Tipping the Dealer in a Home Cash Game

UncivilProcedure · #1 06-14-2005, 08:13 PM

I play in this game every Sunday night at a guy's house. Nice guy, runs a pretty smooth game, no crazy rules or anything. All games are center dealt, almost always by him (he has a thing for dealing, he enjoys it above what a normal person would. He's no mechanic, or if he is he sucks at it as his results show.). Often when he hits the felt he'll "take a break" and just deal. The last couple times, he's kind of jokingly, kind of not said "don't forget your dealer" after big hands. People started tipping him. Maybe I'm in the minority here, but it shocked me. I don't know if people were just going along or what, but it surprised the hell out of me and I thought it was pretty bad form. The guy waits, accumulates a decent stack of tips, then plays with them. Am I wrong to think this is bad? On the one hand, he's a decent dealer (although could be faster), the center dealt game makes the hands come faster, and he does run a pretty good weekly game. On the other hand, people often offer to deal, and he says no, he likes to deal. Further, he's not shy about asking for donations to keep the fridge stocked, even though most people byob. If people want to tip I guess that's fine, but then I feel a little pressure to tip myself.

Thoughts?

PokerGoblin · #2 06-14-2005, 11:17 PM

What he needs to do is collect a couple bucks at the door. 3-5 bucks is usually kosher.

PG

Mr Meaner · #3 06-15-2005, 10:58 AM

Both actions described are considered illegal in most states. Dealers taking tips and giveing a donation up front are both considered as the house making money. The house cannot make any profit from a poker game in any fashion. Now with that being said most likely the only way he could get in trouble is if some disgruntled player snitched on him. At that point the po-po would have to investige the game and see the house man was taking donation or tips. At that point they could bust up the game. Most likely if the game is small enough and everyone is friends getting busted is very unlikely but if could happen. If you ever feel uncomfortable you could either not play at his games or tae him aside and explain to him your concerns.

jalsing · #4 06-15-2005, 04:27 PM

So what if it's not the 'house' taking the tips? Not trying to work around the law or anything, but often at cash games, a player will bust and offer to deal. Often times, this player is not the host. The other players generally will tip him a small amount, until the time where he can get back in the game. Once he's back in the game, tips are off, of course.

AliasMrJones · #5 06-15-2005, 06:32 PM

There was a guy who dealt a side game after a local tourney and he would either play or just deal and take tips. If he was playing, he was a player just like any other, though he happened to deal to keep the game moving quickly, etc. If he wasn't playing he was a dealer and took tips. Don't know why, but this sounded reasonable to me.

A player at the table being allowed to play with tips from other players just doesn't sit right with me. You're subsidizing your opponents losses. If that were happening I'd suggest the deal rotate so everyone could get tips.

PhatPots · #6 06-15-2005, 11:53 PM

U should not have to tip him because he is the dealer unless you tip other people when they deal. I have never played in a raked home game. I still don't understand how some people do. I don't think friends should charge friends a rake unless there are real costs incurred. Otherwise I head to a casino. Ne wayz, back to the question at hand. If other people get tips when they deal that is fine, but if not, then no tips.

Pots

SamIAm · #7 06-16-2005, 12:18 AM

I actually think that keeping the tips in play instead of in a dealer's pocket helps the game, not hurts it.

[ QUOTE ]
being allowed to play with tips from other players just doesn't sit right with me. You're subsidizing your opponents losses.

[/ QUOTE ]
I guess. Do you mind if dealers at casinos play during their off-shifts? They make their money from tips, and now they're gambling money at poker.

What if this home dealer/player put the tips in his pocket instead of in front of him? Now you're just paying him tips. Oh! But next week, you don't know whether he's buying in with HIS money or YOUR money! [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

I think tipping for good service is always fine. If they choose to use that money to play poker with me, all the better.
-Sam

smoore · #8 06-16-2005, 01:00 AM

Hi meaner, welcome to 2+2

Not at meaner or anyone else, just general response to the thread:
How is this guy taking tips hurting anyone? I would tip him, probably $1 every two pots. Hell, he's a losing player and everyone is basically subsidizing him to get back in the game. Lets say I take $1.25/pot on average from him (pots that I win averaged over the whole game... avg $12.50 pot I win whenever I win at a 10 handed game). Everyone else is tipping $1/pot. If I get him back in the game at $0.50/pot then I'm getting a subsidy from all the other players of $0.37.5/pot ($3.75 per pot vs. my $0.50) just to get this loser back in the game. Guess what? He likes to deal when he's busted, that's awesome.

I would happily tip this guy the aforementioned $0.50/pot. If I were a loser I'd do this too.

edit: maths are wrong but you get the point.

Bulldog · #9 06-16-2005, 09:50 AM

[ QUOTE ]
If people want to tip I guess that's fine, but then I feel a little pressure to tip myself.

Thoughts?

[/ QUOTE ]

Grow a set. If you want to tip, do so. If you don't, then don't, and don't feel guilty about it.

AliasMrJones · #10 06-16-2005, 01:05 PM

[ QUOTE ]
Hell, he's a losing player and everyone is basically subsidizing him to get back in the game.

[/ QUOTE ]

I just don't see how this is a good thing. You're having to win your money back from him multiple times. You're essentially giving him do-overs. It's like giving someone money to play poker and then winning that money. Have you really won anything?