Tipping and how it differs live from online

[BenjiHustle]

As a primarily online player who works in an industry that runs on tipping, the aspect of tipping in live games has been something that throws me for a loop in live games. I've noticed that most people tip when they win, but that doesn't make much sense to me. The fact that the dealer specifically CAN NOT control the cards and results, shouldn't each player, especially serious/professional players, tip something closer to an hourly rate. In jackpot hands and such, I understand tipping, especially given the part where they didn't mess it up by flipping a card or forgetting to burn, etc., but when trying to manage a bankroll and make profits, how can tipping be factored and kept consistent so that it doesn't flip the bankroll?

 

[ginwilly]

i used to tip way too much. I've tossed a 25 chip on a 500 pot and many 5's on 100+ pots. I play low stakes.

Watching poker vlogs i see guys playing 5/10 or 10/20 tip 2 bucks on 1000 dollar pots.

Now i tip a buck a pot, 2 over 100.

A good dealer can deal 40 hands an hour. A dollar tip per pot is going to be around 25/hr just in tips.

Home games where the dealer only gets paid in tips I still tip way too much but you want to be invited back and it's friends.

Dealing is harder than it looks. A fast accurate dealer is worth a little more.

Tipping is a cultural thing that may eventually go away but until it does, there is a peer pressure involved, people relying on those tips to feed the family and other factors that "make" us tip.

 

[BetterThanAvgButNotByMuch]

I would wonder about someone who wins a few hundred then doesn't tip a few bucks and says "I'm working on my hourly rate", lol.

I support the dealers and the floor folks whenever I can when I play.

They're too important and a lot of poker rooms aren't as good as they used to be because folks have gotten better jobs and moved on since the covid stuff.

So the quality of the games are down still from what I hear.

Support those folks and forget about the hourly rate, go by how many buyins you're up or down then its not so bad if that helps you psychologically but support those folks. They make the games happen.

 

[JMoss]

Ginwille,This would be unsustainable at 2/5 and lower obviously. Alot of low stakes Grinders have bills . I tip and the dealers/work friends like what tip because we've talked about it. A couple bucks a hr is good for low stakes. 5/10 and 5 hr is ok. But if you got it I say tip as much as possible. They work hard focising on alot things that are going on while doing math and put up with alot of shit from asshole and drunks. IMHO they deserve a 100 dollars a hour. Most of them anyway.

 

[teepack]

I tip $1 per winning hand and will toss in $2 if it's a particularly big pot. If it's a really big pot, say $500 or so, I might give them a $5 chip. But it also depends on how I'm running. If I'm down for the session, I stick with the $1 per winning hand, regardless of how big it is.

I don't always tip if I raise and everyone folds preflop and all I get are the blinds. Again, this is situational and depends on whether I'm up or down. If I'm up, I'll probably slide the dealer a $1 chip. If I'm down, I'll most likely keep the $4 blinds.

 

[takinitSLEAZEE]

Tip what you can afford, nothing else. It's not a contest. Depending on the card room, dealers do well. They walk from table-to-table w/their tip pouches and fanny packs, smiling along the way. Must be an awesome existence.

 

[YLAN]

Tipping is not usually done in my country because service charges are included in the bill. Tho I still tip mostly those that I know due to the sense of priority they usually extend to me. In the poker rooms I've been before, they tip the dealer because they are happy to win (tho dealer has nothing to do with it) & some for rabbits. The thread title asks for difference with online poker. Not aware of tipping online, but if there is then its not deserved since its auto.

 

[stank12345]

Why not just pay the dealers a reasonable living wage and no tipping at all ,tipping has gotten way out of hand .the casinos are already making good money so why should we subside their profits by tipping makes no sense to me

 

[stank12345]

As far as tipping on line who are you tipping ?the computer that deals the cards WTF

 

[LaNimmer]

Here in North America our culture has been trained to tip and it's getting more expensive all the time. I always tip the dealer a min of $1 per winning hand, sometimes more depending on the size of the pot. At a lot of American Casinos the booze is free. but try not tipping the server...you will never see her or a drink again!

 

[PoKeRFoRNiA]

If you cant afford to tip, you shouldnt be playing live. I have a friend who is a dealer. He cant play table games or slots but he is still allowed to play poker at his casino. There was a player who didnt tip. My friend, after he was done with work, he sat down at that table, stacked the fish who didnt tip, then gave that fish's entire stack of $150 ish to the dealer. 🤣
Thats the biggest generous tipping ive seen proportion wise, 75bb tipping.

Forgot to mention, that nontipping fish never came back ever again.

 

[RENEY444]

If you cant afford to tip, you shouldnt be playing live. I have a friend who is a dealer. He cant play table games or slots but he is still allowed to play poker at his casino. There was a player who didnt tip. My friend, after he was done with work, he sat down at that table, stacked the fish who didnt tip, then gave that fish's entire stack of $150 ish to the dealer. 🤣
Thats the biggest generous tipping ive seen proportion wise, 75bb tipping.

Forgot to mention, that nontipping fish never came back ever again.

Sounds like sweet revenge , but never a good business move to drive away a customer , especially a 'fish '.

 

[Emily Trott]

I've worked for tips so I generally tip pretty well.

 

[Luvepoker]

Just to make sure this is clear. I tip fairly and decently.

I don't believe in tipping to be honest. I thing it is a redickulous thing we don to be honest. I would rather pay a little more and give these people a fair pay check. I have watched where 10% was the norm. Then 12 and 15 % the 18% became the norm and minimum. Recently we were eating out witch is a treat for my family and I was stunned to see they restaurant recommended 30%.

OK to the dealers. I don't play much cash but I do tip nearly every hand I win. Depending on the pot size 1 $1 to $3 unless its a really good pot. last time I won a 300 pot I gave $15.

Now I do have a friend who is a dealer. He has told me most players when they tip only give a $1.00 chip. As my friend says he makes well of $40.00 hour most days with the small salary he is given. The one thing that does stunned me is what he told me about the higher stakes players. When he deals 10/20 or 25 /50 they will for the most part just tip $1.00 a hand as well. Some players can be more generous but more are not. He finds it funny when he gets a blind vs blind have and nobody bets and the winning pot gets $4.00 with no rake and the winner will usually still tip the $1 but he has at higher stakes pushed 4 or 5K to the winner and get $1.00 or if lucky a $5 chip.

 

[SES Inc.]

I believe in tipping but not after every pot right ... it is just an end of the night thing when I am leaving. right?