Tips (Gratuity) for dealers.

[najisami]

When you're playing a poker cash game or sitting at a blackjack table, do you tip the dealer? every hand you win or only here and there?
What about tournament poker?

 

[Igor G]

I tip waiters. I only tip dealers when I have good results, only then. But if the dealer is a pretty girl, then she should be tipped in any case.

 

[najisami]

But if the dealer is a pretty girl, then she should be tipped in any case

That's not fair man!
The male dealer is working too.

 

[YLAN]

I am known to push chips to the dealer when I double up my stack of which they readily acknowledge.

What about tournament poker?

During tournaments, I double & triple up stacks much easier but the dealers do not accept my chips. They always push 'em back to me saying "you need the tourney chips more than me sir". Tourney dealers cannot be bribed?

 

[margmilo44]

Gotta be a-little drunk or up quite a bit before i start tipping unfortunately.

 

[najisami]

I am known to push chips to the dealer when I double up my stack of which they readily acknowledge.


During tournaments, I double & triple up stacks much easier but the dealers do not accept my chips. They always push 'em back to me saying "you need the tourney chips more than me sir". Tourney dealers cannot be bribed?

That's funny Mr. YLAN-san , but seriously, when you get ITM in a tournament and get paid, do you give a certain percentage as tips for the dealers, or do you just put the money in your pocket and walk away?

 

[najisami]

Gotta be a-little drunk or up quite a bit before i start tipping unfortunately.

Yeah, it's actually unfortunate.
But for who?

 

[YLAN]

That's funny Mr. YLAN-san , but seriously, when you get ITM in a tournament and get paid, do you give a certain percentage as tips for the dealers, or do you just put the money in your pocket and walk away?

Apology for the humour Naji-san. I don't think u can give tips to dealers in tournaments. If they do, I won't know how because they do not allow cold cash given to dealers. So when busted in ITM, I beeline to the cashier, accept the winnings & then go get some whisky LOL.

 

[najisami]

I don't think u can give tips to dealers in tournaments

Yes, you can Mr. YLAM. After cashing your winnings, you can give whatever amount you think adequate to the tourney director who splits it among dealers. At least that's what I've seen and done.

 

[najisami]

Apology for the humour Naji-san

And no need to apologize bro. A sense of humor is always welcome here.

 

[YLAN]

Yes, you can Mr. YLAN. After cashing your winnings, you can give whatever amount you think adequate to the tourney director who splits it among dealers. At least that's what I've seen and done.

Cool. Didn't know that. Tho I don't feel doing it unless I'm familiar with the TD. I would rather show appreciation to the particular dealer personally.

 

[najisami]

Cool. Didn't know that. Tho I don't feel doing it unless I'm familiar with the TD. I would rather show appreciation to the particular dealer personally.

In casinos, when playing a cash game or Blackjack, even when you tip a particular dealer for whatever reason, that money goes to a pool and will be divided among all dealers after their shift finishes (Notice that he/she slides it into a special box designed for that purpose).

But when you're playing in a private club, it's a different story. Most of the time, each dealer keeps whatever they make.

 

[Emily Trott]

Apology for the humour Naji-san. I don't think u can give tips to dealers in tournaments. If they do, I won't know how because they do not allow cold cash given to dealers. So when busted in ITM, I beeline to the cashier, accept the winnings & then go get some whisky LOL.

Yes, you can Mr. YLAM. After cashing your winnings, you can give whatever amount you think adequate to the tourney director who splits it among dealers. At least that's what I've seen and done.

When I play a tourney in a new venue I always find out where the tip box for the dealers is. I'll put a $10 bill in either before it starts or when I get knocked out. If I win I make my total contribution at least 10% of the prize. I played a month or so ago and after being eliminated I gave the room manager a $10 for the dealers. He thanked me and said that was more that what most of the winners give. I think that is pretty sad. (Most tourneys I play have a sub-$200 entry fee, and the majority are around $160 or less.)

"When you go into a bar you should always have enough money to: buy yourself a drink, buy a drink for someone who buys one for you, tip the bartender." - Pete Johnson

 

[najisami]

When I play a tourney in a new venue I always find out where the tip box for the dealers is. I'll put a $10 bill in either before it starts or when I get knocked out. If I win I make my total contribution at least 10% of the prize. I played a month or so ago and after being eliminated I gave the room manager a $10 for the dealers. He thanked me and said that was more that what most of the winners give. I think that is pretty sad. (Most tourneys I play have a sub-$200 entry fee, and the majority are around $160 or less.)

"When you go into a bar you should always have enough money to: buy yourself a drink, buy a drink for someone who buys one for you, tip the bartender." - Pete Johnson

Pretty sad indeed when someone cashed and just walks away. I really never seen anyone tipping even before the start or even if they don't win. But the fact is that some people are generous and some are cheap.

I think stiffing people who work for tips, especially waiters and waitresses who practically don't get paid from the house, is a sign of inconsideration, cheapness and extreme selfishness.

 

[EarnDAStack]

I may have said this before in a similar thread previously but I always found it funny how we're expected to tip in a situation where the dealer is supposed to be vetted and heavily scrutinised to make sure they aren't cheating.

If my waitress at the local pub knows I'm a good tipper I want her to beeline to the terminal and get me my drink ASAP and give me good, quick service throughout my visit and I'll occasionally get a free beer from a manager because I'm a regular. When I'm at the casino I have to tip them because their employer doesn't want to pay them enough but I can't expect any better service for tipping well. They also CAN'T provide any better service (better cards) for those who tip compared to those who don't so their performance-reward structure is out of alignment between employee and employer that poker players pick up because we are kind caring generous human beings

Seems like tipping kind of misses the mark for the gaming genre in my opinion, I still do it when I go but it's been a factor in why I haven't played more live in the past. Tipping all day and then getting stacked to end the night would tilt me to the moon.

 

[najisami]

They also CAN'T provide any better service (better cards) for those who tip compared to those who don't so their performance-reward structure is out of alignment

The dealer is actually dealing FOR you. Every time you get the button, you are supposed to deal. Imagine playing with no dealer! And everyone deals when it's their turn? I'm sure a lot of cheating would be involved, let alone counting chips when there are multi all-ins for example.
If people tip the dealer, that's because he's providing a tremendous service to them.

 

[EarnDAStack]

The dealer is actually dealing FOR you. Every time you get the button, you are supposed to deal. Imagine playing with no dealer! And everyone deals when it's their turn? I'm sure a lot of cheating would be involved, let alone counting chips when there are multi all-ins for example.
If people tip the dealer, that's because he's providing a tremendous service to them.

I pay rake. That's the fee charged by the casino to provide the game.

I wouldn't pay rake if they expected me to shuffle and deal my own cards when I'm on the button or expect everyone at the table to be honest while doing the same if there was no rake or dealer to tip. I pay rake for game security and integrity, dealers are essential to that however all that should be an employer to employee problem and part of the Casino's operating cost not another tax on my after rake winnings.

I'd prefer they charged more rake and it wasn't expected you tip, I hate being taxed on after tax income.

GL

EDS

 

[sibkaz]

Smile yourself, make others smile! ) If you've earned something, share it if possible! ) Stinginess in everything, drying up of the soul! )

 

[Sunz of Beaches]

I don't see why I should ever tip a dealer in any casino. They are already earning a their wages and it's not like they do me a favor or something. And the most important point: if I lose noone gives anything to me either so why should i give something when i win?

 

[Tero]

The opinions seem to go both ways
The tipping culture in general is not the same all over the world. In some countries tips might make a big part of individual's pay, but then there are countries where even waiters, etc. are deeply unionized and receive a fair pay. In those countries tipping becomes more of a complimentary procedure than actually supporting someone's livelihood.

 

[SPANKYSN]

I have only played live cash games in Canada and the US. Common practice is that the hand winner tips the dealer each hand...players who do not tip are frowned upon. After winning money in a tournament, I tipped the last dealer at my table. When you cash at a wsop event, they ask if you wish to tip as they pay your prize.

 

[martinoni]

I tip waiters. I only tip dealers when I have good results, only then. But if the dealer is a pretty girl, then she should be tipped in any case.

Such a nice reason to tip hehe

 

[najisami]

Smile yourself, make others smile! ) If you've earned something, share it if possible! ) Stinginess in everything, drying up of the soul! )

It looks like it's not easy to get such a philosophy into some people's heads, but what goes around comes around.

 

[najisami]

The opinions seem to go both ways
The tipping culture in general is not the same all over the world. In some countries tips might make a big part of individual's pay, but then there are countries where even waiters, etc. are deeply unionized and receive a fair pay. In those countries tipping becomes more of a complimentary procedure than actually supporting someone's livelihood.

Well explained Tero.
It does actually depend on the geographic location. And I'm probably a bit biased since I dealt cards for a while in a country where tips is a part of the popular culture.

 

[Emily Trott]

Pretty sad indeed when someone cashed and just walks away. I really never seen anyone tipping even before the start or even if they don't win. But the fact is that some people are generous and some are cheap.

I think stiffing people who work for tips, especially waiters and waitresses who practically don't get paid from the house, is a sign of inconsideration, cheapness and extreme selfishness.

Everyone has their own outlook on things but be it bar, casino, poker table, restaurant, etc..., I look at it as entertainment paid for with disposable income. As such I'm more than happy to share the wealth.

To answer your original question when I play a cash game, which is usually 1-2 NLH, I'll give the dealer $2 when I win a pot and toss more when I get up to leave the table. When playing blackjack, and also craps which is the other table game I play. I always bet the tip for the dealer(s). At blackjack you put it on top of the line around the betting circle/line. For craps I tell the dealers that the bet is for them. Years ago when I first played craps I put some chips on the table and told the dealers "This is for you." One of them told me that I should bet it instead so I did.

For blackjack I'd always make the dealer bet when there was a good plus count on the deck(s) so they'd have a better chance of winning. On the craps table I'll do it when someone is on a hot roll and my chips are piling up. At both games, like at the poker table, I'll always toss them a few when leaving the table.