Casino Coolers...do they really exist?

I loved the movie the "cooler," but recently I am on the fence about whether a coolers (employed by the casino) actually exists.

When I say "cooler," I am not referring to a guy who has special power to turn the table cold. I'm just referring to somebody who come and change the deck a little bit, stirs the pot, and mess with gamblers who are on a hot streak.

I've never believed in "coolers," but my recent observations made me rethink otherwise and wanted to open it up to the forums to see what I can find out.

I was at a LV strip casino over the weekend and was on a hot streak at a $25 min Blackjack table. I was up a few thousand. Tw0 shoes that I was playing were red hot from the start, and it was one of those days where I couldn't bust, the dealer was constantly busting, and I was gifted with numerous picture-perfect double down and split hands. A middle-aged gentleman showed up to the table and struck and conversation with me and asked if the table was hot. I then told him that it was, and asked if he wanted to join the table. (Now, I don't really believe in superstition and I think the shoes can go one way or another and it has a mind of its own. I've had shoes that were red hot the first half and then cold the rest of the shoe). The gentleman looked surprised that I asked him if he wanted to play, he then pulled out his wallet and bought in for $200. There were no words exchanged between the dealer, pit boss, and the gentleman i will now call the "cooler." I thought it was very odd that the dealer never asked him for his players card because the dealer hounded all the players who previously sat down. I didn't think much of it because I figured maybe he was buying in for a small amount. After he sat down, he struck conversations with me asking where I was from and where I normally play. I answered politely, and reciprocated the same question. He said he was out of town from small town in Georgia. I proceeded to ask him where in Georgia because I used to go there for business and knew the area well. At that point, he was very vague and short with me, as if I caught him on a lie and he didn't want to talk about it anymore. Anyhow, the shoe finished "ok" after he sat down (not as hot as before). He played another half shoe after the shuffle and colored up and left. I also colored up a 5500 and left the table to go grab some dinner. After dinner, with my winnings, I decided to go to the high-limit area to push my "luck." I started off pretty good again and doubled my 5000 buy-in to 10K. Again, it validated that it was one of those weekends when things were constantly going your way. Then a few phone calls by the pit, and then the "cooler," shows up to my table. He asks how I'm doing again, and I said it's going good (Still at this point, I am not suspecting anything. I just think he's a tourist chasing luck and trying to find a "lucky" table). I again politely ask him if he wants to join in. He doesn't hesitate and pulls out $1000 out of his wallet. The high-limit table I was playing at was $100 Min $10,000 Max shoe table. I was surprised because I didn't think he'd have the bankroll to play there. For the second time, the dealer never asked him for his players card, al though they asked for mine when I bought in. I started to suspect something at this point. Either he's an undercover casino employee trying to see if I'm doing anything funny or possibly the mythical "cooler." I again started chatting small talks with him on where he is staying and when he's flying back to Georgia. He was again vague saying he is "staying downtown, and leaving in a couple of days." I even tried to lighten up the mood by telling him that I'm doing real well and let me buy him a drink. He requested water. He bet minimums the whole shoe and didn't seem very interested in his own hands. I could tell he was more fixated on what I was betting because at this point, I was playing purple action ($500). The table stayed HOT even while he was playing! I joked to him that he was my lucky charm (at this point, I am fully aware that he MAY be an employee, but I have nothing to hide as I play straight up 24/7). He smiled. I even told him, "I should pay you commission while you come to every table with me (No i didn't mean it, I was probing to see his reaction). He said "Haha, unfortunately I need to head back to downtown to my wife soon." After the shoe, I had just short of $14K with me, and he colored up $2K and left. Even with his 2K, he didn't seem THAT happy. Again, the dealer nor the pit bothered asking for his ID, players card, and etc. He told me good luck and left the table. I never saw him again for the night.

Am I imagining things, or could he be an undercover employee? Perhaps the illusive and mythical "cooler?"

I highly doubt anybody has coolers on the payroll any longer. I'm not sure that they ever did but wouldn't be surprised back in the "old school" days.

Could it be security undercover to check his action and trying to ID him?

There's no such thing. It's just the math catching up with you.

At the craps table they are called cocktail waitresses (or Tray Lizards)

Coolers do not exist. Just like any other player, the cards have no idea what you'll do. The cards don't know what wins and losses are either.

no coolers but i'm pretty sure they at least used to have shills - beautiful women sitting and playing at the baccarat tables, but they weren't really gambling. it was a job, trying to attract high limit bettors to join them at the tables.

Quote: lilredrooster

no coolers but i'm pretty sure they at least used to have shills - beautiful women sitting and playing at the baccarat tables, but they weren't really gambling. it was a job, trying to attract high limit bettors to join them at the tables.

I think that is actually a good idea for baccarat, especially in Macau, where Asian player consider it unlucky to play by yourself. Having anybody, but especially an attractive female, break the ice by opening up a new table would spread the play around and get players playing instead of pacing around the casino looking for a "lucky" table that also has room.

I think the most productive way to frame the question is: "Was this individual on the payroll of the casino for some reason?"

He showed up at your table twice and was never asked for his players card. That seems highly unusual, especially for a $100 minimum table. He paid more attention to your wagers than to his own. He won $1000 the 2nd time and showed no excitement or happiness about having done so.

The reasonable presumption would be that this was an individual who was employed by the casino and playing with house money. (note: there is a difference between "proof" and "reasonable presumption" but we all use reasonable presumption every day to guide us through the complexities of modern life.)

Why would a casino do such a thing? The obvious explanation is usually correct:

- He probably was employed by security to observe you closely and see what you were doing. He may have been checking for any sleight of hand with chips or cards or use of any electronics to gain an advantage or for any collusion with a dealer or other confederate. Such tactics might be more visible from a chair at the table than from the eye in the sky or from a pit boss' position. Also, a suspicion of card counting might be reinforced by observing your demeanor and behavior up close.

- I can't imagine that he was a mythological "cooler." If they don't want your action they can ask you to leave for no reason at all. And, as others have observed, some sort of semi-attractive friendly female would be a far more effective distraction than the older gentleman you were dealing with.

My opinion. The guy was security, probably management, there to check you out. I doubt he was a cooler by definition, but I suppose the TGD could be one of those who believe in interrupting a hot streak. More likely he wanted a different angle on your play, looking for count - tracking tells or some kind of cheating mechanism, like an ink-daub in your lap or under the rail, or a capping move or something.

Just sloppy of them not to push him for a card, but maybe they didn't want his name exposed to you, so they've been trained not to ask.

Nice run, btw. Sweet when it happens.

I finally got around to watching "The Cooler" the other day. Personally, I've always thought that William Macy is not given enough credit as an actor in general.


Do covers exist? There are definitely emotional coolers who come to the table and make people feel better, or worse, while they're there. I've dealt with my fair share of them, both good and bad.

Winning or losing coolers- The ultimate master is just the math behind the game.

Quote: Lucca3927

I finally got around to watching "The Cooler" the other day. Personally, I've always thought that William Macy is not given enough credit as an actor in general.


Do covers exist? There are definitely emotional coolers who come to the table and make people feel better, or worse, while they're there. I've dealt with my fair share of them, both good and bad.

Winning or losing coolers- The ultimate master is just the math behind the game.

djatc = cooler. Since he doesn't get paid he's just a shleprock (-;

it's hard to get hired. I've thought many times I should be getting offers .... just too many out there I think.

Someone said Emotional Cooler. Makes the most sense to me.

Also, why would security have someone play to see what your doing when both the dealer and the pit are trained in that department.