Dealer Compensation

[Quint]

Without breaking into a 'Reservoir Dogs' discussion on tipping, how much do poker dealers make? Does it make a huge difference the casino and limit they're dealing? Is it common for a portion of tournament fees to go to the dealers? The reason I ask is there has been some grumbling about the fact that Hachem only tipped $100 after his win at the WSOP. I guess those grumbling didn't take into account the $1.1 million plus that was taken off the top for the staff (his cut of which would have been more than $75,000 if they hadn't taken it off the top).

[Aequitas58]

WSOP dealers, or your average, run of the mill, ring game dealer?

[Talking Poker]

The WSOP was interesting. *I* tipped $580 from my winnings (chump change compared to the Main Event people)... but to be honest, I didn't realize how much had already been taken off the top for them (3% from my tourney, 2% from the Main Event). If I had, I probably would have tipped less. If the casino wants to take the tip out of the prize pool, that's fine, but no more tipping should be required or expected after that. If 2% isn't enough to make everyone happy, fine, take more out ahead of time.

IMO, this is probably a better way to go than to take nothing off the top and risk the big winners not leaving enough to make everyone happy.

[PShabi]

$100? Holy fuck. I love it!!!!!!

I would've left a buck.

[johnp158]

$100 is a complete insult, in my opinion. If you disagree with tipping, why not leave 0? It just seems to me that leaving 100 out of 7.5 million is sort of a slap in the face to the dealers and staff. Maybe it has something to do with different tipping customs in Australia, but it seems pretty crappy to me.

[Talking Poker]

I agree.... seems like an insult to me. I wonder if he actualy left $0, and the $100 in question was something he handed to someone else.... say, the TD or the chick who fills out the W2 forms or something.

[PShabi]

If you go to a restaurant with 8 people, go to pick up the tab and see they've charged 18% gratuity already, do you leave another tip?

I sure don't.

I would've left zero and went out on the strip and gave $500 to the first bum who's 40 had less than 20oz left in it.

[Quint]

I agree. I think Joe meant to tip the final dealer an extra hundred, but that's probably not allowed. I'm guessing it had to go into the pool of money for everyone. I don't think he did anything wrong or intended any disrespect.

[GeoffM]

Well, I know 2 of my friends that use to play 5/10 and have switched over to dealing for these ring games. They told me that on average they will make somewhere between $150-200 on the typical Saturday night. This includes wage, tips and free drinks.

I would have tipped absolute dick all IMO. Why? Sure, the man won 7.5 mill, but as already mentioned money was taken off the top, and stop saying he won 7.5 mill when in reality 40% of this prize will go to George W.

[jillaj]

I know in Australia tipping the waiter isn't the norm. It took some time trying to explain to my friend that it is expected here in the states.