Protecting Your Cards and Dice
By Bill Zender
Article written for Casino Ops Magazine, April 1999
Several years ago I did a presentation on card and dice control for the International Association of Hospitality Accounts, Las Vegas Chapter. The group approached me about speaking on this subject because nothing had ever been released in print regarding the best and safest method of maintaining the integrity of live gaming equipment that is directly used to determine the outcome of a wager at Dice, Blackjack, Baccarat and other related games.
Over the years I have compiled a set of procedures that I have used at several casinos. These procedures are effective in most situations. However, I’m always looking to make improvements. When instituting card and dice procedures, be aware that the procedures you put in place must be functional as well as practical.
Following is a list of steps casinos should take to protect their equipment:
Card Control
1. Cards are received at the loading dock by three employees from different departments such as executive, security and receiving.
2. First, check to make sure the seal on the truck door or gate is not broken. Next, break and open.
3. Check to make sure pallets of cards are wrapped with plastic. Most card companies seal their shipment in plastic before the cards leave the plant.
4. Cards are then transported to a secure room by three employees from different departments: again, representatives from executive, security and receiving.
Note: Paper cards are normally packed as follows: 12 decks in a carton, 12 cartons in a case, i.e., there are 144 decks per case. Cards are stored by the case in a designated secure room and stored by the carton when held in a secure podium or cabinet in the pit.
5. Cards are placed in a locked cabinet in a secure room and entered into inventory by the designated casino executive.
6. The locked cabinet must be under camera surveillance at all times. This allows surveillance to record every individual who enters the cabinet. A tape library should be kept by the surveillance department for at least seven days.
7. If the secured room is in the cage, the key to the cabinet should be maintained by security, casino audit or the casino shift manager. If the secured room is elsewhere, the key should be kept in the casino cage.
8. The cards are then transported to a locked cabinet or podium in the pit (or other area such as Baccarat room, high limit room, etc.) as needed.
9. Cards that are removed from the cabinet in the secure room must be subtracted from inventory. The listed inventory should always match the number of decks actually in the cabinet. Every time cards are added or subtracted they must be noted by the person involved, and must include the amount added/taken, date and name of person handling the transaction. Since it is normally easier to transfer cards to the pits on grave shift, it should be the grave shift executive who is responsible for maintaining inventory records.
10. It is recommended that a “par” number of decks be maintained in the locked pit podium. These cards should be separated into two categories: used and unused. The total number of used, unused and decks in use must always total the same “par” amount. Example: par amount is 576 decks (four cases). Used decks are 204, unused decks are 312 and decks in use are 60 (four decks in use are used as “make up decks” to replaced individual broken or bent cards). Your card count should always equal the par amount of 576 decks.
11. Cards are inventoried once per shift. Any difference is immediately investigated by the designated casino executive responsible for card inventory.
12. Decks that are placed on the table will be opened, examined (fronts and backs) and quickly counted by the dealer on that game. If there are any discrepancies they are immediately brought to the floor supervisor’s attention.
13. Cards that are removed from the table are banded together and immediately canceled by marking one outside corner with a black magic marker.
Note: marking one outside corner will allow the casino to cut off that corner during the permanent canceling process and still allow them to either sell or give away useable cards.
14. The used cards are then stored in the locked pit podium until they are transferred to a place where they can be permanently canceled. These cards should be transferred to a secure canceling/cutting room when the podium is being re-supplied with new cards.
15. When the cards are permanently canceled they should be re-counted to make sure all cards are accounted for. Any discrepancies must be brought to the casino manager or casino auditing department immediately.
Dice Control
1. Dice are received in a sealed package, either through receiving or the mailroom. Local dice companies will deliver the dice in person, while out-of-state companies will send the dice through package delivery companies (FedEx, UPS, etc.).
2. Once the dice have been received they must be placed in a locked dice cabinet in a secure room. The cabinet must have surveillance coverage at all times with a tape library maintained by surveillance for several days.
3. The dice package is opened by a designated casino executive. The sets are then counted and placed into inventory. The total number of sets are recorded and added to the amount already in inventory.
Note: Dice are usually ordered in sets or pairs. A set consists of five dice wrapped together in foil. Most dice manufacturers package 36 or 40 sets per box. Some manufacturers account for the dice not in sets, but in pairs. An invoice may arrive indicating the shipment was 100 pairs, which is equivalent to 40 sets (100 pairs multiplied by two dice divided by five dice in a set).
4. The dice sets are then taken from the dice cabinet as needed, during each shift, by either the shift or pit manager. The casino executive subtracts the numbers of sets removed from inventory. The remaining sets are counted to verify the inventory figure is correct. The executive removing the dice must also record the time and date and initial the entry.
5. Each individual die must be checked by a casino executive before it is taken to the casino floor. The dice are visually checked to make sure they have the correct number of spots on each side, that the logo is correct and that the dice are calibrated to ensure all sides are the same width and height. The dice are then re-wrapped in the foil and taken to the pit.
6. Once in the pit, the dice are either immediately placed on the designated game or placed in a secure drawer or cabinet until needed.
7. Dice that are removed from the game are immediately canceled in the pit by the shift manager, pit manager or floor supervisor responsible for the dice game. Dice are canceled by placing an obvious mark or cut in one side of the die. The pit maintains a “dice canceller” or a scribe for such functions. The used and canceled dice can then be used for promotions or destroyed.
Note on additional dice protection: Since almost all gaffed or altered dice are introduced into play at the table, several characteristics of the dice can be used to help the casino protect the die’s integrity.
1. Casino logo - Dice must have a printed casino name and/or logo on each die.
2. Serial numbers - Dice should have a printed serial number representing each box of dice received (36 to 40 sets). Numbering each set would be nice, but it is cost prohibitive.
3. Security letter - Some manufacturers place a security letter(s) inside of the die, usually on the inside of the “ace.” By looking through the die from the “six” you can see the security letter.
4. Glow spot - Some manufacturers place a florescent or glow spot on the die, usually on the “ace.” When placing the die under a black light the florescent spot will glow.
5. Scribing the dice - By using a metal pencil or scribe, a small mark can be made in the die so that with close scrutiny, the die can be confirmed as one of the original dice placed on the table. These marks are placed by a designated casino executive somewhere in the logo or on other printed areas of the die.
Some other notes on the subject of cards and dice control:
• Always purchase your equipment from reputable companies. In some jurisdictions the casino is under no regulatory obligation to buy from a licensed manufacturer. When given the chance, buy equipment from a company you know will sell you an unaltered product. You may save a penny or two buying a cheaper product from an unknown source, but you could end up paying dollars - lots of dollars - later.
• Do frequent audits regarding your card and dice procedures. Make sure the casino employees don’t vary from the established rules and safeguards. Complacency is the number one element found when reviewing past casino scams. You can’t “block the punch” if your guard is down.
• Don’t become negligent when establishing controls on Pai Gow Poker dice. Even though these dice aren’t used to determine the direct outcome of the game, they are still the most important tools in Pai Gow Tile and Pai Gow Poker game protection. It’s common to find Pai Gow dice sitting unprotected in an unlocked draw.
• Don’t drop your guard after the equipment is taken off the table. Be sure playing cards and dice are canceled immediately upon leaving the table.
• If you discover playing cards or dice are missing, don’t put off searching for them. It’s very important that you account for the missing equipment as soon as possible. Granted, most times the equipment eventually shows up. However if it was “pinched,” the longer you wait to look, the colder the “trail” becomes.
|
|
