NOTE: Real blackjack tables do not have cut-out cupholders. This is a feature I added to my design for home use. If you prefer to build a table that uses the moveable cupholders that slip under the armrest (like you see in Vegas,) pay attention to the italicized notes in these instructions.
A vast and sometimes complicated hierarchy of employees with a variety of titles, responsibilities, and even different styles of dress populates a casino. These workers simultaneously cater to the needs of the guests and the casino owners. No matter who they are, the casino employees all have one goal in common: to provide you with ample opportunities to try your luck against the unevenly-stacked house odds.
Casino employees are usually pleasant, professional, and well-trained individuals (after all, if you’re treated with courtesy and respect, you’re more likely to stay — and spend — longer).
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In the pits: Serving the table players
As you explore the responsibilities of the various casino personnel, it helps to split the casino into two parts:
- The area where slot machines appear in endless rows.
- The area where you play table games, such as blackjack, craps, or roulette.
The casino arranges the tables in pits, similar to wagon trains encircled to protect against an attack. Each pit is designed to be an autonomous, fully functioning business, equipped with a variety of table games and a small community of casino personnel that is always willing to usher your dollar bills into the casino coffers.
Pit bosses
Pit bosses are smartly attired, experienced professionals who are responsible for all the gaming operations in their assigned pits. As the name implies, pit bosses supervise floorpersons, dealers, and the gamers within their pit. Theirs is a very detail-oriented job, requiring not only intimate knowledge of all aspects of the games but also the ability to keep track of thousands of dollars flowing through their spheres of influence. In the event of a serious dispute, the pit boss is the one who steps in to settle matters.
Among other tasks, pit bosses monitor credit markers, or the amount of credit extended to you, and they dispense comps, such as free meals or shows, doled out according to an elaborate formula based on the number of hours you play and the amount of money you wager.
Winning or losing vast sums of money often ignites supercharged emotions. Another responsibility of the pit boss is to make sure those emotions don’t explode into conflict. The pit boss is there to congratulate as well as to calm, to soothe as well as to strong-arm. The pit boss’s job is part security staff, part supervisor, part gambling expert, and part public relations manager.
Floorpersons
Reporting to each pit boss are several other suits known as floorpersons. The main difference from pit bosses is that floorpersons are in charge of only a couple of tables in the pit and report directly to the pit boss. They dress and act like the pit boss, and you typically can’t distinguish between the two without asking. Both of them make sure that proper casino procedure is followed.
Dealers
Dealers have their fingers on the pulse of the casino — figuratively and literally. Theirs is a high-pressure job with a demanding audience. Overseeing several players at a table, dealers must be confident in their gambling knowledge. They must know who wins, who loses, and how much to pay out on each hand. Many gamers mistakenly believe that dealers simply shuffle and deal cards, but dealers must also handle dice, chips, and money — accurately and quickly.
Dealers have a wide range of personalities. Some are polite and ebullient, others efficient and brusque. Although finding a compatible dealer doesn’t change the cards or the size of your winnings, it can make your gaming experience more enjoyable. When you find one you like, sit down, but remember the dealer has no control over the outcome. Most dealers prefer that you win because they make their money primarily from tips.
Slot employees: The reel dealers
The average American casino makes nearly two-thirds of its profits from its various slot machines. Therefore, casinos are diligent when it comes to maintaining and stocking them for long-term play.
Slot attendants
The person you’re most likely to deal with if you have a problem or question about your machine is a slot attendant. Slot machine attendants are on constant vigil, ever watchful for the next jackpot or flashing light requesting service. They’re usually wearing a uniform and sometimes push carts with oodles of money so they can give change to bettors in need. The attendants are the perfect people to ask if you’re not sure how to play a particular machine; they know every bell, cherry, and bar like the back of their hand.
Slot supervisors
The slot supervisor rules the realm of the slot machines, managing employees and overseeing the maintenance and upkeep of the machines. The slot supervisor generally has several slot attendants as direct reports. For casual gamblers, slot supervisors normally play a part in your life only if you hit a jackpot that can’t be paid out in coins.
Management: Running the tables
A host of other casino personnel contribute to the success of the house.
Casino hosts
Modern casino hosts best resemble a successful hotel concierge: They’re at your service. A typical casino host is an affable and professional employee whose mission is to serve your every need. Hosts are hands-on people who greet VIP guests at the door and pamper them throughout their stay. Depending on the size and popularity of the casino and the thickness of your wallet, a casino host may
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- Comp your rooms
- Arrange for greens fees at the golf course
- Get tickets to sold-out shows
- Give away free meals
If it’s your first time in a casino, don’t expect to have the keys to the Rain Man suite at Caesar’s Palace handed to you. But even low rollers can make a relationship with the casino host profitable:
- Join the club: The casino host expects you to be a casino loyalty club member before you’re offered many comps.
- Express yourself: Don’t wait for the host to find you in the penny slots area; go introduce yourself to the host.
- Be loyal: Find your favorite gambling locale and stick to it. Even small-scale visits can make you a valuable customer if they’re repeated regularly.
- Just ask: The players who get comps are the ones who ask the casino host. Don’t be rude or demanding, just ask politely and see what benefits you qualify for.
Other managers
As in other walks of life, every casino employee has to report to somebody, and those somebodies are the shift managers, who are responsible for their areas of casino expertise (such as slots or table games) during a particular shift. The only position above the shift manager is the casino manager. The only time you may ever interact with the manager is if you win enough money to buy the casino.
Whether you play blackjack in a live casino or online, a blackjack table is pretty much designed the same way. Almost everything about the way a blackjack table is designed serves a purpose in the game. We’re going to take a look at the blackjack table and break down the different elements to help you understand how the table itself is an important part of the game.
First, let’s examine a few various parts of the table:
Chip Rack—This is where chips used in the game are kept. When a player buys in to the game he is given chips from the rack. When a player wins a hand he is paid from the rack. When a player loses a hand his chips are taken and returned to the rack. Whenever a table is not in use the chip rack is kept covered and locked. The dealer stands right behind the chip rack during play.
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Currency Slot—Cash is rarely used in a live blackjack game. Players use chips to buy cash. When the player gives the dealer money to buy chips, the dealer then places the money in the currency slot.
Shoe—The shoe is where the cards used in the game, anywhere from four to eight decks, are held and dealt from. The rear of the shoe holds the cards and the front of the shoe is lightly sloped to allow a dealer to slide out one card at a time. A yellow card is used to indicate the point in the show when the dealer must reshuffle the cards.
Betting Circles—The squares in front of each player seat are called betting circles. This is the area where a player places their bet and also the area where their cards are dealt. In a multi-deck blackjack game it is not permitted for the player to touch the cards or their bet once it has been placed in the betting circle. You will notice in the picture we have provided that there are five betting circles, meaning that the table can accommodate five players. Some blackjack tables can accommodate as many as seven players.
First Base—The seat at the blackjack table known as First Base is the seat to the immediate left of the dealer. This player always receives his/her cards first and is always the first to act on their hand. First Base is a great seat for a card counter because they have more time to see all the cards that come out after their own. This can be a huge advantage in maintaining an accurate count.
Third Base—The seat to the immediate right of the dealer is referred to as Third Base. The player in this seat is always the last to receive cards and the last to act on their hand. As such, it is a very strategic position. It is always preferable to have an experienced blackjack player in the Third Base seat because their actions can often affect the outcome of play. An inexperienced player sitting in Third Base may hit his hand when everyone else has stood and take a card that would have caused the dealer to bust.
Parts Of A Blackjack Table
How Many Players Can Sit at a Blackjack Table?
If you are playing online then you will likely be the only player at the table, but the table will look the same. You can even play more than one betting circle if you choose to do so. You can also do this in a live casino if the table is not full. In most live casinos the blackjack table can seat seven players, but some larger casinos have tables that seat nine players!
What Does the Writing on the Blackjack Table Mean?
A player will usually see three things written on the felt of the blackjack table:
Blackjack Pays 3-2. This is to remind players that a blackjack is paid off at higher odds than a total of 21 or any other winning hand. To qualify, a player must be dealt an Ace and a Ten (10, J, Q, K) with their original two cards. Making 21 by taking a hit does not qualify as a blackjack.
Dealer must stand on 17, and draw to 16. This writing will tell you the rules set by the casino for the dealer. Some casinos require the dealer to hit a “soft”17, so always pay attention to this writing on a blackjack table.
Portable Blackjack Table
Insurance Pays 2-1. This writing is usually enclosed in an arc that sits in front of the betting circles. If a player wishes to take insurance when the dealer shows an Ace, they slide their insurance bet into the arc.
Blackjack Table Tops
Some other writing you may see on a blackjack table. You may also encounter words such as Surrender or even betting boxes that are labeled Royal Match or some other side bet. Always pay attention to the writing on the blackjack table. It is presented in accordance with state regulations that require the casino to be transparent about the rules of the game. Also, you will typically find a small placard that will tell you the table limit.
Blackjack Table Games
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