I don't know if any casinos still pay shills for poker, but many still use props. Most poker players who hire on (they are PAID by the casino to play poker) would rather play as props because they play with their own money and keep what they win (also lose what they lose.) The casinos have to identify props or shills when asked to by a player at the table.

I was a prop poker player at the Turf Club in Cripple Creek 10 years ago. The casino provided a paycheck every two weeks for doing stuff that I was already doing! The only difference between being a regular player and being a prop was, when the pit told me to give up a seat, or move to another table, I had to do so. I was getting paid to get games going/keep games going, so sometimes I had to move to a different table/game. BUT I wasn't working for the house to make them money in any way other than to bring/keep players at the tables. I most certainly DID let people know if I thought someone was cheating.

You are so right about 8-10 sets of eyes watching what's happening Gene, and they aren't the eye-in-the-sky eyes!

Bob in Indy