There are times when writing a column is like doing a tight rope act in the
circus. The advertisers, who help pay the bills, do not like to be criticized
too harshly and on the other hand we must strive for, and cannot
abandon the truth.
Let's see if I can walk that tight rope in this column without falling off.
Let me begin by saying that I think almost all poker rooms do not do an
adequate job of training the dealers in the area of rule enforcement. I
understand that the dealers, like poker columnists, also are doing a tight
rope act. They, on one hand, depend on the players for tips, and on the
other hand are supposed to be the first line of defense in rule
enforcement against these same people who they want to be tipped by.
This does not change the simple but most important element of the
whole issue, that is the dealers should be the main enforcers of the rules
at a poker table. Most dealers don't police the game, they just sort of
moderate it. They deal the cards, keep the action going, then push the
pot.
If a rule infraction occurs, it might get reported by the dealer and it might
not. Usually, and this is the most important concept of the column, the
composition of the table determines whether or not the infraction will be
reported. If the table is made up of players who don't want to be the
"bad guy" or don't want to get involved, the violation will go unnoticed.
On the other hand, if you have a stickler for the rules at the table, you
better believe it gets reported.
I know that most dealers hold their jobs and job security in high regard,
and I know that most try to avoid confrontations at all costs. This
hesitancy on their part must change, if poker is going to continue to
grow. Dealers, if they have the backing of management and are
professional about it, can help to elevate poker and bring in new players.
Maybe you've never heard this mentioned before and maybe it seems a
little naïve, but I think it has been overlooked by management. If
dealers really ran the games and really policed the games eventually the,
"I feel intimated" excuse would not exist. I think it would bring many
new players into the poker world.
A certain small percentage of the players would leave because they think
poker should be left as a rough and tough, man's game. But don't you
think most people would rather go the other way and play in a
comfortable atmosphere, where they know they will be protected by the
rules but still not have to be the one who enforces them.
Most players know how frustrating it is to see someone abuse the rules
or abuse the dealer and receive no admonishment or penalty. An
outsider might ask, "Well, why isn't there admonishment or a penalty for
the guilty parties?"
Let's just say I've seen more than one fight occur in a poker room
because a player called attention to some sort of rule infraction. The
person who called attention to the violation was usually told to shut up
or mind his own business. Many times the person who reported the
violation was then threatened physically. This scenario or something
similar to it, is how the fights would occur. This ultimately translated to,
"Keep your mouth shut, unless it directly effects you." This plays right
into the hands of the rule violators who by the way are usually some sort
of bully. There are even some of these types of players who thrive on
this sort of intimidation.
I think the key is very simple. You must train your dealers to police the
games and enforce rule violations. You must impress upon them that it is
one of the most important parts of their jobs. It is so important and such
an integral part of their job that if they can not do it, they can not deal.
You must assure them that they will be backed up, really backed up.
It might help to have a sign in the poker room and maybe announce
before tournaments something like, "The dealers are required to, and
must report, all rule violations to a floor person." This would keep even
the hardest-hearted player from turning on the dealer when he is
reported for a violation. In case someone still gives the dealer a hard
time for calling the floor person over, the other players, I predict, would
say, "Hey, he's just doing his job."
For what it's worth ...
circus. The advertisers, who help pay the bills, do not like to be criticized
too harshly and on the other hand we must strive for, and cannot
abandon the truth.
Let's see if I can walk that tight rope in this column without falling off.
Let me begin by saying that I think almost all poker rooms do not do an
adequate job of training the dealers in the area of rule enforcement. I
understand that the dealers, like poker columnists, also are doing a tight
rope act. They, on one hand, depend on the players for tips, and on the
other hand are supposed to be the first line of defense in rule
enforcement against these same people who they want to be tipped by.
This does not change the simple but most important element of the
whole issue, that is the dealers should be the main enforcers of the rules
at a poker table. Most dealers don't police the game, they just sort of
moderate it. They deal the cards, keep the action going, then push the
pot.
If a rule infraction occurs, it might get reported by the dealer and it might
not. Usually, and this is the most important concept of the column, the
composition of the table determines whether or not the infraction will be
reported. If the table is made up of players who don't want to be the
"bad guy" or don't want to get involved, the violation will go unnoticed.
On the other hand, if you have a stickler for the rules at the table, you
better believe it gets reported.
I know that most dealers hold their jobs and job security in high regard,
and I know that most try to avoid confrontations at all costs. This
hesitancy on their part must change, if poker is going to continue to
grow. Dealers, if they have the backing of management and are
professional about it, can help to elevate poker and bring in new players.
Maybe you've never heard this mentioned before and maybe it seems a
little naïve, but I think it has been overlooked by management. If
dealers really ran the games and really policed the games eventually the,
"I feel intimated" excuse would not exist. I think it would bring many
new players into the poker world.
A certain small percentage of the players would leave because they think
poker should be left as a rough and tough, man's game. But don't you
think most people would rather go the other way and play in a
comfortable atmosphere, where they know they will be protected by the
rules but still not have to be the one who enforces them.
Most players know how frustrating it is to see someone abuse the rules
or abuse the dealer and receive no admonishment or penalty. An
outsider might ask, "Well, why isn't there admonishment or a penalty for
the guilty parties?"
Let's just say I've seen more than one fight occur in a poker room
because a player called attention to some sort of rule infraction. The
person who called attention to the violation was usually told to shut up
or mind his own business. Many times the person who reported the
violation was then threatened physically. This scenario or something
similar to it, is how the fights would occur. This ultimately translated to,
"Keep your mouth shut, unless it directly effects you." This plays right
into the hands of the rule violators who by the way are usually some sort
of bully. There are even some of these types of players who thrive on
this sort of intimidation.
I think the key is very simple. You must train your dealers to police the
games and enforce rule violations. You must impress upon them that it is
one of the most important parts of their jobs. It is so important and such
an integral part of their job that if they can not do it, they can not deal.
You must assure them that they will be backed up, really backed up.
It might help to have a sign in the poker room and maybe announce
before tournaments something like, "The dealers are required to, and
must report, all rule violations to a floor person." This would keep even
the hardest-hearted player from turning on the dealer when he is
reported for a violation. In case someone still gives the dealer a hard
time for calling the floor person over, the other players, I predict, would
say, "Hey, he's just doing his job."
For what it's worth ...
Crime and Punishment
By Vince Burgio
By Vince Burgio
