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Many blackjack players crave behind the scenes information. The best sources of this information are most often employees of the casino. In recent years, a Las Vegas blackjack dealer made some waves on the social media site Reddit when he decided to talk about his job in what Reddit calls an AMA session. AMA stands for Ask Me Anything, and Reddit users happily obliged. What the blackjack dealer revealed was somewhat telling.
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The dealer did concede that casinos use subtle methods of increasing their advantage. These can include the introduction of side bets which are very unfavorable for the player. Otherwise the game is straightforward and fair. Some Reddit users scoffed at this and asked why the dealer always seemed to make a 20 when hitting a 12 while the player always busts. The dealer had a great response to this. He stated that blackjack players are more likely to remember their crushing losses than they are their big wins.
At Counting Edge we would agree with this assessment.
Most Blackjack Dealers Are Rooting For Players to Win
There is a great scene in Vegas Vacation where Clark Griswold is menaced by a hateful blackjack dealer. The scene reaches its peak with the blackjack dealer telling Griswold he should just hand over his money and let the dealer kick him in the testicles! While this scene is funny, it does not accurately represent most dealers. Dealers are people, too.
Some of them even like to play blackjack at other casinos when they are off work. When you crush the casino you might be giving them the hope that they can do the same thing when they have a chance to play. Another reason dealers like players to win is that winning players are likely to give them better tips. The losing blackjack player tips good—said no blackjack dealer ever. Dealers and other casino workers all make a significant part of their living from tips. The more players win, the more the dealer makes.
Period. Finally, the dealer has no personal stake in you losing. They do not receive a bonus from the casino if you lose your shirt. Their paycheck is exactly the same.
Blackjack Dealers Don’t Usually Catch Cheats
The occurrences of players attempting to cheat at live blackjack are rare, the blackjack dealer stated in his Reddit AMA. In all his time dealing the game, he only dealt with one cheater. The thing is, the dealer did not spot the cheater in action because his cheating was effortless. It had obviously been perfected over many blackjack sessions. The Las Vegas blackjack dealer said that it is casino surveillance which usually spots the cheater, not the dealer. The Eye in the Sky is everywhere in the casino.
It cannot be avoided. You will be caught if you cheat. It’s just a matter of time.
What one AMA can and cannot tell you
Editor’s note: Forum threads age quickly. Treat the Reddit session as anecdotal color, not regulatory proof. Policies on comps, side bets, and surveillance vary by casino chain and jurisdiction.
A single dealer’s experience still lines up with what we emphasize elsewhere: the house edge is already priced in, so “rigging” individual shoes is unnecessary risk for a licensed operator. Where players feel cheated, selective memory and fast game pace usually explain the story better than conspiracy. For a deeper look at how rooms watch games, see how casino surveillance works and how casinos respond to advantage play.
Blackjack Dealers Make Mistakes
No dealer is perfect. Dealing blackjack is done by human hands and therefore subject to human error. Blackjack dealers often make mistakes when dealing the cards. It isn’t really a big deal as long as the dealer immediately informs the pit boss of their error. The dealer on Reddit stated that players should inform the supervisor if the dealer does not. The reason for this is that the error has likely been spotted by casino surveillance. The failure of the player to report it could cause surveillance to believe that collusion between the player and dealer is taking place.
If a payout error favors you
When the mistake helps you, the clean play is the same: get the floor to reconcile the stack. Short pays and overpays both get reviewed on tape. Staying transparent protects your rating and avoids a future chat with security. If you want lower-drama practice, online blackjack logs bets automatically.
FAQs: dealer AMA themes
Do casinos need to cheat at blackjack?
Legitimate venues rely on math, rules, and volume—not secret card fixing—to earn their edge. That is why training focuses on procedure and speed, not sleight of hand.
Why does it feel like the dealer always makes 21?
Fast rounds plus negativity bias make losses stick in memory. The same RNG or shoe outcomes that sting in the moment are still bounded by published rules and audits over millions of hands.
Should I report a dealer mistake that helped me?
Yes. Let the pit correct it. Collusion suspicions are serious; honest players ask for a clean count.
Where can I learn dealer-facing etiquette?
Start with blackjack table manners and whether dealers want you to win (tips matter).
Frequently asked questions
Do casinos need to cheat at blackjack?
Licensed casinos rely on the house edge and game rules, not secret rigging, to earn revenue over time.
Why does it feel like the dealer always makes twenty-one?
Fast play and selective memory exaggerate painful losses; outcomes still follow the game’s probabilities over many hands.
Should I report a dealer mistake that helped me?
Yes. Ask the floor to fix the payout so surveillance does not mistake the situation for collusion.
Where can I read about dealer etiquette?
Table manners articles explain tipping, pace, and how to interact with dealers and the pit professionally.
It is fun to play live blackjack, but you can also play online blackjack from home. Choose one of the casinos recommended by Counting Edge and read bonus terms before you claim.
Related topics
These guides explore related ideas:
- Do Blackjack Dealers Have Tells?
- Do Blackjack Dealers Want You to Win
- How Do Blackjack Dealers Cheat?
Use what you read here as a study guide, then validate ideas at low stakes with clear session limits.