The usual comps that casinos offer are not worth it. 99% of people who gamble are losers and that 1% that walk away with a decent score will end up losing it back.

Las Vegas is built on losers.

[Drexel]

https://news3lv.com/amp/news/local/g...its-1m-jackpot


Funny you mention this. I was at the Cosmo today when this hit.

10 play video poker machine. $1250 (lol) a pull. Dealt 4 Aces with a kicker, which paid 100k on each line= one milly.

I know a dealer here from way back. I asked how much she heard the player tipped (dealers talk about this stuff obv even though it was in high limit slots). Anyone want to take a guess?

Also, gambling laws are so fucked that even when this player broke even by just making a pair of Jacks or better, it was still a hand pay, although the machine doesn’t lock up when someone is playing such stakes. They have the technology in recent years in which they just log the hand pay and the player signs for everyone of them when his session is over. Nonetheless, each payout of Jacks or better is still reported to the IRS.

The Cosmopolitan said that in their 11 years of being open, the $1,000,000 payout was a record for a non linked non jackpot payout i.e. megabucks, wheel of fortune etc.


In all the years of living here, I’ve never seen a video poker machine with over a million dollars in credits on it. I can only imagine the comps this player is getting at $1250 a pull, which easily correlates to over 10k in coin in PER MINUTE if they player reasonably quick.


GS



ZoD

[DukeCaboom]

Ok, Ill guess $500.

BTW- I got two royals in two days on a $5 9\6 JOB machine at the Bellagio a few yrs ago and tipped $100 on each. The attendant said thank you and I felt fine about it. They didn't give me any money to play that session, I think its nice to tip but don't go overboard.

[Walter Sobchak]

I guess ZERO POINT ZERO.

[TheXFactor]

In all the years of living here, I’ve never seen a video poker machine with over a million dollars in credits on it. I can only imagine the comps this player is getting at $1250 a pull, which easily correlates to over 10k in coin in PER MINUTE if they player reasonably quick.

Not enough.

The Cosmopolitan has something called the ultra-exclusive Boulevard Penthouses. You must have at least a $500,000 credit line. It comes with a dedicated butler and entry into the Reserve, a private gaming room on 71st-floor available only to Penthouse guests.

If you are a high roller, Resorts World is offering 20 to 25% of your losses back if you gamble at least $300K per visit.

[country978]

My guess - $10,000.

[BCR]

I wouldn’t have a clue what to tip on a machine. It certainly wouldn’t be anywhere near what I tip a dealer for like a bad beat jackpot where they’re involved in the hand. Theoretically, a robot could deal the cards, but if they had just taken a minute longer to get there or whatever, shit changes. A slot attendant, it would be generous, but not like 5-10% generous.

[JACKDANIELS]

Maybe you can get on Doug Polk's podcast next to talk about questionable coin

[thesidedish]

https://news3lv.com/amp/news/local/g...its-1m-jackpot


Funny you mention this. I was at the Cosmo today when this hit.

10 play video poker machine. $1250 (lol) a pull. Dealt 4 Aces with a kicker, which paid 100k on each line= one milly.

I know a dealer here from way back. I asked how much she heard the player tipped (dealers talk about this stuff obv even though it was in high limit slots). Anyone want to take a guess?

Also, gambling laws are so fucked that even when this player broke even by just making a pair of Jacks or better, it was still a hand pay, although the machine doesn’t lock up when someone is playing such stakes. They have the technology in recent years in which they just log the hand pay and the player signs for everyone of them when his session is over. Nonetheless, each payout of Jacks or better is still reported to the IRS.

The Cosmopolitan said that in their 11 years of being open, the $1,000,000 payout was a record for a non linked non jackpot payout i.e. megabucks, wheel of fortune etc.


In all the years of living here, I’ve never seen a video poker machine with over a million dollars in credits on it. I can only imagine the comps this player is getting at $1250 a pull, which easily correlates to over 10k in coin in PER MINUTE if they player reasonably quick.


GS



ZoD

Why are u such a weasel that u gave PLOP inside info about me despite us being friendly? Reevaluate your life bud

[dwai]

https://news3lv.com/amp/news/local/g...its-1m-jackpot


Funny you mention this. I was at the Cosmo today when this hit.

10 play video poker machine. $1250 (lol) a pull. Dealt 4 Aces with a kicker, which paid 100k on each line= one milly.

I know a dealer here from way back. I asked how much she heard the player tipped (dealers talk about this stuff obv even though it was in high limit slots). Anyone want to take a guess?

Also, gambling laws are so fucked that even when this player broke even by just making a pair of Jacks or better, it was still a hand pay, although the machine doesn’t lock up when someone is playing such stakes. They have the technology in recent years in which they just log the hand pay and the player signs for everyone of them when his session is over. Nonetheless, each payout of Jacks or better is still reported to the IRS.

The Cosmopolitan said that in their 11 years of being open, the $1,000,000 payout was a record for a non linked non jackpot payout i.e. megabucks, wheel of fortune etc.


In all the years of living here, I’ve never seen a video poker machine with over a million dollars in credits on it. I can only imagine the comps this player is getting at $1250 a pull, which easily correlates to over 10k in coin in PER MINUTE if they player reasonably quick.


GS



ZoD

Why are u such a weasel that u gave PLOP inside info about me despite us being friendly? Reevaluate your life bud

[Dan Druff]

BTW, that guy only had 8333 "session points". You get one point per $6 wagered at video poker at Cosmo. This means the guy only had $50k wagered, and this was just his 40th hand. Nice hit so quickly!

I'm confused how he got 4,000 credits for each of those ten AAAA3 dealt to him. It looks like he's playing double double bonus poker, which would be 2000 credits for AAAA3, not 4000.

[Sheesfaced]

BTW, that guy only had 8333 "session points". You get one point per $6 wagered at video poker at Cosmo. This means the guy only had $50k wagered, and this was just his 40th hand. Nice hit so quickly!

I'm confused how he got 4,000 credits for each of those ten AAAA3 dealt to him. It looks like he's playing double double bonus poker, which would be 2000 credits for AAAA3, not 4000.

It’s say Triple Double on the screen at the bottom

[country978]

I listened to Melissa does Vegas last night. Maybe Melissa is better in her other shows but this show with Druff was definitely not her finest moment.