Some Questions About Tipping......

[stefs111]

My questions are about tipping in the casino. Even tho the gratuity is included when you order drinks, we still tip the server a couple of dollars, and I know if you win on the slots and they have to do a payout, you should tip them, but how much? Obviously, I have never won a jackpot!! My husband does a little bit of table playing and tips when he wins. I also want to know if we are supposed to tip the casino hosts. Thank you for any responses!!

 

Stef

[oldvato]

My questions are about tipping in the casino. Even tho the gratuity is included when you order drinks, we still tip the server a couple of dollars, and I know if you win on the slots and they have to do a payout, you should tip them, but how much? Obviously, I have never won a jackpot!! My husband does a little bit of table playing and tips when he wins. I also want to know if we are supposed to tip the casino hosts. Thank you for any responses!!

 

Stef

Why should anyone have to tip casino employees if they win?

 

If the drinks are free in the casino, then by all means tip the server. But if they are being charged to your S&S, the tip is already included, no different then on the lido deck or any other part of the ship. Inquiring minds want to know.

[NCTribeFan]

I've never won enough to tip anyone but I just play slots. But if I won big, I might tip whomever had to do any paperwork and the payout, just because I'd be so happy that I might feel especially generous! :p

 

The rare times I've earned the Drinks on Us card, I always add a tip for my free drinks. The servers seem surprised. I get the distinct impression that many people don't do that, and I don't understand. The server is working just as hard to bring you that free drink as they would be if you were paying for it!

 

I think half the people on my Conquest repo last November had the drinks card and I didn't see any of my neighbors writing in anything on those slips. :(

[riffatsea]

DH is the gambler in our family. He has never tipped someone for winning on a slot machine!

At blackjack if he goes away a winner he'll leave something for the dealer. Not a tip on each hand!

At craps if he is winning he may lay a bet for himself and another for the dealer and give him those winnings.

There are no hard and fast rules about how to tip a dealer.

 

[barbeecat]

I won a $1500 jackpot and did give the guy who brought me the cash a $10 tip,same as I do in land casinos..I was feeling excited..lol

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Cruise Critic Forums mobile app

[jakeT]

Never won enought to tip. You hardly see anyone if you are playing slots. If I am getting drinks I do tip the server. You only can get free drinks if you are playing, and have a server get them for you

[TPFKAH]

Why should anyone have to tip casino employees if they win?

 

If the drinks are free in the casino, then by all means tip the server. But if they are being charged to your S&S, the tip is already included, no different then on the lido deck or any other part of the ship. Inquiring minds want to know.

 

It's common to tip the dealer when you win $$.

[Cruisin'Doc]

If you have the 'Drinks on Us' card, the servers are already being paid a gratuity, just not by you.

 

A casino host and I had this discussion in the fall after an unfortunate incident with a casino bar staff charging drinks to my (and my moms) 'Drinks on Us' card, which we were not really using, and at times we were not in the Casino (my mom is on blood thinners, which the bar staff did not know, so she was having a blast charging alcoholic drinks to my moms DoU card). When you get the 'Drinks on Us' card, SOMEONE still has to pay for the drinks. So, when you get the card/order drinks, for every drink you order, the casino pays the bar for those drinks - they pay a set amount for the drink and a set amount for the bar staff. That way - the bar staff is not working for free - they still get their grats.

 

That's not saying don't tip, that's just an explanation :)

[stefs111]

Thanks for that explanation. I did think that the bar servers in the casino still got tips when getting free drinks for the guests. I have had the Drinks On Us card, but I still give a tip. Even ordering drinks elsewhere on the ship, even tho they still get 15% tip, we tip a dollar per drink.

 

But I still want to know if people tip the casino hosts, and if so, how much?

[kona_wahine]

I wonder how much a slot machine has to hit for before someone comes and pays you off. I won $640 last cruise on a dollar machine and it just went on my card. (And stayed there until last sea day when I cashed out)

[dadroy]

When I was single, I gamble much more than I do now. I don't think they had all the perks back then, since I never got free drinks, or maybe (looking at todays requirements for being comped) I never met the threshold.

 

I would start at the $5 table for the table games. Usually blackjack. Keep it there if treading water or up a bit. But on several cruises, started winning. The bets would go up to $25 and the servers go the normal auto tip. After being up several hundred, would increase to $50, and if still winning, up to $100.

 

During these streaks, I would do the standard let the dealer play with me tip. An extra $2 to $5 on the side for the dealer. When I won, they won. Worked great. After being up a grand or so, the tips would go to $10 or sometimes $25 depending on the bet. Sometimes, after there were several empty beer cans in front of me, and being up a few grand, I would tip the server $25 for a beer. Share the wealth. Best cruise was $4,500 starting with $5 bets.

 

Paid for a few cruises this way. Sometimes you get lucky and when you are far enough ahead, it is no longer money, it is a chip and simply reward those that are serving you and making the experience fun.

 

If I was losing, those tips would not appear.

Edited June 18, 2014 by dadroy

[eas2225]

I don't play tables, so I can't answer that. However, in land casinos, they come and pay you when you hit a jackpot of $1200. or more. If that happens, I give the slot attendants $20.00.

 

Casino hosts in land based casinos are not supposed to accept tips, but I will send them something at Christmas, birthdays, etc. Usually a gift card to their favorite restaurant, or in Vegas, I'll bring something that is local to my area.

 

On the ship, I don't tip casino hosts since I rarely see them and don't have a personal relationship with any.

 

I tip for drinks even after getting th DOU card.