Vegas Myths and Facts: Dealer's Perspective

Just a few misconceptions that I see on a daily basis while dealing. I posted this over at T2V and thought I'd put it here as well.

Myth: You're always being watched by surveillance.

Fact: This is impossible. It is true that you're always being recorded, but very rarely are you constantly being watched by a person upstairs unless you're betting very big or are giving them a reason to keep an eye on you. If you're playing the minimum on a $5 blackjack table, you are NOT being watched!!

Myth: After checking for blackjack, the dealer now knows the hole card.

Fact: If its not blackjack, the dealer has no idea what card is under there. The only exception to this is at casinos that have tables without those little mirrors so the dealer has to manually check the hole card. Otherwise, if using a mirror and it is NOT blackjack, we only see a white, blank space. This is evidenced by looking at the ten-value cards and aces. Look how close the printing on those cards gets to the side of the card itself. Now look at a 5. See how far away all printing is from the side of the card?

Myth: Dealers are experts at the games they deal.

Fact: Some dealers are complete idiots!! I know plenty of dealers that, when asked the basic strategy on a certain play, will just guess at the answer. I don't even have the basic strategy memorized. The difference between me and some other dealers is that I'll admit when I don't know the answer. Also, just because a dealer deals most games in a casino doesn't mean the dealer started with expert knowledge of those games. Dealers will come in knowing a couple core games and will then slowly learn the other games at their own pace. So a dealer who has dealt blackjack and craps for a number of years might still be brand new on roulette.

Myth: The dealer always wants you to win.

Fact: Not always......not even close. If you're a stiff (non-tipper), we definitely don't want you to win. If you are a chain-smoker, drunk douchebag, know-it-all table captain or all of the above, we don't want you to win. If you are a friendly player that will make my day better as I'm trying to make your day better, and a player who knows how to reward good service, then by all means sit down and play. We're happy to see you win!!

Myth: A dealer standing at a dead table is bored.

Fact: NOPE.....at least not entirely. In my case, I am usually in my little happy place while standing dead. This also goes back to the previous myth. Remember, even at the fancy places like Bellagio, dealers make minimum wage plus tips. So if I'm standing at a dead blackjack table watching a TV or people-watching, I'm getting paid EXACTLY THE SAME as dealing to a completely jammed-up $5 blackjack table with nothing but stiffs. Which scenario would you choose? Unfortunately, those guys (they're almost always men) who approach your dead table and say something like, "Wow, you look bored, better give you something to do" will immediately trigger my douchebag radar! These types are almost always stiffs.

Myth: Every casino dealer in Vegas makes 60+ grand a year.

Fact: NO! Believe it or not, there are many players who actually think this is true....I kid you not! The only dealers who consistently make that kind of money are those dealers at high-end places like Wynn, Bellagio, Aria, etc. ALSO, that only pertains to dealers at those places who are full-time. So as you walk through Bellagio, don't assume that each dealer you see makes 70 grand. Most of them are part-timers with zero benefits who've been on the on-call list for 2+ years waiting for a full-time spot to open. This is also true at the lower-end joints where the part-timers are making that much less.

Myth: Since dealers choose to work in casinos, they obviously don't mind smoke.

Fact: The huge majority of dealers hate cigarette/cigar smoke. In fact, the longer I work as a dealer, the more I hate the smoke. I thought I'd get used to it after a while, but that hasn't happened yet. I've heard people mention that since dealers choose to work in this environment, they have no right to complain about smoke. I always respond to that by mentioning that EVERY person reading this or playing at my table has SOMETHING they don't like about their job. I don't think I'm out-of-line in this reasoning. When I accepted the job at the university back in 2001, I knew there were certain aspects that I wasn't crazy about, but I accepted it anyway. Five years later when I resigned, I missed some things about the job, but certainly didn't miss some other BS. The same will hold true when I eventually get out of the gaming business, with smoke being right on top of the list.

Oh, by the way, its my firm belief from several years of dealing experience that overall, smokers are much bigger stiffs than non-smokers!

Myth: Dealers/Floor Sups have total mind control over cocktail waitresses.

Fact: Very rarely. If you're betting $100+ per hand, we might be able to do something for you. If you are tipping the waitress handsomely, she will probably take care of you on her own. If you are playing the minimum on a $5 blackjack table and tipping a buck (or nothing) when you do see her, don't be surprised if she makes herself scarce.

Here's the facts from my casino, which I'm assuming is standard in Vegas. The tables games dealers/supervisors and the cocktail waitresses report to completely different departments (usually Food and Beverage for the waitresses). Also, the waitresses are union employees. These two facts add up to "there's not a god-damned thing we can do to make the waitresses get here any faster!!!" I think I've mentioned here before that when a floor supervisor says he'll call to get the waitress over, many times he's just talking into the phone to nobody. So when the waitress does show up, it actually looks like he did something.

Just some thoughts on a lazy Monday afternoon. I have today and tomorrow off, with little to no discretionary spending money. :-( I'll be working 7 days in a row beginning Wednesday, which cuts right through July 4th weekend. It should be a good few days during this slow summer, but we'll probably work hard for every dollar while missing out on the festivities.