Page 8 - Jackpot Magazine South ~ December, 2025

PLAY TO WIN
Santa’s not the only one watching ‘21’ players
“He sees you when you’re sleeping; He knows when you’re awake. He knows when you’ve been bad or good; So be good for goodness’ sake.”
~ Santa Claus Is Comin’ To Town
Some may add to these popular lyrics: “They see you when you’re playing.”
If it is not the “eye-in-the-sky” watching at your favorite casino, it is the dealer, the pit boss and other floor executives doing the watching. After all, when it comes to playing blackjack, there are a number of procedures, codes of conduct and playing strategies that are part of the game. The procedures are essential to ensure the security and integrity of the game. The conduct codes encompass the playing etiquette, and the playing strategies are designed to help players win.
This means there are things you should do and things you shouldn’t do when playing. In a column for Jackpot!, Henry Tamburin, best-selling author and gaming expert, shared some of the dos and don’ts.
And with some of those don’ts, remember they are watching and you don’t want to be the one that slows down play at the table.
• Do not hand money directly to
the dealer. All cash transactions must be visible to the security cameras, so always place your cash on the layout outside of your betting spot, and then tell the dealer what denomination chips you want.
• Do not touch the cards when they are dealt face up. When four or more decks of cards are used, they are dealt face up to each player from a dealing shoe. The reason the cards are dealt face up is two-fold. First, it eliminates the potential for player cheating (by either marking or switching the cards), and
secondly, it speeds
up the game, because
the dealer can quickly
announce the total of
each player’s hand.
There is no reason to touch the cards, so don’t do it.
• Pick up the cards with one hand, not two, in games where the cards are dealt face down.
• Do not remove the cards from the table. Your cards must always be in full view of the dealer and the security cameras. Therefore, you should never, for example, hold them in your lap.
• Purses, wallets, bags and other items should not be on the table. They should be placed on your person or next to you (except ladies’ purses, which should be held inthelap).ItisOKtohaveadrinkonthe table, but use the drink holders provided by the casino to avoid spilling anything on the layout.
• Saying “hit” doesn’t work. That might be OK when you play blackjack with friends back home, but in the casinos, it won’t fly. For security reasons, you must always use hand signals to signify whether
you want to hit or stand.
• Do not touch your chips after you’ve made your bet and the cards are dealt. Your original bet must stay on the layout untouched until it either wins, loses or ties. Once the dealer starts dealing the cards, that’s your cue to not touch your
wager.
• Do not take your bad luck out on the dealer or fellow players. They are not the reason why you are losing or why you haven’t had a true blackjack. Most likely, it’s just a bad run of cards, which happens to all players.
•Ashardasitistostayquiet,donot tell your fellow players how to play their hands. It’s their money and they have the
right to play their hand any way they want to. However, if a fellow player asks you for advice, then it’s OK.
• Be sure to bet double the table minimum if you play two (or more) spots. If it’s a $5 minimum table, most casinos require that you wager $10 on each spot. If you are not sure, ask the dealer.
• Sitting down and making a bet in the middle of a shoe can be a no-no. In some casinos, this is forbidden and there will be a “No Mid-Shoe Entry” sign posted on the table. If you are not sure, ask the dealer.
• Use basic playing strategy. The basic playing strategy is the mathematically correct way to play every hand dealt to you. This playing strategy is readily available in books, on the Internet and on strategy cards.
• Always get rated when you play. If you don’t know how to go about this, get the details at the players club or ask a casino host. It’s the only way you’ll be able to rack up comps, gifts, invites and more.
• Using a progressive betting system doesn’t work. I know, I know, many players use them and swear they work. But trust me, they don’t. Never have, and never will, because your chance of winning the next hand is completely independent of whether or not you won (or lost) the previous hand.
• Remember to tip the dealer. It’s not mandatory to tip a dealer; however, if the dealer has been pleasant and helpful, it’s customary to tip to show your appreciation for a job well done.
If you follow these guidelines, you will find that you will enjoy the game better, play better, and wind up with fewer losses and more wins. And remember, he knows if you’ve been bad or good, so be good... well, you know the rest.
Play To Win Again
The Best of... Series
8 JACKPOT! MAGAZINE • December 2025
THE SOUTH’S LARGEST GUIDE TO GAMING & FUN • www.jackpotmagazine.com