Casino Poker Tipping Etiquette

Posted on 8/2/2022 admin

Recreational losing poker players definitely tip more than winning players in poker. I would expect a similar trend in craps on aggregate, but there is obviously high individual variance. Edit: Then again, craps has no winning players, so I guess winning vs losing players isn't really an issue, so I am not sure why that matters. Pai Gow Poker - Etiquette and Tipping - Las Vegas Forum. The STRAT Hotel, Casino & SkyPod. Tipping etiquette, customs. Be Sure to Tip the Man on the Left. But how much should you tip a dealer in a poker tournament? The problem is, there is not a set rule for poker tournament tipping, and everyone has their own ideas of what is fair. Some of the longest, most combative threads on poker forums like 2+2 involve the question of tipping after tournaments. Tags: Roy Cooke, Tipping, Poker Etiquette. Check out our Poker Player of the Year race, as well as years of data of poker player results and casino poker tournament pay-outs. Players may still tip if they feel the dealer has done an exceptional job, displayed excellent customer service, or simply tip using a percentage of a big win. Although technically included under Europe, the tipping etiquette in place is slightly different.

Things you should know about tipping at live dealer tables.

Tipping in land-based casinos is more or less common practice all over the world, with a few exceptions depending on which country you’re playing in. You may have already used this tool to thank various casino employees for their service – a valet who parks your car on arriving, a cocktail waitress who brings you your drinks, a dealer at a Blackjack table, slots machine attendant, or the cashier. But how does it work when, instead of in a brick and mortar casino, you’re placing your bets via the internet? Before joining a live dealer game at a gaming site, you may want to get familiar with the tipping etiquette at live casinos.

To Tip or Not to Tip?

Playing online offers many benefits and will spare you from having to comply with more than a few rules and expectations. For one, you won’t have to dress up, shave, and fix your hair; the computer doesn’t care if you’re sitting there in your pajamas and yawning away while placing chips on the table. If you’re playing an instant game and win big, you won’t be expected to tip the computer as a thank you. But join a table hosted by a live dealer and things change; now you’re facing a living and breathing person delivering the service in the same way their colleague in a Las Vegas casino does. Since you’re physically in different locations, the possibility of tipping them might not have occurred to you, and indeed for some time it wasn’t even possible. Slowly but surely this is changing, thus presenting online players with a dilemma: to tip or not to tip?

Logically, one can easily answer this question. When receiving a service in the physical world, it’s customary to tip the individual delivering it – providing you’re happy with the quality of service. The fact that this person is more than a meter away should make no difference.

How Much to Tip?

Even in land-based casinos, there are no rules, though there is a tipping etiquette giving you an indication of what’s expected. In the US, for example, it’s customary to tip your dealer with 15-20% of the value of your buy-in chips, while in the UK one should plan to spend 10-15% of their gambling budget on tipping the person who deals them in. While in the online world such indicators don’t (yet) exist, you could use land-based practice as a guideline. There are no rules, though, and rather than think you’re a cheap bugger, your game host will likely appreciate the fact that you’ve shown your appreciation no matter how small the tip is.

Casino Poker Tipping Etiquette Rules

How to Tip at an Online Casino?

We can hear you saying: Hey, haven’t you skipped one important element of online tipping? One can hardly take a chip and hand it over to the dealer through a computer screen, right? So how is it done? When playing at a casino which offers the tipping option, you’ll see a Tip button offered to show the dealer you’re happy with their service. This function has been included by several major live gaming developers, such as Ezugi and Playtech, and no doubt others will eventually follow.

Who are You Really Tipping?

Casino Poker Tipping Etiquette Games

More than a few players are concerned that their tip might end up in wrong hands, and that instead of the friendly and helpful dealer, it’s the casino which will benefit. Since the house has already received a good amount of your hard earned cash, why would you want to give them more? The truth is, you can never know for sure, though playing at reputable sites significantly increases the possibility your tip will end up in pockets of the lady or the gentleman who has contributed to your gaming experience in a positive way. Some online casinos will even address this subject within their T&C and specify the portion of the tip which is guaranteed to be passed on to their live dealers.

If you have never been to a casino or public poker room before, your first trip can be filled with excitement, anticipation, and exhilaration. It may also cause you a little fear and apprehension. This article gives you a few pointers and some information about how things work in most casinos and public poker rooms. Let's get started with a major part of any casino experience -- the staff.

One of the most important things to remember is that the staff of a casino or poker room is there to make your visit as comfortable as possible because they want you to come back. If you can't find the card room or if you have any questions at all, don't hesitate to ask a staff member.

The dealer is also part of the staff. If you are sitting down at a poker game in a casino or card room for the first time, tell the dealer that it is your first time and ask them to please keep an eye on you to make sure you aren't doing anything incorrectly. You may be amazed at how helpful and useful someone can be when you show them a little respect and ask for their help. Many times, especially at the lower-limit tables, other players are also helpful.

Also, most poker rooms have a place to sign a waiting list for a particular game. Some have a white board with the games and limits available along with the waiting players' initials. Others will just have someone who writes initials or names on a sheet of paper. The card room calls the next person on the list when a seat becomes available. Simply ask whoever is in charge of the board -- or a staff member -- to place you on the list for all of the games you are willing to play. If you are in a small poker room with no visible sign-up area, ask a dealer how to enter a game.

Well, now that you've found your table and you're ready to play, here are some general tips for casino poker:

Casino Poker Tipping Etiquette Advice

Wait for the big blind (The big blind is the largest forced bet at the beginning of a game designed to stimulate betting. The player who has to contribute the big blind rotates one position to the left after each game.) to get to you before playing. Use this time to watch your opponents, and get a feel for the way they are playing. It's amazing how much some players reveal if you just pay attention.
Most players tip the dealer when they win a pot. This is not required, but if the dealer is doing a competent job, you should tip. Dealers are like waitstaff in that they make most of their money from tips. A sample plan would be to tip the dealer .50 on average size pots and possibly $1.00 on larger pots if the dealer is doing a good job. Also, you can watch what the other players are tipping to get an idea. Remember though that every dollar that goes to the dealer is reducing your winnings. You should be able to come to a happy medium with experience.
Act when it's your turn. Never act before your turn. This is very poor etiquette and can change the outcome of a hand. The other players will understandably get upset with you.
Make sure your cards are in plain sight.
It is a good idea to place a chip on them to show that they are still live and protect them because the dealer won't take them when the chip is on them. If you leave your cards unprotected, the dealer might muck them (mix with discards) by mistake, and there is no way you can retrieve them. Most players keep their hand on their cards.
When you win a pot (the total amount of money bet in a single game), don't reach for it. Let the dealer push the pot to you. Do not surrender your cards until the pot has been awarded to you on a winning hand.
If you aren't sure whether you have the best hand at the end of a round, turn your cards face up, and let the dealer read the hands. If the dealer makes a mistake, it can often be corrected. If you throw your hand into the discard pile (often called the 'muck'), you are not eligible for any of the pot even if you made a mistake and had the best hand.
Don't throw your chips into the pot (called 'splashing' the pot). Place all bets in front of you, and let the dealer pull them into the pot.

For more information on playing poker and other casino games, try the following links:

Casino Poker Tipping Etiquette Tips

To see all of our articles on poker rules and advice, go to our main article on How To Play Poker.
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