Reasons for general table rules.
The game was 3 card poker.
1) Touching your cards too early. I've already made my ante bet, why would looking at my cards too early change anything?
2) Sharing your hand with other players. I found some dealers enforced this strictly while others didn't care at all or even encouraged it by giving advice. No one at the table is playing against each other, why does it matter?
3) Someone pulled their phone out to show me a picture of their kids, the dealer freaked.
4) Someone else at the table was doing really well and seemed to enjoy our company. A few times he added to my ante or put chips down on my pair+/6 card side bets (i almost always have them back because I don't want anyone else's money)...most dealers didn't care but one or two took them off my bets and gave them back to the guy saying it wasn't allowed.
Thanks!
Quote: gamerfreakHey all, I just started playing table games for the first time, and noticed (or got reprimanded for breaking) some table rules that I don't understand the purpose of. I realize there's probably good reasons for these, but they its not immediatly obvious to me...so I'm just curious.
The game was 3 card poker.
1) Touching your cards too early. I've already made my ante bet, why would looking at my cards too early change anything?
2) Sharing your hand with other players. I found some dealers enforced this strictly while others didn't care at all or even encouraged it by giving advice. No one at the table is playing against each other, why does it matter?
3) Someone pulled their phone out to show me a picture of their kids, the dealer freaked.
4) Someone else at the table was doing really well and seemed to enjoy our company. A few times he added to my ante or put chips down on my pair+/6 card side bets (i almost always have them back because I don't want anyone else's money)...most dealers didn't care but one or two took them off my bets and gave them back to the guy saying it wasn't allowed.
Thanks!
1) in case there's a misdeal, or machine shows red light due to cards missing in deck, they don't want anyone looking at their straight flush hand and then being told it doesn't count
2) if I know your cards, then that's 3 cards I know the dealer can't have. This knowledge could provide an edge
1) the don't want you to look at the cards because if the shuffler screws up and kicks out 4 cards instead of 3, or the dealer makes a mistake like exposing her hand, then the entire round in void. They don't want Any controversy if they get dealt a jackpot hand and then the hand is void.
2) collusion between players or simply sharing information could allow you to get an edge over the house in some games so it is technically against the rules. Realistically people like to talk about and compare their hands and casinos are hesitant to enforce the rule (though as you noted some dealers do). Furthermore, when players are colluding they communicate extremely discretly anyway so the house doesn't actually accomplish much by enforcing the rule.
3) they think you are using your phone to cheat. I believe this rule will be relaxed over the next few years, but there is also the consideration that someone texting (or calling!) could really slow down the game or annoy other players. In my opinion it is ok to briefly look at your phone/text between hands but they will still chastise you so just apologize.
4) they don't want there to be an argument over who bet how much on which bet. If you and your friends want to bet together just do it semi-discreetly and they won't say anything even if they know you are doing it. They want to be able to plead ignorance in the event of a dispute.
Quote: bigfoot66
3) they think you are using your phone to cheat. I believe this rule will be relaxed over the next few years...
Certainly not for blackjack tables, since there are card-counting apps out there. Maybe roulette as well.
For all other games, though, I agree it is a silly rule, and the dealer in the OP overreacted. A simple, polite-but-firm "no cell phones at the tables, please" would have sufficed.
Quote: OneAngryDwarfCertainly not for blackjack tables, since there are card-counting apps out there. Maybe roulette as well.
For all other games, though, I agree it is a silly rule, and the dealer in the OP overreacted. A simple, polite-but-firm "no cell phones at the tables, please" would have sufficed.
I found most dealers to be super friendly. However this one was a jerk about every little thing, and I even had to call the floor boss over because he wasn't paying me out correctly.
Quote: OneAngryDwarfCertainly not for blackjack tables, since there are card-counting apps out there. Maybe roulette as well.
If one is going to use a card counting app hopefully he will do it very discreetly. I really think that the cell phone rule is far less about cheating than it is about slowing down the game. Nevada already has the device law so using an app to aid ones play would be very dumb indeed and I don't see how the no cell phone rule helps them stop cheaters.
Quote: gamerfreakI found most dealers to be super friendly. However this one was a jerk about every little thing, and I even had to call the floor boss over because he wasn't paying me out correctly.
It's been my experience (mostly gossip while playing, I'm not in the industry) that most dealers who are super-tight like that are either very inexperienced (either in general or on that particular game), have been written up or are otherwise on notice about being sloppy/lenient, or both. Regardless of the reason, they seem to be people under pressure to make the players comply and they overreact.
Quote: OneAngryDwarfCertainly not for blackjack tables, since there are card-counting apps out there. Maybe roulette as well.
For all other games, though, I agree it is a silly rule
... unless the electronic device is a method of player collusion, or receiving information from a spook, or usable as a device to see the hole card, or ...
It's reasonable for the house to maintain a defensive posture about electronic devices, even if using them to cheat is already a felony. It's not reasonable for them to be rude about it, however. "Phones away while the hand is in play, please." is reasonable. "I told you already, put that thing away" isn't.
If not answering your phone isn't going to cause anyone to die, then you can probably wait 30 seconds until the hand is settled.
If not answering your phone is going to cause someone to die, maybe you shouldn't be playing cards just now.
The fact is that people actually using their phone to count or cheat is so rare, and reasonably detectable, that it can be dealt with on a case by case basis. A vast majority of people on their phones are just calling or texting.
Rules are often relaxed for neophytes to keep the game up to speed, particularly if the neophyte is doing table minimum .. show your cards and make your decision some time today! Or dealer will ask, you want things face up? or something like that. Does it technically slice the house edge a bit? Sure, it does.. on one measly hand that is at table minimum while five or six other hands for decent sums progress. So who is the winner in the end? The game continues without the neophyte slowing things down too much and the casino's house edge applies to all those other players as well.
I have a small strategy card to help me out (JB's strategy from wiz odds site)
No dealer ever had a problem with me playing with a strategy card.. In fact some dealers are curious.
The dealer at the D told me I couldn't have any paper on the table.
She said I can still refer to it, just cant have a peice of paper on her table.
Quote: terapinedShe said I can still refer to it, just cant have a peice of paper on her table.
I've seen this too. You can use the strategy chart, but you can't set it on the table. I don't understand the rule, other than the general "if you can't drink it, smoke it, or gamble it, keep it off the table".
Quote: DieterI've seen this too. You can use the strategy chart, but you can't set it on the table. I don't understand the rule, other than the general "if you can't drink it, smoke it, or gamble it, keep it off the table".
some guys have figured out they can hide undesirable cards under things on the table
Quote: odiousgambitsome guys have figured out they can hide undesirable cards under things on the table
This. Or desirable cards.
If it obstructs the view of the layout, it can't be on the table. Drinks, chipstacks and ashtrays are kept back near the rail, out of the way.
