Redman and Blackjack

While in Vegas (mid December) , I encountered a new rule at the blackjack table.

My wife and I were playing at the Tropicana. I was chatting with wife and dealer and had the urge to smoke.
Yes I know, a bad habit.

I look around and see no other smokers. Also maybe because the casino is so nice, white and clean looking. I instead
decide to just chew my Redman chewing tobacco.
Yes I know, a bad habit.

So I dig it out of my pocket and start to open it, when the dealer says "chewing tobacco is not allowed at the tables".
Or something to that effect. I ask why, she tells me that it can be used to mark cards. I tell her I'm not even touching
the cards, it's a face up game. She says "i don't make the rules".

I don't argue anymore, just ask for an ashtray and smoke.

I have played Bj for a few years, 1 or 2 trips a year and this was the first time i had heard of this.

I have seen this but I don't remember where. The reason given was that spit is treated as hazardous waste.

I was also told it was because of the spit.I like Beech-Nut

I just chew to help me cut back on my smoking.

I don't put a giant chaw in my mouth. Just a small amount, so I actually don"t spit at all. Never use a spit cup.

Comes in handy when flying, at the movies, in meetings and such.

As the old commercial used to say, "Just a pinch between your cheek and gum." If you do that before sitting at the table you should be fine. While you are responsible and considerate it wouldn't be long before some slob started spitting all over the place if the casino allowed it.

Although you didn't ask I'll take this opportunity to say that substituting one form of tobacco for another is not a good idea. They all have health risks.

Quote: 1BB

. . . They all have health risks.

But at least there's no second hand smoke.

I was playing at Caesars years ago when a guy at the table pulled out a paper cup and his chaw. The dealer told him that chewing wasn't allowed at the table, so he left. One of the players asked the dealer the reason for the policy, and she explained that it was considered a health hazard. She then said, "It gets to be a real problem when the rodeo is in town."

Quote: gDGBD

One of the players asked the dealer the reason for the policy, and she explained that it was considered a health hazard. She then said, "It gets to be a real problem when the rodeo is in town."

Probably, but anywhere near the BJ tables they worry about any substance and a contact lens wearer. It used to be women's make-up that would be used to mark the cards, now its anything at all. Tremendous advantage even if its just one shoe that they can read the cards. They still worry about germs and its easier to say germs than cheater.

put the dip/chew in before you get to the table and spit in a coffee cup with napkins stuffed in it. as long as you keep the cup between your legs and off the table you shouldnt encounter many problems.

I hadn't thought about it, but this was near the end of NFR.


There were a lot of cowboys still in town. Card marking cowboys or cowboys with spit cups. I suppose the casino
didn't care for either one.

Maybe this was why the pit boss at MGM was eyeballing me when I put my chew in at the bj table.
but he didn't say anything about it.