Casino Table Game Opening Procedure SOP

Standard operating procedure for opening a casino table game, including equipment sanitation, chip tray verification, card and dice inspection, opener slip completion, and surveillance notification.

Steps

• Verify authorization to open the table
  The table opener verifies that the current shift assignment and table game keys are present and that they are authorized to access the game area before proceeding. If authorization or keys are missing, expired, or not assigned to the opener, stop and escalate to the pit boss before any other opening step.
• Inspect the table area and sanitize contact surfaces
  The dealer or assigned table opener inspects the table area for visible debris, damage, or contamination, then sanitizes all required contact surfaces with approved products and a lint-free cloth. If any surface cannot be cleaned, is damaged, or remains wet after cleaning, report it to the floor supervisor before continuing.
• Count and verify the chip tray inventory
  The table opener counts each chip denomination in the tray against the documented opening inventory on the chip tray inventory sheet or opener slip and confirms the count matches the expected bank within property tolerance. If the count does not match, stop the opening and escalate the discrepancy to the pit boss before proceeding.
• Inspect cards and dice for integrity
  The dealer inspects each card deck and dice set under good lighting for wear, marks, damage, or missing pieces and removes any item that is not suitable for play. If any item is suspect, replace it before the table is released.
• Complete the opener slip
  The assigned opener completes the opener slip with the table number, opening time, chip count, equipment condition, and any deviations, then records the information clearly and legibly before submission. If any required field is blank or unclear, correct it before moving to surveillance notification.
• Notify surveillance and obtain release to open
  The table opener notifies surveillance using the approved phone, radio, or system message and waits for explicit release to open before allowing play to begin. If surveillance does not confirm release, keep the table closed and escalate according to property procedure.
• Release the table for play
  The dealer or floor supervisor releases the table for play only after all prior checks are complete, the opener slip is finished, and surveillance release has been confirmed. If any prior step is incomplete, keep the table closed until the issue is resolved.