The Ultimate Guide To Tipping Etiquette In American Casinos
- 2023-09-12 18:44:47
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Tipping in American casinos has always been somewhat complex.
Casinos outsource their wages to customers, so about 80% of the employees you encounter, from the valet who parks your car when you arrive to the cashier who cashes you out when you leave, are low-wage and reliant on tips.
However, don't worry; we'll guide you through who, why, and when to tip at the casino.
Tipping Upon Arrival
Valet service is quick and efficient, saving you a lot of walking time.
Not everyone chooses valet parking, but tipping just $1 or $2 when they park your car, or a few dollars when they pull it up curbside, is certainly worth it, especially on rainy or chilly nights.
Note that most valet departments without parking facilities nearby will bring runners in when there's bad weather.
If you're staying at a hotel, the bellman can also save you a lot of time.
Tipping a few dollars per bag, with a maximum of $10 or $20 for the entire luggage cart, can make your stay much more pleasant than dragging your luggage to the elevator and through the corridors to your room.
And, of course, the sooner you settle in, the sooner you can head to the casino floor.
Tipping Slot Attendants
When it comes to tipping, slot attendants are relatively straightforward.
There is some debate about whether to tip when they repair your machine, but if one or two dollars means they'll come back faster next time, what's the harm?
In most jurisdictions in the United States, any payout over $1,200 will be hand-paid by in-house slot personnel. Tipping starts at about $20 here and can go up to 3-10% of the jackpot, depending on the patron.
If you're away for a while, the tip may vary from a few dollars to $5 or more, depending on how long you're gone.
If you might be gone for over 5-10 minutes, simply ask them to shut the machine off. When you return, you can always reactivate it using the service button.
Table Games Tipping
Tipping at table games can be a bit confusing. Sometimes intentionally so.
Most U.S. casino dealers start with an hourly wage of $4.35 to $5.00 and the casino hopes that customers will make up the rest.
But once the money enters the tip box, the casino can't win, so they sometimes make things tricky when it comes to tipping.
There are many different schools of thought on tipping dealers, but it really comes down to whether you're having fun.
Dealers are entertainers first and dealers second. It's not like someone parking your car or bringing you a drink.
Tipping here isn't about the service provided (or at least not directly provided); it's about the entertainment value.
Yes, you should take care of them if a dealer gives you a royal flush in Mississippi Stud or rolls dice for 30 minutes at the craps table, but even then, it should be within the range of whether you're having a good time.
Even if you're losing, the dealer should always ensure you leave with a smile.
We'll dive into different tipping scenarios in more detail, but ultimately, the service you're tipping for is customer service, and if they've provided that, they should get a little extra money.
Tipping the Blackjack Dealer
Tipping at blackjack can be done by placing chips directly in front of the dealer or by betting in front of your own bet.
At lower limit tables, you might earn a few dollars per blackjack or after you've won several hands.
For higher limit games of $25 and up, $5 chips would be a better choice.
Most blackjack games now have some form of side bet, and tipping 3-5% when one of those gets a good payout is common.
It's not necessary, but it's a nice form if you're splitting bets or doubling down and want to tip the dealer for their support and the chance to see you win.
Tipping the Roulette Dealer
Tipping the roulette dealer can be accomplished by letting them know which number you want to bet on and that the tip is for them.
Another common way of tipping in roulette is to hand over some chips when you're done and colored up, perhaps around 5%.
Roulette is a game where some people deal with the dealer more frequently than others. If you're just making outside bets and placing your own bets, you might not need to tip as often.
However, if you're asking the dealer for 10 or 12 bets before each spin or accumulating chips on corner bets, splits, and straights, tipping more frequently may ensure more cooperation.
Tipping the Craps Dealer
Most craps players simply hand over chips after the game. This doesn't slow down the game and makes things run more smoothly.
But some craps players like to keep the dealer in action as a form of good luck.
When rolling the dice, you might hear, "I have $5, dealer $1." This means that if you roll an 11, the player wins $75, and the dealer wins $15.
When it comes to tipping dealers, there are different rules, but it ultimately depends on whether you're having fun.
The dealer is primarily an entertainer and secondarily a dealer. This is not someone parking your car or bringing you a drink.
Tipping here isn't about the service provided (or at least not directly provided); it's about the entertainment value.
Yes, you should take care of them if a dealer gives you a royal flush in Mississippi Stud or rolls dice for 30 minutes at the craps table, but even then, it should be within the range of whether you're having a good time.
Even if you
