Spin City
If you thought poker players were secretive, not willing to give their names or locations, or sometimes even let us see their eyes – poker dealers are no different. We managed to get hold of a professional poker dealer for an exclusive interview, and all we got from him was his first name, Steve, and he’s from the United States, but we have to keep the actual location hidden. Reason being, the casinos are a bit overbearing regarding their employees being active on social media and in the press.
This interview will serve you well if you intend to start a career as a poker dealer and need a few tips from an experienced dealer who’s working at a large poker hub, and will also be a fun read if you’re a poker player yourself. You’ll finally get to know a dealer!
The Big One for One Drop with a £1 million buy-in. Antonio Esfandiari won a record-breaking £18.3 million in this event.
Let’s start with an interesting one, Steve. Do players think your shuffling is random?
No, not really. They all constantly go on about card mechanics. They think casinos employ poker dealers who know what cards they’ll deal to whom.
What can you tell us about the players? What are they like in terms of playing styles?
There used to be a stereotype of youngsters being loose and aggro, but it has changed recently. Now pretty much everyone is passive.
Do you expect to be tipped? How much?
Most of us are incredibly spoiled when it comes to tips. Realistically, I think it’s because most of us haven’t really grinded seriously. The majority expect amazing tips at 5/10 because “I shipped him a 10k pot and he only tipped me $2”. The biggest tip I ever got was $80. But honestly I don’t think anything bad about players who consistently tip a dollar or two. I don’t expect a tip when we don’t get to a flop.
Where can you train to be a dealer? Is there a right place and a wrong place?
I rarely hear dealers talk about this. Most are trained in-house by the casino. As long as you take it seriously, and seek out good dealers to learn from when you’re just starting out, you’ll be fine.
Most poker players appear really rude on TV. Are they?
Yeah, they can be pretty rude.
Do the same people win most of the time?
Yes, in the long run, absolutely. You see the same people coming out on top.
What do you notice about the winning players that they do differently than the losers?
They’re more professional. The losers are emotional messes when things don’t go their way. The pros barely let a bad beat affect them and they rarely get emotional. Also, playwise, the winners raise. The losers limp every hand every position and that’s how I know they are fish.
What are some things that separate good dealers from bad ones?
I think it starts at mindset. Dealers who consider themselves poker dealers are going to be better than dealers who treat it as they just got a job like they’d just get a job at Walmart. A good dealer will run the table, keep the action moving, be polite and impartial, and diffuse tense situations. They will make it a point to keep their boards clean, make sure to call out aggressive actions, and make sure the game is flowing well.
Do you have some tips on how to find softer games at the lower limit tables? What is the best day and time of day to play with other fish?
I’d say 95% of players at 1/2 limit games are fish anyway. The books and sites have it right. Weekends. After 5 PM hours when everyone’s done with work. During high hand promotions when it’s busy. When a big series is in town. Whenever there’s an increased interest in poker, that’s when fish come along. The sharks are there all the time.
Thank you, Steve, and good luck!
Thank you for having me.
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