Let's talk about tipping the dealers in cash games...

[Smokewood]

I did a search and all the tipping threads are really old, but I expect to hear some of he same ideas.

I guess I'm the bad guy because I rarely (if ever) tip the dealers.
I see poker dealers as unskilled laborers who should feel lucky if they are making minimum wage.

The rake in live games is already way too high. For example: online I pay a 5% rake with a $2 max (I think), live however, I am paying 10% with a $5 max. So it is already hard enough to beat games like 1/2 or 1/3.

I only tip if I win the hand at showdown and win at least 40BB. If so, I will tip a $1 if I think the dealer is friendly and knowledgeable.

Let's hear it....What do YOU tip and why?

 

[SuitedJok3r]

Frankly, I think your view on who they are is a bit off. Your gripe about the rake is justifiable, but has nothing to do with the dealer. A lot of dealers who I've come across (especially at my home casino) choose to be there because of various reasons and not because they are "unskilled and lucky to be making minimum wage". Some simply enjoy the atmosphere, are players themselves or (for the older folks) are retired and still want something to do.

While, tipping is optional and the amount is preferential... Having worked in a restaurant for many years and understand the nature of recognizing they live of tips, I tip according to pot size. Varies from hand to hand, but I surely do not withhold of few bucks, especially, after a sizable or all-in pot.

 

[bstyles85]

I give them $1 for most pots. $2 if the pot is big. No tip if I just win the blinds.

 

[Smokewood]

Frankly, I think your view on who they are is a bit off. Your gripe about the rake is justifiable, but has nothing to do with the dealer. A lot of dealers who I've come across (especially at my home casino) choose to be there because of various reasons and not because they are "unskilled and lucky to be making minimum wage". Some simply enjoy the atmosphere, are players themselves or (for the older folks) are retired and still want something to do.

While, tipping is optional and the amount is preferential... Having worked in a restaurant for many years and understand the nature of recognizing they live of tips, I tip according to pot size. Varies from hand to hand, but I surely do not withhold of few bucks, especially, after a sizable or all-in pot.

In that case the pay doesn't matter at all, and hence they don't need a tip, right?
I am referring to those dealers who make a full time career out of dealing poker.

 

[henriquemaduro]

Like you, I just pay when I win big.

 

[Smokewood]

This thread tells me that most people on this site do not play live cash games very much...

 

[terryk]

People who are cheap will always try and justify not tipping,,,I have a simple rule for tipping,bad/average service=small tip,,,good service=good tip! Life is easy,,,

 

[Bozovicdj]

I did a search and all the tipping threads are really old, but I expect to hear some of he same ideas.

I guess I'm the bad guy because I rarely (if ever) tip the dealers.
I see poker dealers as unskilled laborers who should feel lucky if they are making minimum wage.

The rake in live games is already way too high. For example: online I pay a 5% rake with a $2 max (I think), live however, I am paying 10% with a $5 max. So it is already hard enough to beat games like 1/2 or 1/3.

I only tip if I win the hand at showdown and win at least 40BB. If so, I will tip a $1 if I think the dealer is friendly and knowledgeable.

Let's hear it....What do YOU tip and why?

I usually tip the dealer blinds-wise, meaning I give them several BB as a tip. At first I started tipping only when my hand got to showdown and I had the nuts and figured that people are doing pretty much the same thing, in my mind it became a bit of a show of strenght. Recently I started tipping mostly when I win the pot without showdown and when I bluff-shoved, it may not have many sense to you, but I found that people are folding little bit more often against my shoves when I am doing that (they think I have it if I tipped the dealer).

Also, when I leave the room, and cash out, I usually like to round my winnings, meaning I practically leave another tip on the way out (just as an example if I have 104$ i leave 4$ and if I have 108$, i leave 3$)

 

[Smokewood]

People who are cheap will always try and justify not tipping,,,I have a simple rule for tipping,bad/average service=small tip,,,good service=good tip! Life is easy,,,

It's really not hard to justify.
These guys are getting screwed by their employer.
I as a player should not have to supplement their income when I am already paying a rake of 10%

The rake is plenty big enough for their employer (a casino for god's sake) to pay these guys a living wage.

 

[Samsamsonite]

My tip method is pot size:$50pot=$1tip. So, if I just won a $200 pot(1-2NL), I give $4 tip. Most people just give $1 no matter the size of the pot.

 

[Smokewood]

People have answered what they tip, but no one has said WHY they tip...

I think it's crazy. This is the same as being expected to tip a waitress after you already were forced to pay a 15% upcharge for a party of 10 people.

You guys wouldn't do that, would you?

 

[NBB]

People have answered what they tip, but no one has said WHY they tip...

I think it's crazy. This is the same as being expected to tip a waitress after you already were forced to pay a 15% upcharge for a party of 10 people.

You guys wouldn't do that, would you?

Basically the rational behind tipping a dealer is due to being served a good or Great hand that produced x amount of money.

Nothing wrong with spreading some of one's good luck at the tables.

 

[SuitedJok3r]

People have answered what they tip, but no one has said WHY they tip...

I think it's crazy. This is the same as being expected to tip a waitress after you already were forced to pay a 15% upcharge for a party of 10 people.

You guys wouldn't do that, would you?

I'm pretty sure the "why" goes with the "what". Obviously, have crawled out of the online poker into the live, but you're idealogical view is a little wrong for the real world.

 

[c9h13no3]

Vegas (casinos, waitresses, everywhere really) runs on tips. Most employees are grossly underpaid without them, and it's hospitable to you that they let you pay what you want.

The dealers in the mixed games at the Bellagio/Wynn certainly are skilled. Keeping the the action moving along, dealing with drunks, and keeping track of the rake schedule isn't a piece of cake.

So don't be an asshole, and help pay for the services you're being given. $1 per pot you win that goes to the flop/4th street/1st draw is standard at any stakes. At high stakes tables, players will keep a stack of $1 chips for that purpose. Yes, the rake is high in a live game. But you won't find better fish anywhere else. The poor play of your opponents, and some interesting company certainly make up for the bigger rake.

The faceless casino is getting their money. Taking it out on the person in front of you is cruel.

 

[madjek]

Where I play typically dealers are tipped a dollar just about every pot. There are the few older regs who will do stuff like win pot on there bb or limped pot where they have $2 invested and tell dealer the pot is theirs to put in tip jar. I've always been curios as to how much dealers make in tips. Seems like they make decent amount to me. Using shuffle machine seems like they can deal 25-30 hands an hour, at $1 tip each hand they are bringing in 30 bucks an hr just in tips and get more than a dollar sometimes. Add on min wage they aren't doing bad for dealing cards imo. Anyone know if this is typical for dealers or am I off

 

[bbennie1]

This reminds me of Reservoir Dogs:

I don't play Live Cash Games, but I wouldn't tip either. There are so many people with jobs who get minimum wage yet never receive tips. Why tip them but not others who get minimum wage. It's bull. Do you run out every time the garbage man comes by and tip him? No you don't. Nobody does.

 

[Smokewood]

This reminds me of Reservoir Dogs:

Reservoir Dogs Tipping/Gratuity Scene 720p HD - YouTube
I don't play Live Cash Games, but I wouldn't tip either. There are so many people with jobs who get minimum wage yet never receive tips. Why tip them but not others who get minimum wage. It's bull. Do you run out every time the garbage man comes by and tip him? No you don't. Nobody does.

Yes exactly.

 

[Gildog89]

Yes, I tip live dealers $1 on smaller pots and more as the pot grows (I don't have a formula). They rely on it as part of their income, and I know this when I choose to go play. If a dealer is not particularly good, I may keep the tip smaller on the big pots and when a dealer is good, I go a bit higher.

I don't like the economics of the rake either, but I still choose to play knowing that tips are part of my cost to play.

 

[TexasBull007]

I give them $1 for most pots. $2 if the pot is big. No tip if I just win the blinds.

I agree and was told this by a long time grinder.

 

[1dkp0k3r]

It is obvious that some people in this thread have never worked in the service industry, where tips can make up the majority of your income.

Nevada's current minimum wage is $8.25 an hour ($7.25 if you are provided benefits). A 2 bedroom apartment in the Las Vegas area runs between $950-$1,100 per month. At 40 hours a week, minimum wage earners make $1,160 - $1,320 per month.

I know, you will tell me that this is not your problem, that they should get another job, blah blah blah…

Dealing a full poker game, keeping the players in line and acting in turn can be quite difficult, especially when you add alcohol and money into the mix.

I tip because I come from a bartending/server background and understand that these workers need the extra income. This does not mean that I blindly throw money at them, but rather that I appreciate good service and reward it. If I receive poor service, then the tip is smaller.

If you cannot afford to tip, you cannot afford to eat out (or play poker). The next time that you hesitate to give somebody a gratuity ask yourself if that person has provided a service that benefited you, and if you yourself would be capable of performing the exact same service to others, then double your normal tip because I doubt that you would be able to survive in a bar, restaurant or poker box for more than an hour

 

[SuitedJok3r]

It is obvious that some people in this thread have never worked in the service industry, where tips can make up the majority of your income.

Nevada's current minimum wage is $8.25 an hour ($7.25 if you are provided benefits). A 2 bedroom apartment in the Las Vegas area runs between $950-$1,100 per month. At 40 hours a week, minimum wage earners make $1,160 - $1,320 per month.

I know, you will tell me that this is not your problem, that they should get another job, blah blah blah…

Dealing a full poker game, keeping the players in line and acting in turn can be quite difficult, especially when you add alcohol and money into the mix.

I tip because I come from a bartending/server background and understand that these workers need the extra income. This does not mean that I blindly throw money at them, but rather that I appreciate good service and reward it. If I receive poor service, then the tip is smaller.

If you cannot afford to tip, you cannot afford to eat out (or play poker). The next time that you hesitate to give somebody a gratuity ask yourself if that person has provided a service that benefited you, and if you yourself would be capable of performing the exact same service to others, then double your normal tip because I doubt that you would be able to survive in a bar, restaurant or poker box for more than an hour

Exactly. Having a venue provided for you to play poker is a luxury. Those who run the establishment should be compensated in return. If anyone feels differently, they should probably stay in their basements playing online.

 

[Smokewood]

If you cannot afford to tip, you cannot afford to eat out (or play poker). The next time that you hesitate to give somebody a gratuity ask yourself if that person has provided a service that benefited you, and if you yourself would be capable of performing the exact same service to others, then double your normal tip because I doubt that you would be able to survive in a bar, restaurant or poker box for more than an hour

I can afford to tip, I choose not to.

I don't give a damn about their job and they can be replaced by a machine for all I care.

Their beef is with their employer, not their customers.

Seems obvious to me, not so much to others it seems.

 

[mtl mile end]

I can afford to tip, I choose not to.

I don't give a damn about their job and they can be replaced by a machine for all I care.

Maybe someday, you can be replaced by a machine. I don't think many people would care.

 

[KingTurd]

It takes a lot of math and skill to deal a game. Also managing 9 to 10 players personalities at a time can be a task. I tip them because I know it feeds their families. I'm playing poker because I have spare money, they can have some tips.

 

[1dkp0k3r]

I can afford to tip, I choose not to.

I don't give a damn about their job and they can be replaced by a machine for all I care.

Their beef is with their employer, not their customers.

Seems obvious to me, not so much to others it seems.

How narrow minded and short sighted of you. To paraphrase another respondent to this post, stay in your basement playing $0.01/0.02 NLHE online and do not bother interacting with the outside world because where some people are fountains of life, you sir, are a drain