Shills
Shills are paid props who help start and maintain poker games. They play with the house's money or are paid by the house to keep the game going.
The simple explanation
When a table has too few players, a card room may use a shill to fill a seat. The shill plays like the others but does not play for himself.
A closer look
A shill is a type of proposition player. He plays with the room's money, and the rules are set by the room. He should not use any inside information. Shills have to follow the rules like all others. The term is also used outside poker for someone who pretends to be an independent customer.
A practical example
A card room pays a shill to sit at a table until more players arrive.
Full explanation
Shills are paid props who help start and maintain poker games. They play with the house’s money or are paid by the house to keep the game going.
Shills are paid players who help start games.
They play with the room’s money.
They are a type of prop.
They must follow the rules.