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Meet the Blackjack Dealer

The people who deal the game of Blackjack can be classified into three general groups. The great majority is just working stiffs who deal for a living because it pays them more than they would earn at any other occupation, and it's a way in which they are satisfied to work. Depending upon their seniority and experience, dealers are paid from $24 to $50 per shift, plus their share of the tokes (tips). Depending upon the club and shift tokes average from $10 to over $100 per dealer, per shift. All tokes are split between all the dealers on the shift.

The second class of dealers is those poor fools who are compulsive gamblers. They stay close to the games because they can't get gambling out of their blood. All are usually losers who can't resist some kind of idiotic, progressive gambling technique; typically one that they think they originated themselves, which plunges them into constant and continuous ruin. Dealing affords them the opportunity to be close to other gamblers and close to another game. As soon as they get their paychecks or share of the tokes, they head for a Blackjack table. It is not uncommon to see them playing in their own club immediately after they go off shift.

The third class of dealers may be referred to as "house dealers." These are the ones bucking for points with the pit bosses or management. They may throw (that is, deal) the cards at a player in anger, or insult the players (particularly the winners), in order to make the players feel uncomfortable. However, if they knew better, they would try to make the player comfortable as he lost. This type of dealer hopes to rise in the ranks, but seldom does, because he is the exact opposite of what the pit boss should be. Often this type will try to deal extra fast to demonstrate his proficiency. Sometimes he will deal seconds, letting the pit boss know, just to show how "good" he is. This could mistakenly be the first step in losing his job, for a cheater can cheat the house, too, and, who has a bigger bankroll than the house?

Many dealers first learn the fundamentals at one of the schools set up to teach the subject. There is usually one going on at all times in the Las Vegas or Reno areas. The course costs approximately $250. Ordinarily, these schools are run by individuals who are not associated with any particular casino.

A dealer's first job is as a "break-in" for $12 a day plus tokes. The better jobs, shifts, tables generally go to the so-called "top dealers." These are the ones who have influence with the overseers. They may not be any better or worse than other dealers, but they have established themselves with the upper echelons.

All the dealers must have a police or sheriff's card to work. They are fingerprinted and photographed, and these data are run through an FBI check. This FBI check doesn't guarantee that undesirables will clear, but it helps keep out known criminals.

About 50% of the dealers want you to win, and 50% want you to lose. Their motives are either to make the player feel better (hoping to get tokes), or to make the pit bosses believe they are dealing "for the house."

The intelligent dealer rationalizes the fact that he has taken your money. He comes to the conclusion that you are out for a good time and can afford to lose. Most dealers think that the player has come to lose, believing that what the player wants is confirmation that things are "out of his hands," that he (the player) is not responsible for his own failures.

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