Is it ever appropriate for a dealer to comment on how the players at his table are playing?

I play at a big casino. I am generally a tight player and wasn’t catching any hands so folded a lot during this dealers down. The dealer commented “You haven’t played a hand! Are you here to play?”

He was joking around but he’s not my friend or someone I joke around with. The other players laughed and started joking about how tight I had been playing.

The dealer pointing out how I’m playing will no doubt affect how others will play against me.

I am an older man, an “OMC” if you will, and I think the dealer was picking on me.

I did not appreciate the dealers comment at all. How would you handle this? Do you think the dealer is being inappropriate?

I am also older and look like an omc I do play tight but not omc. Were a dealer to make that comment about my play, even though it might actually help my image, he would notice a decrease in trips from me. Even if he made the comment about someone else, I would consider a tip reduction

I certainly agree the dealer was out of line in commenting on your play. I am also an "older" player who plays tight and sometimes adding being card dead to normally tight play makes me stand out as incredibly tight. I've had other players ask if I came to play or just watch, but never a dealer. If a dealer commented I think I would say to him/her "If you give me cards worth playing, I'll play them". I would be annoyed, but not enough to complain to the floor. (If I did get cards and won a hand, I wouldn't tip that dealer.)

So you wouldn’t say anything to the dealer, only reduce his tips?

I told the dealer “shut up and deal” in a joking voice even though I wasn’t joking. I don’t know if that made things worse because now I look like I’m sensitive about being called tight and people will remember

Dealer is out of line, and I would probably mention something to the floor away from the table, as well as not tip him for the night

When I have had this comment made about me (I can't recall if it was a player or dealer who made the comment), I usually say something to the effect of 'If you could see the cards of I have been getting, you would think I was playing incredibly loose'

Yes, the dealer was out of line for saying that.

No, it won't affect the way other players play against you. Do you really think no one else notices old men who don't play many hands?

As a former dealer and now floor, that is absolutely unacceptable.


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Well if they didn’t notice before, they certainly will now and it will be fresh in their memory.

Time to start stiffing that dealer. He’s gonna cost me more money than what I’m stiffing him

I’ve had this happen to me before. I went privately to the lead dealer and told them about it. They will make a note of it and talk to the dealer. Other than that, not much you can do.

News flash, everyone at the table knows when an older gentleman is being a nit. What the dealer did is unacceptable, he should never make any comment that could influence the game, but I'd be shocked if the whole table didnt already notice it. In saying that something tells me the dealer making a joke out of said players will make them more money in the long run, making a player angry that plays in less than 5% of hands and probably has one of the worst tip rates isnt go to make or break his night, but getting a laugh from active players, sure will.

Not necessarily. Some players hear that and even if they know it’s true they will think it is very strange for a dealer to be inserting themselves into the game like that. You can be funny in the box but know your place as the impartial enforcer of the rules.

"Quit dealing me crap and I will play". Act pissed at the dealer.

Unacceptable. Reducing tips or being snarky may actually make the behavior worse.

Calmly explain it to the floor and ask that they coach the dealer on what is acceptable to say at the table.

Not sure how a Dealer could/should be able to establish that during a down when they might get 2 orbits in? It's not very uncommon for Players to go an orbit or two without entering a pot other than their blinds.

Although I think the exact phrase used is a bit harsh when there's been basically zero previous relationship, I do think that Dealers can take some social privilege with Players. Perhaps "I'm cutting this deck just for you." or "Not getting what you need? Let's see if I can help you out."

How to handle? These days I might just get up until the down was over but it would probably change based on my exact mood at the moment. GL

It's out of line but if anyone at the table cared about how tight you were playing, they didn't need the dealer to say anything to out you. They already know it from playing with you for more than 1 down.

As a former dealer, I would only use that kind of humor with a very regular who I know could laugh right with me. Never with a noob.

Honestly, I would get so mad If someone commented on my playing like I am here to play and no to judge other people's or dealer's skills and I am not interested i anyone's opinion at the table. I am doing my thing, and that's what I expect from others to do too. I would get mad if he did that to me.

I've had it happen to me more than once. One dealer asked, "Seven-deuce, seven-deuce?", asking if she was only dealing me unplayable cards. I don't think she meant anything by it. But another dealer was calling out everyone's action, "call, fold, ..." and said "folds again" when it came to me. I took it as wanting more action to get bigger tips, and I didn't say anything as not to bring more attention to it, but I didn't like it.

Not OK for the dealer to do it. I often used to get teased about how tight I play but it's pretty much dried up since I a) took it in good spirits and b) didn't change how I played even slightly. But I'd be annoyed by the dealer chiming in.

No. Dealers do slip up, and in a case like this player and/or floor should reprimand, then move on. Dealer will normally recognize it was inappropiate if you say something.

There are a few dealers I would speak with. But honestly, those dealers are not the ones who would do this. Generally if 8mspeak with anyone it will be his boss, the floor. In my experience, speaking to a dealer who is willing to do something this egregious will either not go well or will change nothing.

If he knows me and knows I always tip and suddenly stop, if he cares he will figure it out or will ask me what’s up.

While the comment may be inappropriate, you should really just come up w a socially acceptable, sarcastic, humorous response and let it roll off your back.

Suggestions-
Stop giving me unsuited 8 gappers
Give me your money and I will play loosely
I am waiting for you to deal the bad beat
Yeah I just folded qq three hands in a row
Guys, we are about to get the best dealer in the house.....in about 30 minutes

If you want the dealer to loathe you and not care about your opinion, go ahead and say those things.

I guess the same guy that cares about a dealer pointing out he was playing tight is the same guy that would care if a dealer loathes him for a sarcastic response.

No one should ever care what a dealer thinks of their playing style.

next time tell him "damn man, I don't give you **** about how badly you deal"

I had a similar experience last weekend.
Dealer was saying if he was playing in the game he would have a huge advantage vs everyone cause he knows exactly how everyone plays. He would ‘always know if he was ahead or behind’ and the only way we could beat him is to suck out/bad beat.

I had a big stack and was card dead while he was at the table, said about me, ‘he’s playing very tight, not always the best strategy but it’s working tonight’.

Seems like they don’t tell dealers not to say stuff like this in training. Or if they do they don’t stress it enough, cause I’ve seen it happen pretty often.