Ask the dealer

Thanks for the replies.

I don't ask dealers what to do, because then they'd be playing the game. What's the point of that, right? But I figured I can ask about a rule I'm not sure of.

To be sure I've played as long as a couple of hours of BJ without exchanging a word with the dealer, beyond a greeting when I seat down and a "good night" when I get up. It's a very quiet game.

Quote: DJTeddyBear

Although you will find some grumpy staff, all the floor personel want winners, because winners are happy and helps them be happy and helps the day go faster.

Any advice they provide, while it 'may' be wrong, will be their best advice for a winning decision.

Have no doubts about that. I restrain from giving advice, because I can't help myself and I'll start reciting from basic strategy, but still, once in a while, a player really, really, really wants my opinion if they should hit that 15 against a 10. When I tell them "I'd hit it, but it's your money" (always the diplomat), they look at me as if I'm an alien ("but then I'll bust"). Sigh.
But yes, nothing is better than a table full of winners. They're on their best moods, they don't bother me, I can chitchat at will and the tokes will be flying through the table. Bliss.

Quote: Croupier

Hand signals are generally used to help settle disputes, but in our casino we also have table microphones and verbal answers are final.

Wow, table microphones seem sweet, could save a lot of trouble. Then again, at my casino even the CCTV is down.

Oh, and I love the idea for this thread. I too am a dealer, if you couldn't tell before (and I, too, work in Europe - Portugal, to be more precise), so I might be popping up in here to give my unsolicited opinion :)

By the way, Croupier, is it true that tipping is forbidden in England? And if so, why would you want to become a dealer?

yeah, tipping was banned until about a year ago. I became a dealer as I have always had an interest in Gambling and its a lot cheaper to be on the house side.

Also, I plan on moving to Vegas at some time in the future, so its a useful fallback skill as good dealers can always find work. That applies worldwide.

Quote: Croupier

Also, I plan on moving to Vegas at some time in the future, so its a useful fallback skill as good dealers can always find work. That applies worldwide.

Feel free to write me when you get here. Perhaps I can be of help.

At the Star City casino in Sydney they can rewind and replay the surveillance tape from any table, and view it right there in the pit. I've seen them do it to resolve a dispute my brother in law raised.

Thanks for the offer. I will definately take you up on that when I eventually get to Vegas. The problems I'm facing at the moment is trying to find a way to emigrate. Its so difficult to get a visa to live in the US.

In our casino we have a laptop computer which has access to all the cameras so we can rewind and replay any disputed events and the player can view the event themselves. If theu are still not satisfied we have a room with a larger screen where the player can view it.

Quote: Croupier

Thanks for the offer. I will definately take you up on that when I eventually get to Vegas. The problems I'm facing at the moment is trying to find a way to emigrate. Its so difficult to get a visa to live in the US.

It's darned near impossible to get an employment Visa in the United States. The US would have to hire you on an H1-B which are very difficult to get and given the job market, you likely wouldn't get it. There is the family class immigration categories which of course you can't get unless you marry an American or have a direct relative with American citizenship. I am not sure if any American casino companies have ownership over any British casinos -- if they did, you could apply for a job at the British casino and then come over as an company transferree (L Class).

You might want to consider Canada -- plenty of Casinos, not anything like Vegas of course, but still a better option with British citizenship.

Hope this helps

Quote: Croupier

In our casino we have a laptop computer which has access to all the cameras so we can rewind and replay any disputed events and the player can view the event themselves. If theu are still not satisfied we have a room with a larger screen where the player can view it.

In Portugal, only the Comissão de Jogos (Gaming Board) has access to the video images (they always have staff at each casino during operating hours). In case of a dispute, the pit boss will call the CCTV staff and deliberate according to what they tell him. The player can complain to the Gaming Board but only if he gets really vocal will he be invited to review the footage. I've worked for two years with the eye on the sky and only three or four times have I seen players being invited to view the images for themselves.

I heard from a retired dealer that a good way to win at roulette was to place a bet for the dealer on 0 and 00, and then place your own bets there as well as on the 3 numbers to the left and right of 0 and 00. The dealer can't control exactly where the ball will stop, but can throw it in such a way as to possibly get close to the area where you bet.

Is this cheating? Is it true? Should I bother?

I do not believe that a dealer can control where the ball lands, especially if they are following proper procedure. I do know many dealers who believe they can control it. I've challenged them to simply make the ball land on one half of the wheel a statistically significant number of times. Of course we'd have to have a friendly wager on it.

Quote: Croupier

Thanks for the offer. I will definately take you up on that when I eventually get to Vegas. The problems I'm facing at the moment is trying to find a way to emigrate. Its so difficult to get a visa to live in the US.

You're welcome. Sorry but I can't offer any advice on immigration. I know from lots of stories it is hard.

About roulette, I'm skeptical about dealers controling the spin. If they could, it would be so easy to make a fortune with an acomplice.