Casino Dealers and Tipping

Casino Tipping

There are few casino issues that people disagree on more than tipping. Some think everyone should tip, others never do. Some tip a lot, some tip very little. Is there a right or wrong way to tip? And more than that, why should a gambler tip?

Here are good reasons to tip:

- You want the dealer to be nice to you. Dealers are human like you. If a gambler is nice to them, they can't help but be nice to the gambler in return. When the dealer and player are friendly with each other, the experience is more pleasant and rewarding for both of tem.

- You don't want the waitress to spit on your drink… do you? You should always tip serving people when it comes to food and drink. This goes for casinos, restaurants and other places where your meals are handled by someone else. (Did we mention your spouse or housekeeper?)

- You want info on where the loose slots are. If a casino staff is bribed, they might just be able to tell you where the loose slots are.

- You want to share your good luck. Dealers are minimum wage earners. They don't make a lot of money. If you're lucky enough to win big, it is good practice to celebrate by tipping the casino staff well.

How Much Should You Tip?

This depends on several factors, and ultimately on your own preference. As a general rule, a 1% to 2% tip is good. A 5% tip would be generous. You can tip at a blackjack table once per hour if play is average speed and you're winning.

In addition, ask yourself these questions:

- How often do you play in the casino?

If you do not play often, be more generous in your tips. You can afford it. But if you go often, you can tip less.

- How good (or bad) is the service?

There is no reason to tip casino staff for lousy service. In the first place, you are under no obligation to tip. If they make you feel you MUST tip them or else, then disappoint them. If it's a waitress, don't drink at all (so it won't matter if they spit on the drink, no?). But if service is excellent, show your pleasure by tipping more.

- How many do you have to tip?

The more they are, the fewer you can give. If you win $1,000 in the slots and want to give a $10 tip, look around and see how many $10 you have to flip out.

- Are you winning?

No reason to tip if you're on a losing streak and your bankroll is in peril!

- Are you a millionaire?

If you're a filthy rich celebrity, buy yourself some good publicity and tip handsomely. Try 5% at least.

Tip Sharing

One warning though. If some dealer or waitress becomes your favorite and you want to tip them big, keep this in mind: Many casinos have a tip-sharing policy. This means the casino staff must divide their collected tips among themselves at the end of the day. This ensures fairness and prevents favoritism between player and dealer. It also encourages dealers to be nice to everyone since they are all working for the same thing.

But don't try to buy favors with tipping or bribery. You should tip to be a nice person, not as someone who thinks everything has a price. Treat the staff with respect and they will respect you too.