Maybe I’ve been playing too much poker. You know how it goes, you’re looking at bad cards for hours (that’s not really the problem here) and you’re focusing on the players in the game. And while you are focusing on the players, the game play, you’re also very aware of the dealer. Quite seriously, I have people tell me they never notice the dealers or what they do…really? How can you NOT notice what they do if you’re involved in the game? Their actions – or lack of – can make the game run smoothly or stop it cold. I’ve been told by players, in almost all limits, that I’m strict or mean or tough or whatever terminoligy fits at the time, when I deal a game. The reason? The rules apply to everyone and the game runs so smoothly if everyone does what they are supposed to do…include the dealer in that.
Obviously when you’re not ‘running good’ you definitely want to see more hands and you want the action to move forward so you can arrive at the next ugly hand. That’s how the progression works, ugly hand, ugly hand, ugly hand, repeat for hours, and then BOOM! One hand brings back all your little chippies and puts you in the driver’s seat. And obviously, when you’re running good, you want to see as many hands as possible so you can keep on stackin’.
This is what I’ve witnessed lately:
1) I carry a small jumbled piece of hand blown glass (yes it resembles a PIPE…no I don’t smoke) for a card protector. I’m in the 1s. The dealer stops the whole game, doesn’t even bother to pick up the deck and deal, but picks up my card protector, turns it over and over, looks at it, puts it up closer to their face, looks at it a little longer, makes comments on it, and a minute or so later, the hand is dealt. Kee-rist! First of all, I may not want anyone picking up my personal items. My space is my space – stay out of it! Secondly, I want to see the next hand, not the dealer fondling my card cover.
2) The dealer deals the hand, leans back in his chair, looks at the ceiling, looks at the wall, sighs, rubs his forehead with the back of his free hand, stares around the room, decides to count the rack down for the 50th time and finally one of the players tells the UTG player that it’s up to them. This goes on for a full half an hour, ever time this dealer is in the box. I want to scream, ‘RUN THE DAMN GAME!’ Instead I usually take a walk. I figure this dealer gets out about nine hands a half hour. I do not know how he makes a living at that rate. And we have a lot of new players that do not know what they are supposed to do so they need dealer instruction and guidance on when it’s their turn.
3) The dealer sits with their arms out on the table, blocking the view of the players from the 1 and 2S to the 9 and 10s. The pot goes right in front of them, about two inches from the rack. UGH! How easy is it for chips to slip into the rack – accidentally of course. The dealer shuffles chips that are in the pot as they wait for the action. And picks up a chip for the rake, flips it up into the air about a foot, and then spreads their hand out flat, palm down and catches the chip on the top of their hand, then flips the chip up again and catches it to put it into the drop slot. First, the dealer should never ‘handle’ the chips. Their hands should stay out of the pot except to take the rake or to make change. The rake should be taken quietly, after the cards are out and while the action is in progress. Bringing attention to taking the rake is ridiculous. Then someone mentions cup holders. The dealer states that Bellagio can’t afford them. OMG! I think I’m going to throw up now.
4) The playing dealer and the dealing dealer have to make comments on how the room is ran, what the management is doing, how poorly the brush person does their job and who is the laziest of the chip runners. Seriously, when I play, I would rather not have anyone know that I’m a ‘working dealer’ and yet the dealer looks at me and asks if I’m off the clock, or what day of the week it is for me, or if I’m the ‘bubble’.
5) The dealer thinks they should be the center of attention, constantly getting involved in the conversation at the table, and throwing in phrases that have no place in poker…and add tip hustling to that. “Will you be my big blind.” While pushing a pot, the dealer holds on to the pot for an extra 30 or 40 seconds, covering it with both hands, and looks directly at the player, “You’re a winner!” WTF!
6) If I’m buried in a game, and I win a pot, I’m expected to throw $$$$ because I’m a dealer. If I tip $1 on a $30 pot, sometimes I won’t even get a thank you from the dealer.
7) While the dealer is ignoring the action and won’t say a word to the other players when it’s their turn, they seem to think I have no idea why I’m at the table. The second the cards hit the table, “It’s up to you Linda!” Aghh-phht!
I won’t even get into the rules. Most of them don’t know the rules. Most of them don’t care about the rules. I realize that in all professions, there are people that have a lot of pride in themselves and their work ethic and do a great job; just as there are people that are terminal slackers and could give a ‘chit’ about anything.
But before I leave this thread, it’s not only dealers. Last week I entered a $4-8H around 6:15 PM, just before shift. I ordered a pineapple julius and a bottle of water from the cocktail server. She brought my drinks while I was involved in a hand. I was in the 1s, had plenty of space open between my chips and the rail for my drinks, and there was approximately eight inches between my chips and the 2s’s chips. Instead of waiting for the hand to finish, she set my drinks down – about six inches out into the table – directly in front of the 2s. I knew she was there. I won the pot, looked up at her (more in surprise that she would set the drinks down a foot and a half from me than anything else), and asked, “Are those mine?”
She said, “Yes. You ordered a julius.”
I queried, “Why did you set them in front of him,” as I motioned to the 2s.
She stormed, “I didn’t want you to knock them over!” as she spun around to leave.”
I exclaimed, “Wait! I didn’t tip you yet,” and I intended to.
She waved over her shoulder as she continued her exit and said something like she didn’t want one from me. HOLY SHIT! Everyone at the table was in shock over her attitude. She works dayshift. I did talk to Kamell about her attitude.
But what did happen to customer service over the years?