Reasonable Tip?

[Boris]

I recently did well in a medium sized tournament. I tipped the dealers 1.5% of my win. The casino employees thought this was totally unreasonable (and made sure I was aware of their opinion) and that I had stiffed them. Apparently since I caught lightning in a bottle I was obliged to spread the wealth to everybody. My opinion is that 1.5% is a reasonable tip. I also spend the great majority of my time playing cash games and I always tip a minimum of $1 for every pot that I win. I tip whether or not I am winning or losing. Even when I'm running bad and havn't booked a win in 6 sessions, I still toke the dealers when I win a pot. Hell, I even tip the floor person every once in awhile.

Well anyways this is kind of a rant since I was so pissed when the C*&k S*&cker said in front of everybody that I should've tipped more. What do you think is a reasonable tip for placing in a tournament?

[Greg (FossilMan)]

First off, their method of dealing with the situation was inappropriate at best. If I were the floorman, I would either say nothing, and make sure my dealers did the same, or I would take you somewhere private and tell you that while you have no obligation to tip at all, that if you wished to give the dealers a working wage via your tip that X would have been a better amount. This is hard to do, however, without pissing off customers, and probably shouldn't be attempted at all.

As for what you should tip, I consider percentages irrelevant. Look at the WSOP. You have dealers and such putting in a total of about 0.5-1.0 man-years of labor during the main event. 1.5% of the prize pool would be a tip of about $100,000. While dealers and tourney personnel work hard, I doubt they merit this much pay, especially when combined with base salary. Contrarily, in the very small buyin weekly events at many cardrooms, if you tipped 1.5% that might be the same as the dealer earning only $1-2/hour in tips, clearly not enough.

I estimate the number of man-hours of work put into the event, determine a fair hourly wage for the dealer, subtract their base salary paid by the casino, and tip the remainder.

So, if the dealers put in a total of 200 hours in an event, and I felt they should earn $20/hour, I might figure the tips should reflect about $15/hour. That's $3000. total. If I won and got 40% of the prize pool, my tip should be about $1200. That is about the right number whether I won $10,000 or $250,000.

But others feel differently, and as it is tipping, you can do whatever you wish.

Later, Greg Raymer (FossilMan)

[mike l.]

the only appropriate tip for any dealer is zero dollars. although i dont play tournaments i think it would be so funny if i entered a decent sized one and won and didnt tip a cent.

[Homer]

I believe a more reasonable tip is NOTHING for every pot and tournament you win at that casino in the future. If they don't appreciate the tips you give them, and publicly compain about it on top of that, then they deserve absolutely nothing. I suggest you also tell your friends who play there to start stiffing all dealers, until they get their act together.

-- Homer

[Kurn, son of Mogh]

I worked in the restaurant business for years and consider myself a good tipper. However, in most restaurants, any employee who confronts a customer about a tip is instantly unemployed. That's what should have happened to the dealer in question. Fire him.

[baggins]

i too work for tips. sometimes i get really nice tips. sometimes i get stiffed. when i get stiffed, im pretty sure its because the people dont know they are 'supposed' to tip me. i can't mention it, of course. and i never would. i work from the assumption that every tip i get is extra, and while i can expect a certain amount of tips average, each one is more than i expect from a customer, and i am generally appreciative, and i express this. (i drive an airport shuttle, BTW) some people just dont know. but i appreciate every tip, and the kindness and generosity of some makes up for the ignorance or stinginess of others.

[Ray Zee]

thats why its good to be a little inconsistant. you get to see the real side of some people. those that complained see you for only what you give them. so in the future unless you plan on giving them everything you have to get their love, give them nothing. to those that shutup, go on being the very generous big tipper you really are. and what you give is a generous amount, especially if you count it up over a few years and see how your playing bankroll compares to what you gave away and was not fully appreciated.
a buck a pot is great if you are a recreational player and care more for the dealers than for your own survival, and the 5,000 or so you may tip off each year if you play alot doesnt affect your life.

[Dynasty]

C'mon mike, if you won a big tournament (at least 5k first place prize money), it would be much funnier if you tossed the final table dealer a $1 chip and said "chop it".

[mike l.]

" it would be much funnier if you tossed the final table dealer a $1 chip and said "chop it"."

definitely. then when they chop it, smile and say "just kidding" and then toss them the other 50 cents.

[Fitz]

You guys are harsh!!! I don't advocate pandering for tips, and I don't believe players should have to tip huge sums of money, but I believe in good tips for good service. The players who advocate stiffing the dealers are the same ones to scream when those dealers quit because they can't make a decent living and the dealers who replace them can't deal their way out of a wet paper bag. You do get what you pay for.

Good luck all,

[Boris]

"so in the future unless you plan on giving them everything you have to get their love, give them nothing."

Good point. As much as I hate to admit it, I do want to be liked by other people. Maybe that's why I was so irritated at the response to my tip. It's a delicate balance between wanting the love or admiration of those around you and watching out for your own best interests.

Very Generous.These dealer do get paid you know. Some people just like to be big shots and flash money around and we all suffer for it. I DON"T TIP