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About Tipping Casino/cardroom Dealers


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How come we dont tip the burgerking worker or the cashier at the super market ..who decides what jobs get tipped. School teahers dont get tipped by parents and they teach their kids all year round for a small salary. Cops risk their lives for a small salary ...Just drives me crazy that some of the "service industry" workers are expected and expecting to make tips no matter how well they do their job.
Okey dokey Mr. Pink
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I little OT, but what are good tipping practices for tourneys? What if you win a large amount? If you win 100K, what is the expected tip. No freaking way I am tipping 10% (or 5%).
It depends whether a proportion of the prize pool has already been withheld for the dealers and tournament staff. If so, then don't tip too much, say if you win about $5K, then $100 should suffice I think. For $100K, I think $1K to $2K is a good number. If a proportion of prize pool is not set aside for the dealers, then tip more.
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I think tipping every dealer at the end of their shift is not the thing to do.For starters, it makes everyone else at your table look bad. Extra tipping is great but I would reserve it for only the top dealers or one who pushed u pot after pot. And then I would throw them at least a red bird at the end of his/her shift. This would be on top of a dollar or two tipped after a winning hand.Tipping each dealer after their shift rocks the boat and shows up the rest of the table. Reserve it for the very best, over tip, and it will make more of an impact.In some casinos, before a dealer starts his 8 hour shift or whatever, he gets a bank. The bank will be usually around 300 dollars of chips that are used to make change during hands or buy people in. Your tokes were going into his tray, but when he cashes out his bank whatever is beyond the original 300 is his toke wages. Not sure, but I bet Bay 101 dealers don't carry around toke boxes. They just have a different way of doing things.But don't be afraid to ask"Excuse me, do you accept tips??" I'm sure u will get the right answer.So I guess you don't play in any cainos? Tipping dealers is almost universally encouraged, not required. You don't have to tip, but be prepared for nasty glares and some whispers if u choose never to do so. Tipping is part of playing in a casino, which that and rake make internet poker seem like heaven.
So not tipping a bad dealer and tipping all other dealers $1 really standardizes when you trying to reward exceptional behavior. $1-$2 on a pot in something like a 4-8HE or below is great for a dealer, but in 10-20 where players expect more, look at it this way, you get what you pay for. You tip the minimum, your gonna get the minimum service, but if you go the extra mile and toss the dealer a FEW (a redbird is generous) dollars, then i guarentee that dealer is gonna watch out for you, and pass the word on to others, i.e. when a floor decision is required, selective language can be used to retell the events so that the outcome benefits the better tipper. Believe it or not, it happens. And yes, I am speaking from behind the box, both as a dealer and a player. It's greedy if you can't spare $1 on a $30 profit on a pot.
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So not tipping a bad dealer and tipping all other dealers $1 really standardizes when you trying to reward exceptional behavior. $1-$2 on a pot in something like a 4-8HE or below is great for a dealer, but in 10-20 where players expect more, look at it this way, you get what you pay for. You tip the minimum, your gonna get the minimum service, but if you go the extra mile and toss the dealer a FEW (a redbird is generous) dollars, then i guarentee that dealer is gonna watch out for you, and pass the word on to others, i.e. when a floor decision is required, selective language can be used to retell the events so that the outcome benefits the better tipper. Believe it or not, it happens. And yes, I am speaking from behind the box, both as a dealer and a player. It's greedy if you can't spare $1 on a $30 profit on a pot.
Hey surfingpro, since you are/were a dealer yourself, it's generally true that low limit players tip more than the higher limit ones right? eg you'd get more from dealing 3/6 than from 20/40. That what it seems like at my cardroom
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I deal poker at MGM Grand, and I have heard it all the pros and cons and all the arguments about tipping that there are. When I get tipped, wether it be $1 or $100, I always say thank you and tell them I appreciate it, because I do. As far as tipping, tip what you like, whatever is comfortable for you. There is no such thing as being cheap for tipping a dollar when everyone else is tipping 4 or 5, because you dont have to tip at all.

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I deal poker at MGM Grand, and I have heard it all the pros and cons and all the arguments about tipping that there are. When I get tipped, wether it be $1 or $100, I always say thank you and tell them I appreciate it, because I do. As far as tipping, tip what you like, whatever is comfortable for you. There is no such thing as being cheap for tipping a dollar when everyone else is tipping 4 or 5, because you dont have to tip at all.
Do you do the dealer tap thing where you tap the toke chip against a hard surface on the table as your way of saying thanks? The first time I went to a casino, I was confused as to why the dealer did that. I even asked a dealer to explain it to me..lol
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Do you do the dealer tap thing where you tap the toke chip against a hard surface on the table as your way of saying thanks? The first time I went to a casino, I was confused as to why the dealer did that. I even asked a dealer to explain it to me..lol
It is meant for two things......one is for saying thank you by tapping the rack ( but I always say thank you so they can hear me )....and the other reason why you tap the rack is so there is no confusion about it possibly being money that might belong in the rack. It lets floor people know that its a toke by it being tapped on the rack.
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Yeah, always tip the "little guys", who don't get to be in the limelight. ie toilet person, chip runner and cashier/cage ppl
I agree with you for the most part. I think of myself as above average tipper. I will even usually tip for going to pick up my food from a take out joint, but you have to at least provide something of a service, but there is some things that i just don't value enough to be tipped.Quick little story from a couple a weeks ago...I go to a local casino in Canada and use the restroom...there is an attendant just standing by the exit door, doesn't greet me or anything...I do my business, go to wash my hands and there is a tip jar next to the sink. I'm not going to tip a restroom attendant....let me go in peace, but as I'm walking out, the guy gives me a pretty dirty look and as i pass by, i can hear faintly by the attendant "unbelievable" so I turn around and just say excuse me and he replies "nothing sir"....I mean come on...give me a little something in return to expect me giving money to you.Also some might not agree, but I tend not to tip cage cashiers either. I know it's not their fault, but just doesn't make sense for me to give cash at the tables to play the game with a rake and then go exchange those same chips for my cash again and leave a tip.
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I deal poker at MGM Grand, and I have heard it all the pros and cons and all the arguments about tipping that there are. When I get tipped, wether it be $1 or $100, I always say thank you and tell them I appreciate it, because I do. As far as tipping, tip what you like, whatever is comfortable for you. There is no such thing as being cheap for tipping a dollar when everyone else is tipping 4 or 5, because you dont have to tip at all.
You said it right. We are greatful for what we get, generous or not. To add to my above post, I'm not talking about dealer/floorman collusion when asking for a decision. It's impossible to do w/ 9 witnesses at a table. In addition, yes, low limit games tend to be a lil better from my experience.
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I was playing at Bay 101 today in San Jose, and I noticed when I tipped the dealer the kept putting the chips back in the chip tray, and obviously wasn't taking the chips for themselves. I stopped tipping after I noticed that. I don't know if Bay 101 has a rule that other cardrooms or casinos have, but it looked like they were not accepting tips. Usually I'm a generous tipper.
I'm positive the Bay 101 dealers take tips. They carry their bank, like the other guy said, in the tray, and take the tray from down to down. At the end of the night they reconcile the bank and any extra is theirs.Again tonight, at Garden City, I saw the dealers toke the floor people. A guy was ending his down and he put a two dollar chip on the card box that was going to be removed. I've seen it several times. They take care of the people that make their job easier. I take care of the dealers. I tend to do it as I win a pot, not because I won it, because that's a good time to share the wealth.I had two excellent dealers tonight...they set the board, called the players in the hand, just did a good job. They got double.
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So I guess you don't play in any cainos? Tipping dealers is almost universally encouraged, not required. You don't have to tip, but be prepared for nasty glares and some whispers if u choose never to do so. Tipping is part of playing in a casino, which that and rake make internet poker seem like heaven.
Tipping is very "North American". Tipping is not allowed in Australian casinos. Also, as previously stated, most Eurpean casinos do not allow tipping. The casino in Montreal does not allow tipping (their dealers are unionized and are paid a high hourly rate!). Do not tip out of guilt or fear or obligation...tip because you want to.Here is an interesting article about a big change in the casino tipping genre.
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You tip the minimum, your gonna get the minimum service, but if you go the extra mile and toss the dealer a FEW (a redbird is generous) dollars, then i guarentee that dealer is gonna watch out for you, and pass the word on to others, i.e. when a floor decision is required, selective language can be used to retell the events so that the outcome benefits the better tipper. Believe it or not, it happens.
This is disgusting. So u say tip an extra buck or two so u can have the dealer in your hip pocket? I'm not looking for handouts from dealers and I don't need a dealer to "watch" out for me. If a dealer plays favorites, that is the problem of the dealer and the dealer should be terminated.
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Even with this turn of fortune it is not very pleasant being here for three weeks (I will be here for a total of seven weeks but will not be doing the same thing next year) and it is very difficult not to become very cynical here. Almost every person in the service industry is robotized into a "Stepford Wives" type insincere mode. It becomes unbearably annoying how they constantly blow smoke up your *** in an endeavour to squeeze a tip, or larger tip, from you. This onslaught of insincerity leads to a negative psychological reaction to anyone who attempts to "Harrah's" me. Nearly everyone that makes an unsolicited civil comment to you has a financial angle for doing so but there are obviously some who are simply being nice. It is very unpleasant to know that I now automatically have the same negative reaction to anyone and assume the worst of them. I hate insincerity and falseness in people and this unfortunate human trait flows like a river through the streets of Las Vegas. I spoke to my friend Simon Zach about this and he summed it superbly when he said "that will always be the case for us here because we are real people and this is all bollox"
full article here makes an interesting readhttp://www.pokerineurope.com/pokerarticles...p?articleid=895
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Let me chime in here...........As someone who has played for years and dealt for even longer. I see both sides of the tipping/non tipping/when to tip etc etc issues.First off - a good dealer doesnt care why or when you tip him. He is just grateful that you do.Reasons you should tip a deal (and reasons why I do).The casino pays them a smaller wage than non-tipped positions, because they receive tips. These tips go a long way towards making their wage a decent one.A friendly dealer who controls the game, and deals well should be tipped imo. However, if he is not tipped will not be upset about it.Poker dealers put up with far more abuse than any other casino position (believe me its true)Reasons I would not tip a dealer.I will not tip a dealer again if he does not say "thank you" when receiving a tip. As a dealer myself, it truely offends me when a dealer does not acknowledge a tip from a customer - no matter how small or big. There is absolute NO excuse for this, none whatsoever to not acknowledge someone GIVING you money. And I will tell them at the table that this is unacceptable.I will not tip a dealer if he shows that he is clearly upset for not receiving a tip from a player after a hand - this is also unacceptable (also if he seems upset at the size of the tip)I will tip dealers less than normal if the tips are pooled - however, I will still continue to tip. As a dealer I would do the following:Thank each and every player when they tip - size of the tip does not matter as I feel someone simply giving me money by their own choice is a wonderful thing. I will also ensure that if I do not know the player, to ask his/her name whenever they tip me and make sure I use it. Players feel more comfortable when dealers use their names and are more likely to tip in the future.I respect the fact that some players simply do not tip - its their choice. Also, sometimes, they simply forget, sometimes they are having a bad day and really dont want to. A couple other small things.............if you are playing, bear in mind if you are going to discuss tipping while at the table - this can affect others and in turn the dealers tips. So discussing tips in a negative way should be done quietly and not within earshot of other players at the table. This may sound wrong to you but telling others what they should and shouldnt tip (friends excluded) is unfair to the dealer who is trying to earn a living. Afterall, he doesnt come to your workplace and tell your employer you make too much.For those who dont believe tipping should be allowed:If you dont believe in tipping - just dont tip. Thats fine, its your right. But its unfair to believe that it shouldnt be allowed. Its a large part of a dealers income and frankly makes for better overall dealers. Tipped dealers have incentive to deal a good game and keep the mood at the table good and they recognize this.Anyway thats my 2 cents - thank you for the tip.

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In some casinos, before a dealer starts his 8 hour shift or whatever, he gets a bank. The bank will be usually around 300 dollars of chips that are used to make change during hands or buy people in. Your tokes were going into his tray, but when he cashes out his bank whatever is beyond the original 300 is his toke wages. Not sure, but I bet Bay 101 dealers don't carry around toke boxes. They just have a different way of doing things.
This is the case. You will notice that the dealers carry around their chip tray as they move from table to table, as opposed to leaving the tray for the next dealer. When the tray stays at the table, you will notice that dealers will have a toke box or place the tip in their shirt pocket, etc.Tipping should be done on every hand IMO. A buck a hand is very reasonable. I will also toke after a dealer shift if the dealer ran the game well with no mistakes. Since I primarily go to 1 or 2 casinos regularly here in LA, I want to tip appropriately so that I am remembered by the dealers and the floorpeople. It's a two-way street. The same goes for a restaurant that you frequent. Generous tips get you better service in the future.I've heard some claim that this is why they prefer playing online...they don't have to toke. Tipping a dollar for a pot you win is not going to cut in to your overall profits. I even track my tokes for my records, and it's such a minimal impact. The results of toking a dealer/floor pay off more in the long run than taking a dolar profit out of each pot.
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Tipped dealers have incentive to deal a good game and keep the mood at the table good and they recognize this.
QFT. If you are looking for why it's a good reason to tip, this should be it.
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I little OT, but what are good tipping practices for tourneys? What if you win a large amount? If you win 100K, what is the expected tip. No freaking way I am tipping 10% (or 5%).
You take into account the amount taken out for tips up front. Meaning if there was 3% taken out, you tip 12% if not 17%. Tip mat is pretty easy 15% if you're cheap 20% if you're stand up.
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You take into account the amount taken out for tips up front. Meaning if there was 3% taken out, you tip 12% if not 17%. Tip mat is pretty easy 15% if you're cheap 20% if you're stand up.
I'm normally very good to my dealers..but, there's absolutely way I'd ever 20% for a tourney win. 10% would be more than generous. If I win 100k, 30-40k would go to taxes, there's no way the dealers are getting 20k on top of that. That makes my 100k win 40 or 50k.
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This is disgusting. So u say tip an extra buck or two so u can have the dealer in your hip pocket? I'm not looking for handouts from dealers and I don't need a dealer to "watch" out for me. If a dealer plays favorites, that is the problem of the dealer and the dealer should be terminated.
I consider myself ethical, and my comment was not to imply that I will be in anyone's "pocket", it simply means that if a pleasent player needs service or chips, you go the extra mile to take care of that player because they take care of you, that's is basic business fundamentals (i.e. when a boss gives his top employee a trip). I'm not a mechanic (dealer who can do "magic" with the deck), nor do I want to be. I say thank you when I get a tip, I don't give glares when I don't get a tip. When I'm at a bad table I try to deal even more hands out so that I can make as much as possible. By any means, i did not want my post to be interpreted as me being able to be bought. I take pride in running a fair game, I treat every player the same, whether or not I know their name, or I see them 40 hours a week. However, this is my job, my career, so I want to be compensated fairly for doing it just like we all wanted to be compensated fairly for playing great poker, i.e. winning.
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