Dealing Poker In Las Vegas

Curious to know of anyones experience dealing poker in Las Vegas. I'm thinking about moving there. Has anyone ever dealt there? What's it like? Did you move there from somewhere else? Any advice?

I deal wsop every year and love it. Will move out there as soon as elders in family pass here in Detroit. I have many friends who are floors, dealers, and cage workers out there. They like it, however, poker is very thin outside of the WSOP. The pay is good, but I make the same here in Michigan flooring. If you ever have a need for more info let me know.

Before I can give constructive advice;
Are you a dealer?
Where do you currently live?
Do you use drugs? (not a problem in some cases)
Any felonies?
What is your current job?

You can make a bunch of money dealing WSOP, and its only 2 months. You do need to know how to deal about 20 games, but if you are a dealer already then its not hard to learn them. Hit me up if you want more info on WSOP dealing

detroitjunkie said:

I deal WSOP every year and love it. Will move out there as soon as elders in family pass here in Detroit. I have many friends who are floors, dealers, and cage workers out there. They like it, however, poker is very thin outside of the WSOP. The pay is good, but I make the same here in Michigan flooring. If you ever have a need for more info let me know.

Before I can give constructive advice;
Are you a dealer?
Where do you currently live?
Do you use drugs? (not a problem in some cases)
Any felonies?
What is your current job?

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Yes, I'm a dealer, but I've only done it about a year. I live in Pittsburgh. I have smoked pot from time to time. Why do you ask about that? No felonies.

My issue is that it takes so long to get full time employment at the casino I work for. It takes about 5 years or so just to get full time.

I was also curious to know about Florida. I heard poker is big down there if anyone knows anything.

Oh, and I know how to deal holdem and omaha, but we don't really get any more games here.

detroitjunkie said:

You can make a bunch of money dealing WSOP, and its only 2 months. You do need to know how to deal about 20 games, but if you are a dealer already then its not hard to learn them. Hit me up if you want more info on WSOP dealing

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BTW, I used to live in michigan. I played a lot at Firekeepers. I've played at Greektown before too.

Do you know anything about the cost of living etc as well? Any details are greatly appreciated.

Thank you!

as far as the drugs go, reason I ask is most of the circuits do not drug test, especially the wsop las vegas

the casinos however are a different story, but Im sure you got a handle on that if and when it comes time for a screening

learning the other games for wsop is easy if you have already been dealing, this is a good way to get into vegas because a lot of the local dealers and floors work the wsop every year. to get an audition to wsop las vegas only takes one year of part time dealing, and it helps if you went to a school

my personal interest would be to move to tampa and deal before las vegas (only exception is I know way more people in vegas) because the poker there is insane. dealers make a ton, and at tampa downs, at least, you get benefits for working 30 hrs a week. yea florida poker scene is excellent, top 5 in the country, and great for dealers.

i think you should try and hit the wsop this year, pm me if you want info on how to apply, places to stay, and dealing information (btw cost of living is very close to pittsburgh and detroit, pretty cheap)this will open a ton of doors for you, you can even apply to work the circuit afterwards and travel the country, even the world, dealing

I love pittsburgh, tough about the nfl playoffs, Ive been there many many times

Greektown poker room sux!

detroitjunkie said:

as far as the drugs go, reason I ask is most of the circuits do not drug test, especially the wsop las vegas

the casinos however are a different story, but Im sure you got a handle on that if and when it comes time for a screening

learning the other games for wsop is easy if you have already been dealing, this is a good way to get into vegas because a lot of the local dealers and floors work the wsop every year. to get an audition to wsop las vegas only takes one year of part time dealing, and it helps if you went to a school

my personal interest would be to move to tampa and deal before las vegas (only exception is I know way more people in vegas) because the poker there is insane. dealers make a ton, and at tampa downs, at least, you get benefits for working 30 hrs a week. yea florida poker scene is excellent, top 5 in the country, and great for dealers.

i think you should try and hit the wsop this year, pm me if you want info on how to apply, places to stay, and dealing information (btw cost of living is very close to pittsburgh and detroit, pretty cheap)this will open a ton of doors for you, you can even apply to work the circuit afterwards and travel the country, even the world, dealing

I love pittsburgh, tough about the nfl playoffs, Ive been there many many times

Greektown poker room sux!

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Yea I wasn't impressed with Greektown. Firekeepers is my favorite in Michigan, but I haven't been to any other Detroit casinos.

Same here with the 30 hours they will provide benefits but it takes forever to get full time.

What would you say are the 5 best places in the US for poker? You seem to know a lot. When you say money is good, how much do you think dealers typically make? Is it hard to get full time?

In my experience 'full time' is a matter of opinion in most cases. If you are working 30 to 35 hours a week with benefits that may be as close to full time as they come in some areas. A downfall of being just a poker dealer (as opposed to dealing blackjack and other tables games as well as poker) is that you are stuck to being 'as needed' in many cases, especially before you move up ladders. If this means some weeks you work 30 hours and some you work 50 then so be it I say.

A buddy of mine is working in Vegas and had to settle for part time dealer / part time cage. But works out to 35-38 hours a week and he gets benefits so.

I wouldnt worry about being 'full time'. My friend in Vegas makes $25/hour plus benefits overall so not bad. In Tampa I know the good dealers make around $50k a year at 30ish hours, and at Tampa Downs you get benefits, dont think the other Tampa rooms do except casino. The good looking girls can make $75k, I know one that had a $92k year at 30 hours plus benefits at Tampa Downs.

Overall I would take Tampa if I didnt know so many in Vegas, but I may do Tampa anyways in a few years. Anywhere you go you will make around $25 an hour with a strong schedule most weeks. Vegas is good because taxes are lower.
You can find home games anywhere if you are really good, obviously the women will get them first, and around Las Angeles you can work home games as a regular job and make a ton, same in New York I suppose, without benefits of course.

WSOP Las Vegas is good. Over 7 1/2 weeks you can make about 10k if your good, a lot more if you are persistent, and a ton more if you are a female. Last year I made 13k and worked a ton. No benefits but pay is high and work is easy if you know the games and can handle the limits. Then you can work the circuit and travel the USA and world. I know a few and they jam as many circuit events in USA as they can and make about 70k a year, but you are always on the road. No benefits.

TOP 5 (for working dealers)
1. Vegas (though only #1 because of WSOP months)
2. California (LA Area mostly) but I hear dealers dont like the casinos much
3. Atlantic City by default
4. Florida (Tampa area and others)
5. Michigan (Detroit and Ann Arbor and suburbs area mostly)
These based on sheer number of jobs. There are casinos everywhere now and some other states also have charity poker (New Hampshire I think and others) so you can basically go anywhere but these would be my top 5.

p.s. Let me add do not discount charity poker. You can make a living working it in most cases. I know a few guys in L.A. that just work the charity circuit events and make a living. I make mine managing charity rooms here and hitting WSOP Vegas each year and do fine.

Guys I really envy this world of the casino,my dream to move there and it's very cool

I was always under the impression that dealers made very little and depended upon tips - how much of this income is tip/extras related as opposed to salary?

rickroll said:

I was always under the impression that dealers made very little and depended upon tips - how much of this income is tip/extras related as opposed to salary?

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depends on where you work and what you deal.

at wsop if you deal tournaments nothing is based on any tips, down payments are taken out of prize pool and hourly is 8.50, if you deal live or satellites then you get tips atop of your 8.50 an hour

most of your pay is tip based for the most part, but you should still get over 20-25/hour anywhere you work in USA

casinos will pay anywhere from 5-10/hour plus benefits depending on where you are

What kind of daily TIPS do you get at WSOP or say Firekeepers?

Curious minds want to know.

What kind of typical daily tips can a good man receive dealing cards? At the WSOP how much? and say at Firekeepers, in Marshall, Michigan?

How does it work exactly. I know the players normally tip $1 every hand to the dealer at Firekeepers. How do they do the tipping at WSOP? Do they even TIP at WSOP or do you get a fantastic $40-$50 hr wage? How do they do it? Thanks....

Typically players will tip if they win a pot, if its significant - youre not gonna tip if you steal the blinds (though I know players who do). Some tip more than others, this one guy I deal to regularly tips in $2 bills - nice! In real big pots you can get a bunch more. I Michigan I have gotten $5, $10, $20 every once in a while, and once even a $100 once at the end of a session. Some players will wait till their session is over and tip out all the dealers (if they are gone he comes back and tips them another day) if they win money. Some people rarely or never tip - which, you know whatever.

Doyle Brunson once said that if he tipped on EVERY hand he won he would have to pay an extra $10k a year, but he does tip well when he wins big so I get that I guess.

This type of tipping is regular everywhere, the usual would be AVERAGE $1 per hand winning $10-$100, about $2-$5 winning $50-$200, and roughly $10 winning pots over $200.

At WSOP its the same in cash games. If you deal single-table satellites then you get tipped by the winner(s). I have gotten between $50 - $100 for the one hour sats, $75-$200 for the 1-2 hour sats, and $250 - $500 for the 2-4 hour sats (obviously the longer sats are higher buy ins and there is always side action between players as well) My friend she once got tipped $1k for a 3 hour satellite - nice!

Tournaments and multi table satellites are different. (and this is mostly the same for all casinos and some card rooms across country) You really are not supposed to accept a tip and keep it, you should give it to the cage and they add it to the down pool and all dealers in the tournament split it based on downs worked. This is big at WSOP, you can get fired for not turning in a tip to the cage from a tournament (though there are guys who tip every dealer a dollar coin, which I am never surrendering because the dealers would get like .3 cents each if it was divided) and there are floors everywhere, not to mention cameras, so its easy to get caught.

WSOP dealers also make Nevada minimum wage which is currently 8.25, plus no state taxes, so the pay rate is great! I made about 14k last year in the 7 1/2 weeks, and about 8k of that was tips. If you work it make sure you get a bank account in Nevada so you dont have to carry all that cash around.

Thanks for sharing - very interesting. I think one of the things a lot of new people struggle with is tipping - not really understanding how it works.

Thanks for sharing all of that really useful information, i have considered dealing before. I have dealt Hold Em in home games and at a bar a few times and honestly it was decent tips for time spent at that bar. It was more than i regularly could win in that thing in one night, that was for sure.

Thanks again for the info drop.

I would love to get information on dealing in the wsop. I am a dealer in new hampshire now, and next year, I'd love to be out in vegas for the summer!

pistolpetewags11 said:

I would love to get information on dealing in the wsop. I am a dealer in new hampshire now, and next year, I'd love to be out in vegas for the summer!

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Give https://www.cardschat.com/members/detroitjunkie/ a shout. He has dealt at the WSOP.

pistolpetewags11 said:

I would love to get information on dealing in the wsop. I am a dealer in new hampshire now, and next year, I'd love to be out in vegas for the summer!

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Yea message me, I know a few of the dealers from charity rooms in New Hampshire have already made their way to Vegas and have decided to stay there, they have done well for themselves so you should be in good shape. I can guide you the rest of the way, just let me know.

detroitjunkie said:

Typically players will tip if they win a pot, if its significant - youre not gonna tip if you steal the blinds (though I know players who do). Some tip more than others, this one guy I deal to regularly tips in $2 bills - nice! In real big pots you can get a bunch more. I Michigan I have gotten $5, $10, $20 every once in a while, and once even a $100 once at the end of a session. Some players will wait till their session is over and tip out all the dealers (if they are gone he comes back and tips them another day) if they win money. Some people rarely or never tip - which, you know whatever.

Doyle Brunson once said that if he tipped on EVERY hand he won he would have to pay an extra $10k a year, but he does tip well when he wins big so I get that I guess.

This type of tipping is regular everywhere, the usual would be AVERAGE $1 per hand winning $10-$100, about $2-$5 winning $50-$200, and roughly $10 winning pots over $200.

At WSOP its the same in cash games. If you deal single-table satellites then you get tipped by the winner(s). I have gotten between $50 - $100 for the one hour sats, $75-$200 for the 1-2 hour sats, and $250 - $500 for the 2-4 hour sats (obviously the longer sats are higher buy ins and there is always side action between players as well) My friend she once got tipped $1k for a 3 hour satellite - nice!

Tournaments and multi table satellites are different. (and this is mostly the same for all casinos and some card rooms across country) You really are not supposed to accept a tip and keep it, you should give it to the cage and they add it to the down pool and all dealers in the tournament split it based on downs worked. This is big at WSOP, you can get fired for not turning in a tip to the cage from a tournament (though there are guys who tip every dealer a dollar coin, which I am never surrendering because the dealers would get like .3 cents each if it was divided) and there are floors everywhere, not to mention cameras, so its easy to get caught.

WSOP dealers also make Nevada minimum wage which is currently 8.25, plus no state taxes, so the pay rate is great! I made about 14k last year in the 7 1/2 weeks, and about 8k of that was tips. If you work it make sure you get a bank account in Nevada so you dont have to carry all that cash around.

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what about floors and td managers ? how they get paid tips ?
The dealers share with them some of their's ?

kafeneio said:

what about floors and td managers ? how they get paid tips ?
The dealers share with them some of their's ?

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At wsop typically no. Some rooms may tip out floors it depends. Where I work no.

detroitjunkie said:

At wsop typically no. Some rooms may tip out floors it depends. Where I work no.

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So floors don't have tips at all ??
And how they manage it ? i mean if a mediorce dealer makes 50k per year,how much does a floor earns ?
I believed that floors take some of the dealer's tips ,in order to put them in (better tables,better hours,etc)

they always tip at most casinos...isn't that customary?

they always tip at most casinos...isn't that customary?


I allways thought it was ???

FoBreeze said:

Curious to know of anyones experience dealing poker in Las Vegas. I'm thinking about moving there. Has anyone ever dealt there? What's it like? Did you move there from somewhere else? Any advice?

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FoBreeze and detroitjunkie

Thanks for this thread! Whether intentional or not I am sure many members are fascinated to hear about an aspect of the poker industry we are not familiar with. One of the reasons I love a vlogger such as Andrew Neeme is he broadened my perspective of living and playing as a pro in Las Vegas.

The only poker podcast that seems to regularly touch on dealer life and issues is "The Chip Race" and it is always engaging to hear the behind the scenes perspective.

Appreciate the input and info!

DS3 said:

The only poker podcast that seems to regularly touch on dealer life and issues is "The Chip Race" and it is always engaging to hear the behind the scenes perspective.

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Thanks for bringing this up, what platform(s) is that pod cast on? I'd be interested in hearing it, but I couldn't find it on Spotify.