Note: Terms such as "industry, casino, business, etc." used in this publication are meant to be taken in general. Although conditions may vary at different job sites, they are used to describe the casino industry as a whole.

There are those who might argue that these are only my opinions, and that would be true. To them, I apologize for disturbing their slumber. Rest in peace.
 
 

What if someone offered you a minimum wage job that included the chance to make tips, and the assurance that management would try to prevent it? What if they told you that in time you would lose your self worth, (or develop a false sense of it?) Just to sweeten the deal, just suppose they assured you boredom equal only to a life sentence of watching old sit come over and over again. Would this sound like an insane proposal? Wouldn’t the average person take this as an insult to their intelligence? If the obvious answer is yes, then why do so many flock (like sheep) to this business?

The obvious answer is that the casino industry has presented a distorted picture to the American public. Congressional lobbyists and professional advertising agencies have painted a picture that is far from the truth. They say it is an exciting and rewarding occupation and that casino gaming is good for local economies. The truth is that it is no more an occupation than it is a profession, and in the long run, the social costs will spell disaster for local economies. As a matter of fact, the only way that the word occupation is applicable to the casino business is in a military sense. In time of war, an armed force is said to "occupy" an enemy. This means that they are in full control. They determine your fate, and they will surely deny you any rights. You will soon see this connection if you enter the glamorous world of casino dealing. Such a deal!!

The following pages contain a very blunt definition based on my own years of experience and observation. My objective in this writing is to brush away some of the glitter and expose the casino industry for what it really is. I would like to alert my readers of the danger and allow them to sidestep a very well camouflaged trap. If, after reading this booklet, you choose to ignore the warning, you will be no different than those people who have chosen to ignore the warnings about cigarette smoking. All of them will not die of cancer or suffer from emphysema, but none of them will be better off for having smoked. By the same token, casino dealing might not destroy your marriage or your health. You might not turn to drugs or alcohol as a means to relieve the stress. But one thing for sure, you won’t be a better person for having participated because you will have taken on its stench through exposure.

In the interest of proper introduction, I will share some of my background. I was in the business for 21 years. During that time, I worked in every capacity from shill to relief shift manager. I held positions at clubs that were allegedly owned by the mob, and have been employed by the "white mafia" that is otherwise known as corporate management. With respect to that, the "alleged" mob was much more honest with their employees and the general public at large. They didn’t claim that gaming would be good for the economy or that it would do anything for the local community. They didn’t try to hide the fact that they were in business to make as much money as possible. They were crooks, but the difference was that they didn’t pretend not to be.

As for myself, I don’t know when it happened, but somewhere along the way I realized that everyone involved is a victim. Whether it be the degenerate gambler, front line employee, or casino executive. Each has a "need" that the business can, and does exploit.

Have you ever wondered what it must be like to own a casino? Surely the owner reaps rewards, but they too are victims. Yes, the monetary gains are great, but the costs are equal. Imagine for a moment what it must be like to go through life without trust, knowing that your gains come from exploiting humanity, and that the only real tears at your funeral will be coming from the people who are left out of your will.

The casino owner is a person who stopped at "security" on Maslow’s Hierarchy of Need. There can be no "belonging" because there can be no trust, and any sense of "self-actualization" is an illusion. Imagine a conscience so dulled by greed that it feels no pain while this monster consumes its soul.

That said, I have come to one conclusion. The casino industry is like nuclear warfare. To win, is not to participate on any level, and to any degree.
 
 

What is the best way to drive down the price of any commodity? The answer is to mass produce or flood the market. That is what happened in the casino industry. This is one reason why it’s not as good as it used to be, and will continue to get worse. That is not only my opinion. Ask any older dealer. They will say that the money wasn’t bad at one time, but its been sliding downhill for years. I will add, that it hasn’t hit bottom yet.

You might ask, "how did the market get flooded?" The simple answer is to blame the dealer schools. and in that, you would have pinpointed the main contributor. They are the people who advertise an exciting and rewarding career, while at the same time bearing the responsibility for its deterioration. Another factor is what is known as "tribal gaming". This is the back door that gaming used to legalize casinos across the country. Now that there are casinos in almost every state, there are also dealer schools everywhere and they are full to capacity. Their work can only be compared to termite infestation. If you’ve ever seen what that looks like, then you see the comparison.

It only stand to reason, that if you have a field where there are very few qualified people, the salaries will be high. The other side of this scenario is what today's dealer faces. Presently, dealers are a dime a dozen and in hard times it’s even worse. Well hard times are coming. As more and more states allow gaming on Indian reservations, the profits are being spread thinner and thinner. This means that where casino profits were once concentrated in one or two markets, they are now being split more and more ways which means that they are declining. Soon, casinos will be forced to downsize just to stay profitable. This is not good news for the dealers who will surely feel the cuts.

About the dealer schools. They are in business to make money. They need turnover. They must teach as many people as possible in order to collect enough tuition to stay profitable. Some schools have even adopted the practice of helping students to get government grants and VA benefits in order to pay their high costs. These schools always insist that the pupil enroll to learn Craps, Roulette, and Blackjack. This drives up the cost, but what’s the difference, the government is paying. That means that the taxpayers, (probably you), are picking up the tab. The sad truth about this is that most casinos will hire people who only deal one game and then teach the others on the job at no cost.

Are you wondering where all these newly trained dealers are supposed to go after graduation? How can the industry absorb all this new help? Simply put, there aren’t enough jobs to go around. This flooded market provides the perfect climate for management. They have a free hand to terminate at will, or work people part time to avoid paying for insurance benefits. Almost anything goes. This is how "break-ins" find their first job. They capitalize on someone’s misfortune and then are swallowed up into the same vicious cycle. The gaming business is one of constant turnover. There is no job security. Employees are fired for reasons that range from being unlucky for the house to showing a bad attitude. You might ask, "What is a bad attitude?" This term could mean anything. Maybe they asked for a change of shift. It could be that you refuse to sleep with the boss, or simply will not tolerate jokes with sexual overtones and innuendo. In general, a dealer with a bad attitude is probably a person who is being realistic about their situation.

Casino executives are like anyone else. They have good and bad days. The difference is that on a bad day, they can pamper their ego at the expense of an employee. This includes many forms of abuse. For the most part this is illegal, but very hard to prove especially considering that most dealers are not well versed in the law. Casino dealers don’t usually cause problems when terminated because they are ignorant and afraid. The ones who think they have a case against management are referred to Human Resources.

The Human Resources Department gives them a shoulder to cry on, but they are not really an ally. Human Resources is a corporate invention that is designed to avoid lawsuits against management. Simply put, they design disciplinary policies that appear to favor the employee, but in fact do not. The documentation that Human Resources requires of management is the evidence that will be used against the employee if they try to file an unemployment claim or a lawsuit. Pretty clever, huh?

In all fairness, I should mention that not all exec. are Axilla the Hun. There are some good guys, but you will soon discover that they are just a lot smoother when they put the knife in your back. It is obvious that these people are not coming in last, so how could they be nice guys. The watchwords here are, "never trust anybody in the casino".

Does this sound bleak? Well here’s the bright side.. America is a fine country that is always willing to accept refugees from any corner of the world. To most of these poor souls, this represents an escape from poverty and oppression. Their living standards are lower than the average American. They are already used to the short end of the stick. The casino management loves them because they are willing and eager to please. It is very difficult for Americans to compete with people who are just happy to be alive.

There are countless stories of dealers who served their country in the Vietnamese war only to come home and find that casino jobs were now filled by "boat people". This may have added insult to injury, but as the old saying goes; "to the victor goes the spoils". It is important to note here that I am not trying to put the blame on the refugees. They are not the enemy. They are simply people who are trying to provide a better life for their families. However, they are also a destabilizing factor in an already insecure environment.

Where will the next wave of dealers come from? There are several hot spots in the world. The newspapers are filled with them. They will be hungry, uneducated, and humble. Perfect casino employees.

By the way. Did you know that as a casino employee, you will be entitled to a free meal? Yes, the casino provides a room called the EDR for this purpose. The food in the EDR is free and you can eat all you want. This sounds like the proverbial "free lunch", doesn’t it? Well in the casino, there is another restaurant called the Buffet. This is the room where the customers can eat at budget prices. In the Buffet, (called barf-ette by the employees), the food lays out on display so the customers can pick through it and decide what they want. There are no waiters in the buffet, so the customers serve themselves. Sometimes the food sits out so long that no one wants it. Generally, this food is poked, prodded, coughed on, picked out and then put back, and most of it gets eaten.  When it has been on display long enough, it starts to look pretty haggard. At this point, it is packed up and sent to the EDR for the employees and will sometimes sit there for hours units it is all gone. This is where your free meal will come from.

Bon Appetite...
 
 

Have you ever heard the expression that it would take an act of congress to get a pay raise. In the casino business, this is not just a saying. It is reality. Dealers are generally paid minimum wage, and this is only increased by congressional vote.

In the early days of gaming, the low pay was supplemented by daily tip income and that system worked fine. (Did you notice past tense in that sentence?) That’s like saying, gasoline used to cost 25 cents per gallon, a loaf of bread was 20 cents, and $100 was worth $100. Dealers in the past made a living, but then came the IRS, inflation, and recession. These were the big players that caused the demise of casino dealing as a visible means of support. Inflation and stagflation, (this means that your income does not increase to match inflation), have caused most dealers to move to the other side of the tracks.

Overbuilding and tribal gaming are the reason that so many casinos have been forced to make deep cuts in operating costs. The employees have always been a soft spot when it comes to downsizing. At present there are still a few good jobs. Having one of these positions could be prepared to being a rock and roll star. There are hundreds of people who sing in their showers while dreaming of stardom for every one that makes it. The IRS is aware of these high tip earners. It is unfortunate that they think all dealers are in this category. The tax man has targeted casino employees because dealers in the past were notorious for not claiming their tip income. In Nevada, you can’t throw a dead cat without hitting some poor working stiff who was audited and forced to claim bankruptcy. These audits are usually for much more than the person actually made, but how can they prove it?

It seems that the IRS has decided to make dealers in the present pay for the sins of the past. The hardest part to accept is that the very dealers who made the money, and drew the heat, are now much older and have joined management. They are still making pretty good money with no repercussions. They couldn’t care less about the plight of their employees, or anyone else for that matter. They claim that if they were to help the dealers with their tax problems, the IRS would put pressure on the corporation. You can translate this as meaning, "you are on your own". Divided and conquered.

Now for a dose of reality; The average tip earner makes about 6 dollars per hour. If added to the minimum wage, (presently $4.35 p/hr), it comes to about $10.35 per hour. This is, of course, before taxes. There is a certain euphoria in earning tips because they are in the form of cash. Once again, the bottom line is that as inflation spirals upward, the pay does not keep pace. It would be better to be a garbage collector. They have a union, and they get a yearly cost of living adjustment.

This brings us back to the flooded market. Every new face decreases the value of the commodity. How does it feel to know that things are just a little worse now that you are part of the picture. Dive right in!!!
 
 

In the casino, the customer most common complaint is that the dealers are unfriendly. If you check out the action at almost any blackjack table, you will hear people begging the dealer to smile. Why is this? Isn’t this an exciting and rewarding career? If you have read the preceding pages, I’ll bet you have an idea why the dealers aren’t smiling. We have already talked about low pay, the IRS, and a flooded market. There is certainly nothing there to smile about, but there’s more.

What about stress? Did you know that, at one time, Nevada had the highest per capita rate of alcoholism, mental illness, and divorce in the United States? It was no coincidence that Nevada also had all the casino dealers in the country either. With the advent of tribal gaming this is now becoming a national problem. Casino executives and lobbyists did not mention that aspect when they proposed to put gaming in every state. They said it would be good for the economy, that it would generate tax revenue for the states, and that it would create jobs. They "forgot" to mention that the states would need the extra funds to correct social problems that are a natural by product of casino gaming. Readers Digest recently ran a story about the effects of gaming in Minnesota. They said that personal bankruptcies are at an all time high, and that hock shops are springing up all over the state. Family services and psychiatrist are also working overtime. People are under stress.

In recent years, doctors have identified stress as a leading cause of many physical problems. Next to air traffic controllers, there can’t be anything as stressful as casino work. As a matter of fact, the casino has been specially designed to generate it. Notice the flashing lights, loud music, and the over amplified sound of coins dropping. Add to this the lack of job security, and the subtle harassment that must be endured daily. I have already mentioned that casino bosses very often will pamper their ego at the expense of an employee. The following is a true story that happened to a dealer who had just graduated from dealer school and was looking for her first job.

This young woman presented herself in the pit to ask for an audition. This would be her first audition, and after paying the high tuition at the dealer school, she needed the job and was nervous. She approached the bit boss who was talking to another man about his latest sexual exploit, football bets, golf score, or something else of equal importance. At first they ignored her, but finally one of them asked what she wanted. She said that she needed a job, and would like to audition for blackjack dealer. The boss addressed her as an object rather than a person and said, "so tell me honey, do you fool around?" The girl was visibly shaken. She didn’t know what to say. She stuttered, "I... I...", but it didn’t matter. The boss cut her off and said, "beat it, we ain’t hiring no broads who fool around." At this, both men burst into laughter. The girl was in tears. They told her that they were just kidding, and hired her. To their way of thinking, this made everything alright.

.Why do you think she is not smiling while she works? The answer is that she has been robbed of her self esteem. The preceding case is an example in the extreme, but I needed to describe an extreme case to make the point that there is no glamour here. All that the casino offers is a gradual erosion of a persons dignity.

Once they are on the job, a dealer is subject to random drug testing, locker searches, and polygraph tests. Refusal to submit is grounds for termination. You might ask, "what about their constitutional rights?" The answer is that they only have the right to remain silent.

As if that is not enough, there is one more thing that needs to be mentioned. Boredom!!! Here’s an example:

First you shuffle the cards. You let one of the players cut the deck, then you pitch two cards to everyone who has a wager on the table. They either scratch for more cards, or they tuck their hand to indicate they will stand. At this point, the dealer exposes his hand and compares it to each of the players while either taking or paying their bets. With that finished, the dealer picks up all the cards and repeats the whole process over and over again. Doesn’t sound too bad, right? Is that what you’re thinking? Try doing that 80- 120 times per hour for a full shift. Try it for a week or a month. Imagine having to look forward to this for the rest of your life. Get the picture? Have you ever been to an old fashioned zoo? You know--, the kind where the animals are kept in cages, (not habitats). Those animals couldn’t do anything but sit there all day. They were bored. Did the gorillas look happy, or did they look like blackjack dealers?
 
 

William Shakespeare once said, "gambling is the sickness of knaves and barbarians." As a casino dealer, you will meet plenty of both types, (and the customers will be even worse).

In your present job, do you deal with the public? What makes you think it will be different? Well you’re right, it will be different. You see, there are two powerful factors that make the public that the dealer confronts, a totally different animal. They are the combination of alcohol and money, (greed).

This deadly duo has the power to transform otherwise nice people into raving maniacs. When they lose, they blame you. When casino regulations must be enforced, it will be you that plays the heavy.

So here it is, catch 22. If a customer is drinking too much or losing money, they can file a complaint which will get you fired, but if you are too friendly to them, your boss won’t trust you.
 
 

Believe it or not, there was once a time when management preferred to hire dealers who did not claim their tips as income. The reason for this is that the casino, (like any other employer), has to pay half of the employees FICA taxes. So, if a dealer "forgot" to claim any tips, there would be no FICA taxes due on the income. A few years later, when the employee got audited, they were held responsible for the full amount and management got off scott free. Pretty slick, right? As I have previously mentioned, management wasn’t paying much anyway. They were also feeding them poorly, under covering them on medical insurance, and treating them like second class citizens. Wasn’t that bad enough? Apparently not. The casino didn’t want to accept any responsibility, so they encouraged the employees not to claim tips as part of their income.

In 1992, the IRS decided to hold employers responsible for the FICA no matter if the dealer claimed it at the time, or was audited later. The IRS proposed the tip compliance agreement, and management negotiated on behalf of the employees. The truth is, they rolled over. The tip compliance agreement was less than the IRS wanted, but not much. What the Feds wanted was something that resembled the New Jersey Plan. Using that method, the dealers receive tips by check. They are issued through the casino cage. This is the most efficient method of collection. It is more sterile, and requires no

IRS man hours. Under Nevada’s tip compliance plan, management files records with the payroll department that document the employees tip income. This is added to their hourly wage, and the taxes are deducted from the payroll checks that they receive from the employer. Using this method, the dealers rarely receive a paycheck of any substance because their wages are barely enough to cover the withholding on the tip income.

Earlier in this chapter, I mentioned that management rolled over. That’s only one way to describe their actions. What they actually did was run a cattle drive. They poked and prodded the cattle along a pre-determined route that ended at a slaughterhouse. It was a shame that the dealers didn’t have a collective agency to negotiate for them. It’s a shame that they did not have a union. As individuals, they have no bargaining power with either management or the IRS. Of course, it’s not too late. "Desperate times sometimes require desperate actions".

The dealers need to unionize, and the union needs to hire a high powered lawyer to fight the IRS.

It was the Wendell Oakes case in the 9^th district circuit court that determined that tips were taxable income. In short, the court decided that tips were earned for a service that the employee rendered. If this were always the case, that would be true. The first thing that the dealers need to do is admit that they must pay taxes on the tips that they receive for the services that are rendered. They must accept the Wendell Oakes decision, and insist on it’s adherence to the letter

.The only problem here, (for the IRS), is that all tips are not received for services rendered. The court, and Mr. Oakes lawyer did not understand enough about the working of the casino to make this distinction. The dealers need first to get the right lawyer, then give him some inside information on the workings of the business. The case is simple:

1. Determine, by testimony, what service a dealer provides. (Courtesy, tutoring, patience, etc.)

2. Question a member of management. Have him describe what the casino does not pay the dealer to do. This would include      hard hustling. He would call this a dis-service. The law says, "service". Hustling, according to management, is the opposite of      what the law describes as taxable. In other words, tips acquired this way are not taxable under the Wendell Oakes decision.

3 The next thing would be to explain that some of the tip income is derived through winnings. When a player gives the crap        crew a dollar to bet on the eleven, the dollar is the tip. If the bet wins, they get $16, but $15 of that is money that has been won. The dealers are expected to pay taxes on the entire $16, but the player who wins the same amount is not. The IRS does not see this as discriminatory because they say that the dealers are professionals. There is a simple ways to counter this argument. The first is that professional gamblers are allowed to deduct their losses. They need to show receipts, but there are no receipts required to prove that the dealers are losing money because they get $16 on a bet that is 18-1 against them. They lose $2 in tips for every $16 they make in winnings.

4. The last thing that needs to be considered, if dealers are to be considered pro’s, is that dealers sometimes gamble with their   tips after work. Let’s say, for instance, that a dealer finishes his shift and picks up a tip envelope that contains $50. He          decides to invest $20 in a video poker machine, and doesn’t win. In this case, he should only be required to claim $30 for the day. The reason is simple. If he had hit a jackpot, he would be required to pay taxes on it. He has elected to take that chance. If he doesn’t have the right to make that decision, then he didn’t have the right to bet the tips that the customers gave him while he was on shift. (That’s where the original $50 came from). If dealers are professionals, then it is only the money that he takes home that is taxable.

It is all very simple. A lawyer needs to define the different aspects of tipping. Under Wendell Oakes, only a small portion is actually taxable. In the past, the dealers have tried to hire lawyers, but with no organization. These attempts were doomed to fail. Everyone knows, the biggest obstacle is that you can’t get any two dealers to agree on anything. Once again, this points to the obvious solution. Dealers need a union. Collective bargaining is the only way that the average Joe, or Jane, can have enough clout to deal with the large organizations that they are up against. Notice the underlined word in the previous sentence. They are organized!!!
 
 

The obvious question is; why don’t these people form a union? The answer is lack of education and fear. The casinos have used threats of blacklisting and ignorance of the law for years to keep the employees under control. As a manager, I attended many meetings where anti-union strategies were discussed. Imagine the power shift that would occur if the dealers were to unionize. Picture this scene; a pit boss wants to talk to a dealer, but before he can, the shop steward must be called as a witness for the employee. This means the boss can’t threaten, or in any way violate the employees rights without being held accountable. The union would negotiate salary increases, represent dealers in grievance hearings, and generally set guidelines to preserve the dignity of the employee. This is a recipe for managerial nightmares.

In concluding let me say that if you are already a dealer, you have my sympathy. Might I suggest that you learn to do something else. If you are a customer, I hope this booklet has enabled you to see things from a different angle.

In all honesty, I should mention that there are people who are perfectly suited to this business. They are people who have no, or very little ambition. Maybe they are strung out on drugs. Maybe they have no conscience.  Some can’t even spell the word   dealer, they are perfect.

If you are not one of the above, and are thinking about becoming a dealer, I strongly recommend that you reconsider. Until there is a union, the only winners in this business will be the owners and the dealer schools. So if someone asks you to accept an exciting and rewarding career as a casino dealer, first check to see if his fingers are crossed, then take a tax exempt tip from Nancy Reagan and just say no.

                                                                                 I.R. Clerk (or was)

Back to John's Cyber Cave

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Alright, I guess you're the type who insists on entering the lion's mouth.   Well if you insist on self destruction, I suppose the only thing to do is   wish you well and give you the information needed to survive in the "green felt jungle".  The following pages contain all the information you will need to become proficient at dealing craps.  Time on the job will teach you how to eat it.

Every casino has their own version of what they call craps procedures. They are generally good attempts, but always incomplete. The following pages are the result of a think tank in absentia in that the contents represent the procedures from several different casinos compiled into one edition in an effort to cover all the bases (as if that were possible).

The text is in a two part format, and for that reason, it is fairly lengthy. The first part is titled THE GAME RULES. It contains general information for the beginner. The second part is called PIT PROCEDURES. It is geared to the more experienced dealer and encompasses the do's and don'ts that are required to attain good game protection and to refine technique.

An appendix entitled THE DUTIES OF THE BOXMAN has also been included to further develop an appreciation of this position on the craps crew.

To become proficient as a craps dealer, you must have a thorough knowledge of the rules of the game. You must also practice the mechanics which include cutting and handling the "checks", and handling the public.

COME OUT ROLL- The first roll of the dice is called the come out. to arrive at the point, a player will be given a selection of dice, (usually 5 or 6) The shooter will pick out a pair of dice. He throws them to the opposite end of the table. This roll is used to establish the "point".

PASS LINE- The pass line bet pays even money. It wins on 7 or 11 and loses on 2, 3, or 12 on the come out roll. If any other number is thrown, it is the point. If the player rolls the point again before he throws 7, the pass line wins.

DON'T PASS- Sometimes mistakenly referred to as the don't pass bar, it is the opposite of the pass line. It loses if 7 or 11 is thrown on the come out, and wins if 2 or 3 is rolled. If 12 is shot, the don't pass does not win, but the pass line still loses (This is the only exception to their being opposites of one another). The don't pass loses if the point is rolled before 7 and wins if 7 is shot before the point is repeated.

FIELD- A bet for one roll only, the field wins on 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, and 12. If any of these numbers is thrown, the field wins even money except on 2 or 12 which pay either double or triple.

COME- Come bets may be made at any time after a point has been established. They win if 7 or 11 are thrown, and lose if 2, 3, or 12 is shot. Any other number is a point. If your come number is made before 7, you win.

DON'T COME- The reverse of the come bet. It loses on 7 or 11 and wins on 2, or 3, (once again, 12 is "barred")

It wins if 7 is shot before the number that you are "behind".

After a seven out, (which is to say that 7 rolled before the point) the stickman dumps the dice bowl, mixes the dice together, and moves on to the next player who then becomes the new shooter. More will be mentioned about shooter rotation later, but for now suffice to say that the rotation goes clock wise around the table.

Put very simply, when dealing craps, you take the losing bets first, pay the winners, and then place the new bets in their appropriate positions. There are, of course, exceptions to this rule. Some of them are:

a. Place bets are paid after the come and don't come bets have been positioned.

b. On a seven out, the losing bets on the come boxes will not be picked up until after the winning come and don't come bets       have been paid off.

c. Don't come bets will be placed before come bets are paid to avoid past posting.

Normally, you will deal from two or three stacks, depending on the action. Your working stacks will be lined up with the smallest denominations on the outside and the largest chips on the inside. In other words, the largest checks will be stacked closest to the boxman who in general can be trusted more than the players. Use the lines that separate the place bet boxes to determine where to place your stacks, i.e. on second base, no closer to the outside than the line that separates the 5 from the 4 and on third base, no further out than the line that separates the 9 from the 10.

Line bets are paid from the outside toward the proposition layout. On 2nd base, the first bet is paid with the right hand while on 3rd the first bet is paid with the left; thus, the first bet determines what color chip you will use in your right and left hand.

At this point, it might be wise to mention the necessity of making all payoffs in a way that can be clearly seen and understood by the boxman. Never cover up what you are doing. Also, the clarity and openness of your payoffs are not only for the BOXMAN, but also for the benefit of the floorman, surveillance cameras, and even for any gaming agents that may be passing by. So remember, as you deal, you are not only working for the players, but to any other interested party, whether or not their presents is known to you. You may understand what you are doing, but for your own protection, do it in a manner that anyone watching will understand. The importance of this can never be over stressed. Also, while on base, one of the most important things to remember is to repeat every bet that is given to you. Repeat it clearly so that the boxman can hear and understand you. REPEATING A BET IS A VERBAL CONTRACT, AND IS YOUR ONLY PROTECTION IN CASE OF A DISAGREEMENT. IT IS THE ONLY RECEIPT YOU CAN GIVE A MAN FOR HIS MONEY.

Little need be said about field action except to remind you of the previously stated rule; take, pay, place. If the call is in the field, pay it. If the call is out of the field, take it. Remember to use both hands to pay or take the field. Never use one hand as a tripod to lean on no matter how light the action.

Big 6 and 8 is undoubtedly the most exasperation and overlooked bet on the layout for the beginner. A "break in" must check this bet every roll. Eventually this will become second nature.

THE ODDS ON THE PASS LINE: Once a point is established, you can take odds with the dice or lay odds against them. The payoffs are 2 to 1 on the 4 and 10 because there are 6 ways to make 7 (lose) and 3 ways to make 4 or 10 (win). When the point is 5 or 9 the odds are 3 to 2 because there are 6 ways to make 7 and 4 ways to make 5 or 9. With the point of 6 or 8 the odds are 6 to 5 because there are 6 ways to make 7 and 5 ways to make a 6 or 8. To bet the odds, the player puts the amount he wants to wager behind his pass line bet.

On the back or don't pass line, the same odds are in effect but in reverse. A player must lay the odds. Laying 2 to win 1 on the 4 or 10, 3 to win 2 on the 5 or 9, and 6 to win 5 on the 6 and 8. On the don't pass, he can not add to his flat bet after the point has been established. The lay bet is placed beside the flat bet, heeled or bridged.

In regard to odds both on the front and back line, you must always separate the odds from the flat bet to avoid cocked dice. Be sure that the front line odds are far enough from the flat bet to allow a free fall of the dice. This is especially important on the back line bets where the lay (odds) are heeled. You will often hear a BOXMAN say, "give me a little air on that bet". This means he wants you to separate the flat bet from the odds so the dice won't get cocked in between them..  Just do it!

Heeling the lay bet is accomplished by placing the bottom chip or silver flat on the table and then stacking the remainder of the bet on the edge of the flat chip, thus creating a slanted stack.

Again, for emphasis, it should be restated that all payoffs are made totally understandable to the boxman. Many situations not mentioned here will arise in a live game. The important thing is to observe and remember each new incident and how to correctly handle it for future reference. This is called gaining experience.

Very often, a player will walk up to the table, after the shooter has established a point, and make a wager on the pass line. It is the base dealer's duty to inform said player that he is accepting the existing point. If the player does not want to leave the wager, he is allowed to remove it as long as he has not taken action. In other words, he may not remove this bet if he lets it sit through a roll. He has now taken action on the point. The don't pass, once again, is the exact opposite. Once a point has been established, no new bets can be made on the don't pass. It is up to the base dealer to protect the game from players who will intentionally try to bet the don't pass only after the point of 4 and 10 has been established. this is called past posting. It is to the players advantage. It is also cheating.

Come bets are made after a point has been established. Here again, the rule, "take, pay, place" is in effect. The most important concern of the come bet as effects the dealer, is the placing of the bets. The bet must be set on the come number in relation to the players position at the table. Number one player is next to the stickman, and number 8 player is next to the base dealer. When come bets are properly positioned, it facilitates uniformity between the dealers. In other words, the next dealer on the base (your relief), will know who all the bets belong to. When a come bet is made and the dealer is not sure of the ownership, he should ask before positioning it. Guessing can lead to confusion, and praying for the seven out is not practical. Come bets have the same odds as the pass line and are handled in the same manner as line odds with one major difference. While line bets are paid in order towards the center of the table or the proposition layout. Come bets are paid in reverse. Starting with player one (next to stick), and finishing with player 8, (next to base). Very often, a player will not realize that he has received a payoff on a last come bet. Again, common courtesy calls for the dealer to call the players attention to these payoffs.

One variation on the come bet will be the player who likes his odds working on the come out roll. On the come out roll, the odds are automatically off on the come bets. However, when a player wants his odds to work, you place an "on" button on top of the bet. This shows the boxman and surveillance that these bets are working.

Place bets are normally made in units. The standard unit is 5 on the points of 4, 10, 5, and 9. While the standard unit is 6 on the 6 and 8. the reason for this is that the place bet odds on the 4 and 10 are 9 to 5. On the 5 and 9 they are 7 to 5. The odds on the 6 and 8 are 7 to 6. A break in dealer is usually more conscious of the place bets than any other bets on the table and will often make the mistake of paying the place bets before doing his other work. The place bet is the last to be acted on. Place and buy bets are paid simultaneously in the same order and direction as the come bets. The payoff is made in the come area for the benefit of the boxman.

Never throw or slide the payoffs to the players. Make sure that you leave the payoffs in front of the player who owns it. Most players will quickly notify the dealer of their intention to press, partial press, same bet, come down, or come down with odds. If the player doesn't say anything, just make the payoff and leave the bet alone. Never assume that you know what to do with the players money. You are only to act on the players order. In other words, don't play the players money. Place bets are positioned straddling the two close lines on the front and back side of the come boxes. Place bets are off on the come out roll unless the player says he wants them "on". Place bets can be made on one or more numbers. In groups that are referred to as outside, inside and across. With that in mind, it is a good idea to try to memorize the following combinations:

QUARTER GAME

(X marks the point)

Point- (4) (5) (6) (8) (9) (10)

$2.25 inside .75 X .75 .75

$3.00 inside .75 .75 .75 .75

$3.75 across X .75 .75 .75 .75 .75

$4.50 across .75 .75 .75 .75 .75 .75

$4.00 inside 1.25 X 1.50 1.25

$4.25 inside 1.25 1.50 1.50

$5.00 outside 1.25 1.25 1.25 1.25

$5.50 inside X 1.25 1.50 1.50 1.25

$6.50 across 1.25 1.25 1.50 X 1.25 1.25

$6.75 across X 1.25 1.50 1.50 1.25 1.25

$8.00 across 1.25 1.25 1.50 1.50 1.25 1.25

$8.00 inside 2.50 X 3.00 2.50

10.00 outside 2.50 2.50 2.50 2.50

11.00 inside 2.50 3.00 3.00 2.50

11.25 outside 3.75 3.75 3.75

13.50 across X 2.50 3.00 3.00 2.50 2.50

15.00 across 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 X

18.00 across 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00

_________________________________________________________________

DOLLAR GAME

(4) (5) (6) (8) (9) (10)

$9.00 outside X 3.00 3.00 3.00

$9.00 inside X 3.00 3.00 3.00

15.00 across X 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00

17.00 inside X 6.00 6.00 5.00

22.00 inside 5.00 6.00 6.00 5.00

15.00 outside 5.00 5.00 5.00 X

32.00 across 5.00 5.00 6.00 6.00 5.00 5.00

27 00 across 5.00 5.00 6.00 6.00 5.00 X

34.00 inside X 12.00 12.00 10.00

54.00 across 10.00 10.00 12.00 12.00 10.00 X
 
 

IT WOULD BE IMPOSSIBLE TO LIST ALL OF THE COMBINATIONS, BUT THIS WILL GIVE YOU A GOOD START!!

Buy bets differ from place bets in that the player pays 5% vigerish in order to obtain true odds. The buy bet is also differentiated from place or come bets by placing the "buy" button on top of the bet. Buy bets can be taken down at any time; however, when the player asks for this bet to come down, he gets the vigorish back. Buying behind a number differs only in that the 5% is paid on the short end, or what the player stands to win. For example, a player buys behind the 10 for $20 to win $10 and the vigorish is fifty cents. A simple way to figure the vigorish is to take 10% of the payoff and then split it in half.

Besides doing his general work, a base dealer will find that he has other duties to perform. Assisting the stickman whenever possible to keep the pace of the game consistent. When the dice land behind his working stack, he will first call them, then move the stack so the stickman can retrieve them. Do not touch the dice before you call them, and always move the stack so everyone can see them.

Another instance when a base dealer can be of untold assistance to the stickman is when a player bets late or if the stickman does not understand what the player wants. In this case, the base man will be responsible for booking the bet properly. Remember, you are working as a team. Each member is responsible for keeping the game running smoothly.

The most important thing to remember while working the base is to watch your layout at all times. Never "hawk" the dice. Allow the stickman to call them, and let the call trigger your actions. When putting anything in front of the boxman, always state exactly what it is and what action is to be taken on it. Remember, "hell hath no fury like a boxman who is pissed off". You can keep him happy by booking the bets clearly, and in general, telling him everything you are doing. In other words, don't bring in color unless the boxman gives his Ok, etc. etc.

Whenever leaving the base position, turn toward the boxman with palms up showing "clean" hands. Use this same procedure when leaving the stick. It is not necessary to clap your hands or make any exaggerated gestures. Never leave your position unless you are sure you are being relieved. Never leave the stick or base position while the dice are in action. Make sure that the dice are in the center of the table, and that the incoming dealer knows who the shooter is and who the prop bets belong to.

As a dealer, you can not extend credit to the players. Never put up call bets until the boxman gives his approval.

A good dealer, when doing his work correctly, protects all parties concerned. He has to remember that he is dealing for himself, the boxman, surveillance, the casino, and the players without which there would be no need for dealers.

At this point, it is suggested that you memorize the following stick calls. As you become more experienced, you will modify the calls to fit your personality, but for the time being, these will suffice.

Come Out Roll- Before the dice are offered to the shooter, the stickman should say, "Coming out. Craps, Eleven, or any seven. If it is a new shooter, he should say, "New shooter coming out...

After the dice have been rolled, (on the come out), these are the calls:

11: Yo-leven a winner- Take don'ts- Pay the line.

7: 7 winner 7- Comes and props fall- Save odds.

2, 3, 12: 2 craps 2- Line down- Pay don'ts- Double field.

(if call is 3, say single field. 12 triples field).

4 or 10: 4 easy 4- Good in the field- Mark 4- Place 10- Bet the hard 4.

6 or 8: 6 easy 6- No field- Big red- Mark 6- Place 8- Bet the hard way.

5: 5 no field 5- Mark the 5- Place the nine.

9: 9 center field 9- Mark 9- Place 5.

After the point in established, always remind the players and base dealers of the point EVERY ROLL. After the come out roll the calls are:

7: 7 out- Line away- Pay don'ts and last comes.

11: Yo-leven, eleven- good field and come.

2, 3, 12: 2 craps 2 to the come- double field- pay don't come.

6 or 8: 6 easy (hard) 6- No field- Big and red.

5 or 9: 5 no field 5- comes go to 5. 9 center field 9- Comes go to 9.
 
 

PLEASE TAKE NOTE THAT ALL NUMBERS ARE CALLED AND THEN REPEATED.

Always call a winner before announcing the number. This will help the base dealer. If you call a number like 8 before you say winner, the base dealer will have already picked up the field and paid the big 8 before he realizes it's a pass line winner. He will be breaking procedure, but it will be your fault.

If the dice land on 4, 6, 8, or 10, you should always announce whether it was hard or easy.

It is important that when the dice seven out, you say seven out and not seven a loser. The players know that they are losers, and it is considered bad etiquette to remind them.

ADDITIONAL CALLS:

Dice off the table- No roll- Die or dice down.

Dice land in rail- No roll- Die or dice high.

On Boxmans Bank- No roll- Die or dice high.

On top of one another- No roll-

It is impossible for a stickman to book a bet that he does not understand. It is to the houses advantage to book as much proposition action as possible, but if you are given a bet that you don't understand, and the dice are in action, your best defense is to call NO BET.

Say it with authority, but be polite. After the roll, you can explain to the player that you didn't understand what he wanted and for his protection (as well as the house), you had to no bet him. The players will sometimes call the bets in different ways, so it is to your advantage to become familiar with the many different playing styles. A craps-eleven bet, for example, can be bet in so many ways. Sometimes the players will say C and E, Eleven and any, Eleven and craps, Chester and Esther, Clint Eastwood, or anything else that has the letters C and E in them. So you see, it is necessary for you to understand what the player wants, and to place the wager in the correct position on the layout. At the same time, you have to repeat the bet correctly for the boxman, and teach the player how to call out his bets correctly in the future. Sounds like a mouthful, huh?

When a proposition bet wins, the stickman should first take down all the losing bets, tell the base man who and how much to pay, and then book all the new bets. Winning payoffs should be calculated so to leave the player up on the bet. Remember, only the player can alter the bet. Just like a place bet, he either gets the same bet, presses, or takes it down. The choice is his. If he wants the bet to come down, leave it in place and have the base man pay the full amount (before you take it down). Do not hand the player any money while you are on the stick.

At this point, a few word seem in order about making change. The players will often try to hand bills for change to the stickman. DO NOT MAKE CHANGE FROM THE STICK POSITION. This is the base mans job. When the stickman receives a wager where change must be made, he uses the stick to point to the player that is to receive the change from the base man. He calls out the amount loud enough for the boxman to hear where and why the change is being made.

There is much that can only be discovered by actually working on the table. You will notice that one part of the proposition layout that has not been discussed is the hardways. They are fairly simple, and daily contact with them will familiarize you. One important thing that should be mentioned in respect to daily contact is to get as much of this as possible. That is to say, if you are planning on being a good craps dealer, you will not become one unless you put as much time into it as possible. All of the best dealers were at one time players- bar none.

When a player requests his hardway bets "off" on the come out roll, put an off button on the bet to show that he is having no action on this money. When all the players want their hardways off on the come out, you may place the off button on the bisecting lines in the center of the hardway layout.

It is the stickmans obligation to call the dice in a manner that will assist the base dealer. Call 6, big and red when there is action on the big 6. Call down behind to remind the dealer of the don't come bets that have lost, and always mention if the number is in or out of the field. This will make the base dealers job easier, and will keep the game running smoothly.
 
 

THE MOST IMPORTANT RULES FOR THE STICKMAN:

1. Never take your eyes off of the dice.

2. See that the player shows clean hands after he rolls them.

3. Always watch the end to which the dice are being thrown.

About the first rule: When the shooter has selected the dice to be thrown, you must retrieve the remaining dice without ever losing sight of the dice in his hands. Should the players hand go out of sight, below the side of the table or behind his back. Or should the dice be dropped on the floor, you immediately request that the shooter surrender both dice to be checked over by the boxman. At the same time, you will offer him a new set from the bowl. Should the player manage to throw the dice before this can be done, you can either call no roll, or make the call and then return them to the boxman for examination.

Watching the dice in the players hand is like cutting the cards in a poker game--- It is customary among friends, and necessary among thieves. The stickman may never know what his alertness in this respect has discouraged some players from trying to do. A "good" thief will usually case a crew before he tries to make a move. When he observes an alert crew following proper procedure, he will keep right on walking. What he is looking for is a soft spot, not a challenge.

Finally, about the third rule. Of course, the stickmans first duty is to retrieve the dice and make the calls. He is to take a path around the outside of the layout back to the center of the table bringing them to rest in front of the boxman. Always take the dice to the outside of the layout so as not to interfere with the base dealers work or the players making their wagers.

 The stickman has the "right of way", but has no right to disrupt the action on the base. While retrieving the dice it is your responsibility to watch the base dealer making his payoffs. In essence, this makes you the boxman on your own end in that you are obliged to check the payoffs for accuracy.

As mentioned before, the dice should be returned to the center of the table in front of the boxman. They should be slightly parted so that he can see all the sides without actually touching them (he will use the mirrors to do this). He may not check the spots every roll, but it is a good habit to spread them every roll in case.

After the dice have been returned to the center, do not move them until the bets have all been paid. When the base dealer has completed his work, make a quick glance at the other end to be sure that all the work is finished, then give the dice to the shooter. Always try to keep the game moving at a brisk pace, but never to the point where the players can't keep up. As a stickman, you must pace the game so as to never become boring. At times the boxman will give you instructions in this regard, i.e. he may say, "speed them up" or "hold them up" or "move the dice". When this happens, you will modify your pace immediately to his wishes. In other words, dummy up and deal. There are equations known as "keys" that are used to figure out the payoffs. You will find them useful when an unusual bet is made, but for the most part, with time and experience, you will memorize most of the common bets and their payoffs. The following are a few examples of keys that can be used:

Place bets on 4 and 10 (Odds or ratio of 9 to 5)- Multiply 2 times the bet less 10%, i.e. $100 bet. 2 X 100= 200 -10%=180

Place bet on 5 and 9 (Odds or ratio of 7 to 5)- Add 40% of the bet to the bet, i.e. 100 X 40%= 40. Add 40 to 100= 140

Place bets on 6 and 8 (Odds or ratio of 7 to 6)- Divide the bet by 6 and add that to the bet, i.e. 48 divided by 6= 8.

8 plus 48= 56.
 
 

PROPOSITION KEYS

When 3 and 11 pay 15 and down When 3 and 11 pay 16 and down

When 2 and 12 pay 30 and down When 2 and 12 pay 31 and down

11- 1.5 times total bet times 10 1.5 times the bet times 10

plus the original bet

3- 1.5 times the bet times 10 1.5 times the bet times 10

plus the original bet

2,12

split- 14.5 times the bet minus 14.5 times the bet

half the bet
 
 

Craps

Eleven- 11 hits: 7 times the bet 11 hits: 7 times total bet

minus half the bet

Craps: three times bet Craps: three times the bet

Horn- High side: Seven times High side: 7 times the bet

minus half the bet minus a quarter of the bet

Low side: Three times Low side: Three times the bet

minus a quarter of the

bet.

These are by no means the only, or best, keys you will ever find for these bets. They are also far from all the keys you will ever need. They are just a sampling to get you started.

It has been said that it takes at least five years to become a craps dealer. By reading the preceding pages, I'm sure you can see why. As you work from day to day there will be many situations that will arise that you have not seen before. It is important to learn from these new experiences and gain from them as much as possible. Craps is not a game to dabble at, but rather , to become a good craps dealer takes a serious commitment. All good craps dealers should be committed. Craps is the easiest game in the casino... to deal badly.

Not enough can be said about professionalism. You will notice that the casinos with a reputation for employing competent dealers will also have a reputation for having the best players. In other words, the customers are sometimes a direct reflection of the employees. High quality players appreciate being dealt to by gentlemen.

When calling the stick, it is best to avoid "carnival" calls. They are beneath you. The only thing that can be said about these calls , aside from the fact that they are boring, is a mind is a terrible thing to waste. Use your imagination for more productive endeavors. Have you ever heard a stickman say, "who wants hard sex", instead of hard six? Isn't this a clever play on words? Not really!! Stick calls like this are offensive, and at best a sign of poor upbringing. The worst thing about calls that are in poor taste is that they do not represent the casino properly. In short, carnival calls are a dis-service to yourself and the casino.

More will be said on how to conduct yourself in part two of this booklet. For now it is suggested that you familiarize yourself with the game rules. It is in your best interest to memorize the game rules and terminology so thoroughly that you can react rather than spend time thinking about what you have to do. There is only one word that serves as best advice to the beginner.

PRACTICE.
 
 

In order for the casino to make money, there must be players. As an employee, it is your job to increase the body count by providing courteous service. The best way to attract new customers and to insure return business, is to maintain professional, standardized procedures among employees. The following pages are an effort at just such standardizing. The only pre-requisite is a working knowledge of the rules of the game, and a basic understanding of the terms.

THE DUTIES STATED BELOW ARE SUBJECT TO HOUSE POLICY:

1. Provide prompt, courteous, and accurate service at assigned game.

2. Maintain continuous inspection of dice, insuring the security of the game.

3. Exchange customer currency for gaming tokens and in the event that a boxman is not directly on game, deposit cash in drop box.

4. Assist customers in playing, and insure adherence to house policy.

5. Report any safety hazards to assigned supervisor.

6. Conduct self always in a manner that reflects favorably on the club, and encourage others to do so.

7. Handling all misunderstandings with customers in a pleasant yet firm manner.

8. Alert a supervisor if you suspect a customer of taking unfair advantage (cheating).

9. When the table is empty, stay in position. This does not mean stand like a statue, but give the appearance that the table is open for business, and new players are welcome.

10 Do not play the players money. Never reach into the rail.

11 All players will be addressed as sir or ma'am. They are not your buddy, pal, or honey.

12 Never make a player feel that he is unwelcome at your game.

FOR THE SAKE OF CLARITY, THE FOLLOWING "TOKE PROCEDURES HAVE BEEN DEVELOPED AS A GUIDELINE:

1. Dealers bets will get action one time only. No parlaying.

Tokes will be relayed through the box to the stickman.

2. Hustling of tokes, either overtly, or by application, is strictly prohibited and will result in disciplinary action which could i        include termination.

3. Dealers will not make decisions as to how the toke bet will be played. Dealers will bet along with the player unless he specifies differently.

4. When positioning toke bets, they must be separated from the other players wagers to avoid confusion.

5. Deliberate failure to remove a losing toke bet from the layout will be considered dishonesty and is grounds for immediate dismissal of all parties concerned.

6. Under no circumstances may "sleeper bets" be claimed by the dealers. Such money will be considered property of the casino until claimed.

IN ORDER FOR THE DEALERS TO CHANGE POSITIONS WHILE MAINTAINING GAME SECURITY, THERE MUST BE PROCEDURES FOR RELIEVING ONE ANOTHER, AND BREAK TIME BEHAVIOR:

1. A dealer may not be relieved until all work for which he is responsible is completed for the previous roll.

2. Dealer giving relief should take a "courtesy roll". That is to say, he should stand behind the working dealer and observe one roll to ascertain any peculiarities that may be present on this layout.

3. Dealers must supply their relief with any information that is essential to the smooth operation of the game.

A. A stickman must identify the shooter and the owner of any prop bets for his relief. Also tell him who works their hardways on come out

B. Inside dealers must inform their relief of who owns any come bets that have odds working on the come out, and who owns the don't come bets.

4. At no time will the base or stickman, when being relieved, change position while the shooter has the dice in his possession. For that matter, you should never change positions once the dice have left the center of the table. the stickman should also pause momentarily with the dice in the center to allow the boxmans relief to be seated.

5. A dealer who is being relieved should be tapped from the and turn, (while clearing their hands), toward the center of the table and the boxman.

6. A dealer who is on break should go to the designated break area. Do not hang around the pit.

7. Although some houses allow it, a dealer should not drink or gamble while on duty. This is a no win proposition.

8. Don't clap out, or try to give relief, when the game is being filled. A fill is a financial transaction between the cage and the game. For your own protection there should be as many witnesses as possible.

AS A DEALER, YOUR MAIN DUTY IS THE HANDLING OF MONEY AND MAKING PAYOFFS. HERE IS A GENERAL OUTLINE THAT SHOULD HELP YOU TO PERFORM THIS FUNCTION:

1. The base dealer will be responsible for making all change. No exceptions!

2. The amount of the change and any portion of it that is to be wagered must be called out at the time the dealer accepts the currency from the player.

3. Place all currency or foreign gaming tokens in front of the boxman for inspection.

4. All change must be cut out in the come area. Note: Under no circumstances may change be cut out on the come boxes, the field area, or off the layout.

5. Never hand the change directly to the player (hand to hand). Always place it down an the layout beyond the pass line, (on what is called the apron), and let the player pick it up himself.

6. When making change, the proper way to cut out the chips is:

Twenty five cent chips.......run down in fours

One dollar chips.............run down in fives

Five dollar chips............fun down in fives

Twenty five dollar chips.....run down in fours

One hundred dollar chips.....run down in fives

7. Whenever change involves an odd amount, the dealer should observe the previously stated rule and drop the odd amount along side the piles of four or five.

8. Never delay the game to make change.

9. When converting a player from one unit to another, cut the stacks down and leave it cut until the transaction has been completed and the player has received his payoff.

10. Always keep payoffs separate from players original bet.

11. When converting a player, be sure to leave him with enough chips to bet with. Over converting will mean making unnecessary change. This will slow down the game.

12. Do not make prop payoffs until the stickman tells you to. However, cutting the payoff out in advance is allowed. As a matter of fact, it is advisable.

13. Palming of stacks is prohibited at all times.

14. Never toss or slide the chips to the player.

15. Do not cap the bet. Not even one check. When there are many bets in the field or on the big 6 and 8, you may heel the payoff.

16. Don't shuffle or play with the checks, buttons, etc.

17. Don't handle the house money and players money in the same hand.

18. Total and convert only when told to do so by the boxman.

19. When a player wants a color change, call out, "color coming in", and wait for the boxman to acknowledge it before touching it. Never make physical contact with this money until the box or floorman sees it.

20 Don't deal with dirty money.

21. Let the boxman count out all incoming cash for change or bets unless it is obvious, i.e. twenty dollar bill etc.

22. When paying the pass line, field, big 6 and 8 etc, always size into the bet.

23. If there is a disagreement about a payoff amount, refer it to the boxman immediately.

BOOKING THE BETS IS ONE OF THE MORE CRITICAL PHASES OF CRAP DEALING. IF YOU BOOK YOUR BETS PROPERLY, IT WILL ELIMINATE MANY POSSIBLE PROBLEMS. THIS IS HOW TO ACCEPT A WAGER:

1. If you do not hear or understand a bet, or if a player does not state an amount, you say, "NO BET THIS ROLL".

2. Never book a bet unless you are sure what it is. NO EXCEPTIONS.

3. Repeat all bets. Never just say "bet", but rather, you should state the whole bet such as; six dollars on the eight, or twenty six across, etc.

4. Help the stickman with the prop bets, but do not set them up for him. If a player tries to bet when the stickman is serving the dice you must book the bet.

5. Inform the boxman when a player requests his odds off or working during unusual times.

6. Always book your bets loud enough so as to have as many witnesses to the transaction as possible. There is no need to be excessive in this regard, but let the existing background noise govern your volume

NOT EVERYTHING CAN BE PLACED INTO SPECIFIC CATEGORIES. FOR THAT REASON, THIS MISCELLANEOUS SECTION HAS BEEN INCLUDED:
 
 

1. When paying come and don't come bets, the dealer must size into the bet with the outside hand. The dealer must be careful not to obscure or cover the payoff with the inside hand in any way.

2. When making come payoffs, the odds should be called and then the total called. For example, $20 flat and 20 odds on the 10. You would call out, "20 flat, 40 odds, 60 total".

3. If a player wagers less than the table minimum, and the dealer doesn't notice it, pay the amount bet and notify the player of the minimum.

4. If a player bets more than the limit, and the dealer does not notice it, the maximum table limit will apply. If the player wins or loses the bet, it must be counted down and only the table maximum will be paid or taken.

5. Dealers should check any large bets before the roll to make sure that it is not over the limit.

A. If the dealer does not have time to count down the bet, he must call out, "pay or take up to the table limit"

B. Some players are superstitious about the dealer touching their money. If the player objects to your touching his bet, you must call out, "Pay or take up to the table limit".

6. No thumb cutting.

7. Dealers must see that all mixed color bets are place in order. No barber poles.

8. As a courtesy to the customers, the crap table will accept gaming tokens from other casinos, but only with the boxmans approval.

9. The stickman should never use the stick in any manner which could be thought of as threatening. This includes striking the surface of the table, shaking the stick in anyones face, and the like. It is rare, but injuries can result from improper use of the stick. This should be avoided.

10. There are no "stand offs" on the craps game. All losing wagers must be taken down and all winning bets paid according to the prescribed dealing order. This applies to prop and base bets. (Take, pay, place) Exception: Don't pass and don't come bets get a stand off when 12 is their first roll.

11. Craps dealers will never turn their backs from the game while on a dealing position.

12. Conversation between dealers which is not specifically related to the game in progress will not be permitted.

13. Conversations with acquaintances, (who are not playing),

is prohibited on a live game.

14. Dealers must not handle customer or house money unnecessarily, and playing with gaming chips is not permitted.

15. When in a dealing position, on a live game, craps dealers must pay close attention to their respective areas on the layout. Gazing around the casino, or becoming otherwise distracted from the layout is prohibited.

16. Craps dealers must provide protection for the game bankroll and all money on the layout. (and in the rail when possible)

17. Hawking, that is, constantly following the dice and direction they are thrown is prohibited. (see 11 above)

18. Craps dealers should be aware that for many players craps is a difficult game to understand. Therefore, it is to be expected that many customers will have questions about the game. Dealers should handle such questions readily and in a manner that is pleasant. Be aware of the first time player, and realize that they are the next generation, and without them, there will be no need for dealers in the future. In explaining the game, the following rules should be observed.

A. Answers should be concise, though not abrupt.

B. Player should not be made to feel ignorant, or the butt of the joke. Never appear impatient!

C. Do not tell a player how to bet his money. Inform him of the various wagers and what they mean.

D. Do not delay the game while answering the questions.

E. On a very busy game, it may not be feasible to answer a great many; questions. In this case, you should refer the player to the floorman.

19. Do not allow one check place bets on the pass line. There is just too much chance for error with this type bet, and it will only take you a second to bring the money onto the number where the place bets belong.

20. All call bets will be directed to the boxman for approval.

21. When a player requests hi odds or place bets working on the come out, try to set up a verbal agreement with him as to if they will work all of the time or only when he calls them working. (When he calls them is the safest)
 
 

There are several reasons to follow good procedures. The first is, of course, game protection. Whenever the game is being cased by a thief, he will be looking for a soft spot. If good procedures are being followed, that particular game will not be considered as a possible "mark". If you protect your game it will be obvious, and you probably will never see anyone trying to cheat you. Of course, if you don't watch your game, you won't see anyone cheating you either, but that is not what we are striving for, and it is certainly not in the casino's best interest.

One more thing needs to be said about following procedure. It is a courtesy that you pay to your fellow dealers. Follow a prescribed plan of action that will enable him to watch you easily.

You might be wondering why there has been no mention of the automatic buy, multiple presses, and down with odds to name a few examples. You will not see much of this type action in the modern day casino. For the most part, the more technical aspects of the game have gone the way of the dinosaur. What has been presented is the game you will see day in and day out. The intention here has been an attempt to insure that competent crap dealers do not also become extinct. To that end, a certain amount of repetition has been necessary for emphasis.

NOW LET'S REFINE WHAT WE'VE SAID ABOUT THE STICKMAN:

A good stickman is capable of pacing the game. He will correct and assist the dealer on his end, and protect the dice at all times.

It is important that the stickman remember certain rules of courtesy, such as, never intentionally return the dice to the shooter on seven after a point has been established and try to avoid serving them on craps on the come out roll. Many players will like the dice returned on the same number they have just rolled. If it is possible, and within the rules, it is advisable for the stickman to keep the players happy in such small matters.

When asking a player to "hit the end", "down the middle", "keep their hands up" when the dice are rolling, "bet early", etc. You will do this in a manner which gets the message across, yet does not embarrass or create resentment on the part of the customers. When stern action needs to be taken, a stickman will find the boxman ready to assist. The boxman will take over where the stickman leaves off. The stickmans request will then become the boxmans order.

There are many ways to show courtesy while dealing, none of which are costly or time consuming. A dealers only commodity is service, and a crew that combines courtesy and service will not only find their work more pleasant, but will usually find the players showing their appreciation in a monetary way.

It is the responsibility of the stickman to insure that the players throw the dice properly and in accordance with the following procedures:

1. The dice must be rolled so that they will bounce off of the wall at the opposite end from the shooter. (both dice)

2. The dice must be rolled down the table. No lofting, sliding, or spinning the dice.

3. Both dice should roll at least one half the length of the table to be called. (past the boxman- minimum)

4. Players may not set the dice, rub them together in their hands or on the layout, or handle them in any unusual manner prior to throwing. Do not let them pick the dice up in the same hand that they have their money in.

5. In general, if the stickman is skeptical of the legitimacy of the roll, he may stop the dice and call "no roll". However, discretion must be used in such instances.

6. Any necessary corrections must be made with courtesy and tact. In such cases, the boxman, stickman, or any other dealer involved must try to be helpful, not confusing.

7. Should it be necessary to stop the dice, every effort should be made to grab at least one die or hit them with the stick so that the players do not see the actual number that is rolled.

IN GENERAL, THE STICKMAN MUST CALL ALL DICE WHICH HAVE BEEN THROWN PROPERLY. THE FOLLOWING PROCEDURES WILL GOVERN DETERMINATION OF WHETHER A THROW IS A ROLL OR NO ROLL:

1. "Cocked dice" result when a die lands in such a way that is leaning against another object rather than resting flat on the surface of the table. All such dice are to be called according to the natural fall of the die. That is, the way that the die would fall if the object were removed.

2. If one or both dice stop on money that is on the layout, loose currency that has not been dropped, or on the dealers working stack, it is a roll and must be called.

3. No roll will be called under the following circumstances:

A. Dice lands in silver rack or boxmans bankroll.

B. Dice lands in dice bowl.

C. Dice is suspended between two objects not touching layout.

D. One or both dice land in the rail around the table.

E. One or both dice go off of the table.

F. If the shooter deliberately takes them out of the

stickmans sight.

When confronted with any unusual situation involving dice, and there is a no roll called, the stickman must announce the decision quickly and clearly. No hesitance should be shown here as it will inevitably lead to disagreements.

Each person may roll the dice for the length of one hand. at the end of a hand, the chance will be given to the next person going in a clockwise rotation around the table. To qualify to shoot the dice, a player must have a pass or don't pass bet. The following are a few guidelines:

1. If the shooter has a don't pass bet and is reluctant to accept the point, that player will be given the option of either reducing his bet to the table minimum, or take his don't pass bet down entirely and make a pass line bet of at least the table minimum. In any case, the player must have a betting interest to shoot the dice.

2. If the shooter is the only customer at the table, including spectators, he will not be required to make a pass or don't pass bet. If this occurs, there will be no point marked. The player will simply roll the dice winning or losing any "one roll" bet he makes. When a second player, or spectator, comes up to the game, the shooter must make a pass or don't pass bet and the next roll will be considered the come out. His only option here will be to pass the dice.

3. A shooter may pass the dice in the middle of a hand, but in this case the next shooter must assume the existing point.

4. One player may not pass the dice in favor of another unless the other player would in fact be next to shoot in the normal rotation.

5. A player may not change positions on the table in order to secure an extra turn to roll the dice.

6. If a customer has been inadvertently deprived of a chance to roll, and a new hand is in progress, that hand will be finished. After the completion of the hand, the player who was missed will be given the dice. Once that hand is over, the dice will go to the player who would have been next had the dice not needed to be backed up.

THE FOLLOWING IS A MISCELLANEOUS SECTION ON THE STICKMAN:

1. Same dice requested by the shooter only.

2. Watch the dice at all times

3. Dice will be retrieved to the outside of the layout. Never through the base dealers working area.

4. Allow the players only one hand on the dice. NO EXCEPTIONS

5. The stickman is responsible for watching the end where the dice land. He must verify all payoffs, change, placement of bets, and protect the layout.

6. Call the dice loudly and clear enough for the base dealers to hear you.

7. The stickman must repeat all prop bets and place them in position while the dice are in the center of the table.

8. With regard to the prop payoffs; the stickmans end will be paid first. The stickman will call out the payoff, and who it belongs to. He will use the stick to point to the player for the base mans assistance.

9. The oncoming stickman must physically witness who the shooter is. The stickman will also identify the shooter and any questionable bets. (courtesy roll)

10. Never make change for a player from the stick position.

11. Stickman must clear his hands for the box before being relieved or touching his own body.

12. Between rolls the stickman will advertise the different prop bets. Continually mention hard ways.

13. All calls will be in good taste and supply pertinent information appropriate to the roll. (no carnival calls)

14. Stickman must move the pace of the game as fast as is consistent with the ability of the players to put their money into action and the dealers to handle said money.

15. Always tell the shooter if he shooting from the don't side.

16. On a winner seven, announce that all working bets had action and that the base dealers are to return all odds.

17. After a seven out, dump the bowl in front of the boxman before serving them. Don't dump them in front of the shooter if he is within reach, and don't serve them with your hand.

18. Never say the word loser, as in "seven a loser". The players are all too aware that they lose. The proper call is, "seven out".

 19. Remind a player that his prop bets go down so he can replace them. Once again, avoid the word lose, just tell him that they went down.

20. Take down all losing bets before paying the winners. Always calculate the payoff in a way that would leave the player on the same bet unless he requests the be to be taken down.

21. After the come out roll, pause so that the players can make their bets. Mention the prop bet options, but do not badger any one particular player.

22. Do not chew gum or candy while on the game.

23. Never put matches or cigarettes in your top pockets while on the game. (nothing in top pockets, except tokes)

24. Set all losing bets in front of the boxman. (prop bets)

25. Be sure that the dice bowl is resting flush against the mirror.

26. Watch for a high die in the bowl.

27. Do not clean up any losing bets outside of the prop layout. If the dealer misses a bet, for instance the field, simply call attention to it. Do not pick up the last pass line bet for the base dealer.

28. Do not touch the dice with the stick before you call them.

29. Do not let the player pick up the dice with money or chips in their hands.

30. No crossfiring with the base dealer, boxman, or floorman. Conversation to pertain to the present game only.

31. Repeat all bets completely. Never just say "bet".

32. Do not leave the stick position while the game is being filled.
 
 

A boxman who has a thorough understanding of the game could be worth as much as $1000 per day to the casino just in what he catches in mistakes. Not only will the boxman correct mistakes made by the dealers, he will also have to watch the players for improper or suspicious behavior.

Along with these duties, the boxman must also drop the currency, mark the drop, check the dice frequently, hand off stacks of checks to the dealers, and help the dealer clean his layout when it is very busy. In some casinos, the boxman will also help with the credit play, and assist the floorman in who makes up the win/lose records on individual players.

Before a boxman drops any currency, he should be sure that the player has accepted the amount of change given to him. If the money is already dropped, the player could claim he received less than he should have. The currency should be kept in plain view until the player accepts his change. In a case where the player buys in for large amounts of money, the currency should be laid out in rows of five ($100) bills each.

Marking the drop is done with the lammers. A lammer with a 20 on it is used to mark any $20 bills that are dropped, etc. etc. By knowing what the drop is, what the game had in checks at the beginning of the shift, and any fills or credits, a win/lose figure can be determined at any time during the shift.

Anytime one or both of the dice are accidentally thrown off the game, they must be examined by a boxman before they are allowed back in the game. There is no exception to this rule. There are several things a boxman is to look for. Usually the boxman is looking far an identifying mark that is put on the dice by the floorman at the start of the shift. Any identifying mark can be used, but it should be different every day. The boxman is also checking the tops and bottoms. When checking the sides on the dice, a boxman is looking to see if the total of the spots on top corresponds with the total spots on the bottoms and totals seven. The stickman will assist the boxman in this by keeping the dice spread in front of him every roll.

NOTE: It has been noticed that 9 out of 10 casinos use dice that have the two and three pointing to the six. Even a dice cheat has to determine which two dice are his. To facilitate this, he may introduce a set of dice that has the two and three pointing to the one. This will allow him to recognize and remove them at any time.

Some craps tables will have the words NO CALL BETS printed on the layout. This is to protect the casino and dealers from accepting bets from players who have no money. If the player has money in plain sight, it is alright to book a call bet even if the table says no call bets.

In the case of a call bet, the boxman will mark the amount with lammers. This is a legal debt and must be paid by the player. When the player pays his debt, the lammer will be removed from the table and placed in with the drop.

The boxman should be able to keep an accurate count of the individual players buy ins. By knowing how much a player buys in for and knowing what he leaves the game with, it will be easy to determine his win/lose.

On a busy craps game the boxman can help the dealers. He can help the stickman book the prop bets, and hand off stacks of checks to the dealers as they need them.

On all craps tables there is a mirror. The mirror is used by the boxman to catch late bets, past posters, and check the spots on the dice. He can also use the mirrors to check the payoffs that are made by the dealers.

Another duty for the boxman is watching the dice roll. Whenever possible, the boxman should take a quick glance at the dice to be sure the stickman calls them correctly. Sometimes the players will have to be instructed on how to throw the dice properly. Some people throw the dice too hard. Some shooters can't throw the dice to the end of the table. Sometimes you will have to make judgement calls concerning how a shooter rolls the dice.

Aside from mis-spotted dice, the boxman must also be alert to the possibility of loaded dice. There are three primary methods to check for loads. (illegally weighted dice)

1. Visually examine the die by looking through it to see if any irregular object is inside or if any of the spot inlays are thicker than they should be.

2. Balance the die by holding it between the thumb and index finger on two opposite corners. With the die held gently in this manner, rotate it with the index finger or thumb of the other hand. If the die is loaded, it will swing slightly back and forth and always in the same position.

3. Compare the relative weights of the die being checked and another one chosen at random from the dice bowl. The loaded die will normally be significantly heavier.

EDGES:

Check each die to see that all edges are uniform as to style (razor or feather) and that they are not nicked, burred, or irregular in any other way. Be alert to the possibility of irregular feather angles, wirework, and the like.

CORNERS:

Make certain that all corners are uniform and are not nicked or burred.

SHAPES:

Shapes are irregularly compressed dice resulting in certain numbers rolling more often than others. To check for shapes, place two dice on a flat surface and hold them together with the thumb and index finger of one hand. Feel for discrepancies where they meet.

LOGO:

Make sure that the design, color, and position of the casino logo is correct and uniform for all dice sets.

THE PRECEDING PAGES SHOULD BE CONSIDERED GENERAL INFORMATION TO FACILITATE GAME PROTECTION AND PROMOTE THE OVERALL SECURITY OF THE CASINO EQUIPMENT. THE FOLLOWING RULES COVER A BROADER RANGE OF THE BOXMANS FUNCTION, AND SHOULD PROVE VERY HELPFUL TO YOU IN YOUR DAILY ENCOUNTERS ON THE CRAP TABLE.

1. The edges of the dice are sharp, and when thrown too hard could bounce up and hit someone in the eye. This would cause serious injury. If a player throws the dice too hard, you must ask him to slow them down.

2. When the dice are thrown too softly, just ask the payer to roll them all the way to the end. Here is where you may need to make a judgement call. If the shooter is a little grey haired old lady, she may not be able to roll them all the way down. However if the shooter is a big strappin' man, he should be able to throw 4 oz. of plastic 14 feet. If a player, who is able, consistently short rolls the dice, and you have instructed him to hit the wall, inform him that the dealer will pick up one of the dice that does not hit the wall, and it will be no roll. If he persists, you will have to pass him.

3. Be sure that the dice tumble down the table and are not just spinning, (as in the whip shot), with the same number up. Don't allow a shooter to slide the dice.

4. Dice chip easily. This could cause the odds to be altered slightly. When a shooter keeps hitting the mirrors with the dice, you will have to ask him to shoot them down the center. Hitting the mirrors can chip the dice, or break the mirrors which would delay the game.

5. When a shooter consistently knocks over players bets. Ask him to try not to hit them. It is a real hassle to keep setting up those bets, or re-setting the target as some dealers call it. This delays the game. Don't let this happen.

6. A shooter could accidentally burn an edge of one or both dice just by the way he picks them up. Burning an edge is done on the layout. A die is picked up and then pressure is applied from the top while one edge is being rubbed on the layout. This causes the edge to become rounded which could change the odds.

7. The dice will always go to the next shooter in a clockwise direction. However, if one player is accidentally passed, the dice can be backed up. This is only done after the present shooter finishes his hand.

8. The stickman, base dealer, and boxman should all be aware of who the shooter is at all times. It is possible that the wrong person may unknowingly pick up the dice and throw them. This is to be avoided.

9. Some craps players will knowingly move from one position to another on a table in order to roll the dice more often. This player should be informed that he will not be allowed to roll until the dice return to his original position. This will usually put a stop to this.

10 The shooter should never be allowed to rub the two dice together. This will make the edges round, and might allow him to introduce false dice into the game. This player should be told to use just one hand on the dice.

11 Some players will take an unreasonable amount of time before they shoot the dice. Before you run out of patience, ask him to shoot them as soon as the stickman serves them to him.

12 Unfold and spread all currency before dropping it. There are several good reasons for this, the most obvious being to be sure of the bills denomination and authenticity.

13 The boxman will determine the pace of the game.

14 Don't allow the dealers to kill the game by whipping the dice. In some houses, the dealers split their tips on a 24 hour basis. This means that they all get the same amount whether they work hard or stand dead. There is no incentive to keep a game going, so some dealers will intentionally try to discourage new play. The house can't make any money on a dead game so during these times it should be acceptable for the boxman to act as a shill. By shilling the game, he might entice people to play and the dealers won't be so anxious to kill the action because they know that they will not stand dead in any case.

15 As previously stated, there are mirrors on the craps table. the most important function of the mirrors is to allow the boxman to check the spots on the dice without physically touching them. This is done by having the stickman spread the dice in front of the box after every roll. Always insist that the dice are spread every roll so you can see the opposite sides in the mirror. If the dice are spread every roll, it will discourage anyone who happens to be casing the game with the intent of introducing mis-spots. He can not be sure if you are checking them, but one thing for sure is that he will be looking for a game where he is sure that the boxman is not checking the dice.

16 Do not allow a player to switch silver or gaming tokens for currency after having lost a "money plays" bet.

17 Any bet that exceeds the table limit will not be paid or taken. the player only gets action up to the limit.

18 Do not allow the player to loft the dice. Keep the trajectory low.

19 Two players can not play from the same bankroll. If you were to allow this, and their two bets total over the limit, you would be allowing action to exceed the limit.

20 Avoid being mesmerized by the spinning dice phenomenon. If the boxman can be distracted by a dice that stands up on end and spins like a top, it will provide an excellent opportunity for a person to take a shot at the game.

21 Try to learn the names of the regular players. Introduce yourself to them and give them your business card. If you know that they are in the casino, you should look up their credit line in advance.

22 Immediately notify your shift manager if anyone represents himself as a gaming control agent.

23 If anyone requests a marker, get his name and the amount, and notify the floorman immediately.

24 If you must relieve a dealer, (due to illness), notify the floorman so he can cover your position.

25 Never pull the paddle to drop currency while the dice are in action. If the paddle is up while the dice are tumbling, they might get stuck in the drop slot. This would cause a major problem, especially if any large sums are at stake.

26 Every dealer and boxman should be aware of the first time player. Remember that you are dealing with adults, and all of your explanations should be given in a courteous manner. These first time shooters can be especially unpredictable when throwing the dice. Once again, remember to treat them with patience. Generally if you let the player have the benefit of the doubt on the first disagreement, even going so far as to call a dead hand in the interest of preserving good will, you will have done the right thing. Of course, you will have to temper this logic with your own common sense.

27 Don't let the players pass the dice from one hand to the other, and don't let them grind them together in their hands. They must use one hand on the dice at all times.

28 Don't let the player pick up the dice with the same hand that his bankroll is in, and do not let him shoot the dice from this hand.

29 Don't allow a balk (double pump) motion. Just a simple wind up and a pitch is all that is acceptable.

30 Don't allow the shooter to bang the dice hammer style on the layout. This can damage the dice.

31 Be sure that the players do not rest their cocktails on the chip railing. This is an accident waiting to happen, and will delay the game if it spills. The player will usually assure you that he won't spill his drink, and if the casino were smart it would book this as a wager, because one sure bet is that these drinks will always get spilled.

32 Purses and coats are not to be hanging over the railing for obvious reasons. The shelf under is where these items should be stored.

33 The boxman is to settle all arguments, and aside from the floorman, his decision is final. Don't allow the dealers, (no matter how much experience or juice they claim to have), to harass or argue with the players.

34 Be sure that the line bets and their odds are spread far enough apart that the dice can't get caught up between them. Whenever the dice can't come to rest flat on the layout there is a chance of an argument.

35 Keep the house bankroll arranged so that the stacks are tight and there is no place for the dice to get caught between them. If the dice land on top of these stacks, it is no roll, but if the dice get caught between them and are still on the layout, it is a roll, and will most likely cause an argument.

36 You must see and acknowledge "color change" before the dealer touches the money with his hands. Do not allow the dealer to bring in color until you see it first and tell him to bring it in. If you do not see it before he touches it, he could cap the money with chips that he has palmed. Another thing that might happen is that you might not realize it is color and lock it up with the houses bankroll without counting it. this is a bad situation all the way around and can be avoided by following this simple rule.

37 Last, but not least. You should know and enforce all procedures. For the most part, they are just common sense which is one of the only pre-requisites you will need. Always remember that you are the boss. This does not mean you can be a tyrant, but you must maintain order. This is your job. In time, the procedures will become second nature to everyone, and the game will run a lot smoother.

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