Cryptic Signs Pit Bosses Use in Casinos
A pit boss or pit manager is an essential part of a casino’s staff. Think of them as the go-between with management and workers on a casino floor. Zip Recruiter puts the average hourly wage for a pit boss at just over $40 per hour, and it’s not surprising. They have to pay close attention to staff, players, and things happening within the area they’re assigned to monitor.
Cameras and today’s technology help monitor staff and players, but there’s still a need for people who are on the floor and ready to intervene. You may not see a pit boss as easily as you used to as roles have shifted towards these workers being in rooms watching monitors.
Why Do Casinos Have Pit Managers?
When you’re in a casino, dealers are leading the games at each table. There are floor supervisors who manage a specific number of tables and handle minor issues on a floor. A pit boss or manager manages an entire floor area or pit. Floor supervisors handle minor disputes, but a pit boss handles any escalations.
A pit boss watches players to ensure there is no wrongdoing going on. If a player is counting cards, a pit boss will know it. If a dealer is getting tired and making mistakes, the pit boss pulls the dealer and assigns another. It’s the pit boss who makes sure the cards are dealt quickly and accurately to keep the games moving. The last thing a casino wants is frustrated players who are getting tired of slow deals.
In general, expect pit bosses to:
- Build relationships with players to ensure customer satisfaction.
- Ensure there’s no cheating or irregularities in a game.
- Handle and resolve complaints and disputes.
- Manage the dealers, floor workers, and other pit personnel.
- Provide a safe environment by working with security.
- Take care of financial transactions like handling cash transactions or issuing markers.
To do their job, they need to be discreet. They simply cannot storm in and halt a game. It would upset players and workers who are not doing anything wrong. That’s why pit managers and casino staff know and use signals.
What Are the Five Cryptic Signs Pit Bosses Use?
What are some of the more cryptic signs? We’ll cover five of the signals used in casinos around the world.
Code Words
Code words are regularly used to tell the staff something. If a pit boss is talking to a waiter handing out drinks and says, “Did you see the home run last night?” It could be a code.
Head Nods
If a pit boss nods his or her head while having a conversation, it doesn’t always mean he or she agrees with the other person. It could be a head nod towards a specific table where a player is cheating.
Posture
A pit boss’ stance can also communicate an issue. Putting a hand on one hip vs. the other, putting hands on both hips, or scratching an arm can all be a signal.
Tie Adjustments
Quick tie adjustments can signal staff in different ways. For example, tightening a tie could indicate to staff that a VIP is in the pit and to make sure service is impeccable. Moving a tie to the right or left could indicate that a player is acting suspiciously and security should take a closer look.
Tilted Clipboards, Pens, or Smartphones
If a pit boss has a pen or carries a clipboard, these are two ways to give a signal. If the clipboard is tilted to the left, it could signal security that they need to come to the area ASAP. If it’s tilted to the right, it could be that a player should be considered for a comp. A phone or pen can be used in the same way.
Every casino has different staffing policies and signals used by dealers, pit bosses, and floor supervisors. When you frequent a casino and pay attention to them, you’ll start to notice them. It’s simply the easiest way for staff members to communicate urgent needs in a noisy area. If you see a pit boss hanging around your area for an extended amount of time, something’s up and you could be the one being closely monitored.