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

[TheDude6622]

They are trying to make money and a living just like us. If I win a pot, no matter the size, I tip $1. If I win a massive pot like a triple up, I would tip $10. This would be on a 1/2 NLH table.

One of my golden rules, make someone else's day and give and get 100x in return.

 

[Smokewood]

Dealer's are obviously skilled labor.

No they are not... by definition:

https://www.investopedia.com/terms/s/skilled-labor.asp

What is Skilled Labor


Skilled labor is a segment of the workforce with specialized know-how, training and experience to carry out more-complex physical or mental tasks than routine job functions. Skilled labor is generally characterized by higher education, expertise levels attained through training and experience, and higher wages.

 

[MKaizer07]

Tipping

In LIVE poker I generally tip deals a couple of bucks on 1/2 NLHE, sometimes 5 dollars and if I win a big pot I would tip more than 5 dollars because I worked in a place where tips helps me out a lot. It also depends on how personable, nice and how well they deal the game. Now they don't have to talk a lot to be nice and all but I know some dealers do appreciates the tips and its a significant part of their salary. This is just my opinion and how I feel about tipping.

 

[sergiu2222]

People who are cheap will always try and justify not tipping

People who are cheap will always try and justify not tipping ...you are right

 

[Lagtard]

I joined just to comment on this thread

I am thinking about moving from online to live poker to supplement my income and was researching about tipping dealers if poker is an income source and not just playing to play.

I will make sure to tip dealers after reading some of these reasons as to why not. I would not want to be like any of the people who don’t after reading their justifications. I’d hate to be that type of person they are. I’d guess they are not familiar with having to earn what you want in life and had a lot handed to them. That’s not me. It doesn’t take an extraordinarily good person to help someone in life but it takes a real low life to justify not helping someone when given the opportunity. Especially if that person is providing you a skilled service.

Anyone that thinks there’s no skill involved with dealing with drunks and degens and not making mistakes and keeping it all running smoothly is an idiot.

 

[deadmoney_]

There are really only two things I can say to this post.

The first thing is the same thing I'd say to anyone who justifies not tipping their waitress by saying the prices are too high and that they're unskilled laborers: "If you can't afford to tip, you can't afford to eat out." Seriously, if you can't afford to tip your dealer, then you can't afford to play poker for a living.

The second thing is that if you honestly believe that poker dealers are unskilled laborers who should feel lucky to make minimum wage, then it's clear that you've never learned how to deal poker nor have you dealt a live game. I implore you to spend some time in the box dealing to a group of strangers to get a better idea of what it entails. Don't bother learning how to deal first since you clearly already know, just dive into it. I'm sure you'll do fine.

And to answer your question, I'm by no means a generous tipper. I tip $1 if I'm picking up more than the blinds (depending on the rake). If the rake is too high, I won't tip until the pot reaches a certain amount, unless the dealer sucks or has a bad attitude. They get stiffed. When the pot gets over $100 I might tip more based on pot size and how much I like the dealer, but no more than $5. It doesn't matter if we get to showdown or not.

 

[deadmoney_]

You didn't make any valid points to counter.
You are acting under a false premise that the players should supplement the salaries of dealers. I don't agree with this.

What you fail to understand is that even with a 10% rake, many poker rooms in casinos barely make any profit. Their profit comes mostly from slots and table games, departments in which poker dealers do not work. If you don't want to tip your dealers, fine, but don't complain when the rake goes up so the casino can properly compensate them.

 

[kygamblr09]

I have worked in a restaurant as a server and my fiance as a bartender. I have done delivery aswell for functions and home pizza delivery. I understand the wanting tips for the service i give you and rightfuly deserving. As far as a dealer goes . I tip based on the outcome. Meaning if after however long of a session i make it , if i have a positive ROI then i tip based on the winnings. If i have no ROI then i tip nothing. Right or wrong thats just how i do it. When you think about it the dealer has no say in the outcome of a already decided card flip or hands dealt. If anyone should be tipped it should be the card shuffler lol. Only exception to my tipping rule is the blackjack dealer. I know its against the rules but some of those dealers i believe really want you to win and sometimes i think they give hints even though they are not supposed to because they really make great tips based on a great session. So i will tip them more than a poker dealer / But both receive tips regardless

 

[Smokewood]

I am thinking about moving from online to live poker to supplement my income and was researching about tipping dealers if poker is an income source and not just playing to play.

I will make sure to tip dealers after reading some of these reasons as to why not. I would not want to be like any of the people who don’t after reading their justifications. I’d hate to be that type of person they are. I’d guess they are not familiar with having to earn what you want in life and had a lot handed to them. That’s not me. It doesn’t take an extraordinarily good person to help someone in life but it takes a real low life to justify not helping someone when given the opportunity. Especially if that person is providing you a skilled service.

Anyone that thinks there’s no skill involved with dealing with drunks and degens and not making mistakes and keeping it all running smoothly is an idiot.

How are tips earned?? lol A tip IS a hand out!

 

[dendretic]

I personally hate the tipping culture in poker because it's destroying your profit over the long run if you play low stakes. I do it somewhat bc of the peer pressure and expectation/don't wanna feel like an asshole, but would prefer not to. Maximum I ever give is $1 in nlhe no matter how big the pot I rake. Casino rake is already abysmal and it can really make moderately winning players into losing ones.

Edit: I actually have seen a few older guys go on a small heater and have this ****y arrogance and start tipping huge. They don't understand how little they're actually getting when they win and how much of those winnings their giving away. They always leave down.

 

[xxgsaint5501xx]

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?

The dealers only survive on tips, usually getting paid a base far below minimum wage. And there is a lot of skill in dealing and running a poker game effectively. BTW, if you cannot beat a 1-2 game with 10% rake %5 cap even with tipping like a human being, then you are just not a very good player and should spend more time working on your game which I will classify as "unskilled labor"

 

[Coreydh001]

Tipping dealers in cash

I win 40 bucks or so I give dealer dollar or 2 they don’t get paid much money cause they get tips don’t like casinos making dealers share tips not right so because this guy dealt a 5k dollar hand with quads and str8 flush and tops dealer 100 why should he have to share that

 

[Smokewood]

The dealers only survive on tips, usually getting paid a base far below minimum wage. And there is a lot of skill in dealing and running a poker game effectively. BTW, if you cannot beat a 1-2 game with 10% rake %5 cap even with tipping like a human being, then you are just not a very good player and should spend more time working on your game which I will classify as "unskilled labor"

They should quit their jobs.
Why should the customers subsidize their income?
The casino makes enough to pay them a living wage.

 

[fordman427]

Tipping

What is everyone’s thoughts on tipping? I played in a cash game at my local casino today and noticed there were a few players tipping each time they won a pot. I always try to tip some during or at the end of a session but I thinking tipping each hand could really cut into my ROI. I felt kind of looked at because I was tipping each pot won like others, I didn’t want to look cheap but rather do what was best for me. Thanks for everyone’s thoughts

 

[nabmom]

I do not tip every hand I win when I play (for example, I don't tip in a situation where my raise takes it down preflop--although to be fair that doesn't happen all that often when I'm playing live!). I do tip whenever I win a significant pot, and also tip when I get up from the table. And I think tipping dealers is important. They work hard!

I think it's important to do what feels comfortable for you. I don't care about what others at the table think.

 

[Datdude1]

That's interesting because I experienced this myself and was wondering the same thing. I play tournaments a lot and I tip at the end if I cash but I don't know the rules about tipping in cash games.

 

[Criminal Bizzy]

Most players will tip something when they win a pot. I know in the smaller stakes ($1/$2 - $1/$3) in live poker I would think this is a little easier to do since there are $1 chips that could be used. I am not sure how that works in higher stakes. I have noticed from some of the live streams and poker vlogs that I watch that tips don't happen every hand. It would be interesting to find out what players do because I am sure the dealers are switching.

Personally I don't always tip every hand I win. Like mentioned by Nabmom, if I take the pot down pre-flop or on the flop without much action I am more likely not to tip but that does not happen very often. At the end of the day tipping isn't mandatory and is up to each individual. So do what you are comfortable with and feel you can afford.

 

[Poker_Mike]

What is everyone’s thoughts on tipping? I played in a cash game at my local casino today and noticed there were a few players tipping each time they won a pot. I always try to tip some during or at the end of a session but I thinking tipping each hand could really cut into my ROI. I felt kind of looked at because I was tipping each pot won like others, I didn’t want to look cheap but rather do what was best for me. Thanks for everyone’s thoughts

So I tip almost every pot that gets pushed to me. Unless I take it down preflop or it is so small.

My reason is that I want to tip for work the dealer does to make it possible for me to win the hand - and the pot.

And, I don't ever want to forget to tip. So I have gotten into the habit of slapping that small denomination chip on my cards as I slide them to the dealer if I take down the pot. This way if I ever forget to tip then I know that I have taken care of the dealer overall.

I am not a big tipper by any means. But I am a consistent tipper and that is more important for the dealer(s). I don't try to throw money around like I am showing off. I am simply thanking the dealer for their work and adding to their hourly wages.

I usually tip a little more if it is a huge pot. Or, if I was so grateful for sucking out on my opponent when I was (unknowingly) behind when I got my money in. I can think of several instances lol. ex. I flop a set and opponent flops a double gutter straight and I didn't see it.

Yes it does cut into ROI. Especially when you consider that I may tip $80 during an 8-hour session. It doesn't sound like that much but....when I win hands when I am all-in I do miss out on my opponent matching that money when they lose. If I didn't tip at all then all that money would still be in my stack and winning just 2 all-ins the money I am missing out on increases exponentially. I might have an extra $40 the first all-in

(in the middle of a session) that does get matched so now I have $80 in my stack that would not be there if I never tipped. And the second all-in would match my "extra" $80 so now it's a total of $160 (or more).​

So why tip at all? One reason is that I like the idea that I am so consistent a tipper that the dealer subconsciously expects it (not in an unprofessional way). Kind of an "I win and you win too" scenario. Sometimes at the table - the dealer is the only person involved in the hand that actually wants me to win! Does this make a regular difference in me winning hands? Probably not. But in hands where I need every bit of help getting my opponent to call or fold (depending) I feel like I can count on the dealer knowing they will get a regular tip from me for the work they do (for me) if I win the hand. This is certainly not my main reason for tipping - but it doesn't hurt.

Dealers DO need tips to make their income a living wage. This helps to create a sustainable work environment - again that allows me to win pots at the poker table.

My explanation is somewhat holistic but that is some of my viewpoint on tipping. Imagine nobody ever tipped and dealers couldn't earn a liveable wage. What would happen to your live poker room then?

I have a buddy who does not tip every hand. He simply hands the dealer $8 when they get up to leave from the table - whether he has won a pot or not.

Good luck !​

 

[charliej]

1- It's a monotonous and thankless job. The hours suck. And a lot of the players they have to "manage" are a-holes.
2- The pay is minimum wage at best.
3- Like other "service" professions, tipping is part of the expected income.
4- In the casino I visit, I think the dealers have to share tips either with one another or the casino.
5-

In the casino I visit, it's customary for the winner to tip $1-2 at the $1-2 NLHE table. I do not tip if the hand is less than $10. People who don't tip are viewed as cheap jerks.​

6- The rake (as well as the take for bonuses) has nothing to do with the dealer.

 

[rflbarreto]

Brazil Tip

Brazilian poker clubs have huge rakes comparing to Vegas for instance, eventhough, usually players tip dealers everytime they win a big pot (or sometimes even if the pot is low such as 10bb)

 

[Igor Popadyk]

If the dealer brings good luck or you like it, you can tip

 

[blix177]

I haven't played a cash game but I believe tipping should be corresponding to service above and beyond. Is the dealer engaging? Are they making the game go fast and smooth and fun? Are they assisting in counting how much chip is left when going all in, counting correctly?

This deserve tip.

 

[neontuning]

Tipping is optional, on occasion and if you won a good pot, $ 1 or $ 2 when win an all-in, not bad. My friends say that in poker nobody wins alone, always the dealer is in the middle. Kkkk

A big hug to all dealers!

 

[Zorba]

So, you're solution to the problem is to not tip, it's to not support the dealers. this is a complete cop-out response. Your solution to dealers not making enough is to make them earn less. BS. You don't care about the dealers. If you did, your solution would be to not reward the casino's. Your solution would be to never give business to the casino's until they righted this wrong. Your solution would be to get other people to blacklist the casino until they remedied the problem.


But that's not your problem. You don't have a problem with the casino's, you have a problem with the dealers. Hence, you give the casino's their money, but not the dealers.

And BTW. You didn't give counter-arguments to anything I said. Does that mean you agree with me?

P.S. I do hate non-tippers. :reddy:

Why do you hate me just because I live in a country that has decent wage conditions that staff in any industry do not have to rely on tips?

If I have a good night I may give a tip, not because I have to but because I would want to, but which dealer should I tip, they get changed frequently and not all of them deserve a tip.

This topic has been mentioned in the past, I missed this one when it first came round.

In my country tips are given for exceptional service, not to cover wages, that's why we pay rake in poker and the mark up that other businesses charge. It's disgusting that the casino's in the US are raking it in while paying a pittance to the men and women, without whom they will not be making those huge profits that they do.

:bandit:

 

[Zorba]

It depends where you live, I don't tip as the dealers here get a decent wage, If I won a big hand or the dealer was at the table the whole time i was there then maybe, it all depends on how good a job is done.

Tips are given as a thank you for exceptional service and only if I, or anyone else wants to, not as part of their wages here in Australia.

:bandit: