Quote:
Originally Posted by IseizeDeadMonies
Im thinking it has something to do with my " noob " status. I could be wrong.
I doubt that more than a few people are reading this forum; it's more likely that nobody who's got something worth saying has seen it.
I'm not a prop, but I'll pass on what I know.
How does one go about getting a position like this in a casino?
The answer likely varies by casino. Some places won't consider hiring you if you're a regular (why should they, you're there anyway), but some places won't consider hiring you if they haven't seen you around and playing (why should they, you could be an irresponsible degen). Some people have suggested just going to the casino and simply asking a prop or a manager. I know at least some advertise their positions online or on various job sites; you may have to search under "casino host" or "poker room host" or something like that.
How much does one get paid while "proping"?
It varies by what games you're willing to play. The bigger the game you're willing to play, the more you get paid. I'm told that the exact values are semi-secret, so I'll be respectful of the places I know and just say anywhere from $15-$40/hr. However, one perk is that you're able to deduct from that a certain amount that you pay in rake, so a good chunk of it will end up being tax-free.
Is a prop considered a casino employee?
Yes, or at least, all the ones I know are. They are bound by the rules, regulations and benefits that all casino employees have, including drug tests and background checks and sexual harassment seminars and worker's compensation. Props punch in and out and can be fired and/or censured.
Is proping ethical?
Not entirely sure what this means, but it's not like you're expected to give customers handjobs in the bathroom or anything if that's what you're worried about. It's a pretty simple business transaction: the casinos are paying you to get games going and keep them going when without your services the games would not exist. Unless you have a problem with gambling establishments allowing people to gamble, I don't see an ethics problem.
Edit: It just occurred to me that you might be thinking of shills, which are not only casino employees at the table, but are actually gambling with casino money. Props play with their own money and are almost always identified by employee badges, so there's no deception going on.
Any thoughts?
One thing that people might not realize is that by propping, you tend to give up any choice in game selection. Your employer may pull you out of a great game to give your seat to a customer; your employer may force you to play LHE if you're a NL player or NL if you're a LHE player; you may be playing shorthanded at stakes you're only comfortable playing FR at; you may be playing stakes so low the game is unbeatable. You may not get to play at all. You will probably start off on graveyard shift. The privileges of a prop when not actively saving games varies wildly, and it's something you should be super-clear about before taking a job.