The dealer visor--why?

[WhoIam]

I'm familiar with dealer visors because almost every movie and TV show featuring poker has a character wearing one. I even impulsively bought on my last trip to Vegas. But what's the point? Why do/did people wear them? Wikipedia has nothing and googling just turned up page after page of merchants selling dealer visors and no information about them.

[The Bandit Fish]

Because people who are suckers who will buy anything.

[Conspir8or]

I believe it derives from the green eyeshades used ages ago by accountants. Wikipedia's writeup of green eyeshades mentions that they were used by folks doing detail-oriented work over long periods under bright lights. If you think of the stereotypical back-room poker game, with the one bright light over the baize, the need for the dealer visor/eyeshade becomes clearer.

At poker rooms where the lights over the tables are uncommonly bright, I do notice a difference when I wear a hat or visor. But I've never seen an actual dealer wearing one in a casino.

[youtalkfunny]

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But I've never seen an actual dealer wearing one in a casino.

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I have, but it was on tv (WPT or WSOP). I imagine those television lights are pretty harsh.