CONFESSIONS OF A BLACKJACK DEALER
My top 10 casino peeves
By Al O’Grady
Everyone has frustrations at work. Most people vent to coworkers, friends or family. Fortunately, I have a magazine column where I can occasionally get a few things off my chest.
After years behind the blackjack table, I’ve seen just about everything. Most players are fun, respectful, and understand they’re there to enjoy the game. But there are a few habits that make dealers collectively roll their eyes.
Here are my top 10 blackjack pet peeves.
- “The Game Is Rigged!”
This is gambling. Sometimes you win, and sometimes you lose.
You can play perfect basic strategy and still have a terrible session. That doesn’t mean the game is rigged. Blackjack gives players one of the smallest house edges in the casino— roughly 0.5% when played correctly—but the casino still has the advantage over the long run.
That’s not cheating. It’s probability.
- Ignoring Basic Strategy… Then Thinking You’re a Genius
Basic strategy wasn’t invented on a whim. It’s based on millions of computer simulations and identifies the mathematically correct play for every situation.
Can you make the wrong play and still win the hand? Absolutely.
But doubling down on 12, catching a 9 and winning doesn’t suddenly make you smarter than decades of mathematics. Keep making those long-shot plays, and eventually the odds catch up with you.
- Feeling Entitled to Win
Choosing the correct play doesn’t guarantee the correct outcome.
Doubling down on 11 doesn’t mean you’re owed a 10. If a play wins 70% of the time, it also loses 30% of the time.
That’s how probability works. Leave the entitlement at the door.
- Trying to Out-Math the Dealer
Some players love announcing blackjack payouts before the dealer does, as if it’s a competition.
The truth is, dealers calculate 3-to-2 payouts thousands of times a week.
Standard payouts become second nature:
$50 pays $75.
$60 pays $90.
$150 pays $225.
The fun begins with odd amounts:
$43 pays $64.50.
$53 pays $79.50.
$116.50 pays $175 (rounded up).
When dealers beat the self-appointed math expert to the answer, it’s quietly satisfying.
- Trying to Bend the Rules
Experienced players know the rules—and sometimes they still try to sneak something by. Maybe they play two hands while betting below the required minimum on each. Maybe they try to double down after drawing a third card.
Nice try. Dealers have seen these moves before.
- Acting Like We’re Lifelong Friends
Yes, I wear a name tag.
I don’t mind if you call me by my first name—that’s part of providing good customer service. But there’s a difference between being friendly and acting like we’ve been buddies for 20 years.
Let’s keep it professional.
- Giving Advice While Playing Poorly
Every casino has one.
The player criticizing everyone else’s decisions while making obvious strategy mistakes of their own.
If you’re standing on 16 against a dealer’s 10 while lecturing the table about basic strategy, it may be time for a little self-reflection.
- Buying In with Small Bills
If you’re sitting at a $25 table, buying in with stacks of fives and tens slows everything down.
Hundreds, fifties and twenties make the game move much more smoothly.
- Crumpled-Up Money
This may sound minor, but dealers handle thousands of bills every shift.
Fresh bills aren’t always possible, but money that’s been stuffed into a pocket for weeks can be difficult to count and stack efficiently. A little organization goes a long way.
- Winning Big Without Tipping
This one will always be controversial.
Many blackjack dealers earn 30% to 40% of their income from tips. Nobody is required to tip, but when a player has a fantastic session and doesn’t share even a small portion of that good fortune, it’s disappointing.
Good service deserves recognition, and tips are an important part of how dealers make a living.
Final Thoughts
Every job comes with its frustrations, and dealing blackjack is no different.
Despite this list, most players are enjoyable to deal to, and the vast majority treat dealers with respect. Understanding a few basic rules of etiquette helps make the experience better for everyone at the table.
Good luck at the tables—and if the cards are running your way, don’t forget your dealer. ´
Al O’Grady has been a blackjack dealer for over seven years. He is a freelance writer with an economics degree and is currently pursuing a degree in mathematics.
