Question to PCF: Dedicated Dealer Who Plays & Takes Tips? (3 Viewers)

[justsomedude]

I play somewhat irregularly in a local game that provides dedicated dealers at each table. And it is kind of understood that the dealer should be tipped. The dealer also plays hands, on top of shuffling, cutting, and dealing cards to the players (and themselves).

To make this all work out, dealers manage their own chip stack, which is separate from the table's chip bank/tray.

I've never felt 100% comfortable playing under this arrangement, but when I'm bored for poker, I keep going back.

Simple question... would you play in this game?

 

[Josh Kifer]

I mean. I'm the dedicated dealer for the last 17 years in our game, and I get tips sometimes (mostly during cash games).

It's never been much of an issue. Bigger then game, the more I'd be meh in it. But a home game or a constant group, I refuse to do rotational dealing. Holds up the game way too much when you hit the people who can't shuffle or deal.

 

[RichMahogany]

Holds up the game way too much when you hit the people who can't shuffle or deal.

Can’t stand this! That’s why @RocAFella1 always ends up dealing for the table

 

[Josh Kifer]

Can’t stand this! That’s why @RocAFella1 always ends up dealing for the table

Yeah. I wanna see hands! Not wait for the one guy to have everyone pass cards down the table since he can't throw them. Ugh.

 

[gopherblue]

Uh, this is not ok. If the room is providing a dealer, who manages a bank AND is shuffling, cutting and dealing, AND also plays hands? Hellz no.

In a home game? Where shuffle behind is in effect and another player cutting? Then the dedicated dealer can play.

Otherwise, no. Too much chance of shenanigans.

 

[justsomedude]

Uh, this is not ok. If the room is providing a dealer, who manages a bank AND is shuffling, cutting and dealing, AND also plays hands? Hellz no.

In a home game? Where shuffle behind is in effect and another player cutting? Then the dedicated dealer can play.

Otherwise, no.

Eh, that's the dilemma... it's not a home game or a casino/poker room.

For the sake of argument, let's call it a "private club game."

No shuffle-behind. The dealer collects, shuffles, cuts, deals cards, cashes players in/out, manages pots, calls the action, and also plays his own hand.

 

[Josh Kifer]

Eh, that's the dilemma... it's not a home game or a casino/poker room.

For the sake of argument, let's call it a "private club game."

Private club, no dice. If there is any time of rake and it's past a home game, then I wouldn't play there....

 

[gopherblue]

Eh, that's the dilemma... it's not a home game or a casino/poker room.

For the sake of argument, let's call it a "private club game."

No shuffle-behind. The dealer collects, shuffles, cuts, deals cards, cashes players in/out, manages pots, calls the action, and also plays.

No futzin’ way I’d play there. Shady as sh!t.

 

[madforpancakes]

I dedicated deal at my home game. I pass the shuffle around the table, never shuffling myself (because who has time to play, deal, AND shuffle?!), and do the cut. The shuffle gets divorced from the button, but with the players shuffling, there is no downtime between hands. I would not mind the situation described in the OP if the other players were doing the shuffling. The main reason I wouldn't play in this game is because it sounds raked - why else would the dealer need to manage a chip bank/tray?

 

[justsomedude]

I would not mind the situation described in the OP if the other players were doing the shuffling.

Agreed.

The main reason I wouldn't play in this game is because it sounds raked - why else would the dealer need to manage a chip bank/tray?

100% for sure not raked. That's illegal here in CO. Unless we call the "expected tips" a rake?

Dealer manages tray just to cash players in/out, handle addons/rebuys, etc. Players gotta get their chips from somewhere.

 

[Josh Kifer]

Agreed.



100% for sure not raked. That's illegal here in CO.

Dealer manages tray just to cash players in/out, handle addons/rebuys, etc. Players gotta get their chips from somewhere.

See, we do it off the table. I just stand up and grab the chips from another room or table. I wouldn't like having a dealer tray full of chips in front of a player, personally.

 

[sheikh617]

I 'might' play in a game like this, if I knew the people well enough. If it was some random gave I've never been to probably not. I deal my own home games and I use a shuffletech for shuffling. Every now and then we'll do some manual shuffling around the table when people want to feel useful lol. The dealer/player portion doesn't really throw me off. If the dealer is doing well I could see throwing them a tip on nice pots. I couldn't justify tipping them like I do dealers at a casino. I would just play at the casino if that were the case.

 

[gopherblue]

Look, I’ve played in many an underground club here in NYC—from the places Rounders was based on, to PlayStation on 14th, to the sketchiest of places (one of which was raided by a full-on ESU team on my first(!) visit).

Even the worst NYC card room (and I’ve seen badly run rooms) wouldn’t try to get away with that. There is a zero percent chance there isn’t cheating going on.

 

[MrCatPants]

I dedicated deal at my home game too for the aforementioned reasons. Dont get tips though.

I do play in a game like you describe and it depends on the particulars of who is benefitting from what. They have the bank controlled by a separate player to ensure there's no migrating chips and dealer is last to cash out.

 

[gopherblue]

Guys, this isn’t a home game. This is a club. I call shenanigans, and I for sure wouldn’t play there.

 

[colter ripton]

Something about tipping someone you are playing against just seems weird to me.

 

[justsomedude]

There is a zero percent chance there isn’t cheating going on.

Cheating isn't really my main concern; all the players/dealers seem decent/chill enough... Mostly old timers killing time (and dollars) once a week. My concern is that the potential for things "to go bad" is ramped-up a few hundred percent with this kind of silly arrangement.

I do play in a game like you describe and it depends on the particulars of who is benefitting from what.

Right-o.

Something about tipping someone you are playing against just seems weird to me.

Yeah. This also bugs me out.

 

[MrCatPants]

I should also mention the game I play in like this is also super soft so even if someone is cheating they super suck at it.

 

[DoubleEagle]

I would never play in a game like this. Never.

 

[MegaTon44]

I've been running a game for 4 years with a dedicated dealer at each table. They don't get paid by me, don't take rake for me, and they would not be allowed to deal and play at the same time. I just view it as a conflict of interest at best, shady/sketchy at worst. In a club setting, this is downright unacceptable IMO.

However, I do have a dealer who deals to build up a min buy-in then hands off to a third dealer (if third table is not running so as to give him action, otherwise he deals all night). I would normally have issue with this, but all the players are almost family and have assured me it is fine.

 

[Klobberer]

Not the optimum scenario, but if I knew all of the players were trustworthy, I'm cool with it. I hate dealing and if the guy was fast and accurate...

 

[mummel]

I would not play in this game. Just the thought of sketchy dealings going on (even if they’re not), is enough to turn me off. I want to relax and enjoy some cards with friends.

 

[72o]

 

[links_slayer]

 

[Rhodeman77]

I wouldn’t like it at all and would be watching the dealer closely if I did play in the game. It is hard enough to deal and do everything involved with that’s correctly, then too play as well?!? The dealer can’t be playing their A game with everything he has to do.

I would much rather that each player shuffles the deck behind their button then the dealer can cut it and go.

It wouldn’t stop me from playing if the game was soft, but I’d be paying closer attention to everything.

 

[johnnycnote]

 

[inca911]

IMHO, nobody should ever own both the shuffle and the cut. Even a dedicated non-playing dealer with no obvious interest in the game. You simply never know if that person has a buddy at the table. Casinos with automatic shufflers even follow this principle. When I deal, someone always must cut. If the cutter taps, I move it to another player to complete a cut.

 

[RainmanTrail]

I don't like it when a player gets tips for dealing. Dedicated dealer only, sure, tip away. But I'm not tipping anyone who just check raise bluffed me 3 hands prior.

 

[Lil Tuna]

If you have to ask the question. The answer usually is “it’s too expensive” or “HELL NO!”
Personally would NEVER play in a game as described.

 

[Lil Tuna]

I don't like it when a player gets tips for dealing. Dedicated dealer only, sure, tip away. But I'm not tipping anyone who just check raise bluffed me 3 hands prior.

This exactly!