Do You Ever Loan or Give Money to Others at the Blackjack Table

**Midwest Player** · 10-28-2019, 04:14 PM

I use to do this more in the past than I do now, but I have loaned a couple of people some money. They were not friends, but just rather acquaintances from the casino. I remember I once gave this old guy $30. I didn't even know his name. This was years ago when I was young. After I did it, I kind of regretted doing it since I hardly knew him. He did pay me back. This was back in the day when min bet was $2.

Years later another person asked for a $100 and I loaned it to him. Again not a friend, just a casino acquaintance. I did get paid back, and he did ask for money again several more times which I said "no" to.

I also use to give money if someone didn't have enough for a split or double down especially if it was a good double like a 10 or 11 against a dealer 5 or 6. I would say if you lose you don't owe me anything and if you win just pay me back. I would expect payback right after the hand if they won and if they didn't pay back right away I would call them out on it. I very seldom do this now days. I figure as soon as they lose their money and leave, I will have better playing conditions. At times I do want another player at the table. However, many times I see folks step up and offer money for the double if the player doesn't have enough especially on small bet amounts so I'm not the only one.

One of the last times I offered money was when a player had a good split and a fairly large bet out. I'm not sure what the hand was, but it might have been a pair of Aces against a low card. I don't remember which casino this was at, but I offered splitting the whole win as sometimes one hand loses and one hand wins. Then the pit boss says you can't do that. You can only give him money and then he can just pay you back the money if you win. I said bullshit, I'm not going to risk money without having a chance to get something in return. I didn't give him the money and he couldn't split. I don't remember what happened then.

**21forme** · 10-28-2019, 04:33 PM

Money, no. A degenerate I've never seen before, no. A chip or two for a player at the table, only if I know them. It prevents the game from being slowed down with another buy-in.

I also scavenge good doubles, if they decide not to double or they double for less.

One time, there was a young kid next to me betting way over his head. He had his last $500 out got AA v 6. He said, "I guess I'll just hit it." In that instance, I offered to put up the $500 for the split and made it clear we split the results of the overall hand. That is key - make them understand this isn't a loan, where you just get your chips back, and you don't have 1/2 of the split and he has the other, etc.

**nighterfighter** · 10-28-2019, 07:42 PM

Originally Posted by Midwest Player

One of the last times I offered money was when a player had a good split and a fairly large bet out. I'm not sure what the hand was, but it might have been a pair of Aces against a low card. I don't remember which casino this was at, but I offered splitting the whole win as sometimes one hand loses and one hand wins. Then the pit boss says you can't do that. You can only give him money and then he can just pay you back the money if you win. I said bullshit, I'm not going to risk money without having a chance to get something in return. I didn't give him the money and he couldn't split. I don't remember what happened then.

That right there is the important part. Most casinos really frown upon it, from what I understand, because they can't help you enforce a verbal contract. Technically, as soon as the other player takes the chips from you, they don't have to pay you anything back, at all. Which is why the casinos don't want to get involved in a dispute between two players.

As for the original question:

Yes, I have loaned or given money away at the table. But only to a friend I'm there with, a family member, or someone I'm dating. Never to someone I don't know.

**Meistro123** · 10-28-2019, 09:32 PM

Lending money is definitely something you should never do for obvious reasons. No is a complete sentence. With the right table dynamic I would definitely attempt to get a scavenger double or split from the all in player though.

**tomf23** · 10-29-2019, 01:00 AM

the last place in the world i'm i'm lending anyone money is in the casino.

as mesitro says i'd happily scavenger double but i'm not lending someone money to double.

**JBourne** · 10-29-2019, 10:48 AM

Originally Posted by tomf23

i'd happily scavenger double

This is easier to do outside the US where you can bet on other players' hands.

It's pretty interesting when the "crazy casino dragon lady" next to you wants to bet in your square because she noticed you are good. She also likes to use your side bets when they are empty (assuming you approve). She can never get enough gamble...

**Stealth** · 10-29-2019, 11:29 AM

Originally Posted by Midwest Player

Then the pit boss says you can't do that. You can only give him money and then he can just pay you back the money if you win.

Bullshit is the right answer. Agreeing with a player to give you money in a certain set of circumstances has nothing to do with the casino!

I have done this countless times. I actually seek them out if the player is not going to double. Why not?

**refinery** · 10-29-2019, 04:19 PM

Originally Posted by Stealth

Bullshit is the right answer. Agreeing with a player to give you money in a certain set of circumstances has nothing to do with the casino!

I have done this countless times. I actually seek them out if the player is not going to double. Why not?

There's a place near me that won't let people play other people's side bets, pass money around, etc. They said they had too many fights. I heard from a reliable dealer two guys got into it and flipped a table.

**21forme** · 10-29-2019, 04:43 PM

That's why they stopped backlining at Foxwoods. There were some players betting green, with a backlinter betting black or purple. The seated player would turn around and say, "give my $50 or I'm going to hit my BJ."

**BoSox** · 10-29-2019, 04:47 PM

Originally Posted by refinery

There's a place near me that won't let people play other people's side bets, pass money around, etc.

I have a feeling that we play at some of the same places.

**refinery** · 10-29-2019, 05:41 PM

Originally Posted by BoSox

I have a feeling that we play at some of the same places.

Nah. You're not going to this place. It's a little dive where the booze isn't free but there isn't any sales tax.

**BankerCA** · 10-29-2019, 07:28 PM

Originally Posted by refinery

two guys got into it and flipped a table.

This is something I have always wanted to see in person... Very Strange - I Know...

There was a degenerate gambler that would play to his last dollar. He had an amazing session - was up BIG. I told him one of the smartest things he could do at the moment is flip the table.

There was no way he would walk out under his own power while being ahead. He would have to be escorted out...

For him it would have been massively +EV as it was his local joint. Not sure if it would be a lifetime ban, but definitely would be 86ed for the night.

**Blackjack Newbie** · 10-30-2019, 04:23 AM

It's definitely a tricky situation. I remember a woman saying she was up considerably and a Casino Acquaintance she was chummy with told her she lost all her money in the Casino... She gave her $50 that day. A couple of weeks later, she was short $1 for a Meal and asked the woman for $1.... The woman yelled at her and refused to give her a $1...She gave you $50 and you won't even give her $1
.. Nice. She said she later realized her mistake in yelling at and refusing a dollar to someone who had given her $50 and tried to get chummy with her again but the first woman was put off after seeing the second woman's mean spirited personality.