When the dealer's hand reaches the minimum needed to play.
A dealer hand that is too weak does not compete, and the minimum differs by game (Three Card Poker: Q high or better, UTH: a pair or better, Casino Hold'em: a pair of 4s or better, Caribbean Stud: A-K high or better). Example: in Three Card Poker, J-9-4 does not qualify; Q-3-2 does. In Three Card Poker, when the dealer does not qualify, a played hand wins the Ante 1:1 and Play is returned.