Tipping in a Dedicated Dealt Game (1 Viewer)

[merkong]

I’m going to have to unwatch.

I’ve outlined what I do and don’t doz

Play nice kids.

 

[upNdown]

Reviving this not too stale thread ...

I play sometimes in a .05/.10 cash game where one of the players (not the host) always deals (the group seems to like it and won't let anyone else deal). I've seen tips as large as $5/hand go into his "Tip Pool". By the end of the night he usually has >$50 in tips in a game where the standard buy-in is $20. Any winning hand, even a buck or so, everyone tells me to make sure that I tip the dealer (they seem to think that because players are expected to tip in a casino, that they should tip in a home game for a "real" experience).

This bugs the sh!t out of me. I usually respond that I will tip at the end of the night, and to be honest I don't mind rounding down to the nearest $5 when cashing out and leaving the change, although I would feel much better about it if it was going to the host, rather than just one of the players who won't let anyone else deal. But padding the pockets of an otherwise winning player in a micro-stakes game feels dirty and wrong somehow to me.

To a certain extent, it really isn’t about the money at these stakes. If you took money out of the equation entirely, the idea of tipping the dealer would seem ridiculous. If we’re playing trivial pursuit and your seat is a bit far from the board, so I move your piece for you and read your questions for you, would I get a tip? Of course not.

So in that regard, I think it’s crazy to try to tip that guy fair compensation for his work in this game. Toss him a nickel every hand or a couple bucks at the end of the night. If that doesn’t work, maybe everybody needs to reevaluate.

 

[glynn]

To reiterate, since the thread is still breathing somehow, there is a bucket that players drop a few chips or bills in at the end of the night (usually totals somewhere between $3-5) but NO TIPPING MECHANISM DURING PLAY.

I just want to clarify; NO TIPPING MECHANISM DURING PLAY.

But in case I wasn’t clear; there is NO TIPPING MECHANISM DURING PLAY.

I’m going to have to unwatch.

I’ve outlined what I do and don’t doz

Play nice kids.

Nobody is doubting you dude.

 

[merkong]

Nobody is doubting you dude.

No I know. It’s just that I’m over this thread.

Thanks for the reply though lol

Good topic

 

[LotsOfChips]

Which is it?

LOL, it’s both, actually! Player always wants to deal, doesn’t like to share. Group is happy with status quo, doesn’t want to change.

It’s a weird kind of vibe, $20 buy-in in a cash game, but no rebuys unless you bust (wtf????), dice chips worth .05/.10/.25/.50/1/5, .05/.10 antes with frequent RFI of $1-2 and 5 callers, one guy last game bought in 9 times chasing his earlier buy-ins jamming with literally ATC.

I’m not really a regular there, only play once every two or three months (they play twice every weekend), so I know it’ll never change, but it’s okay for a few hours when I want to play without driving an hour or more to the other games I play.

 

[TonZaga]

BTW.....Thread best enjoyed with morning coffee

I've come to realize that my investment in hosting is exactly that, my investment. I like to think that the atmosphere, food, equipment, and the level of consistency, all enhance the player's experience and keep them coming back each game. (insert your favorite "If you build it, they will come" meme)

I will note that we are self dealt for the time being but have the intention to purchase a shuffler and become the playing dealer. With that said, I already have players that round down winnings and throw in a few bucks just for hosting. Never expected and always appreciated. That money is set aside and put back into the game somehow.

 

[LotsOfChips]

Just to be picky here, but when I hear (or read) the term “Dedicated Dealer “, that means to me that he (/she) is just that - a dealer. Only. If they are also a player, then they aren’t dedicated to dealing.

In this and other threads the term seems to mean that the deal doesn’t rotate (like in a self-dealt game), even though the dealer button does.

Dedicated (not playing) dealer- tip absolutely! Before, during or after the game, doesn’t make much difference to me.
Playing dealer - tip during the game should not be expected, encouraged or even considered (IMO).
Host - for sure, tip at the end of the game, leave the loose change and a few bucks more if you feel so inclined.

 

[Eriks]

LOL, it’s both, actually! Player always wants to deal, doesn’t like to share. Group is happy with status quo, doesn’t want to change.

It’s a weird kind of vibe, $20 buy-in in a cash game, but no rebuys unless you bust (wtf????), dice chips worth .05/.10/.25/.50/1/5, .05/.10 antes with frequent RFI of $1-2 and 5 callers, one guy last game bought in 9 times chasing his earlier buy-ins jamming with literally ATC.

I’m not really a regular there, only play once every two or three months (they play twice every weekend), so I know it’ll never change, but it’s okay for a few hours when I want to play without driving an hour or more to the other games I play.

Combined with the forced dealer/tipping thing, this game really doesn’t seem worth while

 

[glynn]

"Forced dealer" is an extremely weird way to describe a service that the regular group opts into and enjoys twice every weekend lol.

 

[Eriks]

"Forced dealer" is an extremely weird way to describe a service that the regular group opts into and enjoys twice every weekend lol.

Forced service, better?

I can shuffle and deal. I’m not tipping someone 25 bigs to do it

 

[upNdown]

"Forced dealer" is an extremely weird way to describe a service that the regular group opts into and enjoys twice every weekend lol.

Yeah but I think I see his point.
The biggest takeaway for me is if they play twice weekly and I’m playing once a month, I should probably shut the heck up and go with the status quo.
But to his point, if I’m capable of dealing and maybe even I enjoy my turn dealing in self dealt games, I might feel a dealer is forced on me. Especially if I’m expected to tip disproportionate to the stakes.

 

[EnjoyLife]

I would feel uncomfortable about tipping a dealer that is also playing in the hands.

That being said, I host a weekly game of .25/.50. I know the costs of hosting games and don’t do it for profit. There is zero rake at my game. The players don’t tip, and I consider almost all of the players my friends. When I say that the players don’t tip, I do have some players that help out. Some will bring a bottle of bourbon to share, or a 4 or 6 pack of beer to share, or help clean up at the end of the night. I also have a player from this forum that has donated some poker gear. Then there is a player that wants to be cashed out down to the .25 of his stack, when I don’t have coin. Most others will just throw it into the pot for next hand or round down for the host.

TLDR; I host because I enjoy seeing my friends on a weekly basis, even though it is a negative return. (I do get to go to bed before most of my players though, as they are still driving home )

 

[grandmeme]

Yeah but I think I see his point.
The biggest takeaway for me is if they play twice weekly and I’m playing once a month, I should probably shut the heck up and go with the status quo.
But to his point, if I’m capable of dealing and maybe even I enjoy my turn dealing in self dealt games, I might feel a dealer is forced on me. Especially if I’m expected to tip disproportionate to the stakes.

I think it comes down to your expectations as well.

When I get an invite to a game, most hosts will mention that they have a dedicated dealer. That could be the host's partner, a friend, a professional dealer - that's fine. I will tip appropriately as I see fit. Even if they don't mention it, if I see that there is a dealer of any kind, no worries. I tip. That's my expectations for any dealer that help run the game smoothly.

I would feel strange if a player got tipped for dealing though. I would absolutely tip at the end to thank the host, but not to thank players after hands for dealing cards.