Las Vegas Dealer Tokes
Every visit to Las Vegas can become an educational experience for gamblers.
Whether you’re trying a new game for the first time, hitting a casino you’ve never been to before, or diving deep into Sin City’s history, you’ll definitely learn something new whenever you’re here.
And one of the most common lessons learned in Las Vegas concerns the various slang terms used by gamblers and casino staff when the games get underway. After nearly nine decades offering an oasis of legalized gambling for all Americans to enjoy, Las Vegas has developed a language all its own.
As a lifelong Las Vegas local, colloquial phrases like this have become embedded in my brain, so much so that I barely notice them any longer. But when I spent some time taking a few pals from out of town on a tour of my favorite gambling halls, I struggled with expressing myself in ways they could easily interpret. For a while there, my buddies even thought I was making a few of the slang terms up on the fly.
We would like to show you a description here but the site won’t allow us. Re: looking for dealers that keep their own tips!! I don't have your answer, but have to tell you about a friend's son. He was dealing on a local casino boat and a high roller wanted to tip him $10,000. He told him he had to put it in the kitty. Farrow’ Team on Doc’s “Eye-Opening” Revisiting of Woody Allen, Mia Farrow Custody Case and Investigations 'There are facts and details and documents and people who are.
That experience made me realize just how much I take my “insider” info for granted living in here. With that in mind, I figured putting together a full glossary of commonly used casino gambling phrases might help visitors feel more comfortable during their next trip to Las Vegas.
86’d (or Eighty-Sixed) – A term used to describe property bans handed out to cheats, excessive drunks, and other undesirable patrons. If you’ve been directed to avoid entering all Caesars Entertainment properties, for example, you’ve just been 86’d.
The origins of this phrase are quite murky, but most people believe that the 86 stems from Sin City’s days as a haven for mobsters, most of whom had no reservations about driving victims 8 miles out into the desert, before burying them 6 feet under the sand.
Action – A term with many meanings, action is typically used to describe any pending wager (i.e. “You placed the chip forward sir, so that bet will be considered action win or lose.”) Gamblers also speak about staying “in action” when referring to getting back in the game. A table game with many people placing large bets is also said to have a lot of action.
Aggregate Limit – Casinos use aggregate limits to put a cap on their liability within any given game or wager. In the case of a 1,000 to 1 bonus jackpot on a game like Let It Ride, for example, the aggregate limit might be set at $100,000. In this case, a player betting $100 on the bonus would win the full share, but if two or more players do so successfully, they’d be forced to split the aggregate limit amount evenly amongst themselves.
All-In – In a poker game with no betting limits, such as No Limit Texas Hold’em, going all-in refers to the act of wagering every chip you have in play.
Ante – The initial bet required to enter a table game like blackjack or baccarat. Alternatively, at the poker table, an ante is any forced bet all players must contribute before the cards can be dealt.
Bankroll – The money a gambler keeps on hand at all times, usually separate from their non-gambling spending money, to use on the tables, machines, or sportsbook.
Bad Beat – Typically used in poker, a bad beat refers to any loss in which the losing player had a higher probability of winning than their opponent. Holding pocket Aces only to lose to an inferior pocket pair like 5-5 would be deemed a bad beat. Similarly, holding a 20 in blackjack only to see the dealer run out five cards to make 21 would be a bad beat.
Beard – When somebody has been 86’d from the casino or sportsbook, they often resort to using a “beard” – or a trusted third party who places bets on their behalf – to stay in the action.
Burn Card – In games like poker or blackjack, the burn card is any card taken from the top of the deck and placed face down before the actual card in play is dealt.
By burning a card before revealing the next one, players and dealers alike ensure that a stacked deck won’t work in the cheater’s favor.
Capping – This term has two meanings, the first of which is simply short for “handicapping,” or the process of picking winners at the sportsbook. Another use for capping involves an act of cheating in which players attempt to “cap” a winning bet with additional chips to increase their payout.
Carpet Joint – Taken from the pre-1950s era when Las Vegas gambling halls had wooden floors sprinkled with sawdust. In 1951, Benny Binion opted to install plush carpet throughout his Horseshoe casino, creating the city’s first carpet joint, in hopes that the luxurious trappings would help to attract high-rollers.
In modern times, a carpet joint typically refers to the ultra-chic 5-star luxury casinos that cater to high-rollers.
Chalk – Whichever side is favored to win a sports bet is often referred to as the chalk.
Check (or Cheque) – As a noun, check or cheque refers to the casino chips used in lieu of cash. As a verb, to check is an action taken at the poker table in which the player declines his option to place the first bet.
Cold Call – At the poker table, cold-calling refers to the act of calling a raise when you haven’t made an initial bet. In other words, when one player in front of you bets, and a second player raises, calling the raise is considered a cold call.
Color Up – Whenever a player or dealer exchanges smaller denomination chips for higher denomination chips of a different color, they’ve colored up. You might slide the dealer a stack of 20 red $5 chips to color up for a single black $100 chip.
Comp – As a noun, a comp is short for “complimentary” and refers to any freebie handed out by the house to reward regular play.
As a verb, to comp is the act of distributing these perks to the player.
Credit – A term used on gaming machines, such as video poker and slot machine games as a substitute for coin denominations. If you slide a $100 bill into a $0.25 video poker machine, you’ll start the game with 400 credits.
Crossfire – A term referring to the small talk made by dealers, either with fellow staff members of players at the table. Often, a dealer mistake will be made in the midst of an intense bout of crossfire which causes them to become distracted.
Croupier – The French word for “dealer,” a croupier is typically found spinning the wheel in the French table game roulette.
Cut Card – In games where a deck of cards, or a shoe containing multiple decks, is used, the dealer uses a special card to cut them after a shuffle. From there, the dealer slides their cut card on the bottom of the deck to prevent players from seeing it when the deck is lifted off the felt.
Dark – As a noun, a dark bet refers to any bet (typically in poker) made before seeing one’s starting hands and/or the community cards. As a verb, dark betting refers to the same action.
Dime – Shorthand for any wager equal to $1,000.
Dirty Stack – Any stack of chips which contains one or more off-colored chips.
Dollar – Shorthand for any wager equal to $100
Double Down – A play used in blackjack, typically on 10 or 11 value starting hands, wherein the player adds a second wager equal to their original wager. From there, the dealer gives the double down player one more card, with winning hands receiving the full 2x payout.
Double Up – Any successful bet which pays out at even money odds to produce a 2x payout. In poker, a player who goes all-in and wins a matching amount from their opponent has doubled up.
In video poker, many machines offer a Double Up side game after winners which allows the player to choose a high card at random in hopes of doubling their initial profit.
Down – Shorthand for the shifts, usually 30 minutes in duration, where a dealer is tasked with running a certain table. If your favorite dealer isn’t at this particular table, waiting a down or two will usually bring them by in short order.
Drop – In casino gambling, the drop refers to any chips collected by the casino after player losses.
Edge – Shorthand for any advantage held during a gambling game. In its most common usage, the house edge refers to the inherent advantage offered to the casino based on a game or wager’s win probability vis a vis its payout. Card counters in blackjack are capable of nullifying the house’s edge, lending themselves a rare player edge in the process.
Even Money – Any payout which is exactly equal to the amount wagered.
Blackjack bets are always paid out at even money, as are the Player bet in blackjack, the “outside” (Red or Black, Odd or Even, Low or High) bets in roulette, and the minimum payable hand in most forms of video poker.
Eye in the Sky – This term refers to the network of overhead security cameras which are trained on the gaming floor at all times. When the floor staff wants to scrutinize a suspected cheater’s playing habits, they’ll call on security staff to use the eye in the sky.
Conclusion
That does it for the A – E segment of my casino gambling glossary, but be sure to check back with the F – M and N – Z pages as well to complete your education. The world of Las Vegas slang can be a bit difficult to wrap your mind around at first glance, but once you’ve studied this three-part glossary, you’ll be betting like a “reg” (that’s clearly short for regular) in no time flat.
The Good
Opportunity
Where else would a company hire a 57-year-old man and provide some degree of benefits…health/medicaland life?
Choice of management style
If dealers carefully select their casino in which to work they have a choice togo for the money or go “low key” where there is no pressure and a lot of job security.
Free meals
Most properties provide at least one meal a day, complimentary. Many have open employeedining rooms where there is no limit on the number of meals that you can partakeof. Most dealer break rooms also provide designer drinking water, soft drinks, coffeeand tea service and many also provide natural fruit drinks. There is usually a TVset in the dealer break rooms for entertainment.
Lots of breaks
Dealer rotation on the gaming tables usually constitutes 6 hours of work in an 8hour day. Table game dealers usually work their game for one hour and then takea break for 20 minutes. Sometimes they even work 40 minutes and break for 20 minutes.
Going home early
Dealers who start on the table games first will often get their break the last 20minutes before the end of their shift. In such cases they are allowed to leave theproperty 20 minutes early without losing salary time.
Flexible days off
Dealers who show up to work but who do not want to work their shift can often signup on an “Early Out” sheet in the pit and if the casino is not busy they are oftenallowed to leave early or do no shift at all. This basically constitutes a day offwithout salary compensation. Naturally, if the casino is busy, they will be expectedto work their shift as scheduled.
Las Vegas Dealer Tokes Ne
On the job training
Most casinos encourage dealers to deal multiple games and will either train themon the job or compensate them for taking classes at a dealer school. Some casinoseven have their own casino dealer schools.
Sick leave, leave for family deaths, and related leaves of absence
Provided good reason, most casinos will provide uncompensated time off for qualifiedpersonal reasons.
Holiday bonuses and overtime pay
Varies from casino to casino, but some are generous. Most casinos pay minimum wageor close to it and the dealers make most of their money from tips. Heavy holidayschedules provide an opportunity to make some real money, though you do have towork for it. During the Christmas to New Year’s rush it is possible that you couldbe booked to work as much as 20 days straight.
Tokes (tips) from customers
Wagers made for the dealers and “Hand-Ins”, money given directly to the dealers,constitute anywhere from 50% to as much as 80% of the dealer’s take-home compensation,depending on the quality of casino and clientele.
Diversity
The ability to mix with players and fellow dealers who have a wide range of racialand sociologic diversity is a plus. We live in an ever-growing international communityand this is certainly true and prevails in the casino world.
The Bad
Inconvenient schedules
Most shifts require that dealers work weekends and Holidays.
Overtime
Dealers are often forced to work overtime or for extensive consecutive days, especiallyduring Holidays.
Must always prove yourself
You must pass audition for your game(s) in most instances to move from one casinoto another, even within the same company.
Delayed benefits
Dealers are usually required to pass a probationary period before being placed onfull time status and usually do not get any benefits until having passed this probationaryperiod.
Benefits not secure
Sometimes you can lose your benefits when moving from one casino to another, evenwithin the same company.
Low vacation pay
Vacation pay is based on minimum wage and sometimes not compensated by the Toke(tip) committee.
Minimal disability compensation
Disability compensation in most instances is minimal due to minimum wage salaryand is not usually compensated by the Toke (tip) committee.
Easy to get fired
Dodge Dealer Las Vegas
Dealers can be fired for smoking, eating or parking in unassigned areas, for tardiness,or for being out of uniform or out of dress code requirements.
Fired on a whim
In “employment-at-will” states you can be terminated without cause.
Micromanagement
You can be “written up” for errors made while dealing your game or for speakingback at any member of management. In most instances a couple of “write ups” withina specific amount of time can constitute reason for dismissal. Dealers are oftenat the mercy of being “written up” by managers who are not assigned to the dealer’sshift schedule.
Difficult supervisors
Dealers are often at the mercy of boxmen, floorpeople and supervisors who have noformal education, no prior corporate experience or training, poor people skillsand who just plain fail to exercise good judgment.
Must defer even to difficult customers
Dealers can be fired for discourtesies shown to customers, even when it is clearthat the customer(s) are clearly in the wrong.
Dealer Tokes Las Vegas
Low job security, depending on the property
When a casino property is sold or destroyed, dealers are often displaced.
The Ugly
Minimum wage salary
Base pay in most instances is MINIMUM WAGE or close to it. Let’s face it. If hotel-casinoshad their way they would not pay their employees ANYTHING AT ALL.
Income isn’t guaranteed
Dealers are at the mercy of the customers’ generosity in order to make their living.
All income taxable
Salary and tokes are both considered taxable income by the IRS. Dealer tips mustbe recorded and documented by the pit Toke Committee and are reflected in detailon the dealer pay receipt.
Toyota Dealers Las Vegas
Second-class citzenship
Many casinos consider table games as a “necessary evil” as the bulk of revenuesare generated from the slot machine and video poker action.
Non-unionized
Dealers, in general, have no voice in protecting their mutual interests as thereis no organizing body with any power or say-so. Union organizing efforts (Las Vegas)in the early 2000’s failed to structure any protection because of casino management’sfight against it and the general inability of the dealers to organize.