If you are thinking of going to Vegas soon you’ll probably be wondering if there’s a way to do that beat the system and maximize your wins.
The real answer is “no” – but that doesn’t stop people from sharing their gambling tips across the internet. Sometimes these tips have less to do with winning and more to do with making the most of your experience. For example, there are many guides online on how to do this Collect as many free drinks as possible while gambling.
However, often guides simply warn gamblers what to look out for and how to ensure they are at a winning table. This woman sat down at a losing table and then heard the dealer say a phrase that made her think something else was going on.
What happened at this blackjack table in Las Vegas?
In a video with more than 67,000 views, TikTok user Hannah Sturtevant (@hannahlarkins) says something strange happened while she was gambling at a blackjack table in Las Vegas.
“I was playing blackjack and no one tipped the dealer,” she begins. “I tipped the dealer, and she says loudly, ‘Oh my God. That’s the first tip I’ve gotten from this table.'”
Although Sturtevant describes the situation as “uncomfortable,” she says she understood what was happening.
“Everyone was just losing all the time. So when people lose, they usually don’t tip,” she explains.
Eventually another person came in to replace the original dealer. It was at this point that something strange happened.
“(The original dealer) leans against (the new dealer) and she says, ‘You know what to do,’” the TikToker recalled. “I don’t know what that means, but I thought that was very cool.”
What’s going on here?
Considering how much money is at stake in a casino — and how superstitious some gamblers can be — Sturtevant’s suspicions are understandable.
That said, there is no evidence of foul play in this story alone. In fact, the TikToker’s story feels pretty normal for a casino.
For context: casino dealers generally trading between 40 minutes and an hour in advance take a 20 minute break.
During their working hours, they typically receive tips, known in the industry as “tokes.” For blackjack the Las Vegetarianas Judgement Magazine suggests tipping “a few dollars for every blackjack you get or for winning several hands in a row.” The tips are often higher if you play at a table with a higher limit.
Since dealers often expect tips, it’s not surprising that the dealer was thrilled to receive one, even if her reaction was a bit exaggerated.
Why did the dealer say that?
As for the “You know what to do” message, it’s a bit bizarre at first glance. Yet there is nothing inherently wrong with what the dealer said.
For example, if the new dealer hears about the table’s poor tipping behavior, the dealer can simply tell the new dealer to increase the energy in hopes of getting tips.
It could also just be a casino superstition. If players think the dealer is ‘cold’ (such as no one wins at the table), substituting a new dealer is believed to change the player’s luck, even though the odds remain the same. The dealer may simply hint at this idea or make a joke about it.
Finally, it should be noted that any idea that the casino or dealer is rigging the game can probably be dismissed outright. Although it is technically possible, the casino already has an advantage in blackjack. The Las Vegas Review Journal says that the house edge in 3:2 blackjack is 0.5%, while the house edge in 6:5 blackjack is 2%.
While these numbers may seem small, given enough time, gamblers and money, things can add up quickly. According to data from the Nevada Gaming Control Boardblackjack tables on the Las Vegas Strip average about $2,500 per day.
Users are suspicious
In the comments section, users shared their suspicions about what Sturtevant heard.
“Dealers also realize that if we keep losing, we can’t tip,” one user wrote. “But I tested it myself with 1 deck of cards. You’d be surprised how often I would get 21 as a dealer for myself, even after constant shuffling. They made this game specifically with that realization in mind.”
“They’ve learned how to manipulate the cards,” another explained. “There are odds in everything in life, including cards. If you stick to the odds, the dealer shouldn’t win every hand for a full 30 minutes, and yet it happens.”
That said, others claimed that cheating or foul play was unlikely.
“It could have been new. I don’t know, that’s weird. I was dealing blackjack at Caesars and the camera was watching us so closely, it was actually creepy,” one user said.
“It means the new dealer will pick up the pace and move faster. The more hands they deal, the faster you lose. It’s just math. No tip, no entertainment,” shared a second.
BroBible reached out to Sturtevant via email and a direct message on Instagram.
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