How's this for a house rule??

[AKQJ10]

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My other rule is, give me the $500 pot and only then will I let go of my cards.

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That's the best general policy IMO, and a habit I'm glad to have picked up every time I see a rules controversy regarding showing (or not showing) hands.

To draw an analogy: in some states, the pedestrian always has right of way. But if you walk in front of a car traveling 55 mph, your relatives probably aren't going to get much joy from prosecuting the driver for vehicular homicide. In other words, theoretically being in the right is no substitute for vigilance. The dealer still has every responsibility should push the pot to owner of the best hand shown down, regardless of whether said owner is busy with the drinks. But as the OP's friend found out it's scant consolation that they weren't doing their job when the other guy is racking your chips and running for the door.

I'd probably report it to the poker room manager and play somewhere else if you can, unless you're satisfied by their response.

[Sparks]

This decision is so outrageously wrong, that it's actually hard to believe.

Once a winning hand is tabled face up, that player must get the pot. With that retarded ruling by the floorman, the player should immediately appeal to the manager and go as far as he must to have the house review the tape, determine the size of the pot, and award it correctly.

Your friend screwed himself by giving up so easily, if in fact he had the winning hand.

Sparks

The rule of thumb that seems to be in place is that once a pot gets actually pushed to a player (not just that it is in front of him, but he has scooped it in and taken possession) the house will not take it back from him. I don't know if this is a written rule, a legal requirement or just the the way things seem to be done. That being said if a casino makes a habit of paying a player who has the winning hand but doesn't correct the error until after the pot gets pushed then the house is inviting players to take a free shot at them, because a player no longer has any incentive to correct the error at a time where it can be corrected easily.

That being said I don't object to paying a player in some situations.