Tipped the floor for the 1st time last week. . .now i feel dirty

[EWillers]

I've been playing B&M poker quite a bit for the past 4 years. The only time I had tipped the floor was back in OK when the floor got me a room for the night (they were just givin' them away to players back then. . .I'd tip 10 bux to whomever gave me the comp).

The problem I have/had with tipping the floor is that 1) I can't tie it to any event; 2) they are paid (I believe) assuming no tips; and 3) the expectation they may have that I am expecting something in return.

Now I play about 3 or 4 times a week at a local casino. Pretty much all the dealers and floor on evening and gravyard shift know me by name. I've been going there pretty regularly for a couple of years.

I had never tipped the floor until last week. I'm not sure what possessed me to do it, but I got a table change and slipped the floor a red bird. This was a big step for me mentally as I had considered the issue for a long while but had never actually done it.

A couple of days later, I call ahead and put my name on the list. When I show up, the floor whom I had toked greeted me (nothin' out of the ordinary) and then mentioned how they had gotten a must move (for the 1st hour) goin' for "me". They don't usually run must moves at this house. I began to feel slightly dirty.

About 3 hours into the session I decide to get some lunch. I always eat in the room as there are almost always open tables. I'm sittin' there eatin' and reading my book when the same floor approaches askin' me if I wanted to play 5/10 cuz if I did he could probably call the (short) list and get it goin'. This house is notorious for waiting until they have 12-15 names on a list before starting a new game. I told him sure and in 10 minutes the 5/10 was up and runnin'. I felt really dirty after that.

The floor should do its job. Its job is to run the card room in the best manner it sees fit. This should be irrespective of gratuity. It's a terribly awkward situation though. If I were a floor, and somebody tokes me, I figure it's only human that I would want to do something more to accomodate that person. At the same time, I, as a floor, would strive to treat every player in a respectful (almost cherished manner).

I read some posts in the past about toking the floor to get up the list or getting a favourable ruling. To the extent that this is against the rules, it's totally off limits.

As far as starting new games or doing other things that the floor might not have done absent gratuity, wtf? If it's good for the room, they should do it. If it's not, they shouldn't. The existence or absence of gratuity should not affect their actions.

I hate to ask a generic floor tipping question, but what are some of ya'lls rationales for doin'/not doin' it. Since it can't be neatly tied to a function (e.g. winning a pot, getting checks) what is your basis for when you toke a floor?

CLIFF'S NOTES: I feel dirty if the floor treats me different when I toke them. Do you toke the floor? Why?

[jjshabado]

I'd like to do it in AC since I feel good service should be rewarded (and crappy service shouldn't) but its not allowed. I've tried a couple of times to give the floor a tip after I felt they'd done something above and beyond what their job calls for. Both times I tried to do it quietly, but both times they declined. I suppose my ten bucks isn't worth the risk to them.

[redfisher]

It doesn't seem to me that anything you've done is unethical. It also doesn't seem like anybody has done anything unethical for you.

The stuff you're describing should be standard customer service for a regular IMO. Who's hurt?

It's a different story if you're getting bumped to the top of the list or getting preferential rulings.

Tipping is a way to show appreciation for a job well done. When you tip somebody who doesn't normally expect it or overtip somebody who does, you're going to have to deal with them trying harder to exceed your expectations.

[phydaux]

But that's the standard? I'm an on-line player, but Mass is suppose to be opening casinos and I want to start playing live regularly.

When I've played live down at Foxwoods, I toked the dealer a $1.00 chip for every hand I won. Is the expectation to tip the floorman $5.00 or $10.00 (basically one BB for a live NL player) after a session?

After every session? Only after winning sessions? 'Cause I only toke the dealer after winning hands.

And how often do floormen change shifts? And aren't there more than one floorman working at any given time?

Geez, the internet sure makes playing poker easy.

[Eponymous]

When I played a cash game at Hilton AC the first time (after busting out of a tourney), the floor guy gave me the scoop regarding how the regulars play at the 1/2NL table he was going to put me on. I ended up winning about $80 after an hour or so, and when I left, I figured this was as good as a time as any to tip a floor person for the first time. Tried to give him a five and he refused but said I could bring him a coffee next time I came to the room. I didn't realize that tipping the floor in AC wasn't allowed. I thought I heard others talk about how you should usually tip the floor for this or that. Must be in other places I guess.

[Poshua]

To OP: floor hasn't given you an unfair advantage, he's just going out of his way to do nice things for you. Getting treatment like that is a key objective of tippers. Do you think the $20 check-in trick is unethical?

[Mason Hellmuth]

[ QUOTE ]
the floor guy gave me the scoop regarding how the regulars play at the 1/2NL table he was going to put me on

[/ QUOTE ]
Wow, maybe it's just me but this seems way out of line.

[Poshua]

[ QUOTE ]

Wow, maybe it's just me but this seems way out of line.

[/ QUOTE ]

Nope, not just you.

[Eponymous]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]

Wow, maybe it's just me but this seems way out of line.

[/ QUOTE ]

Nope, not just you.

[/ QUOTE ]

I was surprised myself, but I'm not used to playing in the smaller rooms. I thought maybe that's typical. But I also thought: man, I bet those guys wouldn't appreciate that I just got a line on their play.

[Poshua]

Did he give you tips on the players individually, or just say "this game is generally loose-passive/weak-tight/what have you"