The Breakroom: low-content gaming employee chatter thread

[pfapfap]

Reality doesn't matter. Perception matters. I think it's an awful idea for dealers to play in daily tourneys. When others feel it's unfair for this dealer to win money this time, every dealer who dealt that tourney suffers from the tips.

Our entire livelihood is based on the concept of intermittent reinforcement. This isn't something we only invoke while convenient: it works all the time. Most of these people are already bad at understanding poker, and that's a GOOD thing, because it keeps them coming in. Expecting them to smile and say "oh, I understand," to this one aspect is unreasonable, I feel.

Last night a dealer played our late night tourney. I didn't see what happened, but apparently there was a questionable call at his table. When he busted, he had an animated discussion with other staff. It was away from the table, and for all I know it was just an academic discussion or maybe was about something else entirely. The table I was dealing didn't give as much benefit of the doubt; they spent a fair amount of time ridiculing him behind his back for not accepting a beat and moving on in a low stakes late night turbo.

tl;dr: Don't crap where you eat.

[lmcjaho]

Originally Posted by pfapfap

Reality doesn't matter. Perception matters. I think it's an awful idea for dealers to play in daily tourneys. When others feel it's unfair for this dealer to win money this time, every dealer who dealt that tourney suffers from the tips.

Our entire livelihood is based on the concept of intermittent reinforcement. This isn't something we only invoke while convenient: it works all the time. Most of these people are already bad at understanding poker, and that's a GOOD thing, because it keeps them coming in. Expecting them to smile and say "oh, I understand," to this one aspect is unreasonable, I feel.

tl;dr: Don't crap where you eat.

If you're in a market that is big enough that:

A) There are good alternatives for dealers to play elsewhere
and
B) Your dealers would be an insignificant drop in the bucket for your player base

Then everything you mentioned is valid.

In a small market like ours, that is not the case. Many many times the additional blood from the dealers being able to play will keep a cash game alive or will make a tourney field big enough to entice more players to join, which far outweighs (IMO) the "hurt feelings" of the occasional nit who has a problem with a dealer playing.

Originally Posted by pfapfap

Last night a dealer played our late night tourney. I didn't see what happened, but apparently there was a questionable call at his table. When he busted, he had an animated discussion with other staff. It was away from the table, and for all I know it was just an academic discussion or maybe was about something else entirely. The table I was dealing didn't give as much benefit of the doubt; they spent a fair amount of time ridiculing him behind his back for not accepting a beat and moving on in a low stakes late night turbo.

Like they wouldn't have done the same had it been another reg instead of a dealer?

For the record we have pretty strict conduct rules for dealers who play in the room, and I have seen at least one dealer who was told he was no longer welcome to play due to his poor etiquette at the tables...

[Dealer-Guy]

What kind of turnover do you see in your poker rooms? By this I mean voluntary turn over. Not someone getting asked (or told) to leave for whatever reason but people who decide they want to work elsewhere.

I'm just curious about what other rooms experience in staff turnover. here I work, it's very low.

[Biggle10]

Originally Posted by youtalkfunny

.

For reasons I can't fathom, people LOVE racking up at the earliest opportunity, and playing as many hands as possible with that rack on the table.

I'm perhaps misunderstanding your comment, but I routinely rack up at the beginning of my last orbit. This is my way of letting players know I'm leaving and if I win a big pot that I'm not hit and running.

[pfapfap]

Background: We have a regular player who talks a lot, and not in a friendly manner. Criticizing plays, someone's in his way, don't touch his chair, people suck at poker, etc. He'll criticize you for playing poorly and losing against him. He'll volley a barrage of questions at a floorperson clearly in the middle of something else. He also corrects dealers and mistakes, and is usually right, but just something about his overall tone and body language is frustrating.

You know. That Guy.

Anyway, last night we had a couple of deaf players, seated at different tables. That Guy was in seat 1, and Deaf Guy was in seat 2. I happened to glance up, and saw That Guy looking at the board, with Deaf Guy gesturing to his friend at another table in order to get his attention. When he finally did, he pointed at That Guy and made a "yap yap yap" gesture with his hand.

You know you talk too much when deaf people think you should STFU.

[lmcjaho]

Originally Posted by pfapfap

Background: We have a regular player who talks a lot, and not in a friendly manner. Criticizing plays, someone's in his way, don't touch his chair, people suck at poker, etc. He'll criticize you for playing poorly and losing against him. He'll volley a barrage of questions at a floorperson clearly in the middle of something else. He also corrects dealers and mistakes, and is usually right, but just something about his overall tone and body language is frustrating.

You know. That Guy.

Anyway, last night we had a couple of deaf players, seated at different tables. That Guy was in seat 1, and Deaf Guy was in seat 2. I happened to glance up, and saw That Guy looking at the board, with Deaf Guy gesturing to his friend at another table in order to get his attention. When he finally did, he pointed at That Guy and made a "yap yap yap" gesture with his hand.

You know you talk too much when deaf people think you should STFU.

LMAO!!!

We have a couple of deaf players who frequent our room often and I can totally see them doing this to That Guy.

One of the funniest things I saw a few weeks ago was That Guy berating the deaf guy for calling his ($8??) raise pre-flop (as the 5th caller in position) with Js5s and then not letting it go when the flop came 3s4s6c and That Guy fired a continuation bet. That Guy was doing the whole "How much do I have to raise to get J5 to fold?!?" rant - but he had no idea that the other guy was deaf so he just kept getting louder and louder and louder... And the rest of us were laughing at him the whole time.

[youtalkfunny]

I'm convinced that a large portion of the poker population is made up of people whose motivation to play is that they get to talk **** to other people.

Wild Bill: (busted, gets up) I’m out for a couple.

Jack McCall: Ah, go get you some ammo Wild Bill, that kinda luck's bound to turn.

Wild Bill: Your name's Jack?

Jack: Yeah, that’s correct.

Wild Bill: What are ya in the game for, Jack?

Jack: What am I in it for?

Wild Bill: If irritating me’s the jackpot, you’ve got the job done.

[Quadstriker]

Originally Posted by youtalkfunny

I'm convinced that a large portion of the poker population is made up of people whose motivation to play is that they get to talk **** to other people.

Pretty much dead on. The amount of *******s in poker is way above the social norm.

[pfapfap]

Me: "Nobody ever wins an argument at a poker table."

Table: "Keep on thinking that way, buddy."

[shootpool]

Those of you that deal poker in a casino may appreciate this.

Reg repeatedly over time keeps complaining about losing to the slot machines and how "TIGHT" they are. After listenong to this over and over I finally asked him to do this. Just to let you know we have to post the average payout on slots its like 91%, I know low but anyway.

I tell him lets flip a coin for $100
you can call it everytime if you want
if you lose you pay me $100
if you win I pay you $95
and just so you have a jackpot to play for I will give you $1000 if you call ten in a row

he says are you f'n nuts?
as he walks off to put more money in the slot machines


LMFAO
gotta luv players

[youtalkfunny]

You forgot to offer him comp points.

[Biggle10]

Originally Posted by shootpool

Those of you that deal poker in a casino may appreciate this.

Reg repeatedly over time keeps complaining about losing to the slot machines and how "TIGHT" they are. After listenong to this over and over I finally asked him to do this. Just to let you know we have to post the average payout on slots its like 91%, I know low but anyway.

I tell him lets flip a coin for $100
you can call it everytime if you want
if you lose you pay me $100
if you win I pay you $95
and just so you have a jackpot to play for I will give you $1000 if you call ten in a row

he says are you f'n nuts?
as he walks off to put more money in the slot machines


LMFAO
gotta luv players

You need to have a cowbell for when he wins.

[shootpool]

Forgot the bells and whistles and oh yes the Comp points.

SILLY ME !!!

[NYCNative]

This isn't my problem, but it might be at some point. How would you guys handle it:

Look over there and you will see the typical Hot Asian Dealer. She is not the best dealer but she's not horrible by any stretch of the imagination. Still, she makes a lot of money by being smoking hot.

(And that's fine with me, even though I am an ugly dude. Guys like to tip hot girls. That's the way things are. I am aware of this and not bothered by it.)

However the other night, she apparently was just hanging around a 2/5 game after she already clocked out and cashed in. A player, when he was pushed some pots, started giving HER a bunch of money - like $60 at a 2/5 game, on two occasions.

(Some of the details may be off - it may be a little less money - but you get the idea.)

I heard this from the dealer who was dealing it. He wasn't being stiffed as far as I know, but at the same time, he is working, churning out hands and pushing pots, and some off the clock girl just hanging around is getting toked!

He was not happy about it but didn't want to make a stink about it. He said a floor person was there and saw it happen but that floor person is not very proactive (being diplomatic) so it's not a shock he wouldn't do anything. He's also just a dual rate guy, not very high on the totem pole.

I was telling him this was bull**** and he should do something but that's easy for me to say... What would you do if this were you? What should I do if it ever happens to me?

[IbelieveinChipKelly]

Originally Posted by NYCNative

This isn't my problem, but it might be at some point. How would you guys handle it:

Look over there and you will see the typical Hot Asian Dealer. She is not the best dealer but she's not horrible by any stretch of the imagination. Still, she makes a lot of money by being smoking hot.

(And that's fine with me, even though I am an ugly dude. Guys like to tip hot girls. That's the way things are. I am aware of this and not bothered by it.)

However the other night, she apparently was just hanging around a 2/5 game after she already clocked out and cashed in. A player, when he was pushed some pots, started giving HER a bunch of money - like $60 at a 2/5 game, on two occasions.

(Some of the details may be off - it may be a little less money - but you get the idea.)

I heard this from the dealer who was dealing it. He wasn't being stiffed as far as I know, but at the same time, he is working, churning out hands and pushing pots, and some off the clock girl just hanging around is getting toked!

He was not happy about it but didn't want to make a stink about it. He said a floor person was there and saw it happen but that floor person is not very proactive (being diplomatic) so it's not a shock he wouldn't do anything. He's also just a dual rate guy, not very high on the totem pole.

I was telling him this was bull**** and he should do something but that's easy for me to say... What would you do if this were you? What should I do if it ever happens to me?

it could be a version of ratholing ... maybe there is more to the relationship than just dealer/player? there are a few hot asian dealers who work where you deal - ranging from 20-50 or so. lol.