Why do we tip in casino games like blackjack? Or even poker?

[HawkEye]

Ok Let me put this convo to rest. I am in fact a table game dealer at my local casino in town. First off, most dealers make minimum wage + tips. Therefor we make a living off of tips. As a dealer, we are just robots. We deal the cards to you, give you a card when you hit, pay you when you win, take your wager if you lose, help you with the game if you need help. As players, you are not pressured into tipping us but it would be nice and generous of you if you do and we thank you. Gambling is gambling of course the house edge is against you and your chance of losing is higher than winning. But when you only put $15 at risk on a paigow hand and happen to win a few hundred or even a few thousand, throwing the dealer $10, $20, $50 is nothing. Afterall the dealer did shuffle the cards and placed it in the machine and shook the dice so that the royal flush landed on the spot you were playing. Get where i'm going here? The Wager that you risked was so small but your return was 150-1 odds giving the dealer 1/150 of your return wont put a dent in the savings will it? If it does then you shouldnt be gambling to start with. Usually dealers are looking to get just 10% of a jackpot. But a lot of people tip 5% all the
time. Now if you are risking $900 a hand on baccarat and win 10 hands in a row, we dont expect $900 in tip. Because you are risking a lot to win a lot. Not a little to win a lot. You can just tip the dealer $50 or so and leave. But if you really like a dealer because the way they treat you or you like their skill level or they keep you entertain and you want to tip them more, make sure you ask them if they get to keep their own tips or do they have to share. Because you dont want to tip someone who didnt do anything to help you out or dealt you winners all night. Hopefully this helps as I dont want to ramble on any longer.

[daneblazer]

I usually tip when the dealer's swap out. That way I tip a controlled amount each time no matter what I win and if I don't win a hand, I don't have to tip at all.

[icancount2one]

My girl deals blackjack and craps.

The same assclowns who think the dealer is responsible for their "bad luck" are the ones who don't tip when their luck changes.

And everyone complaining about GA and all that, blame the directors and CEOs for creating an addictive environment or blame the players for being self-destructive idiots, but if there's one person not to blame it's the dealer.

[hornsrgrt]

I tip when I have fun and the dealer is cool and makes the game entertaining.

[playersonly69]

When I said that I tip $25 when I win, that would be after the 1-2 hour session and only if I won over $1000.


But sometimes I feel stupid leaving that $25. I mean a monkey could deal the cards. In all honesty, the only people i see tipping are the ones who are not winning usually

[playersonly69]

I play $5-10 and $5-5 no limit all of the time. We generally only tip $1 a pot. But I will give up to $5 a pot if I win a pot of between $600-1000. For a pot of over $1000, I will usually give $7.



But 90% of the time in poker I just give $1 for winning the pot and to be honest, I feel pretty damn stupid giving that $1 away. There was an article that figured out that most of your brick and mortar retired poker players tip out more than $3000 a year

[housecloud]

I'd wanting to be getting tipped If I was working there job, (I'm sure you would as well)...so I toss a few bucks there way...

[Ra77er]

This will forever be a flame war because people are going to find any reason not to tip. Some people are simply tightwads, even very successful people. They do not care that your just trying to make a living or if you dealt them a royal flush. Sometimes even a thank you is too much to ask. On the other hand, just because someone decides to tip or is a generous individual doesn't make them any better than the next man in my book. I simply prefer to tip but don't think less of anyone that doesn't.

[playersonly69]

Ra77,


No one said ANYTHING about a Royal Flush or a Jackpot. I was talking about a regular hand of poker where you win $100-200. We usually tip the dealer $1.00 for that win. Or I was talking about playing blackjack at $50 a hand or so. Where there is no progressive win

[bettilimbroke999]

This must be why most restaurants close within 3 years. The owners made so much money using cheap labor they can afford to retire.

Anyone who's ever ran or owned a restaurant will tell you margins are small and can't afford to pay most labor anything but close to minimum wage.

Reason most restaurants have trouble is massive competition (too many tightass owners opening 50 restaurants side by side and only the most popular will survive and make a killing). I know whenever I go to Chili's it is fuckin packed nonstop, hard for me to believe with their 6 dollar drinks and 10 dollar meals consisting of a sandwich and fries plus 2 bucks for a coke and 8 bucks for appetizers that their margins are too small to pay their wait staff.

As with any business in which there is massive competition you can easily go out of business, if you have no customers in any business you have no profits and just the overhead will kill you, but the restaurants that do well make a great amount of money while the rest just go out of business.

[clarkacal]

Ra77,


I was talking about a regular hand of poker where you win $100-200. We usually tip the dealer $1.00 for that win.

You would be better off tipping nothing there than a dollar. I'm sick of people working for tips and the employers who pass on the cost to you. It's time for a revolution!

[stikymess]

Personally I tip as the dealer leaves, usually based on what I'm up for when he was dealing.

Not to add to the arguement, BUT what if a player is having a bad week/month and is down thousands, you get a hot table and are up a few hundred for the day/table, are you supposed to start tipping?

Here in Arizona I've talked with dealers and they told me what they make, I was floored. (keep in mind they keep all their tips, not pulled for the shift) From what they told me, trust me they are not starving.

[Glitch]

i agree with a lot of what ironman said-

sometimes the dealers are sexy or fast or point out flaws in your "strategy"/ give advice or help you with rules and procedure Plus even though they didnt usually intend to roll the dice that way or drop the ball that way, they still actually did it. they dont make faces if you just tip them a dollar, but if youre on a hot streak, i dont see anything wrong with tipping well or buying drinks at the table- its fun.

and ive never heard of a dealer making more than 12-15 dollars an hour not including tips and that is the high end extreme of what ive heard.

[MadTiger]

I usually play craps and I always tip throughout and after a session, but I guess craps is a little different though. You can really tell the difference between good stickmen and dealers vs. mediocre ones. With a full pit good ones keep up with bets which can be a handful with as much yelling and chip flinging that goes on, confirming those last second bets or reminding me that I have some chips on the table before the roll comes out. If I'm betting hardways, there's always those odd number of chips left that I always toss to the dealers, but they usually lay it on a hard number for themselves. I've had good dealers ask the waitress to bring me a pack of cigs when they notice I ran out. I had a stickman overhear my buddy and I talking about taking a break and getting some dinner. The stickman said something to the pitboss who came over and told us that he would be happy to make dinner arrangements for us compliments of the casino. I realize that's part of their job, but I appreciate the better ones and will definitely tip.

i never tip...i need all the $$$

Do not tip

You can tip or not tip, but I have noticed that whether I am at a hole-in-the-wall diner, or a casino, tipping gets me treated like Roadtrip.

[Ra77er]

Yea I got what you were asking in the OP, I was more just making a generalization on people that tip and people that don't. You've had a dealer and someone banging a dealer post in this thread saying hey I make a living off of your tips at the table. Reality is most that I know dont go to the casino with xx amount of dollars to play with and xx amount of money for a tip. Gamblers in general go to the casino, blow their load and then go home pissed off and don't have money for a tip at the end of the night and then look for reasons why they shouldn't be tipping in the first place. I'm sure dealers make the bulk of their tips when the player is winning and not losing or when the player is walking out the door. So to answer your question as to WHY we tip dealers at BJ or table game is because they are trying to make a living. They are providing you with entertainment (hopefully anyway, some are terrible) and you show your appreciation by giving a tip. If you think thats stupid to give a tip to an industry thats built on taking enough if it already, then by all means I can certainly understand that and respect it. Just understand its not that pakistani dealer's fault that you cant catch a break at the table that night.

[Ra77er]

As far as the dollar amount of a tip or what's expected I think that's very subjective. You tip or don't tip what you feel is adaquate IMO. What one guy thinks is too cheap another is appreciative of a dollar on a 100 score.

[bettilimbroke999]

I'd wanting to be getting tipped If I was working there job, (I'm sure you would as well)...so I toss a few bucks there way...

I prefer to receive a consistent check every 2 weeks from my employer for an agreed upon amount for my work, depending on begging the customers to give me gifts just for doing my job so my tightass boss can pocket my paycheck doesnt sound fun

[robmpink]

I can't stand it , but I do it after a decent hand. I once won about 33k on a slot and tipped the slot attendant $175. I can't tell you how many times I wish I had that $175 back.

[bettilimbroke999]

Personally I tip as the dealer leaves, usually based on what I'm up for when he was dealing.

Not to add to the arguement, BUT what if a player is having a bad week/month and is down thousands, you get a hot table and are up a few hundred for the day/table, are you supposed to start tipping?

Here in Arizona I've talked with dealers and they told me what they make, I was floored. (keep in mind they keep all their tips, not pulled for the shift) From what they told me, trust me they are not starving.

Exactly, the dealers and wait staff at popular restaurants/casinos make an absolute killing for doing absolutely nothing other than their basic job, what am I supposed to do support the dealer thats robbing me making 100k a year? **** that

[borednaz]

Personally I tip as the dealer leaves, usually based on what I'm up for when he was dealing.

Not to add to the arguement, BUT what if a player is having a bad week/month and is down thousands, you get a hot table and are up a few hundred for the day/table, are you supposed to start tipping?

Here in Arizona I've talked with dealers and they told me what they make, I was floored. (keep in mind they keep all their tips, not pulled for the shift) From what they told me, trust me they are not starving.

Stiky,
here in AZ it's because most of the casinos are run by Indians. The amount the house pays out to employees is better because of them not having to pay taxes on goods etc. Not to mention as you well know we're a retirement state with nothing to offer other than Golf & Gambling for anyone much less the elderly.

There is no shortage here of gamblers coming into the house so of course the casino has the margins to pay out nicely.

[UntilTheNDofTimE]

I always tip good simply cause i can. I play mainly 2-5 and 5-10 NL hold em and in a given night i can tip up to 35 bucks or so if i have a winning session. A buck here and there and 5-7 bucks every time i win a 400-1000 pot. Someone made a comment that the average poker player tips 3,000 a year, and this is mostly skewed by professional players who tip very well in high stakes games. But as for me, poker is not my main source of income and the last 2 years Ive made over 5 figures both years(low 5 figures), so i dont mind tipping very well. For a losing degenerate or someone who makes theres living id assume you need to reconsider your tipping structure but for me its a pure entertainment source. Dealers make $8 a hour here and when im running super good i have no problem tipping the dealer.

[UntilTheNDofTimE]

Exactly, the dealers and wait staff at popular restaurants/casinos make an absolute killing for doing absolutely nothing other than their basic job, what am I supposed to do support the dealer thats robbing me making 100k a year? **** that

And a card dealer is the only overpaid profession in the united states? Most jobs are redundant and dont require much.

[borednaz]

That being said I'm a tipper, not every won hand nor big pot. I tip when I'm ready to walk away, I usually take 5-10% of my winnings for my session and give it to the dealer. It is -EV for sure, but even riding out variance at the poker tables I always leave after tip with with a decent sum of money in my hands.

@playersonly how much do you sit down with behind at a 5/10 game? I always play low stakes because the guys there are just there to gamble & kill time. Yes there are tough tables or regulars at low stakes here but you learn right away which table to not waste your time at. I don't want to sit for a hour hearing grandpa & company pouring out drivel for $20-40 a pot.

Never moved up limits because I enjoy winning a few hundred for a couple hour session & going home after.

[bettilimbroke999]

I always tip good simply cause i can. I play mainly 2-5 and 5-10 NL hold em and in a given night i can tip up to 35 bucks or so if i have a winning session. A buck here and there and 5-7 bucks every time i win a 400-1000 pot. Someone made a comment that the average poker player tips 3,000 a year, and this is mostly skewed by professional players who tip very well in high stakes games. But as for me, poker is not my main source of income and the last 2 years Ive made over 5 figures both years(low 5 figures), so i dont mind tipping very well. For a losing degenerate or someone who makes theres living id assume you need to reconsider your tipping structure but for me its a pure entertainment source. Dealers make $8 a hour here and when im running super good i have no problem tipping the dealer.

Dealers get tipped by whoever wins the pot in poker its fukin ridiculous they could care less who wins they get their tip either way its not like they care if you won or the other guy, on top of grabbing the casinos 5 bucks out of every pot, fuckers are makin out like bandits. You play for 7 hours and tip 35 while the other 9 guys at the table tip 35, dudes made 350 dollars in tips in 7 hours and robbed the table for another 1000 for the casino in that time as well. Yea I really think the monkey deserves to make 100k a year for dealing cards while some fucker sweating to death over the grill at McDs pulls in 15k

[tukkk]

mind you, youre NOT tipping the casino, but the employees, who are ordinary people just like you !
If you get lucky and go on a heater, i think its mandatory to leave a tip. Any sane player plays "skillgames" for entertainment not for money LOL, so tipping when winning is a nice gesture. Think about what sorry asses the emplyees have to stomach every night : )

[Ra77er]

Bettilimbroke- sounds like you've taken some bad beats over the years man. Maybe time to sit a few weeks out.... lotta anger towards dealers

[Kindred]

because that's how the dealers make the majority of their salary, tips. If no tips then the rake would go up as if it weren't already too high. And on blackjack tables if they had to pay dealers more because no tips you would lose comps like free drinks since it would squeeze profit margins. Not saying this casinos can't afford it, but they won't take the hit to the bottom line they'll pass it along to players/gamblers.

[UntilTheNDofTimE]

Dealers get tipped by whoever wins the pot in poker its fukin ridiculous they could care less who wins they get their tip either way its not like they care if you won or the other guy, on top of grabbing the casinos 5 bucks out of every pot, fuckers are makin out like bandits. You play for 7 hours and tip 35 while the other 9 guys at the table tip 35, dudes made 350 dollars in tips in 7 hours and robbed the table for another 1000 for the casino in that time as well. Yea I really think the monkey deserves to make 100k a year for dealing cards while some fucker sweating to death over the grill atMcDs pulls in 15k

If your so bitter over the subject maybe you should quit gambling. The casino robs players of $5 a pot? No shit but that's how they generate a profit margin. Playing 2-5 and 5-10 the rake isnt very noticeable as in low stakes games. This is why people aggressively protect their blinds and if you cant do that then you shouldn't be playing. On another point the monkey that deals you cards is just a employee like any other regular person. Whether you choose to tip him/her or not is your choice but dont be little the person because they decided theyd rather obtain a higher paying job with less work involved then working at McDonald's. is every college graduate a monkey to you too? Most people go to school to obtain a higher paying job with less work involved. And dont pull the skill card out cause 95% of these people will never use there education in their daily duties, yet get paid more than the average factory worker that in 1 day did more work than they did in a year.

[bettilimbroke999]

And a card dealer is the only overpaid profession in the united states? Most jobs are redundant and dont require much.

I dont know of any jobs that require no education that pay 100k a year other than maybe a very few unionized factory jobs that havent been moved to China

Sweat over a grill at McDs or shuffle cards, make your choice, quite frankly I would say objectively that McDs should pay twice as much as a poker dealer just sitting there and dealing a deck of cards but thats just me, as long as some suckers will tip constantly and make the dealer rich for robbing them so be it....but I aint no sucka

[downsouth]

Dealers make like $6 bucks an hour. (Less some places) if nobody tips them you will end up with morons dealing (think mcdonalds fry cook or something equally as low payer) I

[UntilTheNDofTimE]

I dont know of any jobs that require no education that pay 100k a year other than maybe a very few unionized factory jobs that havent been moved to China Sweat over a grill at McDs or shuffle cards, make your choice, quite frankly I would say objectively that McDs should pay twice as much as a poker dealer just sitting there and dealing a deck of cards but thats just me, as long as some suckers will tip constantly and make the dealer rich for robbing them so be it....but I aint no sucka

The average Dealer makes about 40,000 a year mind you, not 100k. Secondly 15-25% of their tips goes directly to the floor man.

[UntilTheNDofTimE]

Mcdonalds can pay their workers twice as much but then your dollar cheeseburger will cost you $5. make your choice.

[bettilimbroke999]

Mcdonalds can pay their workers twice as much but then your dollar cheeseburger will cost you $5. make your choice.

First off bullshit that they only make 40k, my friend deals less than 5 months out of the year in Myrtle Beach and makes over 40k, if you are a shit dealer in some dive of course you are going to make nothing bc you're dealing 5 buck hands to homeless ppl. He says he will never bet a dollar in a casino its the biggest ripoff on the planet but he loves to deal to those suckers and rake in a fortune for doing nothing, they end up broke while he makes 10 gs a month

[HawkEye]

Why are you guys even comparing a grill kid from Mickey Ds. It's their choice that they work there and it's their fault that they aren't qualified for other jobs like a casino dealer. Too bad that they chose a profession that does not include tips. Most casinos require you to be 21+ and requires you to have a gaming license that requires hours of training to become a card dealer. The only requirement you need at Mickey D's is a $15 food handling permit. You can be retarded and they would still give it to you.

[daneault23]

Bettilimbroke, maybe you should become a card dealer then and make that 100K a year you speak of