|
A front-line employee of a casino is forced to obey two rules
when it comes to casino customers. One, the player is always
right, and two, if the player is wrong, see rule number one.
Not easy when a decent percentage of players are running on
high octane drinks and losing money. But that doesn't mean
that the casino patron shouldn't at least know some table
civilities. These social graces will go a long way in making
both your stay and the employee's job more enjoyable.
Let's start with blackjack. Here is a table game where a manners
referee (pit boss) is called into play most often.
- Know the hit/stand signals for the blackjack game
you're playing.
- In baseball, it's two hands for beginners; on a
live blackjack game, the opposite. Some casinos are
real touchy-feely (throw you out) about you doing
anything funny to the cards.
- Once you've placed your wager, don't touch your
bet until you get paid.
- If the cards are running against you, don't keep
asking for a new deck. If you don't like your cards,
move to another table.
- Expect with abusive language an early departure
from the casino.
- Don't ask the dealer what her hole card is. Dealers
won't risk their job over your wager. There's nothing
wrong with asking for advice, but not after the dealer
looks under her face/ace.
- If you lose several hands in a row, don't accuse
the dealer of cheating. Most (99%) don't. It's most
likely a bad run of cards, plus, let's not discount
poor play. Also, abusing the "messenger"
for crummy cards lacks any form of civility.
- If you're using a basic strategy card (recommended),
don't refer to it each and every hand. You should
have a basic understanding on how to play most of
your hands well before you sit down on a game.
- Using these lines? "Are you going to be nice
to me?" Question is, are you going to be nice
to them. "Where are you from?" It's most
likely on their nametag. "Do you live here?"
Yes, we're not Martians commuting from Mars. Instead,
try some other light conversation.
- Don't walk up to a dealer and tell him he looks
bored, make him shuffle an eight-deck shoe just to
make one $5 bet, lose, then walk.
- Once the hand has been completed, don't turn your
cards over to help the dealer. Dealers have a routine
on the pickup and you're just slowing them down. Besides,
dealers need to spread the cards a certain way so
the cameras can read them.
Slots/Video poker:
- If the casino is crowded, limit your play to just
one machine. For that manner, even when the casino
isn't bustling, don't play more machines than you
can "safely" watch over. Certain individuals
make a career of ripping off inattentive players who
don't monitor their machines.
- In video poker, confine yourself to playing just
one machine. Making correct decisions based on the
cards dealt is much more difficult than pulling a
slot handle.
- When taking a break or looking for a change person,
a player will put a cup on her seat or on the handle
indicating she is still playing that machine. Heed
these signs. Separating a player from her favorite
slot is like messing with the cubs of a mother bear.
Craps:
- Do not try to hand cash to the dealer to make change.
The dealer is not allowed to take any cash or chips
directly from the customer. You need to place your
money on the layout, before the shooter gets the dice,
and ask the dealer for "change only."
- Some wagers like Pass/Don't Pass bets, odds, come
bets, the Big 6/8 or field bets can be made by you.
On the other wagers, place you money on the layout
and ask the dealer to make those wagers for you.
- Keeps your hands off the table and out of the way
of the dice being thrown. You do not want to disrupt
the game by altering the toss with your hands.
- Tables have rails all around the game to store
your gaming chips. Use them. Also, underneath there
is shelving for your drinks.
- If you are the shooter, give the dice a good toss
across the table. Never try to slide dice across the
layout thinking you can control the outcome. The first
time the boxman will call out, "No roll."
The second time, possibly a slap on the wrist. The
third-adios Amigo.
- If you are a Don't Pass bettor, don't scream out,
"Come on, seven!" Betting against the majority
of players is bad enough, but rooting against them
and gloating after a win is a awful form.
Roulette:
- All seats in a casino are for players only. Most
dealers are instructed to ask non-players to move.
- Roulette is a game where you exchange money for
chips. The color coded chips are not allowed to be
bet or intermingled by your friend's or family. If
both you and your spouse are playing together, you
will need to get separate-colored chips.
- Dealers will leave the winning bet on the layout.
Your payoff on the inside wagers (numbers) will be
slid to you. It is your responsibility to remove the
winning bet if you don't want to play it the following
spin. Outside wagers (red/black, odd/even, columns,
etc.) will be left alongside your original winning
wager.
Tipping:
As in most service industry jobs, most front-line casino
employees get paid minimum wage. The majority of a casino
employee's pay comes through the gratuities of casino
patrons. Never should you expect the employee to bend
the rules if you decide to tip. However, if you are
winning, and the dealer is being courteous and helpful,
it is customary to show your appreciation. Naturally
you are under no obligation to tip, but an occasional
gratuity is always in good form and helps keep up the
morale at the table. Look at tipping as a donation to
"Lady Luck."
|