How's my tipping?

Hi Frank:

Just thought I'd share with you a way that I bet on the craps tables. This very quickly gets me in high favor with the dealers.

In addition to the pass bet with full odds, I place the 6 & 8. Usually, I will place for $12 each. In addition, I put $2 on the Hard 6 and $2 on the Hard 8. When a soft 6 or 8 hits, I take $2 from the payout and re-bet the Hardway. When a hard 6 or 8 hits, I take the payout from the place bet and when they pay me the hardway, I tell them to keep half.

They are extremely grateful and automatically know my betting style after a couple of hits of the hardways. They also make sure the new dealers know my style and they also make sure I have plenty of time to make my bets and are very, very friendly.

Even the pit boss seems to appreciate my betting style.

A few trips later to the casino and they are waving at me as I walk by and even call out my name. The pit bosses also smile and wave to me.

Another similar thing that I do is on blackjack.

Let's say I bet $5. I also put $1 on top of my bet. Every time I win, the dealer pays me $6. I immediately give them $1. Again, after a few winning hands, they are very appreciative and become very friendly. If I bet $10, I put $2 on top. If I bet $25, I put $5 on top.

Again, the pit bosses seem to really appreciate this and are very friendly and accommodating (in comps) to me.

This seems much better for me than just outright betting the hardways or the $1 in blackjack for the dealer. Because after they win (or lose), the bet automatically goes away and I would have to put up another bet. The way I do it, the original bet stays; I just pay the dealers instead of myself.

I wonder how this affects the odds of these games. I'm playing for fun and enjoyment, but I'm curious just the same.

Regards,
Steve

Dear Steve:

I do believe in tipping the dealers but your method is not a good one in my opinion. First you are seriously wasting money on your craps method by betting the hardways and giving away half a win – if you win. The house edge doubles itself by doing this so you just made a bad bet a tremendously bad bet.

Your blackjack tipping is also way too generous. You are giving them tips of approximately 20% of your bet so you are increasing the house edge on you by . . . a hell of a lot!

So dump the awful bets in craps; reduce your tipping to maybe a dollar on top of your pass line bet when you shoot. Since almost no one tips at craps, the dealers will appreciate this without you having to go to the poor house.

In blackjack give a tip once every shoe at most.

You are playing against a house edge and tips merely increase that edge. Yes, give tips but don't give away the farm too.

For your letter I am giving you a free 10-day subscription to my private members-only website at www.goldentouchcraps.com. We have over 5,000 members on this site and the conversations are lively, interesting and fun. Enjoy!

All the best in and out of the casinos!

Frank Scoblete