Writer: Ian James
There has been a lot of discussion on the internet forums
about tipping in the past several months, some positive,
some negative and some just plain, uninformed opinions. As a
former international poker dealer I would like to address
the issue of tipping and educate new poker players on the
facts of tipping a poker dealer.
How does a poker dealer earn a living?
I have dealt in many clubs on my international travels and,
without exception; a poker dealer is reliant on tips to make
a good living. If a club is paying a salary it will be close
to the minimum, some clubs pay zero and then there are other
clubs where the dealer must pay the house for every 30
minutes at the table.
It is the same situation in the US, a friend of mine in the
Bellagio gets little more than minimum salary from the
casino and makes the majority of her income from tips. To a
dealer a tip is not a bonus, it isn't something extra to buy
a drink. Tips are the main source of income therefore it is
not unreasonable for a dealer to expect to get a tip from
the winner of each pot, small pots excluded of course.
Why should I tip, I already pay rake?
A poker dealer is a professional providing a service. Like
any other professional, they expect to get compensated for
their work. Collectively, players pay the salary of the
dealer by tipping. The rake/table charge is for the house,
not the dealer. As a player you don't have the option not to
pay rake but tipping is optional. You can choose not to tip,
but what would happen if too many people took this option?
Either you would have no dealers which would result in
player dealt games and the chaos that goes with that, or
higher rakes in the cardrooms to ensure that dealers are
paid a good salary.
I have played before in player dealt games and it was
horrible, I spent so much time concentrating on what the
player/dealer is doing with the cards and pot that I had
little time to concentrate on my hand and my opponents play.
A professional dealer frees you up to concentrate on winning
money instead of being too busy watching how the game is
dealt.
Now, I've heard many excuses from experienced players who
don't want to tip, one of them being "I'm losing, when I’m
winning I'll give you something". Sounds fair, but what
happens if everyone on the table is losing, then the dealer
makes no money (this can happen if the winner leaves the
table and then the chips bounce between the remaining
players for the rest of the night).
Remember, you don't have to be winning on the day to tip,
this argument wouldn't hold much water to the waitress who
just brought your drink.
How much should I tip?
I'll give you the standard answer to any poker question "it
depends". On small limit games a chip a hand is ok, two for
a good pot. If you are playing hi/lo games or 7-Stud then
tip more. Why? Because it takes longer to deal these games
and the action is usually a lot slower. Hi/Lo can be a
tricky game for a dealer to make any tips in, with all those
split pots, so try your best to scoop.
If you win a nice pot in a higher limit game with players
who are verbally abusing the dealer (ideally this would
never happen, but in many clubs dealer abuse still occurs)
show the dealer how much you appreciate them being
professional and dealing the next hand rather than them
confronting their aggressor (who would usually be the fish)
and slowing the game down or, even worse for you, getting
the fish to quit. In these kinds of games it makes sense for
you to be more generous to the dealer, those fish who
continually abuse the dealer are worth a lot to a winning
player.
Don't forget, you do have a choice, if the service you are
getting at the table is bad then don't tip, but if you have
a good dealer sitting there and the game is under control
don't be shy to show your appreciation!
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