Quote:
Originally Posted by ch4nc305
I feel like most dealers in the United States and mainly just in Florida are spoiled- ive been playing live for the last 3 or so years and ive played semi live for more then 10 years. Im going to list some issues that bother me with dealers and some tips for dealers that want to make more or how to just be a better dealer.
Ill just say I'm a pretty well known pro in south Florida poker, and I would estimate I tip anywhere from 10-15k a year. My main stakes are 2-5nl and 5-10Nl but ive played some bigger games up to 10-25nl and 25plo. I generally tip 1$ every time there is more then 35$s in the pot at 2-5 or 100$ in any other game. I tip 5% on jackpots and generally ill tip 2-5$s anytime I win a bigger pot depending on what I think of the dealer or how my session/day/month/year is going.
there are some dealers that I refuse to tip because they do not care and I will give their tips to other dealers who try hard.
I would estimate in south florida most dealers are making around 30-50 dollars a hour and that is a pretty good rate considering they only need to take a class to mainly get hired. If everyone tipped 1$ per hand and a dealer could put out 35- hands per hour I think that with high hands and hourly rate no reason a good dealer don't deserve to make 60-100k a year.
#1 - I think the most important thing for a dealer is to move the action along in a game. Make sure that the blinds are posted and your reminding players that the action is on them, I don't necessarily care how fast a dealers pitch is but that they are paying attention to the game and they are moving it along if it is slow. - counting the bank, worrying about fills, calling the floor for non needed things also affects the speed of the game.
(figure out ways to get more hands in per down, one example is in most NL games not to drag all the money in preflop, wait till the flop is out and drag the limps it saves you a few secs which adds up to a lot of hands at the end of the year. )(work on your pitch)
#2 - Appreciate the tips you receive - Saying a simple thank you for getting a tip cost you nothing. - Taking the time to remember player names and greeting people when you get to the table go along way. A light conversation will earn you more tips, being neutral sided in debates is probably the best play. Goto the regulars once in a while and put your hand on the shoulder , say hi to them shake their hand, greet them talk sports keep a general interest in them.
#3 - Know the games- one thing that drives players crazy is not knowing a game- if you don't know how to deal PLO , learn it go home and practice dealing it, learn the hand ranks, a lot of casinos in florida just hire people to be brushes then they are put in to pitch hold em and soon a plo game happens and they don't know the pot they don't know what hands win.
Also ill add to here no one likes a rule Nazi- do what you think is in best interest of the game. for instance if your game has a whale whos punting off money and he wants to put his chips in the rack prior to leaving and you have a rule that don't allow racks, don't call him out and ruin the game, keep your game in order but let people have fun, if some one is drunk try to do your best to speed the game along and im sure a lot of people want that drunk guy in the game so don't call the floor every time he acts out of line.
#4 keep your mouth shut - Pretty much don't talk about players, don't be negative even if some one never tips. Poker like it or not is a dying game- every member is part of the economy. Just because a player don't tip or is a prick or a ******* he's a paying customer- and mainly if hes not tipping its because hes losing and some one else is winning that money and tipping it to you. If floors/dealers/ casino employees are all rude to these type of customers they stop coming which means less games for you to deal.
Ill add here you should never look at a players whole cards they mucked, you should never talk about a player and how they play or try to predict some ones whole cards on a river show down. Don't gossip about money players tip or how much money a player wins or losses. Just be professional.
Listen, while I agree with you on a few things... I have to disagree with a lot of other things!
What you think is good for YOU to speed a game up for YOU, is not what actually works in the real world.
These mega companies that own these casinos, have rules employees MUST follow. If I don’t follow them or enforce them because YOU want a fast clean game, I’m getting written up on the side by management for not following policy/procedures.
YES, I will take my time counting down the rack when I sit down, cause guess what? If it’s missing $$ and I’ve dealt two hands, I’m responsible for the money.
If I don’t enforce no racks on the table, the next dealer will throw me under the bus then I’ll get questioned by management.