I was playing in a online tournament the other day and a guy was chatting about how he plays in Vegas all the time and does quite well. He said he does well enough that he likes to tip the dealers $100 when he wins big.

I was confused because I thought you weren't allowed to tip dealers because of the reason others may think you're paying them off.

Have I been wrong about this, have things changed, or is this guy talking out of his...

Tips are very much allowed and almost implied to be mandatory. Most of the dealers in the United States work for minimum wage and basically their whole wage is derived from tips, much like waiters, or cocktails waitresses.

Are from Europe, the U.K. by chance? When I was in London in January I played at the Victoria Club and tipping wasn't allowed.

Tipping is an interesting topic to talk about. I have some pretty strong (and somewhat unpopular) views of tipping but I'll save that opinion for a different thread or poker tip.

Jason

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I'm Not Lucky, I Have Good Karma !

At the cash games in my local club, tipping is common. Most give something for any reasonable pots won and although it's probably not expected as much as in the US, it's generally frowned upon if you take a few pots without tipping.

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Still Trying to Learn the Science & Discover the Art

Yeah it's the same where I am. People generally tip the dealer, and if you don't, they remember you. It's not a good thing to overlook that.

Tipping is how dealers make their livings. It is customary to tip on practically every pot you win short of tiny pots. Obviously if all the action folds to you and all you get are the blinds then a tip is not in order, or if say, you see a flop and there are 2 or 3 small bets, but when you rake a nice pot, toking the dealer is expected. If it werent for tipping we wouldn't have dealers.

Good dealers have subtle tricks to encourage tipping and these "tricks" are not frowned upon. For instance in a game with only $5 chips nesecary (like a $5/10 game) you will notice white chips on the table. This is because the dealer A) needs them for rake and B) changes out $5 chips as players are more likely to tip a $1 than a $5. Also in split pots you will notice that is there is an odd chip that the dealer will usually push both pots and then flick the odd chip at whoever it is due to last. This isn't because they had to think about where the chip goes, this is in the hopes that the player will notice they have an "extra" chip and flick it right back to the dealer. Once again these practices are not looked at in bad way, they are expected and they are actually taught to dealers who go to a good dealers school!

Tipping is the biggest part of a dealers income. Don't make a mistake about that!

i think tipping is allow as long as you're changing the dealer every time, and not much i say. of course, just make sure you do that after you finish your game or tipping before or when might be consider as asking the dealer to let you win big. just remember that we're tipping for their service and performance, nothing else.

Most places I go, tipping is allowed, like many users have said that is how they make most of their money from tips.

It's also custom to tip in the games I play in the local restaurants around town. Usually the dealers in these game don't get paid by the service...either "all in poker, no limit poker" etc...so tips are the only way they get paid. I usually throw in $5 for each game I play...as I know it's not a lot but better than not giving anything at all.

This is not common in the uk although there is a debate about changing British gaming law to allow individual casino dealers to get tips.

I always tip the dealers when I play at casino. Thats how they make most of their money.