Poker dealers at every casino in the US have been laid off in recent weeks due to the coronavirus pandemic. Newly jobless, the thousands of dealers around the country must now seek unemployment benefits to stay afloat financially for the time being. But are these tip-driven workers eligible?
Poker dealers across America are out of a job temporarily. (Image: beatthefish.com)
The live poker scene is currently on a bit of a hiatus. And it could be a while, potentially months, before players can return to their local card rooms. That means many workers in our industry are now out of a job.
While we certainly hope they’re back to work in no time, many poker dealers need immediate financial assistance. Like anyone else, they have bills to pay and, in many cases, kids to feed. Are they eligible for benefits that will help pay the bills while unemployed?
Poker Dealers Eligible for Most Benefits, But Stipulations Apply
CardsChat News reached out to Ronnie Rodriguez, a dealer at Harrah’s in Las Vegas who was laid off March 15 due to COVID-19 forcing the card room’s closure. He has since applied for and received his standard unemployment benefits.
But he will also qualify for a $1,200 payment as part of the recently passed $2 trillion government stimulus package. And, he expects, another $600 on top of his current weekly unemployment payment soon.
Part of that stimulus package included a $600 additional weekly benefit for those receiving unemployment. Most poker dealers are eligible to receive this benefit.
The issue with dealers when it comes to unemployment is they work mostly off tips, in most cases. Most poker dealers are paid a low hourly wage and rely on tips. According to CNBC, some dealers may receive a small unemployment benefit.
“Workers who derive a big chunk of their paychecks from tips, like waiters and bartenders, may get smaller unemployment checks than they hope to,” the article states.
Some poker dealers may lose out on part of their expected unemployment benefit if their employer doesn’t report or under-reports tips earned. So, yes, dealers are eligible for unemployment, including the additional weekly benefit. But the accuracy of tips reported will impact the amount received.
What About the Government Stimulus Check?
Within the next few weeks, millions of Americans will receive a $1,200 ($2,400 for couples and $500 added on for dependents) check from the federal government. Not everyone will obtain this money that was designed to help citizens pay for expenses during the global health crisis.
Poker dealers, however, will receive payment so long as they meet certain requirements, just like everyone else. You must have filed taxes in 2018 or 2019 to be eligible. If your income exceeded $99,000 ($150,000 for a married couple), good job on working your tail off for the poker community, but you won’t get a check.
A specific date payment when stimulus check recipients can expect to receive the funds is unknown at this time. But most experts expect those with bank accounts on file with the IRS to have the money within a couple weeks. It may take longer for everyone else to see the money as the government will be cutting out paper checks for them.
Once this health crisis fades away, and we all hope that is soon, the government will no longer be able to bail its citizens out financially. That means poker dealers, like everyone else, will need to get back to work quickly. Rodriguez is concerned some of his fellow Harrah’s poker room employees may struggle to get by when they go back to work.
“If business demands are slow they will have full-timers work five days and schedule everyone else one or two days per week,” he said. “The only problem with that is there are only six full-time dealers at Harrah’s. So, everyone else will not be making money.”
Rodriguez said his bosses have yet to share details on staffing plans when the poker room reopens. But he’s confident his job will be waiting for him.
source https://casinonewsblogger.com/poker-dealers-and-600-weekly-unemployment-benefit-are-they-eligible/
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