Table Games Interesting Situation at Craps Table

Just got back from a great weekend in downtown LV. Had something interesting happen at the craps table, and would like some experienced players' opinions. Was playing at a break-in casino that I won't name because they treat us well and I'm not trying to embarrass them with this post. Was placing/buying all the numbers, pressing them up every other hit, and drinking quite a bit. A few hours into it we catch a hot shooter who ended up rolling about 16 eights before sevening out. Every other time the 8 hit I'd tell the dealer to "press it." I didn't name any specific amount to press it to, and in all honesty I lost track of how much money I had on the eight. Eventually I'm up to somewhere between $350 and $400, but some odd amount, not $360. It hit again, and the dealer couldn't figure out what to pay me. Here's where it gets weird, neither could the pit boss, who I found out later was actually a blackjack boss covering the craps pit due to some mix up. Dealer and pit boss literally stand there looking at my place bet for about 2 mintues. I was cool about it, certainly didn't pressure anyone or act impatient. Finally the dealer at the other end of the table whispers to the pit boss what she thought the payout ought to be and that's what I got.

But here's where it gets even stranger. After I was paid off (and had pressed the 8 even more), the pit boss comes over to me and tells me I was out of line for making non-standard-sized press bets. I told him I wasn't making any particular press at all, just telling the dealer to "press it" and I was happy with whatever he took it up to and with whatever I got back each time. Still, he said I was my responsibility to make sure my presses ended up at standard intervals.

Well, I was winning so much by that time that I let it go and things went fine after that. Afterwards, I was talking to my brother who had been at the table about whether I was really in the wrong for not giving the dealer more guidance as I pressed my bets upwards. I think that if you tell the dealer to "press", it's his obligation to take it to an amount that he'd be comfortable paying off next time it hits. A part of me wants to go one step further and say that a casino should be happy to have any large amount of money placed on a number, and shouldn't criticize the player for any type of bet, even something crazy like $391, but that wasn't what happened her. Water under the bridge now, but curious what other craps players thought. I hope I wasn't in the wrong, because I like to drink enough when I play that I don't care to keep too careful track of my own bet amounts. I know, not super smart, but I like to have fun and not think too much.

 

I'd only agree that it's "your responsibility" to the extent that if you make a non-standard bet, and it wins, you're going to take the hit on whatever rounding they do. For example, if you bet $12 on a 6/8 place bet, you'd win $14, but if you only bet $10, you'd wind up getting shorted because they'd pay you $11 whereas the math properly works out to about $11.66. But if you have a non-standard bet out, either through your own fault or because the dealer did it, it's absolutely their responsibility to do the math (I do think the dealer should have been pressing standard intervals, but that's a separate issue).

 

Dealers fault for not pressing correctly

 

I'd say that it's a bit your fault for not clearly telling them how to press it because it was a break-in joint. If you know they're newbies and still grasping it then you should say something like "press it to 18 and after each hit take it up $6" so that way they've got clear instructions to work with.

If you're playing with an experienced crew then they should be able to handle the odd amounts.

The pit boss is out of line for telling you that though. I mean odd increments or not if the dealer wants to make it as a dealer then he/she better learn those oddities. I would've told the lot boss as much and told them they were out of line for mentioning it and to go teach their dealer the payouts.

I don't say that maliciously either. We all know craps is fast paced and intimidating and I couldn't be a dealer. Much respect for the ones who are pro's and that's why I always tip them well.

 

Reverb you did exactly as I would have in that situation. When things are going good and you are having fun and making money, you do not want to do anything to change the attitude at the table, even though of course the pit critter was out of line because he had no clue what he was doing and tried to put it on you. As Rocky said above I have a lot of respect for the dealers too, but sometimes you do see some things that just make you wonder.

 

Dealer's Responsibility:
To press your bet the amount you specify, if you specify.
To enforce standard size bets
To pay out correctly

Your Responsibility:
To make sure the dealer presses the amount you want
To make sure you get paid correctly

Not Your Responsibility:
Making standard sized bets. If the casino doesn't allow them, it's up to them to say no if you try to do it. To shift the blame from the dealer to you is wrong.

 

I agree with the above assessment.

 

Same. I agree. I've never seen a dealer, when asked generically to "press" on a number bet to do it in anything but a standard increment. That's what's easiest for them, and that's what they normally do. Could be that the dealer just got a little bit confused at some point, and the numbers got off a touch into non-standard territory. Shouldn't have hassled you about it, but I guess it happens. Sounds like you handled it very graciously.

 

I am not sure whether this would make a difference or not, but...
I was taught not to say "press" . instead I say "up a unit". Maybe because I am used to golf bets, but "press" to me always means doubling my bet.


The pit critter should have apologized and not implied it was your "fault" per se. But I also I believe it is up to the player to be sure a bet is placed correctly. The house should pay out based on what was bet. You should have caught the mistake when the first bet was placed. Not noticing because you were drinking is not really the house's problem.

As for not knowing how to pay out an "odd amount". This should have been simple. For example, If it was a $370, it is easy to figure out: Cut the payout for a $360 bet and then cut a payout for a $10 bet. The shame is breaking up the rhythm of a hot table.

 

Quite ridiculous and quite frankly stupid of him to say anything to you. Maybe If you were being an obnoxious drunk and constantly yelling out weird amounts to mess with a new dealer I could see him saying something to you.

He should have quietly told the dealer to press in standard amounts or waited until he went on break and took him to the side.

 

As long as you started with a correct bet on the 8, there would be no way to double a place bet and have it be "incorrect". From then, you can literally double the last payout to figure out the current one.

I don't see how
1)any of this was your fault
2)you were actually spoken to about it
3)the dealer couldn't figure it out

Even the most complicated-looking craps place bets can be broken down into two bets that are easy to pay. $396 might look silly but it's just $300+96, paying 350+112= 362.

In closing, this was all casino fault for not knowing how to handle a situation, and doing a terrible job in trying to do so.

 

Not your fault but here is how it will usually play out.
You get the payout for the proper amount. If not the proper size/unit you don't get paid for the amount over, but if you were to lose you lose it all.

If the point is 9 and you only put down $15 instead of $16, you get paid as though you bet $14 and if you lose you lose all $15.

The dealers usually catch this before the roll continues but don't always do.