The reality of being a dealer
The character starring Clive Owen in Croupier keep an ambiguous relationship with gambling and the casino . He seems to detest everything that surrounds this world, full of hypocrisy and strict regulations; but the need to find an activity with which to support his literary work leads him to accept a job as a dealer.
In fact, Jack had learned from his father the basic techniques of the game, which causes him not a few contradictions. At the blackjack table for times he behaves like a gambler more than a dealer . The mat thus becomes the scenario in which life is a simple game of probabilities.
The look he offers us Croupier it's not the usual one. Accustomed to the glamour of James Bond casinos in which the croupiers are anonymous characters, in this film released in 1998 they come to light aspects of the life of casino workers which we don't normally have access to. But how much is there of reality in the fiction that Croupier presents to us?
Jack uses his work as inspiration to write a novel in which he portrays the dealer as a cold guy , without feelings, who enjoys watching the players lose. It is true that there is a soulless side in which the good casino customer is a continuous loser.
No operator is mounted for you to take it off, that's for sure. But with the appearance of the online casinos it has become difficult to keep fixed and loyal customers besides, no one likes to feel used. In this sense, the dealer plays a fundamental role in making the client feel comfortable in the game. In addition to professionalism, good presence and hygiene are also essential. In Croupier Jack gets a manicure.
Challenges and constraints
Being a dealer at a table full of people is a real challenge. Emotions soar, as well as the adrenaline rush of the players. Problems start when you lose, especially if you have bet large sums of money. Many players are unable to control themselves and who suffers from it? Dealer.
A worker at one of the casinos located in Macau, southwest of Hong Kong, expressed it as follows: "Losing is synonymous with having problems. If the client yells at you or insults you, you should keep in mind that it is only about work.” Jack, the protagonist of Croupier , takes it personal and gets involved. With a co-worker, with whom he has an affair, and openly relates to other players. All this it means breaking the rules of the casino .
The operators know that when a dealer strikes up a friendship with some player something weird is going on . Do not confuse kindness in front of customers with attachment to certain people. Normally, in the latter case it means that there is some relationship of compassion that usually results in cheating and fraud. Therefore, all tables are usually monitored.
Supervision establishes a check on cheaters, whether these players or workers. There are also restrictions on personal relationships with your co-workers. The simple reason is that it can bring conflicts of interest that harm the casino and make the work environment rarefied. All this happens in the movie Croupier , in which aspects of life in the bowels of a casino are taken to the extreme.
Casinos at all are today a place of dirty business and black money laundering . We do not want to say that there are no cases, it depends on the countries and the legislations. Fortunately, in New Zealand the supervision of the Directorate General for the Regulation of Gambling (DGOJ) does a lot in the fight against fraud, such as phishing alert service that it has launched and to which most of the Spanish gambling operators have adhered.
However, we have to recognize that underworld businesses such as illegal gambling have an important dramatic value for fiction, reaping excellent results on the big screen . However, the reality of brick-and-mortar casinos is less impressive and much more puerile, so to speak.
There are also other aspects of the dealer's life that we cannot fail to mention. Learning techniques is very important and has many aspects, more than you can imagine. Be aware of all the ins and outs of the game in addition to be skilled with your hands and know all the tricks it is the minimum that can be demanded of a good dealer. But training is expensive, and many dealers pay for it in the hope of being able to get a permanent job.
So, the talented image of Jack in Croupier it is quite far from reality; although, without a doubt, it is very effective (and entertaining) in fiction.
