Poker: difference between a shill and a proposition player?

Question

What is the difference between a shill and a proposition player?

Answer 1

There is a great difference between props and shills. A shill is sometimes a gambler who plays using the casino's money in order to keep games (especially poker) going when there are not enough players.  He or she essentially tries to win money for the house at the poker game.

While the proposition or prop gets paid an hourly rate to start poker games or to help them stay active. Prop players play with their own money.

Props are generally considered okay and a decent way to earn a few extra dollars. However, shills are looked down upon, and it is unheard of for a casino to employ shills.

Answer 2

SHILL:  A player who gets paid by a poker room to play for the house. The difference between a shill and a prop is that a shill cannot keep his winnings but a prop can.

PROP: Someone who gets paid by a poker room to play in their games, usually to start games or play in shorthanded games.

Answer 3

A shill is paid by the house at an hourly rate, and plays with house money. A prop is paid by the house and plays with his own money. Many states require cardrooms to identify house players if asked, but may not require them to do so otherwise. Shills and props are directed to games by the house. This means that they may be constantly shifted to tougher games, as non-house players boot them out of seats in juicy games. The most important skill for a prop is to be able to excel in all games, since they may be called to play any game that the house offers, against players who specialize in that game. Also, be they must be prepared to sit and wait if all games are full.