[Howard Beale]

[ QUOTE ]
Howard,

I don't blame you one bit for feeling the way you do. I also play a lot of hours of live poker in the SW (Sandia-ABQ) and nothing irritates me more that apathetic dealers/floor, considering the amount of money I pay in rake/tips in a year to sit in that seat. I would suggest that you look at this on a case by case basis though, instead of just not tipping anyone. Here is a personal example.

I'm in a big pot in a 10-20 game (this hand is 1/2 kill so its 15-30). I have an OESFD and have been putting in a lot of bets and raises. On the river its head's up, I miss my draw and fire as its the only way I can win, and could get high-carded if the other player is on a draw. The other player thinks...then finally calls. I flip my hand up immediately, the other player (very bad and very confused) nods his head and is about to muck. Guy next to him yells out "look he's only got 9-high you can't beat that?" Player is STILL trying to fold when guy next to him actually GRABS HIS ARM and says "just table your hand, he doesn't have anything." After all this convincing the guy finally tables his hand and shows 1 pair. During this whole episode the dealer is staring staight ahead like someone lobotomized her, and doesn't do or say anything. Another player and myself start yelling to the interfering player and the dealer "wtf its 1 player per hand!" she has no reaction whatsoever. I glare at her and say "I'm gonna charge you for that." It was over a $300 pot and I never tipped her again.

There are a number of dealers at my casino that do a good job, actually try to enforce the rules, and pay attention to what is going on. I have no problem tipping these people. I just as easily have no problem stiffing the dealers who are apathetic, and don't care at all about the integrity of the game. I tip these people little or nothing.

[/ QUOTE ]

There are plenty of good dealers at CAZ in that they deal a quick, efficient game. There are even a few that DO try and stop players from flashing cards and will tell players not to talk about the hand in progress but, generally speaking, the culture of the games at CAZ has gotten to the point where if you tell people that it's not ok to say things like 'he's raising? I bet he has K-J for the nut straight' when they're not even in the hand they wonder why.

I'm not tipping ANY of them. The few who do a good job will get some extra money at Christmas time when I spread a good few bucks around the poker room each year.