Table Games How much can dealers help you?

[Erik the Whale]

So I've been reading a lot and have played a lot. 5 times in Vegas plus local casinos. My question is: how much ability does a blackjack or craps dealer have to help or hurt the player other than advise? I ask becaue I'm thinking about upping my tipping to try to win favor. Has anyone had a real experience?

 

[Dutch34]

"Trying to win favor"....do you suggest that if you tip some amount of money the dealer might try to cheat or tip the scales in your favor in return for the larger tip?

Considering they pool tips and generally get an equal cut of the tips during their shift, I cannot imagine a scenario where any dealer that you just met would ever risk losing their job....and jail time, for what would amount to pennies on the dollar (for them) for a larger tip.

Might they cheer harder for you or seem more genuinely interested in your results with a larger tip? Sure. Beyond that and beyond basic strategy advice, your answer should be a resounding 'not gonna happen'.

 

[Erik the Whale]

Got it, that answers the question thanks

 

[TriggerMN]

None, zero, zilch, zippo. Cards and/or dice have absolutely no memory. What they can tell you has no bearing on what the next card or roll of the dice will be. You ask say, "The book says to hit this, right?" and they can tell you, but they're not going to give you a count on the shoe. What you bet is on you.

 

[Nevyn]

Tips do nothing for your expected results.

Tip for good service according to your own comfort and discretion.

 

[Chuck2009x]

"Trying to win favor"....do you suggest that if you tip some amount of money the dealer might try to cheat or tip the scales in your favor in return for the larger tip?

It happens. I wouldn't say outright cheating, but things like getting overpaid (not by mistake), getting paid for phantom bets, or bets you usually make but missed one cause you got distracted or were drunk, etc.

 

[Erik the Whale]

Cool, thats kind of what I was thinking

 

[willslotforcash]

My local Hollywood Casino, all the dealers tell you to take even money in BJ.

They have it so engrained in the heads of players, that people shout out even money without even thinking twice.

 

[The Rumor]

So I've been reading a lot and have played a lot. 5 times in Vegas plus local casinos. My question is: how much ability does a blackjack or craps dealer have to help or hurt the player other than advise? I ask becaue I'm thinking about upping my tipping to try to win favor. Has anyone had a real experience?

Dealers might be the casino employee with the least ability to do anything for your tips.

That's not to say you shouldn't tip them, but it is to say that a spare $5, $10, $20 can do a lot more at the front desk, at the hostess stand of a restaurant, in the cab line, with the maid who you need to clean up your destroyed room, etc.

 

[waltomeal]

Nobody's going to risk losing a job. But here are three scenarios I see at the craps table when I've been tipping.

#1:
Walt (that's me): Forgets to place the 8 after a come-out roll, like I've been doing all night.
Alex (the dealer): You want me to place that 8 for you Walt?
Walt: [rum-soaked vocalization, vaguely resembling yes].
Alex: $30 eight is a bet. Hands high.

#2:
Walt: I had a $5 come bet out there.
Boxman: [Shrugs shoulders]
Alex: He's been making a come bet every roll.
Boxman: OK, Book it.

#3:
Stickman: Seven, winner. Pay the line, save the odds.
Alex: [leaves come bets and odds up]
Walt: [picks lint off shirt, sips rum, pretends to wave to a friend across the casino]
[dice roll, come bet wins]

#4:
Tiffany (you know who she is): Hey sweetie.
Walt: Idgfr lagrgghhh blafbgree.
Alex: Take off toots. He's with me.

 

[Erik the Whale]

Walt- very well written and I appreciate the humor. Tiffany- your a dirty who#e and I'd rather have bet and lost then give you money you diseased rat. Hahahha
So it seams tipping has worked for some but not all. Maybe I would have to feal out the dealer a little. I'm going to tip anyway its just the question of how much it sways the table for the player.

 

[Erik the Whale]

One time I was tipping a craps dealer and he left my $25 field bet out after a 7 was rolled. I got paid the next roll out. That happened twice but I chalked that up to laying low and thinking he didnt see it. I dont know. Maybe it was the tipping

 

[topcard]

I've certainly noticed an increased level of "courtesy" toward those who tip regularly.
Not outright cheating...just little things.
Stuff like double checking with me when I'm a bit drunk & about to hit my 6-card hard 17...
...like allowing me to press my bet up (or back it down), even after the deal has started on the hand...
...at craps, 'accidentally' leaving my two-way hard-8 up after a 6-2 is rolled...
...at craps again - not taking my hard-ways down when a 7 comes up on the come-out...& I forgot to take them "off" for the come-out.

I don't think this is something you should ever expect or count on - tipping your dealers is just a courteous thing to do from time to time... but it's been my experience that, often (not always), that courtesy is returned.

 

[Verboten72]

Agree with Walt, when you're tipping those scenarios are more likely to happen. I've also experienced several occasions where the dealers maybe 'forget' to take down the two-way hard 6 after the easy-6 hits, etc...stuff like that...

 

[Deppyon240]

I personally have had them overlook a hop bet I made in my favor. I hopped the 1-3 and it came 2-2. They left it up and next roll it came 1-3. They paid me.

 

[La$Vega$]

What everyone else has said +
There are a lot of posts on here regarding tipping. Good service is my #1 prerequisite for tipping.
Dealers have a lot of ability to help you or hurt you. Some are seasoned veterans, others novice newbs.
As far as advice from them goes...I've found that doing your own homework is best. There is good advice and sometimes bad.
Books, internet, apps, casino game lessons, fellow game players, concise message boards to your choice of games.
However, in the heat of the moment and not knowing what to do, if you feel the dealer has been trustworthy....Fire in the hole!
Enjoy!

 

[merlin]

There are dealers who try to help new or poor players with their decisions(basic strategy), however frequently the player is oblivious to it. On the other hand I have seen many dealers encourage players to make mistakes as well(taking even money). Overall though, if you are a knowledgeable player, you could tip them till the cows come home and it's not going to make a bit of difference to your outcome IMO. Very, very few dealers would actively cheat in your favor.

 

[TrewBrew]

I don't know if its was tipping or just a good dealer (probably a combination of both) I was playing 3CP or the local casino and playing the $1 progressive 3 card bonus and one time I did not bet the progressive the dealer was about to deal and then realized i didn't play and asked. I hit a 3 card royal (not the big one) for $500 and $25 envy for the table.

I have also heard dealers give bad advice to players on games. Help that go against basic strategy.

 

[Vegas55]

How about other players helping you ? For example if I'm playing three card poker with a friend can I help him make decisions on his hand ? Are all table games the same as to whether you can assist ?

 

[topcard]

How about other players helping you ? For example if I'm playing three card poker with a friend can I help him make decisions on his hand ? Are all table games the same as to whether you can assist ?

It's been my experience that, so long as you're subtle about it, many places won't care.
It is technically 'against the rules' for players to show their cards to another player... the reasoning for this has to do with probability.

Suppose you have a Q-6-2. That's a normal 'fold' in 3CP.
Now, let's say you looked at your friend's hand and saw that he had A-K-Q straight, or any pair of Aces, Kings or Queens, with an A,K or Q kicker.
The probability of the dealer having a 'qualifier' is significantly lower than it would be if those cards were in play. That might be enough to persuade you to stay in with your hand instead of folding.
(Without that knowledge, there are 11 cards other than your Q that give the dealer a high-card qualifier. 11/49 or 22.45% chance per card. Take 3 aces-thru-queens out, and it's 8/46 or 17.39% per card. That's a 22% reduction in the chance that dealer will have an Ace, King or Queen in their hand.)