The Tip Play

The final tournament at the World Series of Poker is easily the best known.  It's the "Main Event," crowning an unofficial world champ who wins millions of dollars.

But which tournament comes first at the WSOP?  It's underway right now as we write this - an event for casino employees.

We've never worked in a casino.  But we imagine veteran poker dealers have some fascinating stories to tell -- about watching people on tilt, facing accusations of cheating and seeing the emotional changes that come with the right (or wrong) river card.

But while some poker players become rich and famous, poker dealers usually don't.  C'mon now - how many can you name?  They're a bit like referees and umpires at sports events, yet traditionally they aren't paid a lot of money.  That's why players who win money are urged to tip the dealer before they leave.

There's a famous Bible phrase which could apply to your poker dealer:

...The laborer is worthy of his hire... - Luke 10:7 (KJV)

Jesus's context here is about ministers going out to spread the gospel.  But it's used elsewhere in the Bible to apply to good servants:

Church leaders who do their job well deserve to be paid twice as much.... You also know the saying, "Workers are worth their pay." - I Timothy 5:17-18 (CEV)

Why limit this to church leaders?

If a poker dealer does well - making the table fun and sorting out problems with skill - don't forget to thank them for it.  (We admittedly have been lax about that at times.)  And may the employees competing in Las Vegas be rewarded, whether they make the final table or not.