Dear
Mark,
Twice in past columns you have stated unequivocally
that casinos do not cheat customers. You also mentioned
the possibility of a rogue dealer affecting my chances
of winning. Could you please give me an example
of something a dishonest dealer could do to change
the odds in the casino’s favor? Billy T.
An example
would be of an unscrupulous dealer who preferential
shuffles. Here a dealer is counting the deck down
(card counting) and is aware of all the cards that
have been dealt. If a lot of high cards have been
previously pitched, meaning the deck is now rich in
small cards, creating an apparent disadvantage for
the player, the rogue dealer keeps dealing. On the
other hand, if many small cards have surfaced, allowing
a positive expectation for the player, the dealer
would shuffle.
By card
counting, the unethical dealer now has total control
over any favorable situation the player might have
had.
Dear Mark,
What is the power structure of the casino pit and
how far did you rise? Also, whose job is it to observe
that no one is cheating? Paul D.
The pecking order
is as follows: dealer, boxman, floorman, pit boss,
games shift manager, casino shift manager and finally
casino manager. My hierarchial assault up the ladder
ceased at the casino shift manager’s position—held
for such a brief period you could time it with a
stopwatch—because I incessantly broke rule
number one of casino advancement. NEVER MAKE SUGGESTIONS!
Besides, I spent an inordinate amount of time in
my gaming career on secret-double probation.
As for cheating, reverse the chain of command. The
casino manager watches the shift manager, who watches
the pit bosses, who watches the floorman, who watches
the dealers—with the eye in the sky (cameras
in the ceiling) watching everybody.
