How do I become a Prop Player in a Vegas casino?

[chezchez]

I called two casinos already including the Mirage and they acted as if there is no such thing! 'A dealer you mean?' one replied.

Thanks!
Jim

[JOEL_]

Get in touch with the poker room directly.Smaller rooms would be a better idea imo.

[phydaux]

You do know Props play with their own money, right? And that you can't pick your table or your game? If you suck at 7-Stud or PLO, but they want you to play 10/20 7-Stud with your own money for the next 6 hours, you have to do it.

[captain2man]

Can someone explain what the purpose of a prop player is?

[phydaux]

To start, or "prop up" the games at a B&M card room.

During slow periods of the day and week, card rooms will pay a few players a small hourly rate and them tell them what tables to sit at and what games to play. The players sit at the tables the card room manager tells them to sit at, and they play with their own money.

Say there are two players who want to play 20/40 7-stud. The card room manager can pull some of his prop players from a few other tables, leaving those not quite short handed, and start the 20/40 7-stud game five handed with two regular customers and three props.

This way customers with money in their pocket aren't just sitting around watching the baseball game. They will be playing the game of their choice and paying the rake like good little gamblers.

If you're a well rounded player it's a decent gig to have, since the hourly rate amounts to rakeback for games you play well, and can just about cover your losses for games you don't play quite so well.

But you have to be good, at least, at a lot of games and have a large enough BR to safely play your worst game at 40/80 stakes. The internet has produced a lot of players, myself included, who play hold'em well and other poker variants not at all.

but it's a good way to get good at HORSE fast, IMO.

[chezchez]

I DID call two rooms directly...they basically had never heard of this.

[phydaux]

Are you in Vegas? They probably don't need them. And even if they do, they probably don't want to advertise that they need props in their poker room, since it sends the message that the poker room is dead.

Talk to the poker room manager in person, but I'd say that unless he has seen you play the various HORSE games on your own in his card room, you won't get asked to be a prop.

Also, try the B&M sub-forum here. I understand quite a few of the regulars in that forum live & play regularly in Vegas and would be in a position to know if a particular room needed props.

Remember, though, you'd be playing with your own money and only getting ~$8.00/hr. If your 7-stud or Razz isn't strong, you can lose a hell of a lot more than that in one hour at a 20/40 table.

And it's not like you could set your own hours. They'll tell you what days & times to show up. And even at those times, if the poker room is jammin' then you could get tapped on the shoulder and told your off the clock at any time.

On the plus side, I understand most props get paid in cash under the table by the poker room manager, so the $8.00 is closer to $15.00. But it's just not a job.

[phydaux]

I did a search for you. Looks like the only places hiring props are Sam's Town and Joker's Wild.

[silver book]

Has anyone every been a prop player or known a prop player? How long did they stick with it

[7n7]

Most of the prop players I've met were in the LA card rooms.

Shirley Rosario was one of the better known ones who keeps a blog here:

http://www.poker-babes.com/poker/games/

Here's an article she wrote about being a prop:

http://www.poker-babes.com/prop-player/