Grits and Shins Posted September 4, 2007 Share Posted September 4, 2007 House gets a rake from every pot, house pays the dealers ... why does protocol say you should tip the dealer when you win a hand? If I don't tip is he going to arrange the deck so I don't win any more hands? If I do tip him is he going to improve my cards? Generally tipping is a reward for a personal service that is performed. The dealer is dealing randomly and not really performing a personal service for me. Heck when I win with the worst hand I win despite the cards I was dealt? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Puddy Posted September 4, 2007 Share Posted September 4, 2007 I don't play blackjack too often but when I do, I normally reserve the tip for when I leave (if I had good success). I occasionally break that rule if I win a hugh hand, i.e. split a pair, then double down on one and win everything. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grits and Shins Posted September 4, 2007 Author Share Posted September 4, 2007 I don't play blackjack too often but when I do, I normally reserve the tip for when I leave (if I had good success). I occasionally break that rule if I win a hugh hand, i.e. split a pair, then double down on one and win everything. When I played hold 'em in a casino recently generally the dealer was tipped every hand by the winner. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Puddy Posted September 4, 2007 Share Posted September 4, 2007 When I played hold 'em in a casino recently generally the dealer was tipped every hand by the winner. I've only played Hold 'em in that setting once (on a casino boat in Myrtle Beach, which BTW I was the big winner), and the dealer was not getting tips every hand. As a matter of fact, I don't remember tipping him at all (unlike blackjack, I was playing against other players and not him). I probably broke some kind of etiquette that I was unaware of. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grits and Shins Posted September 4, 2007 Author Share Posted September 4, 2007 I've only played Hold 'em in that setting once (on a casino boat in Myrtle Beach, which BTW I was the big winner), and the dealer was not getting tips every hand. As a matter of fact, I don't remember tipping him at all (unlike blackjack, I was playing against other players and not him). I probably broke some kind of etiquette that I was unaware of. Furthermore ... dealers rotate every 15 to 30 minutes. So if you reserve your tip until the end then you are only tipping one of the many dealers you had ... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SheikYerbuti Posted September 4, 2007 Share Posted September 4, 2007 House gets a rake from every pot, house pays the dealers ... why does protocol say you should tip the dealer when you win a hand? If I don't tip is he going to arrange the deck so I don't win any more hands? If I do tip him is he going to improve my cards? Generally tipping is a reward for a personal service that is performed. The dealer is dealing randomly and not really performing a personal service for me. Heck when I win with the worst hand I win despite the cards I was dealt? Poker dealers, much like waiters, get paid next to nothing. The most I've ever made in any dealing job was $6 an hour. The least was $0 an hour (at several jobs). You often pay too much for food at a restaurant, yet still tip the waitstaff. It's one of those jobs that falls under the "tip these guys, but don't tip these guys over there" rule. For more info, see the opening scene of "Reservoir Dogs". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twiley Posted September 4, 2007 Share Posted September 4, 2007 I don't play blackjack too often but when I do, I normally reserve the tip for when I leave (if I had good success). I occasionally break that rule if I win a hugh hand, i.e. split a pair, then double down on one and win everything. This is usually what I do when I gamble. 10 - 15% of total winnings. I could be way off though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TimC Posted September 4, 2007 Share Posted September 4, 2007 Depends on the pot size really. I don't tip every hand I win, but tip $5.00 if it's a big one. A buck if it's decent-sized. Nothing if it's a small pot that doesn't go past the flop. Oh, and watching High Stakes Poker, where they are playing for ALOT more than I am, they only tip a buck or $5.00 as well. Weird. Nothing like watching that idiot Todd Brunson ask for $99 back from the dealer on his $100 chip after raking in a $20,000 pot. I hate that f'er Todd Brunson more than any poker player out there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NSab Posted September 4, 2007 Share Posted September 4, 2007 Dealers get paid very litlle, they depend on tips to make a decent wage. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grits and Shins Posted September 4, 2007 Author Share Posted September 4, 2007 Nobody has yet answered my question. Dealers are NOT providing a personal service to any single person. When I go to a restraunt and tip the waiter I am tipping him based on the service he provided (or did not provide). When I sit down to a poker table the deal simply deals the cards ... there is no personal service. Why shouldn't the house be paying these guys? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NSab Posted September 4, 2007 Share Posted September 4, 2007 Nobody has yet answered my question. Dealers are NOT providing a personal service to any single person. When I go to a restraunt and tip the waiter I am tipping him based on the service he provided (or did not provide). When I sit down to a poker table the deal simply deals the cards ... there is no personal service. Why shouldn't the house be paying these guys? Because they are cheap and want to maximize their profit. keeping the man down. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Furd Posted September 4, 2007 Share Posted September 4, 2007 (edited) I tip every hand I win - $1. Unless the dealer is a bitch or a dick. Edited September 4, 2007 by Furd Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grits and Shins Posted September 4, 2007 Author Share Posted September 4, 2007 Because they are cheap and want to maximize their profit. keeping the man down. So ... any time a place of business decides to pay low wages to their employees I should feel obligated to tip? Where is the line? Should I tip the person in Wal-Mart that rings up my groceries? The guy at the local gas station working behind the counter? Both of these people are providing more personal service than a dealer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TimC Posted September 4, 2007 Share Posted September 4, 2007 A couple of months ago I saw an old man not tip a dealer on any hands he won....and he was on a rush for awhile. He was horrible and he kept catching his flush on the river or a 2-outer or some BS. He never tipped though. The lady dealer was about to kill him, I think. We all made a point to emphasize to him we were tipping when we won a hand. He never caught on...or he was Blitz. Dealers can make the game fun, or they can be real jerks and ruin the table. I tip more if the dealer keeps the game moving and fun. We had this one dealer once that was constantly complaining about everything going on with her job. We were on vacation and really didn't want to hear her problems. She didn't get a tip the whole time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Puddy Posted September 4, 2007 Share Posted September 4, 2007 Nobody has yet answered my question. Dealers are NOT providing a personal service to any single person. When I go to a restraunt and tip the waiter I am tipping him based on the service he provided (or did not provide). When I sit down to a poker table the deal simply deals the cards ... there is no personal service. Why shouldn't the house be paying these guys? So ... any time a place of business decides to pay low wages to their employees I should feel obligated to tip? Where is the line? Should I tip the person in Wal-Mart that rings up my groceries? The guy at the local gas station working behind the counter? Both of these people are providing more personal service than a dealer. Okay, now you really are sounding like Steve Buscemi's character. I usually don't think too deeply about these things and spend my time thinking about how to make the world a better place Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rocknrobn26 Posted September 4, 2007 Share Posted September 4, 2007 Dealers can make the game fun, or they can be real jerks and ruin the table. I tip more if the dealer keeps the game moving and fun. We had this one dealer once that was constantly complaining about everything going on with her job. We were on vacation and really didn't want to hear her problems. She didn't get a tip the whole time. That's when I'll tip even when I'm losing. I play Blackjack, not poker. I do it for the entertainment value as much as anything else. If I win a big hand, I tip according to my overall winnings. It doesn't have to much, but I see tipping as part of the game. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Country Posted September 4, 2007 Share Posted September 4, 2007 Nobody has yet answered my question. Dealers are NOT providing a personal service to any single person. When I go to a restraunt and tip the waiter I am tipping him based on the service he provided (or did not provide). When I sit down to a poker table the deal simply deals the cards ... there is no personal service. Why shouldn't the house be paying these guys? Ahh.. but they do provide a personal service.. provided you are a good player. A good dealer will, among other things, keep a game moving along at a good pace, keep the new players (fish) interested in the game and having fun, and also get more hands per hour dealt. More hands dealt equal more profit making situations for you (assuming you are a winning poker player). This concept of hands per hour is a lot more pertinent when you get above the smaller stakes and the house stops raking pots and instead charges a time charge for the seat. Then, your cost per hand is more directly affected by the speed at which the dealer is able to deal the hands. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darin3 Posted September 4, 2007 Share Posted September 4, 2007 Ahh.. but they do provide a personal service.. provided you are a good player. A good dealer will, among other things, keep a game moving along at a good pace, keep the new players (fish) interested in the game and having fun, and also get more hands per hour dealt. More hands dealt equal more profit making situations for you (assuming you are a winning poker player). This concept of hands per hour is a lot more pertinent when you get above the smaller stakes and the house stops raking pots and instead charges a time charge for the seat. Then, your cost per hand is more directly affected by the speed at which the dealer is able to deal the hands. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Atlanta Cracker Posted September 4, 2007 Share Posted September 4, 2007 I generally tip when I win a hand or when the dealer changes if I enjoyed the previous dealer. This is when playing Blackjack or Pai Gow Poker or the like. Most of the time I have found that the dealers prefer for you to make a bet for them - so if you were going to tip a buck you bet a buck on the hand, etc. I think they all slpit the tips in the end anyway so more to split is better. Anyway, the reason I tip is beacause I appreciate the service they provide. I enjoy not having to think about shuffling, dealing, paying bets, and the like. If nobody tipped and casinos were forced to increase hourly rates then you can be rest assured that the house take per hand would increase in some fashion as well. And, yes I do occasionally tip someone who wouldn't traditionally expect it if they provide good service. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cliaz Posted September 4, 2007 Share Posted September 4, 2007 I spent the weekend in Reno couple of years back and sat at a Black Jack table for about 13 hours. Each time a dealer left I tipped them. To me if you have a good dealer, they are part of the fun, talking and generally getting involved with you and not just working to deal to you. Only one of the dealers I didn't tip and that is because I lost almost the entire time they were there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
muck Posted September 4, 2007 Share Posted September 4, 2007 IMO, there is a difference between gambling for entertainment (tips are good) or grinding for your mortgage payment (tips are bad). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tford Posted September 4, 2007 Share Posted September 4, 2007 When playing blackjack, I tip when I'm dealt a blackjack or any winning Lucky hand over 3-1 when playing the lucky square. When playing poker, I tip when I make a big hand (read: suck out) on the turn and/or river. Just a weekender kind of gambler though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whoopazz Posted September 4, 2007 Share Posted September 4, 2007 So ... any time a place of business decides to pay low wages to their employees I should feel obligated to tip? Where is the line? Should I tip the person in Wal-Mart that rings up my groceries? The guy at the local gas station working behind the counter? Both of these people are providing more personal service than a dealer. Why ask the question if you already knew your answer? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Holy Roller Posted September 4, 2007 Share Posted September 4, 2007 Depends on the pot size really. I don't tip every hand I win, but tip $5.00 if it's a big one. A buck if it's decent-sized. Nothing if it's a small pot that doesn't go past the flop. Oh, and watching High Stakes Poker, where they are playing for ALOT more than I am, they only tip a buck or $5.00 as well. Weird. Nothing like watching that idiot Todd Brunson ask for $99 back from the dealer on his $100 chip after raking in a $20,000 pot. I hate that f'er Todd Brunson more than any poker player out there. You know he's adopted. Watch him when his "dad" is around. Sometimes you can almost see Doyle thinking, "F'n milkman..." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
muck Posted September 4, 2007 Share Posted September 4, 2007 ...didn't know he was adopted... I guess that's Exhibit #1 for poker skills being a product of environment. Barry Greenstein/Joe Sebok and Howard Lederer/Annie Duke may be Exhibits 1 & 2 for poker skills being genetic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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