Tipping at home games? (1 Viewer)

[Dugthefish]

I host a weekly, unraked, self dealt game. I usually spend $30-50 on food (pizza, subs, smoked meats, gourmet hot dogs), and also have a full spread of both alcoholic and non alcoholic drinks available. PPV events are usually ordered when available. I do all that so the players in my game are comfortable and have no need to leave early for any food/beverage needs.

I never ask for tips, but many of my regular players will throw me $10-20 on their winning sessions, which I graciously accept. Enough that I generally break even or at least come close to recouping my expenses.

I have a large enough player base that I can afford to be a little selective on invites and I do skew towards good tippers when filling the table.

 

[casinochipper22]

Whenever I host a PCF game

waiting list...
1. @casinochipper22 (I always tip the dealers!)

 

[Poker Zombie]

gourmet hot dogs

 

[quintooo]

I host 0.25/0.50-1/2 with "poker friends." Some of them tip, some of them don't. Usually they'll throw me quarters or singles at the end of the night to cash out at an even amount. Some of them bring beers, wines, or scratchers. I don't rake the game and currently don't have a dealer.

I host 0.05/0.10 with my regular friends, which is a more social event. We chip in for alcohol and food, but there's no tipping.

So, I think it depends on your group. With regular friends (one's you would hang out with non-poker related things), I can't imagine them tipping me. With poker friends, I think it's ok because they usually understand the effort and costs of hosting.

 

[Sunshine]

Only by virtue of laziness. Though somewhere in the house I'd have a way to make it exact, if someone cashes out for 201 and the bank immediately at hand is out of ones, they're getting 200.

 

[detroitdad]

I'll accept tips from anyone but @mike32 . I always provide snacks and 3 to 4 bottles of middle shelf bourbon. If dudes want to help pitch in for it, awesome! I don't ask, but I will accept it.

 

[Schmendr1ck]

View attachment 738871

Yeah, I was also a little annoyed that he didn't say "gourmet hot dog sandwiches."

 

[Irish]

Depends a good deal on the host/game situation....

When I'm the guest:

• If the host is supplying a good deal of food/drinks on top of cards/chips/tables and not collecting money, I will usually give them something to cover expenses, or I will bring something like a bottle of bourbon/scotch and leave it for the house.
• For tourneys - if I win (or cash in a large tourney), I will typically tip the host, as I know running a good tournament is a lot of work.
• For cash - I typically won't tip unless there's a dedicated dealer.

When I'm the host:

I've been running monthly tourneys for years - aside from a nice setup, I provide water/soda/coffee and dogs/snacks - everything else is BYO. I don't ask for nor
expect anything, I consider it like hosting a party, it gives me the opportunity to drink and hang out. I will always tell folks who offer tips directly to me that the sentiment is much appreciated, but please keep it as I'm happy to host and provide a fun game and keep it rake/fee free. A few of my long standing guys will typically just leave it on the table when they leave anyways, lol, which is a nice gesture.

 

[upNdown]

Only by virtue of laziness. Though somewhere in the house I'd have a way to make it exact, if someone cashes out for 201 and the bank immediately at hand is out of ones, they're getting 200.

Yes, when I host, it's .25/.50 and I've never handed out any quarters at the end of the night, nor has anybody asked. I'm not scrounging for quarters, I promise, it just seems silly to worry about 50 cents at the end of the night.

 

[Legend5555]

We do almost all the hosting. We don't rake. We don't ask for anything. BYOB, but we supply basic snacks, soda, cheap beer, and bottled water. Occasionally a meat and cheese tray or similar light meal. Most people throw some money our way for hosting, and we gladly accept.
If I'm at a non raked game, I throw the host some money.

 

[CraigT78]

I host usually 2x per month. For the MTT nights I charge $20/head and that covers the snacks, beer, and whiskey. I have two beers on tap and nobody really brings their own anymore.

For the single table cash games, I don't rake or take a hospitality charge, as most of the guys have already contributed $20 that month.

After each night, the winners usually tip, and I take anywhere from $50 to $150 in tips per night.

When I attend, I bring a brand new setup of cards with me as a host gift, as well as tipping $10-$20 when I leave.

 

[casinochipper22]

not too much experience with the home game scene. But working in casinos, we learn that you accept every tip with same amount gratitude. Whether it is a dollar or a thousand. Not accepting a tip can be disrespectful. You can always take it, say thanks, and say something like its really not necessary in the future, I'm happy to do whatever it is you're doing. it's obviously different when dealing with friends in your own house. But in a casino, that is how all tipped positions should handle themselves.

 

[TheDonkeyKong]

When I host my $.50/$.50 game it is with close friends and I’m never looking for tips. Most of the time when someone cashes out and are left with say $104, they insist I keep the $4. I’m more than fine with that because I rarely keep any change in the bank. Our game we all drink a fair amount, and is pretty active. We stock the fridge up and anyone can take what they want. We usually have a couple pints on a patio before we even start lol. When I go to someone else home game, I will tip at the end of the night or tip the dealer when ever I win a hand.

 

[TheDonkeyKong]

That being said I’ve been to a home game where the dealer would literally call you out if you did not tip when you won a pot. Would say you ain’t going to tip? Was terrible

 

[Darson]

I guess a lot of this depends on how you see your games and how often you play.

We rotate hosting for our monthly game but since I'm usually the instigator, I host more often than the others. I do this because I want to play poker and I can drink what I like nor worrying about driving home; not for any other reason. When I host, it's my house and the players are my guests. I supply beer, spirits and dinner - usually hot dogs but occasionally we make a curry or chilli. Some guys will bring alcohol but others do not - I never care. Tipping has certainly never crossed my mind but also we primarily play tournament style with winner take all so there is no need to mess with the bank and cashing out.

Now perhaps this is the British in me but I would consider it rude to accept tips from my friends. They're my friends, not a random bunch off the street. When I host a game, it's like I'm inviting them to my house for a party - you would never expect party guests to tip.

Now if I play a cash game at someone else's house, I am happy to round down - not because I want to "tip" the host but because I want to make their life easier when cashing out. I never consider the round down to be a tip. I'm now feeling a little bad that if tips are expected then I've been a bad "guest" to their game because a round down is not what I consider adequate as a tip.

I want to play poker with people I consider as friends for relatively low stakes - it's more about the fun than the money. If it's a commercial venture like a card room or a casino then it's different.

So let me ask this question - I've been to two meet-ups and often there are players that deal all day and night and others that manage the bank - am I supposed to tip them? This whole discussion has just made me sad that we're even talking about this for home games.

 

[Schmendr1ck]

So let me ask this question - I've been to two meet-ups and often there are players that deal all day and night and others that manage the bank - am I supposed to tip them? This whole discussion has just made me sad that we're even talking about this for home games.

I will often manage the bank for a day when I go to a meetup, and hell no, you shouldn't tip me.

I'll bank a meetup game solely to take some weight off the host's shoulders and give him one less thing to worry about that day. It's a way of saying thanks to the host for the hard work that always comes before, during, and after hosting a meetup.

 

[natumes]

A large percentage of players at my home game I met through bar tournament poker where I am a dealer and they regularly tip me for a larger starting stack.

I do all the dealing at my home game, but I have the button shuffle and player behind cuts the deck. I always have beer on hand, including home brew, but the majority is leftover BYOB from players. I now provide hot dogs with my roller . Several players tip when they win a pot, just like they do in a casino. Most round down their cash outs, and most will tip larger if they are big winners (even more if I'm a big loser).

I always tip the host at other games if I'm a winner because I appreciate the effort that goes into acquiring equipment, providing food and/or beverages and getting people over for a good game. I'm usually a winner too, and I'd like to be invited back regularly to good games.

In contrast, I do not expect tips from my D&D group. Those are my good friends and that would be weird. Poker is different, everyone is there with the expectation that money is going to change hands. If your poker group is the equivalent of my D&D group, then that's a different situation.

 

[Trihonda]

So let me ask this question - I've been to two meet-ups and often there are players that deal all day and night and others that manage the bank - am I supposed to tip them? This whole discussion has just made me sad that we're even talking about this for home games.

interesting.. I think meetups are a different animal. And yes, it’s very customary to throw tips at the meetup host (tho most would never ask). I know meetup hosts that routinely spend a grand or more with a 3-4 days worth of food and snacks, meetup chips, trophies, etc.. not to mention the months of planning, organizing, and stressing… it’s also a collaborative effort. So tossing the host $20+ or so to cover your snacks for the weekend is kosher imho. but I’ll also round down at nightly cash outs.

I have hosted the MTTD a number of years, and when my BR was low and we didn’t have a lot of money, (the first year or two), I actually asked for $20 from each person attending to defray snacks and beverage costs. I then went on to scarp that concept, and haven’t kept track of tips. But yes, people will tip, and some don’t. While hosting a meetup I’m too busy to keep track, or care who tips. But when you lay out a ton of cash for a 3-4 day party, a little help is appreciated.
but that help isn’t always money. In fact, the best help is when people pitch in to help with setups, or running certain games, or food prep, or making ice runs, or cleanup each night. And yes, deal… Those are the real hero’s.

And yes, I’ve seen people bust out of cash at other meetups, and deal for tips until they have enough to buy back in, lol.. some deal tho because they deal fast, and enjoy a faster paced game….

 

[MatB]

I will often manage the bank for a day when I go to a meetup, and hell no, you shouldn't tip me.

I'll bank a meetup game solely to take some weight off the host's shoulders and give him one less thing to worry about that day. It's a way of saying thanks to the host for the hard work that always comes before, during, and after hosting a meetup.

that's what I like to do. Did that at SQM and Alamo meet ups.

I definitely was not looking for tips.

But.....

I did have one player who while cashing out took out a quarter coin and added it to his stack to make it an even dollar amount.

LOL. We don't take shrapnel

I gave back the quarter and rounded down. I don't think they were happy about it.

 

[MatB]

I Had contemplated starting a thread on Meet up etiquette.

Tipping the host should almost be mandatory.
THey've given huge amounts of time and energy putting it together. Amazingly generous to open up their homes to people .
All the utilities, and unseen costs that go into a meet up I couldn't even begin to imagine.

Even if you are down, a little something helps.
If your up, consider it other peoples money and tip more.

 

[TheDonkeyKong]

I Had contemplated starting a thread on Meet up etiquette.

Tipping the host should almost be mandatory.
THey've given huge amounts of time and energy putting it together. Amazingly generous to open up their homes to people .
All the utilities, and unseen costs that go into a meet up I couldn't even begin to imagine.

Even if you are down, a little something helps.
If your up, consider it other peoples money and tip more.

I agree 100%

 

[MegaTon44]

When I host, my game is more for socialization. Pretty much the only social interaction I have during the month. I usually spend $100-$150 for food and drinks, and I also have 3-4 dealers who run the tables. I don't take a rake and the dealers do not get paid by me.

However, in lieu of any sort of contribution expectation, I do ask the players to take care of the dealers. They keep the game moving and also help to manage the bank. I do start the game at a deficit, but small price to pay to ensure folks have a good time and the game is run efficiently.

 

[MrCatPants]

Now if I play a cash game at someone else's house, I am happy to round down - not because I want to "tip" the host but because I want to make their life easier when cashing out. I never consider the round down to be a tip. I'm now feeling a little bad that if tips are expected then I've been a bad "guest" to their game because a round down is not what I consider adequate as a tip.

I dont think many on here are expecting it.

Overall I think its really only a discussion for the regular hosts providing a food/drink spread.

 

[MatB]

For one night of poker at a home game. If I had a great night I'll even out my racks/ barrels and leave the rest for the host.

IF I had a bad night. Then F- THE HOST !!

 

[Schmendr1ck]

I did have one player who while cashing out took out a quarter coin and added it to his stack to make it an even dollar amount.

 

[toothpic]

View attachment 739014

What?!?

 

[JMC9389]

I absolutely refuse to imply that I'll accept tips when I'm hosting. When I play elsewhere, especially if it's cash, I ask the host to round my payout down to the nearest $5 or $10 and say that the remainder is for the house to cover food/drinks, etc.

My regular crew does the same thing when I host. They'll always round down or throw in a couple of extra bucks when ordering pizza to cover drinks and snacks.

 

[Schmendr1ck]

Tipping the host should almost be mandatory.

For me, end of a meetup is the one time that tipping at a home game should happen. It's a ton of work and can cost a host four figures to host a meetup.

Throw the guy fifty bucks or so at the end of the weekend and say a heartfelt thank you.

What?!?

 

[MatB]

Whats the ettiquette if the host is down 5 mortgage payments. Sobbing uncontrollably
And youre standing there at 4 am with bundles of of $20s and $100s ?

So do I tip then? Throw them $5 and say 'hey bud, it aint so bad' ?

Id like to know before August 5th please.

 

[BukNaked36]

I am grateful people are willing to open their homes and host. If I am not hosting in return, I think it is appropriate to tip. I would honestly really struggle with not tipping in this case.