Casino questions
Discussion
I was watching Casino Royale the other day. It occurred to me that during the poker games, several times Bond and Le Chiffre walk away from the table, each leaving their huge pile of chips on the table unattended, at one point a pile said to be worth $14 million. This happens at the end of the session but also when the croupier calls a one-hour break and when Bond staggers away after being poisoned. Now admittedly this is a private VIP game, and it's also a fantasy film. But how does it work in a real casino? If you get up for a break, does someone watch your winnings or are you expected to shovel them up and take them with you everywhere?
Secondly, when I see a roulette table in a film, with maybe two dozen people standing around it, the players throw down chips on different numbers, various people might bet on red/black, odd/even, etc... does the croupier have to notice and remember who made which bets? Is there a system for marking the chips to identify the player?
Secondly, when I see a roulette table in a film, with maybe two dozen people standing around it, the players throw down chips on different numbers, various people might bet on red/black, odd/even, etc... does the croupier have to notice and remember who made which bets? Is there a system for marking the chips to identify the player?
In real life they have lots of cameras and staff to make sure nothing is stolen. The chips are just bits of plastic so are worthless until you cash out which is always verified. You can't just walk up to the cage with 14 million in chips and expect to be paid.
For roulette each player should have a different colour chip.
For roulette each player should have a different colour chip.
If you are playing a poker tournament in a casino then when there is a break you just leave your chips where they are and a dealer normally sits there for the duration of the break to ensure no chips go walkabout.
Often the casino will also use the break to swap smaller denomination chips for larger ones to make it easier when the blinds increase.
In cash games it's usual to leave your chips there while you go for a smoke/drink/antidote as the dealer and cameras will keep an eye on your stack.
Roulette is normally one colour chip per player; it's always impressive how the croupier and floor staff cope when other punters are throwing cash chips around and verbally announcing seventy-three different bets at the same time.
Often the casino will also use the break to swap smaller denomination chips for larger ones to make it easier when the blinds increase.
In cash games it's usual to leave your chips there while you go for a smoke/drink/antidote as the dealer and cameras will keep an eye on your stack.
Roulette is normally one colour chip per player; it's always impressive how the croupier and floor staff cope when other punters are throwing cash chips around and verbally announcing seventy-three different bets at the same time.
I was once at a casino on a Saturday night after midnight. Restaurant chefs get paid and go straight to the casino to lose it all that evening. It was big business for the casinos back in those days and they would give complimentary dinners in their restaurant (proper a la carte french cuisine). I used to just go there for the food. I was working part time as a student and would go with the chef after work.
I wondered how the casino could make money by giving away all this free food. After our meal I walked around the roulette tables and one of the guys just holding £100 chips went up to a table while the ball was spinning and put a chip on red. In ten seconds it lands on black so he's lost a very large chunk of his weekly pay in that ten seconds. OK it made sense to me now how the casino can afford the free meals.
Anyway, back on topic, yes each player has their own coloured chips which were exchanged for money chips when they sit down at the table. However, in exceptional circumstances you could just place a £50/£100 chip straight on the table. This happens in isolated cases so it is easy for the croupier to keep tabs.
ETA: there was a high stakes table which could be requested but was roped off so spectators could view from six feet away.
I wondered how the casino could make money by giving away all this free food. After our meal I walked around the roulette tables and one of the guys just holding £100 chips went up to a table while the ball was spinning and put a chip on red. In ten seconds it lands on black so he's lost a very large chunk of his weekly pay in that ten seconds. OK it made sense to me now how the casino can afford the free meals.
Anyway, back on topic, yes each player has their own coloured chips which were exchanged for money chips when they sit down at the table. However, in exceptional circumstances you could just place a £50/£100 chip straight on the table. This happens in isolated cases so it is easy for the croupier to keep tabs.
ETA: there was a high stakes table which could be requested but was roped off so spectators could view from six feet away.
Edited by leef44 on Friday 25th April 15:36
I used to go to a casino in the town centre every Friday night, after a night of drinking. As a member you could ask for complimentary tea/coffee and biscuits and sandwiches.
Upon entering I'd ask one of the waitresses for a cup of tea, biscuits and sandwiches and also to order me a taxi home (saved trying to flag one down in the street). Whilst waiting I'd place a £10 bet or either red or black, and win or lose I would only place that one single bet. The drinks & food would arrive, I'd scoff my face and then the taxi would arrive to take me home. A £10 win would pay for my taxi home, if I lost then I'd shrug it off, knowing i'd had a drink and some food.
Upon entering I'd ask one of the waitresses for a cup of tea, biscuits and sandwiches and also to order me a taxi home (saved trying to flag one down in the street). Whilst waiting I'd place a £10 bet or either red or black, and win or lose I would only place that one single bet. The drinks & food would arrive, I'd scoff my face and then the taxi would arrive to take me home. A £10 win would pay for my taxi home, if I lost then I'd shrug it off, knowing i'd had a drink and some food.
Mildly related, in a vagas casino, playing roulette, I thought I'd lost and had nothing left so walked away. 30 seconds later, a waitress came after me 'sir sir, you still have chips on the table'.
I went back and it turned out that on that last spin I had won but didn't realise because other people had put their chips on top of mine (and because alcohol). I went back to £100 which was nice. Then I walked away again.
I went back and it turned out that on that last spin I had won but didn't realise because other people had put their chips on top of mine (and because alcohol). I went back to £100 which was nice. Then I walked away again.
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