Why do BJ dealers say "Changing $500...?"

Or whatever the amount is they're handed? Even if it's just $60, they'll say "Changing $60." But I thought the security cameras can only pick up video, not audio. And I can't believe a pit boss, even a few feet away, could hear them with all the noise in a busy casino, especially if more than one dealer happens to be saying something similar at the same time.

Tim

I think, most of the time, the floorman DOES hear, because I've had dealers stop and repeat until they got an acknowledgement from him/her. It's usually just verbal ("OK" or similar), but sometimes they'll stop by and actually look at the buy-in and chips.

I was in the Players Casino in Metropolis IL about a month before it switched over to Harrah's and I wanted to get a $1 chip for my collection, so I hand the dealer a one and tell her what I want and she yells "changing one."

A dealer told me it is for keeping up with the chip count, same reason they want you to color up rather than taking chips from table to table. True or not I don't know.

It seems like some dealers will keep calling and waiting for the acknowledgement, while some move on if not acknowledged after a couple shout outs.

I worked several years in casino surveillance, and call-outs are required procedure at every casino I have ever worked for. They are one of the first things taught to dealers-in-training, and are stressed over and over. It becomes second nature to the dealers. The purpose of call-outs is to inform the supervisor what is going on. Supervisors keep track of all buy-ins and cash-outs (well...they are supposed to) in order to keep a running record of how much the table is up or down and also keep track of individual players. Depending on the casino, and amount of the transaction, dealers are required to wait for verbal approval from the supervisor before pushing the cheques to the player. It is all part of game protection. Everything that happens at a casino game is supposed to be transparent, no matter how small it may seem.

I would guess it also has security implications. The players are handing something to the dealers, though most ask you lay it on the table. The dealer is picking it up and then handing something back to the player. Also as a check on proper amount of chips given out. Once again by saying the value the dealer less likely to make a mistake.

There was some interesting answers here.

Terry

huh. i my dealers ever say is "sorry, you lose"

AT most casinos the dealers may not call anything out if changing under $100.
Anything over $100 needs to be called out, and anything at $500 or over needs a floor person Approval.
Any bet playing at $500 or over the dealer with usually call out checks play to get a floor person attention that they are starting to get serious play on the table and to pay attention to track the play so there are no mistakes. People start to lose jobs at this level if they screw up.

Some (I would guess most) track movement of black checks (or bigger) into and out of the table. That is, when a dealer calls out "2 black out" the pit will mark it down on a tracking sheet. I saw once when a table's chip check didn't match the pit's records. THe pit boss got very hot. The dealer was calling it out, but the pit didn't always hear. The dealer blamed the pit.