Tips for Tipping

The question of whether or not to tip is probably on the minds of many people in the casino. At least, it should be. Casino employees provide a service the same as waitresses, valets, concierges, maids, and any other member of the service industry.

Nonetheless, there is a lot of confusion over the topic. At the end of the day, it is a personal choice, but there are some rules of thumb and some misconceptions that should be covered on when and how much to tip dealers and other casino employees.

Dealers

Dealers provide a service and depend on tips to make their living. Like many members of the service industry, their base salary is usually at or near minimum wage. When you don't tip, you are essentially stiffing them for the service they provide.

The difference between dealers and other service professionals is that dealers are responsible for taking your money after you lose. This can start to feel personal for many players. People on a run of bad luck may adopt the mindset that the casino has taken enough of their money, and there is no reason to tip on top of it.

This mindset is common, and dealers are accustomed to it. This is why most dealers actually want players to win. They don't work on commission, and their salary is independent on whether you win or lose. Their sole purpose is to deal efficiently. As long as the game is dealt in a professional and affable manner, your dealer should be tipped periodically regardless of whether or not you are winning.

How To

There are several ways to tip. The standard method is to give the chip/chips directly to your dealer before leaving the table. An alternative is to actually place a bet for the dealer. This can add more enjoyment to their job even if the bet loses. Of course, you are assuming the dealer likes to gamble, which is probably a fair assumption based on the dealers we have interviewed.

Whether you tip directly or place a wager, it may be a good idea to tip early. This can get the dealers on your side, which never hurts. While the dealer cannot actually influence the outcome, they can provide helpful reminders and advice in certain situations. For instance, the dealer can remind you if you forget to take odds on your pass line bet in Craps.

This concept holds especially true for cocktail service. Tipping your cocktail waitress early sets the tone that you appreciate her service, and she is likely to treat you as a priority. Even if the waitress is delayed in coming to take your initial order, you should tip as you normally would. She was probably very busy, and your tip could mean better service the second time around.

There is a mantra among service workers that the word "TIPS" is an acronym for the phrase: To Insure Proper Service. This means that tips should not be rewards, but necessary measures to make sure you receive the best service possible. Whether or not you agree, you might as well convey the correct tone by tipping right off the bat.

Amount

A lot of players base the amount they tip on how well they have been doing. This is fine, as long as it's a one way street: it is perfectly acceptable to tip more if you are winning big, but you should never tip less than you otherwise would if you go on a losing streak. You should set a minimum amount that you will tip and do so periodically.

The amount you tip casino dealers is really personal preference. There is no standard percentage as there is in the food service industry. One thing to keep in mind is that a dealer working at a $1 per hand blackjack table is doing the same amount of work as one at a $100 per hand table. Dealers at low-limit tables still deserve fair compensation for services rendered.

Having said this, most casinos pool the dealers' tips and split them evenly. If they didn't, employees dealing at high-limit tables would take in substantial earnings while low-limit table dealers would hardly scrape by. Pooling tips is a way to encourage dealers throughout the entire casino to provide professional and courteous service.

Gambling games that do not use a dealer may still require the service of a casino employee. For instance, when you win a slots jackpot or video poker hand over $1,200 (or lower at some casinos), an attendant will come to verify that you did indeed win. Winnings of this amount are subject to federal taxes and you will be given an IRS W-2G form to fill out before being paid by hand. The general consensus among players is that around one percent of the jackpot is an appropriate amount to tip the attendant. For a $1,200 jackpot, this would be $12.

Lastly, you should always tip your cocktail waitress. Too many people hear "free drinks" and completely ignore the notion of tipping. It is good practice to tip $1 per drink. Whether you order a mixed cocktail or a bottle of water, each beverage counts. You are tipping for the service provided, not the drink itself, and the type of drink you order does not influence how much space it takes up on the waitress's cocktail tray.

In conclusion, a little generosity can go a long way when it comes to tipping. You are obviously under no obligation to tip if you don't want to, but good service comes at a price. If you are unable or unwilling to tip, you may find online gambling sites and internet casinos to be a better option. Everything is automated and the software engineers certainly aren't expecting any sort of compensation from the consumer. If you would like to check out an online casino, visit our homepage via the link at the top.

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