The Dealer’s Cut: How to Pay Your Poker Dealer Like a Pro??? (7 Viewers)

[WedgeRock]

$50/hour would equate to $2000/week or $100,000/year, tax free, so more like $133,333/year if taxed. That's pretty decent money. Add a catered meal, and it seems very reasonable to me.

$80/hour equates to an annual taxable income of $213,333 (80x40x50/.75).

 

[WedgeRock]

Maybe @casinochipper22 has some insight.

 

[Taghkanic]

Shuffle machine definitely will increase hands per hour, though when I mentioned the $50/hr rate for NYC games it was with an auto shuffler.

I dunno. When I play at casinos I sometimes think the shuffler is slower than my home game without one.

We have the button shuffle one deck during each hand. Then the dealer gives it an additional riffle-riffle-cut (or two, if the button is a known bad/lazy shuffler).

This seems to me pretty efficient, and when you take into account the need to get decks into and out of the machine, and the time to have it shuffle, plus the occasional jams… I really don’t feel tempted to get a shuffler.

The much bigger factor as far as hands per hour is the skill of the dealer, not to mention the habits of the regs.

One or two chronic tankers or distracted players can totally ruin the number of hands per hour much more than shuffling time ever can.

 

[Taghkanic]

$50/hour would equate to $2000/week or $100,000/year, tax free, so more like $133,333/year if taxed. That's pretty decent money. Add a catered meal, and it seems very reasonable to me.

That’s assuming 40 hours a week. I don’t know anyone dealing home or private games who gets in that volume. Maybe in L.A./NYC but not in my area.

 

[WedgeRock]

Agreed and agreed. But the work is proportional to the pay. You could do some bullshit job for 20-30 hours a week for insurance and bennies and have a nice side hustle income.

 

[mikem_nyc]

I dunno. When I play at casinos I sometimes think the shuffler is slower than my home game without one.

We have the button shuffle one deck during each hand. Then the dealer gives it an additional riffle-riffle-cut (or two, if the button is a known bad/lazy shuffler).

This seems to me pretty efficient, and when you take into account the need to get decks into and out of the machine, and the time to have it shuffle, plus the occasional jams… I really don’t feel tempted to get a shuffler.

The much bigger factor as far as hands per hour is the skill of the dealer, not to mention the habits of the regs.

One or two chronic tankers or distracted players can totally ruin the number of hands per hour much more than shuffling time ever can.

To be fair…there are some really slow dealers at the casino haha and new ones learning. And a competent dealer should be on top of moving along distracted players imo. But I see your point with other factors with dealer skill and distracted regs.

I still think all things being equal in terms of a trained dealer (having experience dealing at a self dealt game doesn’t automatically make you a trained dealer) + same group of regs, a shuffler would increase hands/hr. My additional 2c

 

[casinochipper22]

$50/hour would equate to $2000/week or $100,000/year, tax free, so more like $133,333/year if taxed. That's pretty decent money. Add a catered meal, and it seems very reasonable to me.

$80/hour equates to an annual taxable income of $213,333 (80x40x50/.75).

$50/hr seems excessive for dealing. But think about it like realtor pay. They do one deal and cash a check for like 5k-20k for a handful of phone calls and what not during escrow. That could break down to like $200/hr+. The thing is, when we are not pitching cards, we aren't making money. So expanding hourly pay based on a full-time annual potential isn't fair. A good home game dealer is lucky to get a few nights a week. And expected to be free on those particular nights. So it's also opportunity cost of being free and flexible when players want to gamble.

But that being said, sign me up for $60/hour guaranteed, especially in a friendly, rake free game. That sounds like the nuts.

as for how to pay the dealer, flip or bomb pot on the half hour should quickly take care of it.

 

[casinochipper22]

1. $2/hand mandatory tip – This worked when we had $2 chips, but with the $2.50 snappers now in play, it’s cumbersome. So we started to tip 2.50 per pot. We prefer to keep fewer chips on the table and avoid having to make change or color up chips for tips just to keep the snappers in circulation. This process slows the game and isn’t ideal.

2. Bomb pot rake – At the top and bottom of each hour, each player puts in $10, and we take out $30 for the dealer. However, players aren’t particularly fond of bomb pots, and we eventually imposed a $200 per player cap on these hands.

3. Hourly rate – We’ve paid dealers $70–$80/hour, with players tipping(seat time) $10/hour each, for a minimum of seven players. This is the players’ preferred method: it’s clean, easy to calculate, and straightforward. However, some dealers seem to feel short-changed—perhaps because they don’t see the steady stream of tips like they would if tips were coming out of every pot.

In addition to the structured pay, players also tip periodically—often for big pots, exciting hands, or dramatic suck-outs. We estimate that these extra tips add up to around $20/hour, though we haven’t tracked that precisely.

We have a few important rules: dealers are strictly prohibited from discussing anything that happens in the game or mentioning players who participate. We did have to part ways with a dealer who violated this trust. Over the past three years, we’ve rotated through three different dealers.

About four months ago, we started dealing ourselves because a couple of dealers either talked about the games or constantly asked for more money. However, we’re back to wanting to bring in a dealer again. From our perspective, $60–$70/hour for a game that runs from 6 or 7 p.m. until 1–3 a.m.—with free meals and drinks—seems fair. But perhaps we’re out of touch.

We’re hoping to find a straightforward, fair way to pay dealers that avoids constant renegotiation, minimizes the clutter of chips, and doesn’t require us to track hands or make change constantly—nor do we want to continue dealing ourselves.

Any suggestions, methods, or ideas would be greatly appreciated!

I personally don't like Mandatory tip, it is forced and feels like it makes players less likely to want to tip a good dealer for the right reasons, like actually wanting to reward a good dealer.

Hourly rate, or time would be second to last. Kind of along the same lines.

Bomb pot or flip would be the way to go. At least the players get some entertainment and chips move around the table.

But the most concerning part of this post is the secrecy. Lol. What the hell is going on in these games that a dealer cannot mention a word. How/ why is this game highest level classified?

 

[Machine]

So expanding hourly pay based on a full-time annual potential isn't fair.

$80/hour equates to an annual taxable income of $213,333 (80x40x50/.75).

I agree @casinochipper22, but it is a great way to create a baseline on dealing vs other professions.

I would still wonder if the value of a decent dealer plus opportunity costs is equivalent to, say, an IT manager's salary or sneaking up on a RN or jobs that have high skill requirements.

I still think all things being equal in terms of a trained dealer (having experience dealing at a self dealt game doesn’t automatically make you a trained dealer)

This is a great call out, sure anyone can deal, but there is a difference between someone who only does it for a few bucks or as a side hustle and those that would treat it as a profession. I think the pay @ 50plus will draw a higher-skilled dealer.

 

[Machine]

But the most concerning part of this post is the secrecy. Lol. What the hell is going on in these games that a dealer cannot mention a word. How/ why is this game highest level classified?

Its more about local politics I would think, nothing like a losing session where the dealer who deals and plays in other games gossip about someone well-known in the community.

Legality comes into play, take for example a place where law enforcement plays and doesn't enforce the law because everyone plays and casinos have lobbied for laws that benefit them. So the best you can do is a game that's not legal, but no one cares.

 

[WedgeRock]

Yeah, I declined a game because it was gonna be out up on YouTube. That's not what I need my clients to see...

 

[doublebooyah85]

$50/hour would equate to $2000/week or $100,000/year, tax free, so more like $133,333/year if taxed. That's pretty decent money. Add a catered meal, and it seems very reasonable to me.

$80/hour equates to an annual taxable income of $213,333 (80x40x50/.75).

This is a flawed thought process. It’s not a career.

Someone getting the chance to deal home games is 1 or twice a week/month, and at the worse possible hours.

 

[casinochipper22]

I would still wonder if the value of a decent dealer plus opportunity costs is equivalent to, say, an IT manager's salary or sneaking up on a RN or jobs that have high skill requirements.

Hell no!!! I’ve been dealing along time. I take it seriously. Made a living at it for a long time doing this. But in no way could this profession be compared to literally any other type of skilled job. It probably takes more training and knowledge and competence to become a janitor or fast food employee.

And I’m perfectly fine with that. I barely graduated high school. I’m right where I belong. lol.

 

[Taghkanic]

We have a few important rules: dealers are strictly prohibited from discussing anything that happens in the game or mentioning players who participate. We did have to part ways with a dealer who violated this trust. ... About four months ago, we started dealing ourselves because a couple of dealers either talked about the games or constantly asked for more money. However, we’re back to wanting to bring in a dealer again.

Problem: If you fire a dealer for talking about your game, aren't they then going to talk even *more* about it?

 

[casinochipper22]

About four months ago, we started dealing ourselves because a couple of dealers either talked about the games or constantly asked for more money. However, we’re back to wanting to bring in a dealer again. From our perspective, $60–$70/hour for a game that runs from 6 or 7 p.m. until 1–3 a.m.—with free meals and drinks—seems fair. But perhaps we’re out of touch.

Definitely not out of touch. That should be more than enough to find a competent dealer.

 

[Tight_Lay_DOWN]

Straight Hold 'Em I'd say the rate is very good, but once your dealing a variety of mixed games with smoking permitted at the table that rate becomes less appealing in a major urban scenario

Good news is all the dealers, both male and female, all smoke cigars when we are smoking. I / other players provide the cigars to the dealers for free.
Average price range is $15 - $25 per stick.

 

[Tight_Lay_DOWN]

Its more about local politics I would think, nothing like a losing session where the dealer who deals and plays in other games gossip about someone well-known in the community.

Legality comes into play, take for example a place where law enforcement plays and doesn't enforce the law because everyone plays and casinos have lobbied for laws that benefit them. So the best you can do is a game that's not legal, but no one cares.

Yes an Yes

And for the safety of the game, the players, the wives , girl friends of the players, even the dealers, we don’t want them compromised. Also the stories we tell, they are not government secretes but we don’t need all the other players in the community to hear these stories that we tell each other in our own social environment.

This is not an uncommon request. If we wanted to tell the whole world these stories, we would play on stream or post the stories online…

 

[MC_CPA]

IMO anything north of $40USD/hr seems generous. Wish I was local would pump out 22~30 hands an hour for ya at that rate.

If you have any kids or if any of your close guests have kids you could start by seeing if they would be down to deal. Would be a cool gig for them and theyd make more than all their friends working part time jobs that week. Or any of the non-playing spouses.

 

[doublebooyah85]

Don’t you guys have a close friend that doesn’t gambol or play poker? Maybe they will slide in for the camaraderie…and good pay.

 

[Jonesey07]

Good news is all the dealers, both male and female, all smoke cigars when we are smoking. I / other players provide the cigars to the dealers for free.
Average price range is $15 - $25 per stick.

Ok I really need to come deal this game. Haha

 

[Tight_Lay_DOWN]

Don’t you guys have a close friend that doesn’t gambol or play poker? Maybe they will slide in for the camaraderie…and good pay.

A close friend that does not play poker? What kind of a friend would they be if they did not play poker??? (just kidding)

 

[Taghkanic]

Don’t you guys have a close friend that doesn’t gambol or play poker? Maybe they will slide in for the camaraderie…and good pay.

But do you really want someone who doesn’t play poker dealing?

 

[doublebooyah85]

But do you really want someone who doesn’t play poker dealing?

Maybe not the stakes the game is. My dealer is perfect but doesn’t play poker. He’s my best friend etc. grew up playing euchre and $20 tourneys etc

 

[Tight_Lay_DOWN]

Maybe not the stakes the game is. My dealer is perfect but doesn’t play poker. He’s my best friend etc. grew up playing euchre and $20 tourneys etc

Sadly - It is difficult to get a euchre game going while in South Florida - Usually only get to play at family functions.

 

[doublebooyah85]

Sadly - It is difficult to get a euchre game going while in South Florida - Usually only get to play at family functions.

I’m just saying my dealer had experience with playing cards bc he played euchre his entire life and low limit poker. I imagine lots of transplants in FL or a few friends you have that don’t like playing your limits. Nonetheless should be easy to find a dealer down there tbh…

 

[Tight_Lay_DOWN]

oh ya - I know - I was just commenting on missing that Northern Euchre Action here in Florida - 10 dollars a point and 20 dollars a bone...good times.

 

[Annorax]

But do you really want someone who doesn’t play poker dealing?

No, if they don't play, they don't know the game well enough to deal.

I think I'd actually be good to deal a 2/5 or 5/10 home game even though I only play 1/2 and small buyin tournaments... I don't have the bankroll for it but that doesn't mean I wouldn't put everything I have into making sure that game goes off smoothly... I hate shitty dealers & I refuse to become one, lol

 

[4betfold]

Honestly, sounds like you’ve put a lot of thought into it and have a great setup already. In your situation, I’d suggest something like this:

• Flat hourly rate: $70–$75/hour guaranteed.
• Optional player seat time tips: $10/hour per player if players are comfortable (since this was already preferred by most).
• Keep food, drinks, and breaks as-is: That’s a nice perk that makes the gig more appealing.
• Encourage but don’t mandate spot tips for big pots: Let players tip big pots naturally, as they already seem to be doing.

This keeps it simple, predictable, and minimizes any chip clutter or constant tracking during the game. Dealers know exactly what they’re walking into, and your players don’t feel nickel-and-dimed.

If a dealer isn’t happy with that setup — with good hourly, perks, plus spot tips — they’re probably not a great long-term fit for your game anyway.