Reasons I Tip Dealers at the Poker Tables

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Have you ever noticed that many dealers actually seem to enjoy dealing the low stakes poker games in a casino? Do you know why that is? Usually, the low stakes game pay better in tips. While that sounds strange, it is a truth of many poker rooms.

For whatever reason, there are many players at mid and high stakes poker games that will seldom tip. Personally, I try and always tip a dealer in a pot if I finish the pot at a profit. There are several reasons behind this, and I will share them with you.

Encourages Better Dealing

Some of you think this statement is a load of bull, but if a dealer is making decent money, it will tend to force them to try harder at their craft. In many games, the only real motivation for a dealer to perform is the money they make.

If they are getting paid well at a table, that will usually encourage them to deal better, faster, and more efficiently. That may only translate into an extra 4 or 5 hands per session they deal, but that may translate into $5 or more in actual pay that they receive. That builds up over time.

Encourages Others to Tip

Have you ever sat in a game and maybe either forgot to tip after winning a hand and then you see someone tip? What did you do the next time? You probably threw out a tip, didn’t you?

A lot of players, especially at lower limits have a “monkey see, monkey do” type of mentality. If they see everyone else doing it, then they take it as something acceptable to do, and they do it to fit in.

Also, it helps to educate other players. There are some players that have never played in a live poker game, so they have no clue that it is customary to tip the dealer. Your tip may help educate other people as to the proper way to play the game.

Making Friends With the Dealers

While many believe that the dealers don’t remember one face from another, that just isn’t the case. If you are someone that does not tip, the dealers take note. If you are someone that tips, they note that too.

Dealers will treat you better when you tip and it sometimes can work to your advantage. I actually once had a floor man put me in at a table ahead of other people on the list based on the fact that I tipped and he knew others on the list were stiffs.

I had another instance where a dealer approached me in Las Vegas having remembered me from games in Los Angeles. She remembered me because I treated her well at the table and I was one of three people that consistently tipped her. Dealers remember the little things.

Helping Out the Dealers

The fact is that in many casinos, dealers only get paid when they are dealing downs, and many are paid at minimum wage or lower. The only way they make a decent living wage is via their tips.

Also, dealers do not get tips during poker tournaments, so if they spend half of their day dealing a tournament, they will only get minimum wage pay those hours. The rest of their day at the cash tables is when they make their pay. A $1 or $2 tip after winning a pot may not seem like a lot, but it makes a difference to the dealers working the tables.

The above are just a few of my personal reasons for choosing to tips dealers in games. You may not agree, and that is fine. It is your money, and you have the right to keep it if that is what you want. Personally, I choose to help the people helping me to make money at the tables.