Toke Quandary

No Im not talking the quandary a Rastafarian has about choosing Mexico or Humbolt, Im talking what is the consensus on what to give the dealer as a token of appreciation after a final table placing. For example, Toolman dings one this weekend for 20K. If he were to tip out at 10% thats 2 grand way too much. I hear UBT as a pre determined gratuity taken right from the players, altho Im not 100% sure. If so what is the take UBT uses? I know this was talked about a while back but a quick search I cant find, was there a standard toke rate confirmed?

 

My Tips Recently

Barney, I posted this about a month ago on another thread.

When I won two tournaments at Cherokee Casino in February I tipped 10% and was told I was tipping to much by the other players. I tipped $300 on a $3000 win and $400 on $4200 win. A few weeks ago when I won at Sunset Station I tipped $500 on a $10,000 win and the dealers seemed very appreciative. Especially since they got stiffed by the rest of the table.

Doing the math you can see the first two wins I tipped 10% and the larger $10,000 win I tipped 5%. I believe the more you win the smaller the % gets. I also believe Karma will get you if you stiff the dealers. Yep, it's superstition and yep I believe in Karma. Ask Earl.

 

Later this week I'll respond in more detail when I post some details about my win but just wanted to say one thing here. The second place winner at the Horseshoe - Tunica won $50,000. Tip was $200. Yep, he was a ploppy and a cheap one at that. I think a more appropriate tip would have been in the area of $2,000.

 

Tokes...

UBT took 3% off the top. As a result, when I received my winnings, they went directly into my pocket, without any thought of giving additional funds. I too beleive in taking care of those who have been listening to me as I "Talk to the Cards" on my way to success in a Tournament! It's just something that I've always done, and will continue to do.

It's kind of like paying taxes. There are many out there who really have a problem with paying, but as far as I'm concerned, the larger my tax bite, the happier I am, because that means that I've done rather well with respect to what I've pocketed. On the other hand, I also agree that the larger the "Tournament Win", the smaller the percentage in tokes should be paid. For example, when I WIN the Tournament of Champion event for UBT later this year, and they pay me $1,000,000-$1,500,000, I'm definitely not going to go crazy and give them 10%. I may take all the participants out to a nice dinner, as I celebrate... (LOL) :celebrate

Skipper aka "The Ultimate Blackjack Terminator" aka "The Bad MAN of Blackjack"

P.S. Let's bring it on "Bad Boy"...

 

I guess I'll be waiting for my check then, Skipper! :joker:

 

Ubt...

3% sounds OK to me as Dreamer stated UBT tokes automatic. I think from what Thrasht and Toolman have said 5% is a good "standard" Also, exceptions should be considered. A couple months back at Pioneer, where its hard to advance from a prelim 1/6, I gave a tip of 10$ to the dealer as I advanced from the first round without a rebuy. I do play there from time to time and appreciate the dealers so that helped me decide to throw her some money.

 

Dealers Only!!

The "Dealers" only ACE! The Dealers only...

I may consider something extra for you Ace, other than the celebratory dinner with all the participants, after my huge win in Barona in December.

Do you like Noodles? The noodle shop there isn't bad, as noodle shops go.:laugh:

As aside, it was good seeing you at the Palms, and playing against you. I really wanted you to win in the Semis and take down the "Little Bad Boy", but perhaps we'll meet again soon in some heated "Blackjack Battle" where you can take him down...

See you soon my friend.

"The Bad MAN of Blackjack" aka "The Ultimate Blackjack Terminator"

 

More Misleading Information

If the UBT or any tournament automatically takes out 3% for tokes, then they shouldn't advertise that all money is returned in prize money. I'm not saying it's wrong to take the 3%, but it's wrong to promote that all the entry fees are returned to the players. If a tournament costs $2700 to enter and 3% is taken out on top of the $200 entry, it means that each player is giving away $275 before even starting. And the "lucky" 7th place finishers won a total of $15.03. Congratulations.

 

I tip based on friendly efficent dealing not as a matter of course.

Ive played at some tables with some bad dealers...I can forgive some mistakes but when they have a poor attitude and seem to hate the fact that they are there well.....stiff is what they have earned.

As far as winning tournaments ...I slide from 20 % to 5% based on the size.

500 bucks win might get you 100 if you were pleasant and earned it....or it might get you 5 if you were snotty and a PITA...

The cocktail waitresses ususlly get most of my winnings..;-)

 

Tips / Tokes

I wonder what the dealer tipping rules will be when the Blackjack tournament circuit moves away from the USA and holds competitions in casinos from other countries?

In my country, dealers are not allowed to accept gratuities in any form by players at a casino table. Tipping a croupier is strictly illegal in Britain and I am sure the law would apply in tournament play.

Does anyone know what happens about dealer tips in the televised Poker tournaments that already take place over here?

Andy

 

TBJPA and tipping

The TBJPA doesn't take any of the funds out for tipping, however I really like the idea of the 3% taken off the top for the dealers.

I will bounce it around with the players and see what they think. It just seems a lot easier for the players and the dealers will be assured something.

Let me hear your feedback on this issue.

 

It may be noted on printed materials and a reasonable amount, but when certain people claim that all entry fees are returned in prize money, that's just a lie. Why are some people so afraid of the truth?

Mr. Smith, you have far more tournament experience than I do. Is this common? Does this happen on the World Series of Blackjack or on UBT's first season invitational events? I hope you will answer my questions.

 

Ken stated "This idea of a dealer tip holdout is new to the blackjack world, but is very standard in the poker world apparently", the holdout does not only go to the dealers, it usually is split among all of the tourney workers this includes not only the dealers but also the tourney director and the tourney floor supervisors. Some poker tourneys use the optional dealer toke add on (example for a $10 dealer toke you will get extra starting chips) however in Mississippi this was ruled against gaming regulations a couple of years ago. It is funny dealers are never satisfied even with the 3% hold out they complain about players stiffing them if the players do not give from their winnings also. At the WSOP last year the tip pool was over $1 million dollars and they still bitched. And yet there is another way of tipping in some tourneys the dealer tip is taken from the entry fee not the buy-in there foreit comes from the house money not the player pool.

 

Tips continued

If the American players are disagreeing with each other on the amount to tip a dealer after a tournament, than what the hell are European competitors suppose to do when they have little experience of live play.

Like I said on a previous post, tipping the dealer is alien to many of us and I’m still not sure what to do after reading the various posts regarding this.

That does not mean that I am mean with money because I am not.

If I ever get a shot in the big Blackjack tournament games in the USA (don’t laugh) it would have been be hard enough anyway without having to worry about how much do you give to the dealer.

Tournament organisers from WSOB, UBT and TBJPA should take a lead and stop this tipping nonsense.

Just increase the entry fees and pay the dealers accordingly to the going rate.

If a player still tips a dealer and ignores the rules then they should be banned from future competitions.

My thoughts.

Andy

 

The "old" New Frontier Live Money Tournaments

As I recall, the New Frontier tournaments had the dealer tips taken out of the prize pool on the order of 3% (actually 2.7% sticks in the back of my mind for some reason). This was based on a net prize pool to the players of $70,000 with with first at 30K and 2nd through 6th at 16K, 10K, 6K, 3K and 1.5 K respectively.

On a personal note, I too tip on a sliding scale and it is influenced by how "well known/how often" I am at the event/frequent the establishment.

Chips

 

According to my observations you are pretty well known all over Las Vegas and in other gaming jurisdiction's. You didn't become a elite member of every players club in town by just being an occasional visitor. Mind you I have benefited by your elite status that you have attained. Its almost as good as hanging with the King & Queen of England.:laugh:


Joep

 

Different cultures

My understanding is that in the U.S. 'the going rate' for dealers, bar tenders, waiters, etc. includes an assumption that it will be made up to a living wage through the addition of tips. So the dealers would have to be being payed more than they would normally get for dealing regular BJ if tips were to be prohibited.

In general there isn't much of a tipping culture here in the UK. I belive it's actually illegal to pay someone below the minimum wage on the assumption that tips or other extras will make up the difference. So a tip tends to be viewed more as a recognition of particularly good service.

Then there is the specific ban on tipping dealers, designed to remove any temptation of rewarding good tips with good cards! (Or indeed bad tips with bad cards )

Other European countries probably vary in how tipping is viewed (both in general and in casinos). I've never visited a casino outside the UK, but my experience of general life in Germany and Austria is that tipping in bars, restaurants, etc.is much more expected there than it is here.