Props

I was wondering how props work. Either in Arizona or Southern California, what kind of hours, limits are available for props and what about compensation? Specifically, what are the advantages to being a prop vs. simply playing on your own time? Also, how much game selection do you have?


Alan

I'm not sure about Arizona or Southern Cali... in Northern California, though, props make different rates based on what limits they play.


$6-$12 and under = $135 / shift

$15-$30 and under = $175 / shift

$20-$40 and under = $220 / shift


Props play with their own money and have very minimal game selection, unless they are what is known as a "silent prop" which means they can punch in and out whenever they want and play in whatever games they want. That's a good job... but you generally have to have worked in the casino for several years before you can be a silent prop. In general, I think that it's better to play on your own time and just select the best games... but if you are are struggling with a low bankroll, propping might be a good way to go.


Dutch

how long is a shift? I see your point, but I know that I sometimes go on tilt and just need to call it a day, or at least take a break from the table...I guess I really can't do that, since that is the purpose of the prop, to fill in when the game is short!!


Also, what about having to play different games, that is say, Omaha or Stud, which I tend to get cleaned out on, and thus avoid like the plague.

8 hours a shift, just like any regular job.

Yeah, bad news friend. You have to play all the games... and a lot of the time, you're going to have to play them short handed. And the shifts are 8 hours. If you start out, you'll probably have to work graveyards... either 2am to 10am or 12am to 8am.


I can tell you right now that if you have any weaknesses in your game, you aren't ready to prop. There are quite a few pros I know who seek out the weak props and eat them alive. It's kind of weird... the props become the poker bitches. You see guys all the time start propping at the $20-$40 level... get cleaned out... then move to propping the $6-$12 level and grind out a bankroll again. Then they move up and get cleaned out. On and on...


Dutch

Actually, I disagree a bit with your comments. If you have a large bankroll, then I believe propping is better because you are less likely to go on tilt and, in the long run, the approx. .6 of a bb (for 20-40) will really add up if you are a small winning player. The slightly tougher games you may have to occasionally play in are not going to discount the extra 1100 you will have every week. That's 50k+ into your poker account (before taxes /images/smile.gif ) every year, and it allows you to hide your poker winnings as you can live reasonably and legally off that income.


I agree, if you have leaks in your game, propping is not for you, but, unless the games get really tough (highly unlikely), or you are losing access to much higher limit games that are juicy, I don't think a pro can really beat being a prop.


Of course, you need reasonable rules to work with as well. In one casino, the props were allowed to play any game they wanted as long as they were not needed elsewhere.

I think the mid limit props have a pretty good deal in the bay area. Game selection is not really a factor because all the casinos have a must move policy anyways. Also, if you play higher, like 30-60, the props get paid an outrageous amount of money, but then they usually need it.:)

In the Bay area, aren't most of the mid limit games exclusively hold'em? I know this is the case at Garden City and Bay 101...I've never seen any stud or omaha game go that isn't 4-8 or lower...I can easily make up those losses at a 6-12 HE game.

I think the props at the Oaks get benefits like any other employee. not sure if this holds for other rooms, but it is a big motivating factor in deciding whether or not to take the job.