A major element of the casino experience is the interaction between players and dealers. Some dealers are exceptionally personable while others would not win a congeniality prize if they were in a one person contest. The rest fall some where in between. The actions of the players can affect a dealer's mood, although, as a professional, the dealer should be courteous, polite and maybe even helpful to the players. However, certain things will set off dealers, who, after all, are just people like you and me.

Looking back on my own experiences there were things players did that I found very irritating. Over indulgence of alcohol coupled with lack of sleep seemed to have a cause and effect relationship with many of these. Here are a few of my personal gripes along with those of some others. Not all of these things bother all dealers. Feel free to guess which are mine and which are not.

Verbal and Physical Abuse

The dealer is the personification of the casino to many people. Some people blame others for their misfortunes and the dealer is a likely target. Good natured kidding by a player can inject a little humor and relieve a tense table session. Less socially acceptable and caustic comments can lead to very serious problems.

Verbal abuse can make some dealers cringe while others just shrug it off. When it comes to the attention of the pit, especially if it is affecting play, the offending player's behavior will be monitored. If warranted that player will be warned, asked to leave or be ejected from the casino. Sometimes the players will complain and the pit will take the requisite action. No one likes to be the target of abuse, especially when one jerk can empty a table of happy, generously tipping players who are there for a good time, not to listen to some idiot talk about the sex life of the dealer's mother. Verbal abuse can lead to physical attacks.

Physical Abuse

Luckily, this rarely happens - but it does happen. Also, it is not always the player who attacks, but sometimes someone with the player who is just watching. I have noticed females doing this more than males.

Tobacco Smoke

Every dealer who works in a casino where smoking is allowed is aware of the health risks but chooses to work there anyway. Smoking, like drinking, seems to go hand in hand with casino gaming. Although smoke is prevalent in most casinos, the air conditioning and circulation systems help to keep the smoke at a reasonable level.

Some irate or childish players blow smoke directly in the dealer's face as a punishment for their losses or because they know there is not much the dealer can do about it. Others do it without thinking, demonstrating their perception of the dealer as some object, rather than a person; either that, or figure, "He works here so he doesn't mind." I have yet to meet the person who does not mind getting smoke blown in his face.

Pipe smoke, especially the sweet aromatic type, is especially annoying. After a while it permeates a dealer's clothing so the dealer can continue to smell it long after the smoker has left.

Tipping

Not tipping when applicable and anything that effects the dealer getting tips.

There is a large group of people who just do not tip. Whether they do not know any better or figure there is no reason to tip dealers, it directly affects the dealer's pay. OK, some people are just like that and it can be a minor irritant.

When a player wins primarily because of the dealer's (allowed) assistance and stiffs the dealer, it will make even the calmest dealer grind his teeth. I watched a craps player keep forgetting to make his odds bets. The dealer at his end of the table reminded him on almost every roll for at least forty-five minutes. The player ended up around $40,000 up. Had it not been for the dealer's gentle reminder, "Did you want odds on that?" he would have won considerably less. The player walked away without even a "Thanks for the help", let alone a nice toke.

Drunks

Some can be very entertaining and some can be a disaster from the dealer's point of view. It is not much fun when some drunk spills his drink all over the table and cards or vomits on the table, on other players. Even worse is when the soused player manages to get the dealer too ...and, of course, all this slows down the game which means less tips.

Poor Hygiene

People who have a noxious odor make dealing a real chore. This also includes people who wear too much cologne or perfume, especially the cheap stuff. I have encountered players with body odor was so bad I was nauseous for hours after they left. Some cultures do not consider regular bathing important. "Cleanliness is next to ..." has been propagated in our American way of life but there are still some who seem to have better things to do than bathe. People who literally stink never seem to be aware of it, or, if they are, they just do not care. This problem is not restricted to players who frequent downtown Las Vegas, off Fremont Street. They are in such high end places as Caesars Palace, the Mirage and even the Bellagio.

I once complained to a pit boss about the sickening aroma emitting from one of the players and was told, SMELLY money from smelly people is just as good as any other money. As long as they aren't driving off the other players we don't care...and if they are betting enough, we don't care if the other players have to gasp for breath and leave. Thanks boss.

The Know-it-all

These people will play at a table and let it be known that they are the only ones who know what is going on. They critique every play at the table and constantly harangue other players about not betting or playing properly and say things like, See, if you did what I told you to do you would have won. Even worse, these self proclaimed experts will try to get the dealer to appear to be on their side with such comments as, "The dealer knows I'm right", or, "You [dealer] know how to play. Tell them [players] I'm right." It is only a short trip from there to the other players thinking the dealer agrees with the loudmouth. This can result in, you guessed it, players leaving and potential tips going with them.

Almost anything that effects the rate of play

The casino expects X amount of hands an hour from the dealer. Less than the QUOTA can be met with anything from nasty looks from the pit to termination. Also, the less play the less tips. Some of the things that cause this problem are players who either do not know what they are doing or just can not make up their mind when it is their turn. Craps players who throw the dice wildly off the table or into the stacks by the boxman. People who spill drinks on the table or other players. Players who seem more interested in having conversations with the other players than they do in playing the game. The list can go on and on.

What ever you do for a living think of all the things that irritate you at work and make your life miserable. It is probably the same things that drive dealers crazy. No one is telling you to tip more, not to drink or smoke or not talk at the tables. I do request that everyone be considerate of others. Without the dealers the casinos would not be much fun.

Good luck.