Players sometimes wonder if tipping is required at casino tables and if casino dealers keep their gratuities when presented. Tipping at poker, blackjack, or roulette tables is optional, however tipping your dealer is a good idea if you play for a long time. Casinos follow one of two policies when it comes to tip handling and distribution.
Let’s find out why and how much to tip a casino dealer.
TWO DEALER POLICIES
As soon as we tip a casino dealer, we worry if the money is just for the dealer. This depends on the casino’s tipping policy, and there are two options to consider.
Keep-Your-Own
Keep Your Own (KYO) is a frequent casino tipping policy. A dealer who does well will be rewarded with greater gratuities, which they can keep without reporting or sharing.
A performance-based reward pushes dealers to present and work better, which is why casinos like this KYO approach. A casino’s administration devises a rotation of dealers to assure parity and fairness to each dealer.
The casinos also aim to bring positive dealers to the table. They can expect additional tips from gamblers if they do so. Unlike Tip Pooling, the Keep-Your-Own policy does not allow for errors. Also, keeping and monitoring a pooled pool of tips is simple. Dealers are seldom questioned about their additional cash.
Co-oping
Some casinos also allow tip pooling. The dealers have a tip pool that is distributed equally among all employees. This approach ensures parity. Dealers at high stake tables often receive larger tips than dealers at micro stake tables.
Casinos seek to delight all players, big or small. Tip Pooling avoids the potential of a dealer becoming demotivated to perform well at low-stakes tables due to poor returns.
WHY TIP CASINO DEALERS
Tipping is optional but expected by all players. Most dealers in Las Vegas and abroad live off their tips. Rewarding them for their service is essential in aiding them.
Tipping is a means for players to reward good service and avoid bad service. Tipping is also required in casinos that use the Tip Pooling policy. In these casinos, refusing to tip a particular dealer for whatever reason means depriving everyone else in the casino, which is unethical and immoral.
TIPS FOR CASINO DEALERS
In a US casino, a gambler should tip the dealer at least $5 each hour. This casino tip amount is the minimum and should be tipped regardless of the stakes. The player can tip the dealer as much as they choose. If the stakes are bigger, you should tip more. Above all, tipping this amount is mandatory whether you are winning or losing the game.
It is common to tip a dealer with casino chips rather of cash. You can tip the dealer in one of two ways. To tip simply push the chip towards the dealer and indicate it is for him. Place a stake for the dealer, which makes them root for you to win. If you wish to put a chip on the table for the dealer, just tell him so.
Aside from the dealer, other service providers such as waiters, waitresses, bartenders, and valets should also be tipped. Bartenders should charge £5 for the first drink and £2 for each subsequent drink. Most restaurants and bars expect a 15% gratuity from waiters and waitresses. £5 gets you a casino valet.
Tipping the vendors is a voluntary and moral choice rather than a requirement. However, how this tip is delivered or collected is entirely up to the casino.