Jackpots and dealer tipping etiquette question
 

I play 2/4 pretty regularly at Commerce. This last weekend I got lucky and won a table share of two jackpots. Made about $100 each time. No big deal, but my question is this, what is "normal" tipping etiquette on a jackpot?

No one really seemed to have a solid answer. I gave 10% to the dealer.

What do you do? If you won the jackpot, instead of just a table share, (I should be so lucky!) what would you do?

Re: Jackpots and dealer tipping etiquette question
 

This question just has disaster written all over it. There are lots of disagreements on here on tipping beliefs. I normally tip $1 a pot unless it is unusually large then maybe $2.

I have been part of two bad beat jackpots,but always table shares and nothing too big. One time I got about 100 and tipped $5 and the other I got about $130 and tipped nothing. Before I get flamed, the dealer had pissed me off earlier in the night and I didn't feel she deserved a tip.

If I won a big jackpot, say 25k I would tip the dealer apx. $200...no idea if that is good or bad just throwing out what I would do.

Re: Jackpots and dealer tipping etiquette question
 

I was in on a BB, 25K, table share was like 875. I gave dealer 75.
I think 10 on a 100 a bit steep.

Re: Jackpots and dealer tipping etiquette question
 

I just got $585 as a table share a few weeks ago. I tipped $30. The dealer looked at me like I had three heads, but seemed very appreciative. Then I realized that no one else who got a table share was tipping at all. The big winner, who took down over eight grand, tipped $100.

Re: Jackpots and dealer tipping etiquette question
 

If I won 25k, I would probably tip around 750, but everyone's different.

Poker players are cheaper than fishermen
 

My only other experience with jackpots is fishing. We usually have jackpots for the biggest or top three fish. Regular fisherman ususually give at least 10% and often more of the jackpot to the crew. There is a tradition attached to it.

I gather there is no such tradition with jackpot tipping in poker. lol.

Re: Poker players are cheaper than fishermen
 

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My only other experience with jackpots is fishing. We usually have jackpots for the biggest or top three fish. Regular fisherman ususually give at least 10% and often more of the jackpot to the crew. There is a tradition attached to it.

I gather there is no such tradition with jackpot tipping in poker. lol.

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Thanks for the cross-gender sports linkage! I'll remeber this for next tip time! [img]/images/graemlins/tongue.gif[/img]

Re: Poker players are cheaper than fishermen
 

Commonly jackpots (poker/Caribbean/etc) in these parts will generate a 3%-5% tip for the dealer, so a $10k win would be around $400, while a $100 table share might get $5. It really depends on the player, but I like those guidelines with all other factors being equal.

Re: Jackpots and dealer tipping etiquette question
 

tipping should be based on the service you get not the amount of money you win. the dealer had nothing to do with the money amount just the deal of the cards.

Re: Jackpots and dealer tipping etiquette question
 

Ray do you feel the same way about a waiter in a restaurant?

Re: Jackpots and dealer tipping etiquette question
 

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tipping should be based on the service you get not the amount of money you win. the dealer had nothing to do with the money amount just the deal of the cards.

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In a perfect world I agree with you Ray, but since all the dealers up here pool their tips, there's really no point in reserving gratuities for the good dealers. What stiffing the bad dealers does is get you the evil eye from good and bad dealers alike.

Re: Jackpots and dealer tipping etiquette question
 

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tipping should be based on the service you get not the amount of money you win. the dealer had nothing to do with the money amount just the deal of the cards.


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Am I the only dealer in the world who agrees with this? I feel as if I am getting tipped for being somewhat entertaining while being professional (lower limit and low no-limit games), along with controlling the higher limit games at the highest level... Just because I push someone a $2000 pot doesn't mean I deserve more... I hope that I would earn more by becoming a better dealer...

Re: Jackpots and dealer tipping etiquette question
 

Restaurant or dealing, I tip based on SERVICE, with the specific amount being determined by the amount wagered/won/food purchased.

I.e. in poker, service quality determines the percentage, and the size of the pot will then determine the actual amount.

For good dealers, I tip no less than 1%, which in 3/6 or 4/8 generally means $1, and $2 for pots over $100.

The dealer DOES have an impact on the size of the pot. A good dealer keeps the table happy and friendly, the game running smoothly, end efficiently. This DOES have an effect on the pots - happy fish bet more!!!

Bad dealers that don't control the game result in unhappy players that play tighter, fewer hands per hour, etc.

And I should mention that I don't consider tips obligatory. Bad dealers do not get tipped. Mediocre dealers may be tipped less.

In general, I tip like this:

Bad/rude dealers: no tip.

Mediocre dealers:

Nothing for pots under $25

$0.50 for pots up to $75 or $100

$1 for pots over 100.

Good dealers:

$0.50 for pots under $25.

$1 for pots up to $75 or $100

$2 for pots over $100


This seems to be inline with many people at Commerce and The Bike.



Not sure what I'll do when I move up to higher limits than 4/8, but I don't think my tipping will increase that much - while the pots may get bigger, the competition is also tougher, making winning pots more difficult (reduced EV).

Since tips reduce the EV, like the rake, I don't see increasing much beyond this level.


AB

Re: Jackpots and dealer tipping etiquette question
 

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tipping should be based on the service you get not the amount of money you win. the dealer had nothing to do with the money amount just the deal of the cards.


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Am I the only dealer in the world who agrees with this?

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Not at all. You're just one of the few who seems willing to post that sentiment. A couple dealers I know and respect have told me quietly "$1 per hand is all I need to be happy--I'm always tickled to get more, but I'm completely happy with $1". They consider other dealers who bitch over a $1 toke on a $200 pot to be greedy.

And on this same topic... fellow players, keep yer traps shut about the size of tips other players give, long as they're giving 'em. It is *NOT* up to you to decide that $3 on a $300 pot is stingy and to call someone out for that.

Re: Jackpots and dealer tipping etiquette question
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
tipping should be based on the service you get not the amount of money you win. the dealer had nothing to do with the money amount just the deal of the cards.


[/ QUOTE ]

Am I the only dealer in the world who agrees with this? I feel as if I am getting tipped for being somewhat entertaining while being professional (lower limit and low no-limit games), along with controlling the higher limit games at the highest level... Just because I push someone a $2000 pot doesn't mean I deserve more... I hope that I would earn more by becoming a better dealer...

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Not at all. In a system where dealers get to keep their tips, this practice encourages dealers to actually put some effort into doing a good job. Unfortunately, too many players value winning pots more than receiving good service. Pooling tips like we do here also tends to encourage many dealers to do the bare minimum since they know they'll see their share of the tips anyway. :/

Re: Jackpots and dealer tipping etiquette question
 

Where do you deal?

Re: Jackpots and dealer tipping etiquette question
 

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And on this same topic... fellow players, keep yer traps shut about the size of tips other players give, long as they're giving 'em. It is *NOT* up to you to decide that $3 on a $300 pot is stingy and to call someone out for that.



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This is another statement that I totally agree with. I have been very fair and understanding posting on here that $1 a pot is what I am out there trying to earn. When I do get a bigger tip, I am VERY greatful. What really gets to me is when there are people out there playing, or even on here posting, that giving bigger tips is outrageous, not deserved, etc... Why go out and preach something that doesn't concern you whatsoever? Trust me, I don't feel as if you are cheap if you don't tip on the small pots, or tip $1 on big pots. I am very appreciative and will sincerely thank you for the $1. Please, just don't go around telling others to never tip more than that... Who knows if the people tipping more have been extra fortunate in life, have dealers that are relatives, etc... I have always said that $1 a pot is fine with me...and I have always said that anybody who goes out there and tries to discourage fellow players from ever giving more than $1 is a douchebag...

Re: Poker players are cheaper than fishermen
 

Somehow I read this as you having poker tournaments in which the biggest fish wins a jackpot and that people that win these jackpots often tip a lot [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img].

Re: Jackpots and dealer tipping etiquette question
 

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And on this same topic... fellow players, keep yer traps shut about the size of tips other players give, long as they're giving 'em. It is *NOT* up to you to decide that $3 on a $300 pot is stingy and to call someone out for that.



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This is another statement that I totally agree with. I have been very fair and understanding posting on here that $1 a pot is what I am out there trying to earn. When I do get a bigger tip, I am VERY greatful. What really gets to me is when there are people out there playing, or even on here posting, that giving bigger tips is outrageous, not deserved, etc... Why go out and preach something that doesn't concern you whatsoever? Trust me, I don't feel as if you are cheap if you don't tip on the small pots, or tip $1 on big pots. I am very appreciative and will sincerely thank you for the $1. Please, just don't go around telling others to never tip more than that... Who knows if the people tipping more have been extra fortunate in life, have dealers that are relatives, etc... I have always said that $1 a pot is fine with me...and I have always said that anybody who goes out there and tries to discourage fellow players from ever giving more than $1 is a douchebag...

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Doesn't it make you super-uncomfortable when someone gives you a tip only after someone else has made a comment? We don't have jackpot things here but man I feel so awkward taking it after someone comments.

yuck

Re: Jackpots and dealer tipping etiquette question
 

I figure a $1 tip is appropriate for a $100. pot. Since this was a jackpot share and therefore something special, I would probably toss the dealer $2. If everybody was in a festive and celebratory mood, maybe I would tip even more.

Re: Jackpots and dealer tipping etiquette question
 

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Where do you deal?

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Casino Yellowhead in Edmonton, Alberta. We're regulated by Alberta Gaming and Liquor, so we do a few things slightly differently here.

Re: Jackpots and dealer tipping etiquette question
 

Whats a customary tip for tourneys, I was always told 3-5% is this correct on say a $10,000 win 1st place finish, and does 2-5 also tip the same percentage.

Re: Jackpots and dealer tipping etiquette question
 

I'll disagree with "in line" comments. I play 2/4 at Commerce 3 weekends out of 4. On almost any size pot, I'd say the majority of players always tip $1, regardless of small pot size.

Naturally, don't tip a grouch or bad dealer as much, if at all. But if you are a regular, it pays to be pleasant to be treated pleasantly. I was having a bad run two weeks ago and the dealer gave me $21 as change for a $20 because he knew it'll come back to him on a better day and he was trying to make my bad day a little better.

When I'm running good, my tips go up. If I hit a lucky card to win - $2 tip instead of $1. Tipping for results and can make it a more fun experience to play for everyone, including the dealer, at your table. If I go to my grave and the worst thing people have to say about me is a gave away too many extra $1 tips at 2/4, I should be so lucky.

I'll make a statement that will probably generate heat in return. I believe that people who are stingy tippers never had to work where tips were a good part of their livlihood. It's been a long time for me, but now I do work on commission and know how it hurts when you do work hard and some jerk stiffs you. I see WAY TOO much grouchy and stingy behavior in casinos. I don't want to be the guy that everyone including the dealer dreads when you sit down at their table.

Re: Jackpots and dealer tipping etiquette question
 

FWIW - At Commerce, where the dealers are generally superior to The Bike, I'm more apt to tip $1 for pots over $10.

But hey, If I bet out with so much aggression that the 2 people that paid to see the flop fold (3 SB minus RAKE) - I'm still supposed to tip a buck? I don't think so.

Commerce and the Bike have the added "jackpot"rake. If that rake were not there (and I wish it wasn't) I'd be less stingy with the tokage.

At Binion's in LV, where the dealers are fabulous, and there is NO jackpot rake, I'll tip a buck even out of these tiny pots. But this is harder to do with a JP rake.

Thinking in terms of EV for a moment:

We say that someone is doing amazingly well if they clear 2BB per 100 hands.

In a live game with a shuffle machine, that's about 35 to 40 hands per hour.

Let's say for the sake of argument that you have to win 3 pots to make that 2BB. For a 3/6 game, tipping $1 a pot means a reduction to 1.5BB per hundred. That's a 25% reduction in EV. That sucks.

If the dealer isn't helping me by keeping the game efficient, enforcing rules, and otherwise keeping the "energy" at the table positive so the fish feel happy and bet into me, then he's further reducing my EV. And I should still tip the same?

Nope.

The dealer IS an important part of an advantage player's game, regardless of if the game is poker, craps, or blackjack. Dealers that are together and working in a way that betters my game deserve a tip for certain. Slackers that don't pay attention to the game, don't keep it under control or efficient, and that don't enforce the rules don't deserve the same sized tip.


And yea, I used to work in restaurants, so I do get the whole tipping concept.



AB

Re: Jackpots and dealer tipping etiquette question
 

As a dealer myself, I always tip 10% unless the dealer has given me very good reason not to. For an exceptionally good dealer, I might go up to 15% for a medium-sized jackpot (up to $1k or so). That's my approach anyway.


q/q

Re: Jackpots and dealer tipping etiquette question
 

[ QUOTE ]

As a dealer myself, I always tip 10% unless the dealer has given me very good reason not to. For an exceptionally good dealer, I might go up to 15% for a medium-sized jackpot (up to $1k or so). That's my approach anyway.


q/q

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This could be why you're a dealer and not a player.

Re: Jackpots and dealer tipping etiquette question
 

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[ QUOTE ]

As a dealer myself, I always tip 10% unless the dealer has given me very good reason not to. For an exceptionally good dealer, I might go up to 15% for a medium-sized jackpot (up to $1k or so). That's my approach anyway.


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This could be why you're a dealer and not a player.

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ROTFLMAO!!!

[img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img] [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

Re: Jackpots and dealer tipping etiquette question
 

mind you, I have never gotten a piece of any JP, yet I have thrown 2 away preflop. So who knows if I would follow thru or not, but this has been my thought all along:

Give me a piece of that JP and I will toke a bunch. 10% easy...maybe more. I look at it as free money, a small amount that I may have contributed over the years in JP rake, since I dont play them hardly. But if I'm going to take down 15-30k in a 3-6 game, that dealer can take a week or 2 off IMO. I dont see why we wouldnt be more gracius for these large scores. It isnt the same as winning 12 bets one hand.

BTW, as a dealer, I have dealt many many many thousands of hands in those games over the years when I worked in places that had them. And I have never dealt a JP. So it's not like this is something dealers do alot of.

Re: Jackpots and dealer tipping etiquette question
 

I won a table share at Commerce playing 9/18 once. I have zero recollection about how much I got or how much I tipped but I remember tipping and I remember the dealer seeming pleasantly surprised.

But more importantly, I remember one guy flipping out, calling his buddies, telling them he was now unstuck, and then getting stuck again.

Re: Jackpots and dealer tipping etiquette question
 

[ QUOTE ]
I won a table share at Commerce playing 9/18 once. I have zero recollection about how much I got or how much I tipped but I remember tipping and I remember the dealer seeming pleasantly surprised.

But more importantly, I remember one guy flipping out, calling his buddies, telling them he was now unstuck, and then getting stuck again.

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Same thing happened to me, including the stuck guy. Except I was the only guy who tipped the floor, the dealer, and the supervisior (I assume he was a supervisor). Suffice to say I got A++ treatment from that day forward, the brush still remembers me although it was 6 months later.

TT [img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img]

For some fun, here are the jackpot hands
 

Hand 1: Almost the easiest jackpot board you will ever see...

Suits irrelevant... flop is A4A. The jackpot door is open. Turn 4. Possible, but not very likely. River A!

Dealer SHOUTS: "Everyone SHUT UP." Then more quietly, I don't want anyone blowing the jackpot. We are down to 2 players. I state: "Just state your action, nothing more." Players: "Check." "Check" Player 1 AJ. Player 2 pocket 7's. Touchdown! Dealer's conduct could have been seen as abrasive, but he was only trying to protect a potential jackpot.

I had never really thought about it, but I guess the perfect jackpot board would be AAA22 for Commerce.

The second hand was more of a surprise. Flop was junk, but had a 5 in it. Turn added a 2nd 5 and now had 3 clubs. River put the first A on the board and the betting erupts between a young asian guy and a middle aged lady who later admitted she had lost 50k (OMG!) gambling last year.

The kid and the witch went back and forth 10 times, HU, no limit. I honestly thought is was the nut flush vs. full house with 2 stubborn people. Woman turns over pocket's 5's and kid turns over pocket AA that he had not raised PF. I am the first person to recognize this as a jackpot. No way for others to blow it.

For some karma, it turns out the kid was robbed at gunpoint the day before hitting the jackpot. While he had not been at the table that long, under those circumstances, it sounds like he was due some good karma.

Re: For some fun, here are the jackpot hands
 

[ QUOTE ]
Hand 1: Almost the easiest jackpot board you will ever see...

Suits irrelevant... flop is A4A. The jackpot door is open. Turn 4. Possible, but not very likely. River A!

Dealer SHOUTS: "Everyone SHUT UP." Then more quietly, I don't want anyone blowing the jackpot. We are down to 2 players. I state: "Just state your action, nothing more." Players: "Check." "Check" Player 1 AJ. Player 2 pocket 7's. Touchdown! Dealer's conduct could have been seen as abrasive, but he was only trying to protect a potential jackpot.

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Was that a JP? At the Bike, it has to be Aces full of TT or better... At Commerce is it Aces full of anything??

[ QUOTE ]

I had never really thought about it, but I guess the perfect jackpot board would be AAA22 for Commerce.

The second hand was more of a surprise. Flop was junk, but had a 5 in it. Turn added a 2nd 5 and now had 3 clubs. River put the first A on the board and the betting erupts between a young asian guy and a middle aged lady who later admitted she had lost 50k (OMG!) gambling last year.

The kid and the witch went back and forth 10 times, HU, no limit. I honestly thought is was the nut flush vs. full house with 2 stubborn people. Woman turns over pocket's 5's and kid turns over pocket AA that he had not raised PF. I am the first person to recognize this as a jackpot. No way for others to blow it.

For some karma, it turns out the kid was robbed at gunpoint the day before hitting the jackpot. While he had not been at the table that long, under those circumstances, it sounds like he was due some good karma.

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Wow - you were table share in TWO jackpots??!!

Damn...


AB

Re: For some fun, here are the jackpot hands
 

I was lucky enough to get a small table share of one at the Trump in Gary (now Majestic Star II) about a month ago. The table share was about $260....The table captain, a Trump regular in his 60's who likes to refer to all of the younger players at the table as "his son", was urging everyone to not forget the dealer. No problem, but when I asked him how much was appropriate, he was clueless. I suggested about 2-3% and we all decided that we would toke the dealer $10 and throw $5 to the player who was away from the table on break, and thus did not qualify for a table share. (This guy had been seated at the table for a few hours at the time the JP hit, but seemed to be constantly gone from the table on break. If it had just been a pit stop for a leak, I would have been inclined to cut him in for closer to a fair share, but he would play an orbit, then disappear for what seemed like two, come back for one and disappear again.)

Anyway, the winner of the hand (and thus a quarter of the jackpot, like $1700 if memory serves) was in the two seat, I was in the one seat. He asked me how much he should tip. I told him $50 felt right...about 3%. So that is what he tossed the dealer. The winner of the jackpot ended up buying drinks for the table (no free alcohol at the Trump!) I don't think he was at the table for much of the conversations concerning tip levels, but he only tossed the dealer $25 as he was leaving. Oh well, I think he went on the cheap...less than 1% to the dealer, but c'est la guerre.

I think he was feeling generous towards the other players, because he was oblivious to the jackpot. At Trump, the "winning" hand has to be Aces full of tens or better losing. The JP winner and seat 2 were going at it on a board through the turn of AA44, suits unimportant. You could see the wheels turning in the heads' of the Trump vets at the table when the turn went 4 bets.

The river came Q. The two players went two or three bets on the river, with seat two tabling pocket fours. The JP winner was about to much his losing hands when several of us encouraged him to show. He had AQ and rivered the bad beat winning hand. However, without the encouragement, all would have been lost. I believe that is why he felt indebted to the table and bought the round.

In any event, I was thinking of posting at the time to find out what everyone thought the right tip should be. I am gratified to know that my instinct of about 3% seemed to be right on based on this thread.

One question -- Do you think there should be any difference if the dealers share their tokes (as is the case at Trump) or not?

BTW, I believe with the Majestic Star take over, the poker dealers' tokes will be pooled with the rest of the table game dealers.

Re: Jackpots and dealer tipping etiquette question
 

$1

Answers to AlienBoy\'s & Big Al\'s ?\'s
 

Big Al - yes I believe Commerce shares tips, but if you are a regular at a particular word gets around and I want to be on the good side of all the staff.

AlienBoy - yes this is a jackpot at Commerce. That is why the JP's are much smaller because ANY Ace's full will do. At the same time, JP's are paid out much more frequently as well.

Yep, two table shares within 28 hours. Friday night and Sat night sessions.

Re: Answers to AlienBoy\'s & Big Al\'s ?\'s
 

I didn't think either commerce or the Bike shared tips as the dealers put them all in their tray, and not a toke box.

In LV, Poker dealers generally keep their own tips even if the other dealers (BJ/Craps/Etc) share the tokes.


AB

Re: Jackpots and dealer tipping etiquette question
 

Give what you feel like--- no more no less-----
Some dealers I give a nice toke to -- some I toke nothing--
1 to 5% is plenty -- you are not there to make thier wages,,, they are there to serve you -- nover forget that---
What did they do out of the normal job desc. NOTHING -- they gave you cards. thats IT--------Dealers are a service provided by the casino---

Re: Jackpots and dealer tipping etiquette question
 

[ QUOTE ]
Give what you feel like--- no more no less-----
Some dealers I give a nice toke to -- some I toke nothing--
1 to 5% is plenty -- you are not there to make thier wages,,, they are there to serve you -- nover forget that---
What did they do out of the normal job desc. NOTHING -- they gave you cards. thats IT--------Dealers are a service provided by the casino---

[/ QUOTE ]

ahh...but without those tokes you got no dealers and then you cant beat the game. Dealers only get min wage and you know ya cant live off that. Dealers are supposed to be protecting the integrity of the game. Without them, there wont be any. Not saying it's right. Just saying thats the way it is.

Re: Jackpots and dealer tipping etiquette question
 

I get half minimum wage.

Score.

Re: Jackpots and dealer tipping etiquette question
 

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If I won 25k, I would probably tip around 750, but everyone's different.

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I hit a 25k jackpot a few weekends ago.

I had about $300 chips in play, and pushed them in for the tip. It seemed fair at the time, but I was in shock. In hindsight, a little more may have been in order, at least $500 or so I think.

I'll try to rectify this the next time I'm at Cascades.