I hope you are good shorthanded. If not I would reconsider the job.

Have you talked to Psychic or Gordon about how they like the gig?

If you are a security guard now, then getting paid to play poker has got to be an upgrade. This isn't really a long term career, but it might be a good way to kill time until you qualify for that job you want.

What is the drop structure in the games that you're playing? The drop at seven, six, or five handed?

Is the paycheck broken down between wages and "drop reimbursement"? If so, what's the breakdown? Reimbursements don't show up as taxable income.

I propped the small limit games at Bay 101 and at the Oaks Club back when I first moved to California. It was a job that kept the rent paid, but not one where I really made any money. The drop structures were better back then, too. Live button charges (Bay) and time collections (Oaks) call for different play adjustments from a full-drop-on-flop game. The latter calls for a much tighter style of play and is a lot less fun, especially in 3-6 limit.

Propping small-limit games is a job, but it's not a very good one. Propping mid/high limit games is a different story.

How much freedom are you allowed on something like this ? Can you have a drink if you want one ? Do you have to be nice to people that are dicks or are you just expected to keep your mouth shut and play poker. I dont think I could do it as bad as I hate people telling me what to do

LOL....yea, I'm thinking this job might not be for you!

I mean, as with any job, what's the worst that can happen if you take it? After 2 months you realize it sucks and you quit? Not like you're going to be burning a big professional bridge here. My opinion is if you're considering it and are a decent player you should go for it....the worst that can happen is really not that bad.

True. Worst case scenario.....he quits and some dude says, "you'll never prop in this town again".
Not so bad...

I could only do this for a short period of time. Playing on graveyard shift and putting in a full-time schedule won't be fun. If you're not having fun playing poker, I don't see much point in playing.

You can get stabbed to death like the guy at the Taj earlier this month. Of course he wasn't a prop.

Well jeez...the guy is going to be a corrections officer. If he's afraid of getting stabbed he probably shouldn't work in a prison either.

Grinding your 20 years + as a correctional officer is going to be tougher than grinding this prop job. I'd take the prop job.

would no way work there bro... those games are going to be soooo boring to play

I'd do it in a heartbeat - especially if I were young and single and was looking to see how I could do playing poker for a living. I love poker and don't mind the degenerates - but if you don't have a good attitude going in that would be problematic.

Great shorthanded live experience. Get Omaha skills. 6/12 limit would be easy for you and could be somewhat profitable. Read up on SSHE for the 3/6 - 6/12 games. Also, you get paid to work on your leaks.

If you like it your next move could be prop player in higher limit games. I have seen posts where the prop got promoted to "Host" status and got to pick and choose games, couldn't be moved, etc.

A plus would be if you are fun at the table and attract people to the cardroom. You will be appreciated far more. Also, there are probably better prop positions that you would then be qualified for.

Oh and about table selection, at 3/6 and 6/12 sitting down would be my criteria for table selection. Actually, every now and then a poker game might break out at which point you get to develop your skills at changing your game to suit table conditions.

Also, don't do it if you need to drink alcohhol. Play at your best. Make sure you aren't tired, etc.

Let's see, you have the opportunity to play low stakes, on a sleep deprivation schedule that you'll never get used to, with people that are probably DK, stuck, have nothing else to do with their life, probably have to report your income as a self-employed contractor and God knows what other benefit you'll find.
Yep that's a great deal. Wait, you will be able to say you play professionally. That seals the deal. Sign on the dotted line. Such a deal.

In additional to small stakes swings, I feel if we're talking about a Cali card room the question of whether or not the games you'll be proping are even beatable is important. 3-6 games in Cali to doing but feed the hole, especially between 1-9am. So how much of that $130 are you handing right back during a given week/month?

Each player in a SSHE game in a raked flop game is worth 10-20 dollars an hour for the casino. You should pretty much consider it a game in which you are paying zero rake. Of course that number is a player average and will vary depending on how tight you play. LOTS of money goes off the table in SSHE games.


I've propped before. It was miserable for me but maybe you'll like it. Best of luck.