Croupier

From ArticleWorld

The term croupier refers to the person who takes and pays bets at a gambling table, usually in a casino. Although he is representing the house, the croupier has no personal stake in the game.

Games

Games that use croupiers include blackjack and other card games, craps, baccarat, and roulette. At a traditional European roulette table, the croupier can be easily spotted. As the tables are much longer and wider than the American roulette table, the European croupier uses a long tool, called a rake, to clear the chips and distribute winnings. In American roulette, the croupier collects and passes out the chips by hand. In baccarat, it is the croupier that directs the play of the game, with the dealers handling the bets and payouts.

History

The word croupier is derived from the Old French word, croup. It refers to the rump of a four-legged animal. The term eventually came to refer to the person hindmost on an animal, seated on the rump. This meaning evolved into the business usage where a croupier is the person who serves as assistant chairman at a dinner party table. In casinos the croupier in fact assists both the house, and the players.