Best way to Learn (Non-Professional) Blackjack and Craps Dealing?
February 14th, 2013 at 2:21:53 PM
permalink
Hi all, this is my first post (semi-longtime lurker, first time writing), so thanks in advance for any ideas you may have.
I'm involved with a very informal charity casino night for which my wife, friends and I are planning to do all the dealing. We're planning on having Blackjack, Hold'em, maybe Craps, maybe others (considering simpler dice games like Chuck-a-Luck or Beat the Dealer in addition to or in place of Craps). I read another thread a while back about favorable "charity" rules, and that will be very useful in setting up the games, but my question is about the dealing. The question is, what is the best way to learn the Right way to deal the games we're going to host, given:
1) Because this is our first event, and due to WA licensing, this isn't going to be actual gambling at all. Play-money chips for raffle tickets is basically what it comes down to. So it doesn't really matter if there are dealer errors, or if the house "loses" a ton of money. That takes a lot of the pressure off.
2) Even though it's informal and non-professional now, our goal is ultimately to host a licensed Casino Night, which suggests it is somewhat worth it to learn the Right way to operate the floor and deal the games.
3) I looked up two local dealer schools who want at least $1000 per person for their courses, which is beyond my budget for this fun and non-professional event.
4) I figure I could take half of that $1000 to the casino and learn the hard way, but will likely miss out on rules/nuances/offbeat situations.
5) Probably about 1/10th of the people who attend are likely to be smartasses who think they're top quality gamblers and will want to mess with the dealers by invoking every wacky/rare/incorrect rule, bet, slang... etc. I want our people to be good enough to put them in their place.
Any ideas? Youtube seems like a good (but not great?) resource. WA State has the rules, at least of carnival games, posted on the Gaming Commission website, but that's not the same as training..
Again, thanks for any thoughts ideas advice!
Cheers,
AndyGb
I'm involved with a very informal charity casino night for which my wife, friends and I are planning to do all the dealing. We're planning on having Blackjack, Hold'em, maybe Craps, maybe others (considering simpler dice games like Chuck-a-Luck or Beat the Dealer in addition to or in place of Craps). I read another thread a while back about favorable "charity" rules, and that will be very useful in setting up the games, but my question is about the dealing. The question is, what is the best way to learn the Right way to deal the games we're going to host, given:
1) Because this is our first event, and due to WA licensing, this isn't going to be actual gambling at all. Play-money chips for raffle tickets is basically what it comes down to. So it doesn't really matter if there are dealer errors, or if the house "loses" a ton of money. That takes a lot of the pressure off.
2) Even though it's informal and non-professional now, our goal is ultimately to host a licensed Casino Night, which suggests it is somewhat worth it to learn the Right way to operate the floor and deal the games.
3) I looked up two local dealer schools who want at least $1000 per person for their courses, which is beyond my budget for this fun and non-professional event.
4) I figure I could take half of that $1000 to the casino and learn the hard way, but will likely miss out on rules/nuances/offbeat situations.
5) Probably about 1/10th of the people who attend are likely to be smartasses who think they're top quality gamblers and will want to mess with the dealers by invoking every wacky/rare/incorrect rule, bet, slang... etc. I want our people to be good enough to put them in their place.
Any ideas? Youtube seems like a good (but not great?) resource. WA State has the rules, at least of carnival games, posted on the Gaming Commission website, but that's not the same as training..
Again, thanks for any thoughts ideas advice!
Cheers,
AndyGb
February 14th, 2013 at 3:35:51 PM
permalink
Casino nights go well when they are conducted with few but clearly explicit rules, knowledgeable dealers and a professional attitude such as proper tapping out procedures and clearing of hands as if there were cameras and floor supervisors present. Craps is difficult to do well if the dealers don't really know what they are doing.
Layouts should look like the real thing. Space requirements are available from some of the Casino Night firms that have web sites.
Set up takes time (and energy). Charity payouts are often generous towards the house, but the goal is to keep the games moving.
At a charity event its okay for a dice dealer to use the wrong hands as long as he services his bets in the correct order. Same with blackjack, a dealer can be a bit sloppy in card placement and hand use but has to know the rules and keep the speed up and make proper payouts.
Layouts should look like the real thing. Space requirements are available from some of the Casino Night firms that have web sites.
Set up takes time (and energy). Charity payouts are often generous towards the house, but the goal is to keep the games moving.
At a charity event its okay for a dice dealer to use the wrong hands as long as he services his bets in the correct order. Same with blackjack, a dealer can be a bit sloppy in card placement and hand use but has to know the rules and keep the speed up and make proper payouts.
February 14th, 2013 at 3:44:28 PM
permalink
Watch the videos on this site:
http://www.vegas-aces.com/Root/dealers/pages/blackjack/videos/1.html
http://www.vegas-aces.com/Root/dealers/pages/blackjack/videos/1.html
February 15th, 2013 at 2:45:48 AM
permalink
I don't know what any of the legalities would be, but I'd consider hiring pro dealers to do the job. Even if you went to dealer school you wouldn't truly be ready for what a "live audience" will do. Seriously, the first week actually working on the floor gave me way more experience than school did, and it took about 6 months before I'd say I was really pretty much accomplished at the task.
To be clear, when I went through school I bought a bj layout, a shoe, 6 decks of cards, and several racks of chips and tortured my friends for weeks making them play blackjack with me so I could practice. It still didn't compare to actually doing it on the floor.
To be clear, when I went through school I bought a bj layout, a shoe, 6 decks of cards, and several racks of chips and tortured my friends for weeks making them play blackjack with me so I could practice. It still didn't compare to actually doing it on the floor.
February 15th, 2013 at 6:21:44 AM
permalink
I would stick to Blackjack, Crowns and Anchors, a money wheel, roulette, casino war, and hold-em, but NOT craps. Craps is too complex.
If the goal is to have a licensed casino night, get the same crew working the informal nights and have the even four times a year. Once you are comfortable with the setup, I would probably send one person to the course and do a "train the trainer" program for everyone else.
Add and subtract games at your leisure, but I would keep it simple.
If the goal is to have a licensed casino night, get the same crew working the informal nights and have the even four times a year. Once you are comfortable with the setup, I would probably send one person to the course and do a "train the trainer" program for everyone else.
Add and subtract games at your leisure, but I would keep it simple.
-----
You want the truth! You can't handle the truth!
February 15th, 2013 at 10:16:34 AM
permalink
Thank you all for the information and advice.
I agree about Craps maybe (certainly?) being too complex; On the other hand, I know our guests really like it. Maybe a simplified version of Craps, like PL and 345x odds, and Field only. No Place, Buy, etc. Maybe limited (or none) center bets?
I really appreciate the link to the videos GH, thanks for that, and FleaStiff I definitely agree that professionalism will make the night more appealing. We're ready to put in a lot of work, though probably underestimating the reality by a factor of 2 or 3. But having it look good, work smoothly, and be as bug-free as possible will make this event more fun, and will help as we move forward to make this more of a money-maker with an official licensed event in the future, and real money on the line (distant future...).
AndyGB
I agree about Craps maybe (certainly?) being too complex; On the other hand, I know our guests really like it. Maybe a simplified version of Craps, like PL and 345x odds, and Field only. No Place, Buy, etc. Maybe limited (or none) center bets?
I really appreciate the link to the videos GH, thanks for that, and FleaStiff I definitely agree that professionalism will make the night more appealing. We're ready to put in a lot of work, though probably underestimating the reality by a factor of 2 or 3. But having it look good, work smoothly, and be as bug-free as possible will make this event more fun, and will help as we move forward to make this more of a money-maker with an official licensed event in the future, and real money on the line (distant future...).
AndyGB
