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A Dealers view on Gambling

Much of this information is based on "superstition."
Mathematicians and pro gamblers would take issue on some of this info.

Here are some, usual and not so usual, tips for casino players. These tips will not be found in any blackjack books. They are from Dealers. I hope this information will help you have fun playing casino games. These tips are from my own personal experience dealing casino games for 5 years....and from the experiences I had being on the "inside."

Blackjack:

On your first bet, always put at least $1 up for the dealer. Your going to be gambling for awhile, and it's a good idea to have the dealer on your side. Dealers are always friendlier and feel better about being the "loser" if they know something's in it for them. Believe it or not, the dealer has the ability to change the deck (superstition). If you are winning, but not tipping, your dealer is secretly trying to change the deck against you (superstition). The dealer would just as soon see you leave the table, the building, the world, in hopes of getting a "George" to take your place. A "George" is what the dealers call a player who "tips". Remember putting the dealer "up" for a buck is a small price to pay to keep him/her on your side. Be friendly to the dealer and they will, most likely, be friendly back. Dealers are paid a very small hourly wage. In a nutshell...keep the Dealers happy.

Never, never play on a table with more than one deck of cards. Your odds of winning go down with each additional deck of cards. Some casinos have games with 8 deck shoes on a game. The only time to ever take a chance, playing a shoe or double deck, is when your luck is so bad, your willing to try anything (superstition). But still don't do it! My best advice would be, go to a movie, have dinner, take a nap, get off the casino floor for awhile, then come back and try your luck again.

Always look for a table where the players and dealer are having a good time. Never sit at a table full of grumps and whiners. These players are losers. Too stubborn to move to another table. They are bad tippers and probably have the Dealers feeling mad and wanting to beat everybody. They are there for the free drinks and they haven't been tipping the waitress....so everyone is hating 'em. Avoid this table.

Seeing players with lots of "checks" (chips), in front of them, is usually a good sign that the table is "cold" for the house and "hot" for the players (superstition). Some casinos have the dealers place their "tips" behind the money slot, or in the dealers shirt pocket. Even though this practice is being eliminated, some places still do it. Look for the table that has tips on it. A bulging shirt pocket is a good indicator. This usually means the players are winning. Another sign of a good table is seeing an empty or half empty rack, the tray where the Dealer's checks are kept. This usually means the checks are going out. When you see a dealer moving checks around in the rack, this means he/she is "dumping" the rack, or in other words, the house is losing.

Never stay at a table with players that make you feel uncomfortable. You know the ones. The player who hits 12,13,14,15,or 16 with the dealer showing a 6,5,or 4 up. Or the player splitting face cards, or worse, splitting 5's. Watch the game, these players can cost you $$$$. (superstition)

Change the deck when it goes cold (superstition). This can be done a few ways. One way is, if you have the money, to play 2 hands. This can change the cards. Another way is to tell the Dealer you're taking a walk, leave some checks to save your seat. Go to the bathroom, have a drink and come back to a new deck. A third way is to move to another table. Never stay at a table where you lose 3 hands only to win 1 hand. When this starts to happen, "Change the deck". The house pulls this trick all the time so you should try your best to do it back.

Never play "the circus games." The "odds" are terrible on games such as, Triple Chance Blackjack, Bonus Blackjack, Caribbean Stud, War, Let it Ride, Spanish Blackjack, and Big 6 these games are "house games" designed to take your money. These games were not invented to amuse you. They were created to take the beginning gambler's money. These games are often empty, no players, there's a reason. They're there to attract the players who are to shy to jump into a real table game. These games are more likened to the games found at your local Carnival in the supermarket parking lot. Some players do win but there are a lot more losers. Stick to the more conventional games of Blackjack, Roulette, and Craps.

Remember, your ass is not glued to the seat. When you start to lose, throw the dealer a buck. He/she will honestly wish you "good luck" and then move to the next friendly table.

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Roulette:

I tend to call this game instant death or slow death. No matter which, death is the keyword. I'll be honest, I don't like this game! Odds of winning at this game are less than any other table game, except the Circus Games. This game is very easy to play, but remember, generally, the easier the game is to play, the less likely you are to win.

I will play this game on nights when getting 12 through 16, on the BJ tables, seems to be the norm. I'll generally stop playing cards and head over to the "wheel" and bet.......you guessed it. #'s 12, 13, 14, 15, and 16. Sometimes those numbers keep coming (superstition). I never stay very long on this game.

I've never read anything good about Roulette, except the story about Lord Jersey who once won 17 consecutive, maximum bets on black while playing in Monte Carlo, or so the story goes, and retired to the English countryside and never gambled again in his life.

I'm not a big roulette fan. So my advice as always is..."better to be lucky than good", especially on this game.

See tip #1 in Blackjack

Many mistakes are made by the in-experienced roulette player. Learn the game! Develop a strategy.

Never make the classic mistake of betting more than you can win. How many times have I paid off winnings of 35 chips, only to muck-up (pick up) the Player's 40,60, even 80 checks that he bet? Plenty of times! This player lost checks, but looks like a winner. He's happy and doesn't even realize he lost!

Learn the numbers on the wheel. Decide to "clump" or "spread" (superstition) Clumping is taking a few numbers that lie next to each other on the wheel. Spreading would be taking numbers that are in each quadrant of the wheel. Dealers sometimes get into a rhythm and the ball tends to fall into the same quadrant. If you see this pattern, bet that quad. A table with an electronic number board can help track  repetition of numbers. Pencil and paper still work fine too.

Always bet the last number that was hit. Back to back hitting of numbers seems to happen quite often. (superstition)

Always play the green zeros. At least a split. (superstition)

Some tables have only one zero. These tables cut the houses' advantage in half to 2.7%.

Get in and get out. If you win, i.e. double your buy-in, it's time to leave. If you lose your buy-in, leave, try it again later. Or better yet, stay away! This is the easiest game on the casino floor to play, but remember it has the worst odds of winning.

Besides the occasional tip, sometimes bet an extra check for the dealer. Ask him/her their favorite number or the number he/she's been hitting frequently. (superstition).

See tip #7 in Blackjack

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Craps:

Craps can be the most exciting game in the casino. It definitely has the best "odds" of all the games. I'm sure you've heard the roars coming from the crap table. There is a reason for this. It's called a run, a hot streak, on a roll, or hot shooter. The basic object to this game is to have all the numbers and a hot shooter (someone not throwing a "7-out, line away"). This game, like most all games, is much more fun when there are several other players on the table.

Here is a very simple, very conservative strategy to playing craps. Remember, the base dealer will answer your questions and often give advice. Remember you can bet for "the boys" in this game too. Watch these dealers, they are working hard and deserve a little compensation for their efforts.

1. Lay off the prop bets

2. Never play the field

3. Bet the pass line on the come out roll only. (pray for a 7 or 11).

4. After a "point" is established take the max odds, that you can afford. Odds vary from casino to casino. The laying odds bets pay better. Remember a line bet pays only "even" money. A pass line bet should be half of your intended odds bet. The dealer will help you with odds bet (and all other bets too).

5. Place the 6 and 8 (not the 6 or 8 in the corner)

6. Then pray you never see a seven again!

7. Remember, your elbows aren't glued to the rail.

 

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