Will My Nephew Dealer Get in Trouble if I Play at His Table?

I have a nephew who wants to go to school to become a Blackjack dealer. If I walked into a casino, would he get into trouble if I sat down at his table? What if someone else was dealing when I began playing and then he was rotated in?

According to our casino sources, dealers are discouraged from dealing to family members and friends during training and at various other times depending on circumstances. But this seems to be an unwritten rule. We're not saying that the rule isn't written down somewhere, but no one we asked cited any written policies about it.

The reason for the rule, etched in concrete or otherwise, is apparent. If a player sits down at a blackjack table where the dealer is a friend or family member, it could lead to ... issues.

First and foremost, the policy is meant to prevent collusion or favoritism or even just the perception of it.

More subtle, this situation might create extra emotion and/or discomfort for both the dealer and the player, making it hard to maintain the professional demeanor required in a casino setting.

Okay, but how would the casino know?

Tells, both blatant and understated.

People who recognize each other give off clues, from sharing personal information to subtle reactions that hint at familiarity. Perhaps the dealer and player lapse into chatting in a way that suggests a personal connection. Other players or even casino staff might notice and raise questions.

Especially in smaller casinos, dealers develop a close-knit community where employees and their families are known to one another. In the case of this question, an uncle could be distant enough not to raise suspicions, though there might be a family resemblance (this writer is a dead ringer for one of his uncles).

Finally, there's always surveillance. If any suspicions are raised, agents can review footage from the pit cameras, where body language and interactions might reveal the familial connection. And there's always the database, which might provide revealing details about the player.

Even though it might not always be immediately obvious, casinos are well-versed in spotting potential conflicts or situations that could harm them in one way or another and they tend to keep a close eye on behavior that may violate their gaming policies.

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Dave Jan-31-2025

FRIENDS AND FAMILY

Usually the dealer would just have to make it known to the floor (or pit boss) that the person or persons are somebody that he knows or is family. With the way the dealers move about from table to table, it is bound to happen especially at local casino's. Unless they have a specific rule, then it usually is not a big deal. If they do have a rule, the floor will usually alter the dealer's table routine instead of making the player get up and leave, when it comes time for the dealer to tap into that table. But normally as long as the floor knows and makes a note of it, it should be okay (the floor will just pay a bit more attention to that table while the dealer is on it). Hope this helps (this coming from a former dealer).

hawks242424 Jan-31-2025

Poker

One of my good friends was a poker dealer at a Casino near Chicago, and he got rotated to me in a tournament.  Everything was above board but it was funny playing with someone I played in my home games

Raymond Jan-31-2025

What Dave Said...

...is exactly what happened with one of my friends, who was a dealer at a local casino near my city.  If I sat down at his blackjack table (infrequent) or cashed in at his craps table (frequent), he'd just let the pit boss or boxman (craps) know, the boss would acknowledge it, and everything was cool.  I would be especially careful in my movements with the chips when he was my dealer, just to be safe.

Now he's changed casinos and is strictly a poker dealer, so we see each other only in passing during my infrequent trips to his current place.

O2bnVegas Jan-31-2025

never thought of it

I became friendly with several blackjack dealers at Bellagio, Wynn also.  No relation, no actual friend or neighbor.  Those certain dealers always acted so glad to see me, like 'old home week' between us.  Often I'd bring bags of home made chocolate peanut clusters for them, no quid pro quo even thought of.  The dealer would call the boss over who would accept the treat bags from me, thanking me and telling all the dealers in that pit to come to the pit desk and get a treat. Many would stop by the table I was playing to thank me. It never occurred to me to worry that this was somehow against casino 'policy'and would attract negative attention.

Candy

David Laurita Jan-31-2025

Dealin is a BLAST

While dealing table games in Black Hawk CO early in this century, I had the pleasure of dealing and teaching 3 card poker to my folks.  OKed with pitbull.  Dad ended up winning several hundred that night.....

Question of the Day - 31 January 2025

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