A blackjack dealer is a person who works in a casino and is responsible for dealing the cards in blackjack games. Blackjack is a table game where players try to get as close to 21 as they can without going over. The goal for players is to have a higher number than the dealer, or for the dealer to go over 21, in order for them to win their hands.
Blackjack is usually played in places where gambling is legal. This occurs in Atlantic City, New Jersey, Las Vegas, Nevada, and on Indian reservations in the United States. Off-shore, some casinos are located on riverboats. Other countries have different gambling laws; for example, gambling is legal in Monte Carlo, as well as in some parts of Canada and in certain clubs and areas in England. Blackjack is available on many cruise ships and Caribbean islands.
A blackjack dealer can work in any of these locations where gambling is legal and people gather to play table games. To deal blackjack, a dealer must be licensed or authorized. This is usually done by a gaming commission or another similar organization, or by the casino that hires him. A background check is usually required for certification, during which the dealer is fingerprinted and it is determined whether the dealer has any criminal convictions that would make him untrustworthy as a blackjack dealer.
After the dealer is hired, he has several primary responsibilities. He must first exchange money for customers. This necessitates the ability to quickly count money and exchange it for chips that can be used to place bets at the table. The dealer may also be required to know how to recognize counterfeit money so that he can spot such bills if the customer attempts to trade them in for chips.
In addition, the dealer shuffles the cards or places them in an automatic shuffler. In many casinos, dealers deal blackjack hands from a total of six decks. The dealer must ensure that all of the decks are properly shuffled.
After that, he must distribute cards to the players at the table. This entails each player placing two cards in front of him and taking two cards, one face up and the other face down. The players can then choose to hit, which means they will receive another card, or stand, which means they will not receive another card and will keep their current score. The blackjack dealer then deals himself cards or stands according to predetermined rules based on the numerical value of his cards. Finally, those who have won the hand are paid by the blackjack dealer.