How much do you tip your poker dealer?

Tipping is a crucial part of a poker dealer’s income, but as a poker player, how often should you personally contribute? That is a subject every poker player faces every time they sit down at a casino or a live poker event. There are many theories on the subject, some involve your poker strategy, and others are fiscal. Let’s get started.

A serious poker player is always looking for ways to improve their game and building a bankroll. They are reviewing opportunities to improve the table to an advantageous situation that will enable them to bring in more bank, and consistently increase bankroll. Tipping can play into their strategy. Often when players are competing at a table with a good ‘vibe’ there is an over flow of betting, and the pots are much larger. A serious poker player would always be looking for ways to improve the mood that includes taking care of the poker dealer. The dealer can often set the mood of the table, if he or she is talking freely, and happy in the conversation, those around the table will be too. The strategy here would dictate that you would create a positive feeling by tipping every pot won, even if only a dollar or two. If you bring in a large enough pot, you would want to purchase a drink for everyone at the table, and something for the dealer. This keeps the dealer happy and the table ready to continue to play with you, and give over their money in the process.

Then there is the approach of the more fiscal down to earth side. This reflects on the amount of money spent. If you are one who tips at every single pot won, and you win 3 or 4 pots in an hour, you are gifting money several times in that hour. Assuming a mere 3 pots an hour, and a tip of 5 dollars a pot the total money gifted an hour is 15 dollars. Although this will help your dealer, it is viewed by some players as a fiscal loss. Therefore this line of reasoning ends with, if you could give yourself a 15 dollar an hour raise, would you? Obviously this side also has valid points, but is there another midline approach?

The answer to that is absolutely. This one uses a numerical value as the tipping guideline. If you are playing at a poker table with some solid players you may deem a specific size pot to be a good pot to bank. From there you would play aggressively and aim for that pot or larger. At the times you would reach the pot level of choice and bring it to your bankroll, you would then tip the dealer. Taking the example from the previous line of thought, you bring in 3 pots an hour, but only one of them hits your numerical target, let’s say it is a 500 dollar target, and the other two are lower, you are only tipping once. This is more of a midline approach to the dealer’s tip.

Your method of tipping may be dependent on your line of play. The one thing that is a constant throughout is that you need to tip your dealer. You may not need to buy a round of drinks, or lavish a full pot upon the dealer and table, but you need to tip your poker dealer or croupier. Find the pay structure that fits your ideal comfort zone and stick to it every single live poker game you enjoy. Just in case you are wondering, this can apply to any casino table game. If you are playing at an online casino, there is never any need to tip the dealer. But as and added bonus, please check out the biggest casino bonuses available.