Handling dealer "error?"

**bec88** · 02-29-2016, 05:36 PM

This past weekend i encountered a strange issue playing blackjack. Me and my wife were at our regular store playing as usual. We were both at the same table and we frequent this place enough the dealers and pit know us by name and we chat with them on occasion when its slow or we like to chit chat while playing, so we know them fairly personally just from playing with them at the casino.

Back the story. we were playing at a 5$ shoe game, count was negative so i was betting 5$ min. I had a 17 and dealer flipped a 17 for a push. The dealer payed my push and I noticed it, after she scooped the cards up into the discard rack, i mentioned "I pushed" and pointed at the money, she sort of looked at me and i repeated that i had pushed and she proceeded to fling the chip across the felt closer to me with her fingers and gave me a look. I was sort of shocked as i am fairly certain she heard me loud and clear... I am not sure if she was just too lazy to call the floor over and deal with it or what... After she looked at me i was sort of shocked so just kept quiet about kept playing as normal... nobody else, not even my wife right next to me realized what happened. I did not like it or feel comfortable about it. I generally tip a few bucks here and there depending on how the game is going but when she left i didnt want the 5$ she flinged at me so i tipped it back to her. In hindsight i think that looks worse, but i wasnt sure how to handle the situation. I think maybe i could have left the chip on the seat or "accidentally" dropped it on the floor just to get it out of my possession. Not sure if i could get in trouble in a situation like this, would i just play dumb like i didnt know what happened if confronted?? I understand honest errors happen and i have seen them but this was intentional.... I can believe she might have honestly paid my 17 in error but the flinging it to me after i pointed it out was deliberate Not sure if i should have kept bringing it up until it was fixed or just let it be and continue on like I did.

What should i have done/ how would handle this situation? It was just a single red chip but i need some insight on how to handle this sort of situation again if it comes up again or with even more money in the mix.

**Freightman** · 02-29-2016, 05:43 PM

Do nothing, for a couple of reasons. Granted, it's only $5, your initial attempt at honesty is admirable. It is not your responsibility to correc the dealer. The dealer may have pushed it back as some stores will punish their dealers for overpayments. In fact, I know 1 store that hands their dealers a 1 week suspension.

RS · 02-29-2016, 05:57 PM

Just take the $5. More money for you, less hassle for the dealer, everyone's a winner. If confronted, play dumb at the start and if they keep pushing it then fork it over.

**ZeeBabar** · 02-29-2016, 08:08 PM

Dealer was trying to avoid trouble for her mistake. I just leave the money there a bit longer and if it's not picked up, I just bet the $10 on my next hand.

**Three** · 02-29-2016, 09:25 PM

Whatever you do be prepared to pay it back when approached by a suit later. It is actually a good test to see if the eye is watching. If they are the phone will ring and a suit will approach you and you must pay the overpay back in most jurisdictions. If you refuse you may never be allowed back. It is best to do nothing unless the Floor is watching. Then correct the error rather than letting the Floor step in after testing your honesty. You won't get the money anyway.

I once saw a dealer ask the floor for help on a side bet payoff that should have paid $375. The dealer was trying to pay the lady $425. the Floor worked it out on a calculator and instructed the dealer to pay the lady about $750. I just sat there thinking maybe I should start playing the sucker side bet. LoL
I knew the dealer was using the pay table for the wrong game but I am not sure what the Floor was thinking. Maybe a totally different side bet. Plus she used a calculator twice to double check after the dealer said are you sure. Then the dealer paid the lady $750.

**Three** · 02-29-2016, 09:31 PM

I have seen dealers that would misplay side bets based on bet size. One would pay the top payout on a pink chip the same as a red chip. She did it for this one lady her entire shift. The relief dealer would pay her right and then the regular dealer would pay her twice what she was due each time she hit the top payoff. She was hitting it more frequently than expected anyway. I always wonder if I should take advantage of situations like this but I figure I make plenty without doing anything to upset the apple cart.

**paymypush** · 03-01-2016, 07:02 AM

You've gotten good advice but there's something that you touched upon that bears repeating. Do not tip right after a mistake in your favor. Your instincts are correct. It doesn't look good. But it's only $5. Yes, the same $5 that they won't hesitate to ask back from you. It's usually not about the amount.

Tipping after a dealer mistake could look like collusion, something that you want to avoid at all cost. I've left tables because of it, whether it was to my benefit or another player's.

**bec88** · 03-01-2016, 08:01 AM

Yeah I can understand that. It wasn't tipped directly after if that helps make it no look so bad. It was about 10 or 15 mins after when the dealer was relieved. I do tip at least a few bucks and have tipped 5 dollars from time to time depending on situation so it wasn't anything really out of the ordinary for me to tip. I have learned a lot from this experience and the feedback received here.