About Us

Dealing with Casino Personnel

A. Assume a Friendly Tone When You Sit Down

A dour, serious expression first of all turns off the dealer and secondly, if you play well, gives a signal to the floorman that a card-counter is playing.

Therefore, relax, smile, and make yourself comfortable, as if you're just a tourist having some fun.

B. Study the Name of the Dealer on the Tag She Wears

If her name is "Nancy" for example, I like to start off the session saying, "Hi, Nancy, how's it going?" If she's friendly, fine. Maybe an extra toke at the right time will get her to deal an extra round of cards. Even if she won't do this, a friendly dealer can be helpful, either consciously or unconsciously. If she sees you're willing to toke, maybe a slight gesture after she peeks at her hole card gives away its relative value.

C. Study the Dealer's Moves and Gestures

Most players are so busy studying their card totals that they never pay attention to the dealer. I watch to see how she deals, how she shuffles, how she peeks. Any one of these things can give away some valuable information. I've been able to follow the progress of an ace-10 through a shuffle, all the way to the top. I cut the cards so the ace and 10 were in the top part of the deck, and I bet more than I usually did, knowing their position.

Watch how the dealer peeks at her cards. Does she raise the card more, after a stiff shows its face to her? Does she quickly spot a 10? Just one piece of information at the right time can make you a lot of money, or conversely, save you the grief of a big loss.

After she peeks, watch how she puts her two cards together. Sometimes, information can be gleaned with this innocuous gesture. A dealer satisfied with his hand, knowing he has a 10 below for a 20 hard total, may place the cards carefully together, or leave them slightly apart. The latter move is more common. The dealer knows he won't have to hit his hand and will probably collect from all the players facing him, so he slides the bottom card, his hole card, to one side so he can quickly turn it over and show his 20 and get on with his collecting of the player's losing bets.

Or a dealer hungry for tokes may want you to win, so when he has a stiff total, he's in a hurry, his body language saying hurry up, don't take a card, let me bust." If a dealer changes speed in dealing out cards as the players act or stand, see what this signifies.

Most of the time, you may not get anything out of a dealer's gestures or moves. But there's always the chance that he'll give away something at some point. Maybe he's distracted, maybe something's on his mind, and maybe he just saw his girlfriend walking through the casino with another man. Maybe… who knows? But always be alert at the table.

D. Act as if you're Not Really Paying Full Attention

You want to create a persona that is sort of indifferent to the game. Of course, you're interested in your own hand and the dealer's but you don't really care that much about the other players' cards. You can pay some attention to them outwardly, because in the course of a game, players watch other players make their moves. That's natural curiosity. But don't look like a counting machine. Balance the count quickly as it occurs and then relax. Don't keep staring back and forth across the table. The floorman will spot that move.

When you know that the last round has been played, and you've stood pat with your hard 17, pay no more attention to the game. Look around the casino, lean back and relax. There's really no reason to pay attention to anything. You'll either win, push or lose your bet, and nothing you do will change that. And the dealer is going to shuffle up anyway. So why pay attention?

This relaxed attitude pays dividends. You'll avoid a lot of casino heat.

E. Engage the Floorman in Conversation

I like to start out by asking how the food is at the buffet or dining room. If I'm playing a $25 game, I'll automatically get a comp for myself and my party. I talk to him about other things as well. If he has a name tag with his hometown, I mention that I was in that state not long before. I'm giving the appearance of paying attention to him and not the table and the other players. Usually, it works and he'll go away, sign a comp ticket and bring it back to wish me luck and leave.

If he isn't interested in my small talk and is really scrutinizing my game, I won't make a stupid losing move just to assuage him. I figure he's on to me, and it's time for me to leave the casino.

I may ask him where the men's room is and just get up and go there for ten minutes. I'll come back and if he's gone, I may continue playing. If he's still at my table or comes right over when I come back, I'll shake my head and tell him my stomach really hurts and leave.

F. If the Floorman Orders Countermeasures, Don't Linger at the Table

The following are the standard countermeasures in increasing order. We'll start with the weakest.

Standard Casino Countermeasures:

1. The dealer shuffles up more often. 2. The dealer shuffles up after every round of play, if I change my bet. 3. The floorman informs me that I can't alter my bet. 4. The dealer shuffles up after every round whether or not I alter my bet. 5. The dealer doesn't even deal to me. 6. The floorman asks me to leave the table. 7. The floorman calls over a security guard while telling me this. 8. The floorman wants my full name and proof of identification. 9. I'm accompanied to the cashier's cage to make sure I'm paid off and out of there.

If casino countermeasures start, don't let them get out of hand. You have rights, but they have the security guards and the power at that moment. Don't fight them. Don't argue or ask questions. Just leave.