You can make money at it. It's a growing industry. You don't need a degree to get started either, but it's not for everybody. A lot of it runs on "juice" .. which means, who do you know? But if you develop the skills you can het in the door. Once in the door, the sky's the limit.
I would recomend starting out as a poker dealer IF you have the right temperment for it. Have you ever been a waiter? Have you ever had to take verbal abuse from a customer? Can you do that? If not, forget it.
Dealers get a lot of "misdirected" abuse thrown there way .. blame for players own bad play or bad luck. It's part of the job .. up to a point.
The thing is, a good dealer can make $200/300 a shift in tips. You make min. wage. You'll be scheduled to work a 40 hr week, but you won't unless you're really hungry. It's a burnout job if you push it. They alway hire too many dealers, becuse they quit and get fired all the time. They usually like dealers that play. "Players" make the best dealers IMO.
I'd suggest just going to a cardroom and playing for awhile. Watch the dealers. Counts the tips they make per/hr. See how they're treated by the locals and there supervisors. It's not for everybody and if you think there is any chance at all that you might tend toward being a compulsive gambler, don't start.
edit .. an entry level poker dealer here in CA will make 40/50K per year
Originally posted by shortcircuitStud is my favorite except it is impossible to find a stud game anywhere. The drop does hurt in lower limits but the Detroit casinos have a lot of weak low limit players, especially on weekend nights. I can't afford to sit down with more than a few hundred so the higher limits are out of the question for me. regardless i netted ~$2400 last year. Haven't played at all this year as I'm on track to a 3000 hour work year so far.
I generally play 20-40 stud, 10-20 Omaha Hi/lo with a full kill, and 10-20 or 20-40 HORSE. I really don't care much for Hold'em. I play it if nothing else is available, but no higher limit than 5-10, and only limit games.
Originally posted by giantrobotI was born in Detroit. Hate the place, left right after the riot in the 60s.
Stud is my favorite except it is impossible to find a stud game anywhere. The drop does hurt in lower limits but the Detroit casinos have a lot of weak low limit players, especially on weekend nights. I can't afford to sit down with more than a few hundred so the higher limits are out of the question for me. regardless i netted ~$2400 last year. Haven't played at all this year as I'm on track to a 3000 hour work year so far.
I guess you're playing down in Greek Town eh? or over the bridge?
My first advice for you is to get the heck out of Detroit asap.
Originally posted by jammerNo, two hours west. Yes, Greektown and Motor City casinos. Yes, Detroit is a hole.
I was born in Detroit. Hate the place, left right after the riot in the 60s.
I guess you're playing down in Greek Town eh? or over the bridge?
My first advice for you is to get the heck out of Detroit asap.
No limit Texas Hold 'Em.
Play that all the time live and on line for low stakes. Love it. Great game, a lot of free tourneys locally in Australia and even our tax laws had to ajust so the bloodsuckers in power could get a tax dollar from it.
Would seriously love to have the cash to be a pro poker player. Need at least another couple of more years practice to contemplate doing it full time. Playing on line now while posting and playing chess games.
Do any of you other poker addicts know where to find on line lists of odds for hands?
Originally posted by lordhighgushere ya go ...
No limit Texas Hold 'Em.
Play that all the time live and on line for low stakes. Love it. Great game, a lot of free tourneys locally in Australia and even our tax laws had to ajust so the bloodsuckers in power could get a tax dollar from it.
Would seriously love to have the cash to be a pro poker player. Need at least another couple of more years pra ...[text shortened]... games.
Do any of you other poker addicts know where to find on line lists of odds for hands?
http://www.cardplayer.com/tools_tips
I consider myself a poker player trying to learn to play chess for fun. At the beginning of this academic year (I graduate college in less than 2 weeks) I was playing deepstacked live 5-10NL games regularly (as well as MSNL online). However, after spending an obsurd amount of money on an engagement ring, signing a lease for a new car (A4), making a few other purchases and hitting a slight downswing, I am finding myself starting anew online. I can certainly offer poker advice to those who are curious or have any specific questions. There is a lot of good money to be made in poker these days. Even though the UIGEA has dried up some of the games, there is still money to be made. It is a grind, but someone who could learn to play above average, had discipline, and was willing to play 40 hours a week could be making 6 figures easy.
Also, I refuse to comment on my lifetime blackjack record.
I would be glad to answer any poker related questions though.
Also, to the gentleman who was asking about a chart showing "odds for hands," there is not a whole lot of equity in memorizing any chart. In fact, doing so would likely take your focus from many other important aspects of the game. Feel free to send me a message if you would like for me to elaborate.
Originally posted by jammerAs a point of clarification, I am not familiar with California laws, as it is one of the few places that I have not played poker. However, in many other locations around the country, dealers either pool or keep their tips. I am a proponent of letting dealers keep their tips. If they are forced to pool, then they end up making a lot less (floor, manager cut, etc) on top of them usually not being as good of a dealer as if they kept their tips. I imagined if you were a dealer that got to keep tips for larger games (which don't frequently run in most places in the country) you could make very good money.
You can make money at it. It's a growing industry. You don't need a degree to get started either, but it's not for everybody. A lot of it runs on "juice" .. which means, who do you know? But if you develop the skills you can het in the door. Once in the door, the sky's the limit.
I would recomend starting out as a poker dealer IF you have the right temperm ...[text shortened]...
edit .. an entry level poker dealer here in CA will make 40/50K per year
I still think if you have a little dedication and discipline you can make a lot more money playing than dealing though.
Originally posted by DomIn8PLCTrue up to a point. If dealers just deal .. they never lose a nickle and take home cash everyday. It's the only seat in a poker game that can't lose and indeed will make a dollar or two every hand.
As a point of clarification, I am not familiar with California laws, as it is one of the few places that I have not played poker. However, in many other locations around the country, dealers either pool or keep their tips. I am a proponent of letting dealers keep their tips. If they are forced to pool, then they end up making a lot less (floor, manager cut ...[text shortened]... e a little dedication and discipline you can make a lot more money playing than dealing though.
You have to see the Calif. Card Barns to believe them. This place .. http://www.commercecasino.com/default.aspx .. has more than 200 poker tables alone, not to mention the Pai-Gow, blackjack and other table games.
I never worked anywhere that the dealers had to pool tips .. and never would. I wouldn't play in that joint either. You want to kill incentive to find good dealers just bring in a Union and pool tips.
One of the main perks of poker dealing here in Calif. is that you can hide a good portion of your income from the IRS.
I've dealt the final table of a World Series at the Horseshoe. I've dealt the highest limits anywhere. I've dealt on Cruise ships and I even worked for the Indians once (don't ever do that if you can help it)
Another way that dealers make money is through Jackpot poker, which is huge out here. Say you're a regular player at my joint and I deal to you 2 or 3 times a week. We get to know each other on a first name basis and then one day while i'm dealing you get lucky and win a Jackpot. Some of these are well over $100,000.00.
People tip on Jackpots too. I've been toked as much as $6000 for dealing one hand of poker (my friend won a JP while I was dealing) Player will normally tip between 3-10% of JP winnings to a dealer they like. It pays to condesend, It pays to suck-up, but mostly, it pays to stay professional at all times and protect the integrity of the game.