Someone somewhere linked the specific law in Arizona regarding this. You must pay tipped employees at least a certain (incredibly low) amount hourly, but no matter what you pay them, the tips *must* go to the employees. The tipped employees may share the tips among themselves, but it is illegal for the owners and managers to either tell them what to do with the tips, or to get the slightest share of tips for themselves.

The way Samy acted, both about this and about the guy who didn't want to pay for a pizza he did not get, is frightening. I think he appeases his wife to a certain extent, but when it comes to money, he thinks he is entitled to all of it for himself. He really does act like a gangster.