Casino tipping

[Tree_skier]

In the spirit of the other tipping thread, I'm curious about tipping at table games in the Casino.  I'm a recent convert to the Casino.  My first foray into the casino was the last cruise we went on before the shut down.  All I did was sit at various machines, not understanding what was going on in front of me, and mostly losing money. Since the restart I have ventured from losing a little at a machine and then quitting to playing blackjack.  I'm scared I'm an addict now. LOL. One thing that never occurred to me until I was sitting and playing with other people was tipping the dealer.  I'm a tipping advocate so it should have but it wasn't until I saw others that I tried to replicate their behavior.  

 

On my first cruise this year, Serenade August 2021, I noticed the fellow beside me.  Whenever he won on blackjack his $10 bet won him $12.5 and he would toss a dollar chip to the dealer. So I started doing the same.  At the end of the session, when leaving the table, I also gave the dealer the equivalent of what I bid on a single hand.  On that first cruise that was $10.  On my subsequent cruise, Dec 2021 on Liberty, being more confident in my play I graduated to $25-$30 per hand depending on how I was feeling.  I still gave the dealer $1 chip on each blackjack but left $25-30 at the end each session.  For context sake, a session for me would be about an hour.  After the session I'd leave the casino and do other things.  On embarkation and sea days I typically had two or three sessions and on a port day I would go once maybe a second time if DW crashed early.

 

What kind of tipping is customary?  Was I close or was I unusually cheap?  

 

I am listing the specific amounts that I tipped not to be pretentious or braggadocios as some on other tipping threads might suggest but to get information so I can act within the norms of traditional experienced casino players. 🙂 

 

Thank you and God bless America

Edited January 22, 2022 by Tree_skier

[nolimits]

I find they prefer to play with you, So I normally play a 5$ once in a while for them.

You  put it outside circle in front of your bet. If you haven’t seen others do that. 
Gambling tipping goes with winning.

[cruisin from florida]

7 minutes ago, nolimits said:

I find they prefer to play with you, So I normally play a 5$ once in a while for them.

You  put it outside circle in front of your bet. If you haven’t seen others do that. 
Gambling tipping goes with winning.

I usually play $10 or $15 tables. If I'm on a bit of a roll, I'll do as described here. Also, when I do, if I split or double I do the same for the dealer's tip. 

[Jarmo]

I do the same as nolimits and cruisin from florida.  Usually play $25 tables, put up $5 per Blackjack. 

[Lady Hudson]

Tipping in the casino, like elsewhere, is personal.  If you are relatively new to Blackjack I would buy a few Blackjack books on Amazon.  Money management should be included in well written books - an important part of table games.  Overtipping  — where the dealers are making more money than you — is not a good idea.  I have seen players put up a tip for the dealers every hand.  You cannot win that way.  Katherine 

[Tree_skier]

2 hours ago, nolimits said:

I find they prefer to play with you, So I normally play a 5$ once in a while for them.

You  put it outside circle in front of your bet. If you haven’t seen others do that. 
Gambling tipping goes with winning.

 

2 hours ago, cruisin from florida said:

I usually play $10 or $15 tables. If I'm on a bit of a roll, I'll do as described here. Also, when I do, if I split or double I do the same for the dealer's tip. 

 

2 hours ago, Jarmo said:

I do the same as nolimits and cruisin from florida.  Usually play $25 tables, put up $5 per Blackjack. 

Ok, so this I have never seen.  I get black jack or have a good run or whenever I decide a tip is appropriate... so I put $5 chip in front of my little circle where my bid is. Do they then play a hand on their own separate from their "dealer" hand? Potentially winning against themselves? Also, what about tipping at the end of the session.  Is that typical?

[Tree_skier]

51 minutes ago, Lady Hudson said:

Tipping in the casino, like elsewhere, is personal.  If you are relatively new to Blackjack I would buy a few Blackjack books on Amazon.  Money management should be included in well written books - an important part of table games.  Overtipping  — where the dealers are making more money than you — is not a good idea.  I have seen players put up a tip for the dealers every hand.  You cannot win that way.  Katherine 

Thank you I've been reading a number of Blackjack blogs. My money management is a fairly simple process. I have a set amount I'm willing to lose over the course of the cruise.  If that amount is lost I will be done for the cruise.  Thankfully, in my two limited foray's I have done Ok.  

[nolimits]

The extra u put  out front is played with your hand . You win They win.

“ Bribery Works” is the saying 

[jbr5049]

A polite toss of a chip after a hand into the dealer's playing field before cards are dealt for the next round is appropriate. So is leaving chips for the dealer after you color up when you're done playing. 

 

I've had losing sessions where I didn't tip at all because the cards didn't allow for any bit of a run, I've also had runs where you keep winning and I found myself tossing a chip after every hand. 

 

Any tip is appreciated by a dealer, especially on cruise ships where there is a large influx of people that have never gambled at a table game before. People are new, learning, and might just not know it is a nice way to share back with the person hopefully allowing you to make money. 

[d9704011]

14 minutes ago, jbr5049 said:

I've had losing sessions where I didn't tip at all because the cards didn't allow for any bit of a run, I've also had runs where you keep winning and I found myself tossing a chip after every hand. 

Are you saying that your tipping is dependant on whether you win or lose and not so much on the service the dealer is providing?

[Lady Hudson]

6 hours ago, Tree_skier said:

Thank you I've been reading a number of Blackjack blogs. My money management is a fairly simple process. I have a set amount I'm willing to lose over the course of the cruise.  If that amount is lost I will be done for the cruise.  Thankfully, in my two limited foray's I have done Ok.  

But . . . You also have to leave the table when ahead.  A certain amount “a do not touch pile if you will” is a good idea.  Let’s say you are up $150 playing a $10 table.  By putting $75 or $100 aside and saying I am leaving the table with this, you can start to build a winning amount.  Just playing until you lose a set amount is not a winning strategy.  Managing your winnings is a strategy too.

 

I say all this I know how hard it is to leave a table when having fun.  😀

[time4u2go]

1 hour ago, d9704011 said:

Are you saying that your tipping is dependant on whether you win or lose and not so much on the service the dealer is providing?

I was wondering the same thing.

[nolimits]

If your not winning it’s a disservice LOL

[jbr5049]

Yes, if I'm getting crushed I'm not tipping. If I'm winning I'll tip and share it back with the dealer. 

[John&LaLa]

Some info shared with me on a very slow repo cruise

 

Table dealers, like all other tipped employees, have a minimum pool owed by the cruise line/casino. On a TA or repo, they often don't the hit minimum from the players, so Royal has to cover.  

 

So it's almost pointless to tip them. 

 

That being said. When we used to play tables, we generally tip vs placing bets for dealer.

 

Laura has also given cash tips in an envelope to a particular dealer she enjoyed losing with.🤣🤣

 

This was at the pit bosses suggestion

Edited January 22, 2022 by John&LaLa

[topnole]

17 hours ago, Tree_skier said:

In the spirit of the other tipping thread, I'm curious about tipping at table games in the Casino.  I'm a recent convert to the Casino.  My first foray into the casino was the last cruise we went on before the shut down.  All I did was sit at various machines, not understanding what was going on in front of me, and mostly losing money. Since the restart I have ventured from losing a little at a machine and then quitting to playing blackjack.  I'm scared I'm an addict now. LOL. One thing that never occurred to me until I was sitting and playing with other people was tipping the dealer.  I'm a tipping advocate so it should have but it wasn't until I saw others that I tried to replicate their behavior.  

 

On my first cruise this year, Serenade August 2021, I noticed the fellow beside me.  Whenever he won on blackjack his $10 bet won him $12.5 and he would toss a dollar chip to the dealer. So I started doing the same.  At the end of the session, when leaving the table, I also gave the dealer the equivalent of what I bid on a single hand.  On that first cruise that was $10.  On my subsequent cruise, Dec 2021 on Liberty, being more confident in my play I graduated to $25-$30 per hand depending on how I was feeling.  I still gave the dealer $1 chip on each blackjack but left $25-30 at the end each session.  For context sake, a session for me would be about an hour.  After the session I'd leave the casino and do other things.  On embarkation and sea days I typically had two or three sessions and on a port day I would go once maybe a second time if DW crashed early.

 

What kind of tipping is customary?  Was I close or was I unusually cheap?  

 

I am listing the specific amounts that I tipped not to be pretentious or braggadocios as some on other tipping threads might suggest but to get information so I can act within the norms of traditional experienced casino players. 🙂 

 

Thank you and God bless America

Id say the dealers would all be happy to have you as a player.  A tip at the end is very nice.  
 

I only tip when I win.  So, for example, if I was betting 10 a hand and up 50 -70 I’d take 10 a side and do single bet for the dealer 10 hands in a row as example.  If I’m not they make a good amount.  In essence I usually tip a decent amount unless I tank from the get go and never get up much.   The dealers know this style of tipping as many others do it too. 
 

Lots of ways to tip.  If you are a good player and know all the statistical correct moves the dealers typically like when you wager the tip for them.  Just makes it more fun when on a win streak and of course they are routing for you too as a result.  

[topnole]

9 hours ago, d9704011 said:

Are you saying that your tipping is dependant on whether you win or lose and not so much on the service the dealer is providing?

That is always how I do it.  Dealers know this is how many folks do it.  If you play much in a week they know you aren’t a stiff if you lose and don’t tip.  
 

In general the dealers don’t generally care who doesn’t tip in a given session.  They see it all and it is what it is at the end.  Most tip well when winning big and the dealers benefit.  They obviously have little to no control over the random cards (other than the shuffle assuming they even shuffle in the game you choose).  
 

If they worried about any given person not tipping, they would spend every day in misery because while many tip well, many others don’t at all.  

[time4u2go]

Interesting answers here. I never would have thought that the amount that a person tips would be dependent on how much they win or lose.

[HBE4]

I'm so glad I clicked into this thread for 2 reasons:

 

A) I learned a new word that I can't wait to use - braggadocios

B) I've been kind of a jerk, both on ship & in land casinos.

 

I'm more of a slots guy but will occasionally venture to the table games, usually Blackjack or Roulette (yeah, I know that's the worst of the table games to win at but I enjoy it!!). I've only tipped when winning "big" - like $20-$30 or more - or if I spent a long time (1+hour) at a table & broke even or lost. And I only tip when leaving the table. And I've never heard of placing a bet for the dealer.

 

I've been humbled & need to correct my behavior. Looking forward to more responses. 

 

P.S, - Although last casino I was in - Aruba, I think - they kept rotating the dealers every 10-15 minutes.

 

Edited January 23, 2022 by HBE4

[Tree_skier]

12 minutes ago, HBE4 said:

I'm so glad I clicked into this thread for 2 reasons:

 

A) I learned a new word that I can't wait to use - braggadocios

B) I've been kind of a jerk, both on ship & in land casinos.

 

I'm more of a slots guy but will occasionally venture to the table games, usually Blackjack or Roulette (yeah, I know that's the worst of the table games to win at but I enjoy it!!). I've only tipped when winning "big" - like $20-$30 or more - or if I spent a long time (1+hour) at a table & broke even or lost. And I only tip when leaving the table. And I've never heard of placing a bet for the dealer.

 

I've been humbled & need to correct my behavior. Looking forward to more responses. 

 

P.S, - Although last casino I was in - Aruba, I think - they kept rotating the dealers every 10-15 minutes.

 

I'm a real noob so I need all the help I can get

 

[topnole]

2 hours ago, HBE4 said:

I'm so glad I clicked into this thread for 2 reasons:

 

A) I learned a new word that I can't wait to use - braggadocios

B) I've been kind of a jerk, both on ship & in land casinos.

 

I'm more of a slots guy but will occasionally venture to the table games, usually Blackjack or Roulette (yeah, I know that's the worst of the table games to win at but I enjoy it!!). I've only tipped when winning "big" - like $20-$30 or more - or if I spent a long time (1+hour) at a table & broke even or lost. And I only tip when leaving the table. And I've never heard of placing a bet for the dealer.

 

I've been humbled & need to correct my behavior. Looking forward to more responses. 

 

P.S, - Although last casino I was in - Aruba, I think - they kept rotating the dealers every 10-15 minutes.

 

Betting for the dealer as a tip is very common in blackjack.   It’s a fun way to do it.   Just ask the dealer.  Usually it is done by putting a chip above your bet (closer to the dealer) on the top of the circle.  In some places it is to the side, but usually above.  Again, just ask the dealer.  
 

Tipping while gambling is very different than other service based scenarios.   For many it is superstition.  If I don’t open well I won’t win, when I tip I win, or whatever other irrational view.  Yes I’m irrational in this regard.  At a bj table there are multiple players and most won’t play for that long.  If every player tipped them $5-10 they be very happy.  That doesn’t happen however.  Some tip way more.  Some never tip or even know it is a thing.  
 

In my experience dealers really do appreciate any tip.  If you play $10 a hand (low stakes) and tip them by playing 5-10 single dollar bets for them in a 30-60 min session they really appreciate it just as much as the higher roller bigger tips.  Of course they like more money and bigger tips, but they appreciate the gesture by any player at any $ level.  I’ve known a few dealers (ship and land based) and they all appreciate someone who in turn appreciates their physical and professional labor.   

Edited January 23, 2022 by topnole

[JupiterTwo]

I've been pondering this question myself regarding the craps table. I haven't actually started playing craps in the casino (I've been playing it on my laptop to develop my strategy for play).

 

Right now, I'm leaning towards a tipping approach that is up-front. I plan to tip the dealer when I first sit down and receive my chips, say, $25 out of a $200 stake, leaving me $175 for table play. This is before I know whether I've won or lost for the session. This should (I hope) motivate the dealer to be attentive to me from the start, as their tip is not based on my good fortune, but on my good intentions.

 

If I compare casino tipping to restaurant tipping, it's a matter of paying for service (although the base price of food differentiates tipping at Denny's and tipping at Flemings). Still, $175 at a craps table ought to last me about 30 minutes if it goes really badly, maybe a little longer if I reach my target gain and walk away. That's a $25 tip for less than an hour of service to me. That's more than I would tip for an hour at Denny's and less than I would tip for 90+ minutes at Flemings.

 

I don't think I would tip a percentage of my winnings on a hand-by-hand or session-by-session basis. I would tip up-front, and that's it. They would get an unconditional $25 from me, and I would walk away with whatever gains or losses I incur.

 

That's my plan, anyway.

[WarfRatWA]

4 hours ago, JupiterTwo said:

I've been pondering this question myself regarding the craps table. I haven't actually started playing craps in the casino (I've been playing it on my laptop to develop my strategy for play).

 

Right now, I'm leaning towards a tipping approach that is up-front. I plan to tip the dealer when I first sit down and receive my chips, say, $25 out of a $200 stake, leaving me $175 for table play. This is before I know whether I've won or lost for the session. This should (I hope) motivate the dealer to be attentive to me from the start, as their tip is not based on my good fortune, but on my good intentions.

 

If I compare casino tipping to restaurant tipping, it's a matter of paying for service (although the base price of food differentiates tipping at Denny's and tipping at Flemings). Still, $175 at a craps table ought to last me about 30 minutes if it goes really badly, maybe a little longer if I reach my target gain and walk away. That's a $25 tip for less than an hour of service to me. That's more than I would tip for an hour at Denny's and less than I would tip for 90+ minutes at Flemings.

 

I don't think I would tip a percentage of my winnings on a hand-by-hand or session-by-session basis. I would tip up-front, and that's it. They would get an unconditional $25 from me, and I would walk away with whatever gains or losses I incur.

 

That's my plan, anyway.

I play craps regularly both on land and at sea.  I use the same method of tipping for both.  The only time I tip directly to the dealers is when I color up and exit the game.  I like to start off play with a pass line bet with shoes for the crew.  After that, if things are going well, I make bets for the dealers.  Even when I get crushed, I always have a few bucks left over for the crew when I exit the game.

 

Dropping $25 right of the bat wouldn't be my style and I am not sure you'll get the attention you are looking for due to crew rotation and short memories.  Betting that same $25 spread out over the first 15min of play might serve you better.  Not only are showing your more than a 'one and done' tipper, you also give the crew a chance to win more than just that $25.  But thats just me, I would imagine there are dealers that would prefer the bankable tip over the bet.

 

Beside the fact that tips are a major part of the crews compensation, the reason I tip is that I want those dealers to look out for my bets.  Perhaps I forgot to add odds, they let me know.  Maybe another player has grabbed my payoff and I didn't notice, or perhaps my bet isn't maximizing payout, they clue me in.

 

All that said, any tip is better than no tip.  But ultimately, you should tip in the manner and method you feel comfortable with.  

 

There is nothing better than playing craps on a crowded winning table (and a pox on all wrong bettors:).

[DCPIV]

Do note that all dealer tips are pooled in the casino. They go into a lock box at the table and aren't touched until the end of the night.

 

My dealer friends have told me that it's much more important to be cordial and respectful (even friendly) with the dealer. That's the key to good service (and being a good person, for that matter). A jerk is still a jerk, no matter how good a tipper that jerk is. A dealer would rather spend time with and provide good service to a nice person who is a small tipper than a jerk who gives big tips in a patronizing or even insulting manner. I'm not a big tipper in a casino, but I am a respectful one, and I cannot recall the last time I had bad service from a dealer. 

 

I can probably count on one hand (maybe two)  the number of times I've seen someone tip a dealer right as they come to a table, and I've spent a lot of time at tables. It's quite rare (although maybe not so much on a cruise where some folks come into the casino and act like they're in a bad movie). I'm sure it's appreciated, but it's also rather awkward, almost like you're coming in expecting preferential treatment. When I have noticed it done, it's not been done in a gracious manner (see above).

 

At craps, I'll tip every now and then. Like the other poster, I'll tip directly when I leave, and typically only if I've won. While playing, I'll tender a tip and ask if they want me to bet it or just give it to them. They very often want it bet but not always. I'll also do an occasional dollar yo or hard way bet for the dealers if I have one dollar chips handy. That's fun to do, and it's really fun when it pays! 

 

At other table games, I'll tip when leaving (assuming I have chips), but that's usually it. I might do something if I'm on a roll.

 

At poker, I don't tip until I get up. It's pretty much a donkey move to do otherwise.

 

 

[JupiterTwo]

2 hours ago, DCPIV said:

At craps, I'll tip every now and then. Like the other poster, I'll tip directly when I leave, and typically only if I've won. While playing, I'll tender a tip and ask if they want me to bet it or just give it to them. They very often want it bet but not always. I'll also do an occasional dollar yo or hard way bet for the dealers if I have one dollar chips handy. That's fun to do, and it's really fun when it pays! 

 

My last cruise was before the pandemic, on the Enchantment of the Seas in January 2020. I watched the craps table but didn't play. When I asked the dealer about how the betting worked ($10 minimum table), he said each bet had to be $10 or more. That was $10 pass, $10 place, $10 come, $10 field, etc.

 

It seems to me that making a bet for the dealer as a tip can add up quickly if each bet must be $10.

 

Regarding tipping at the end only if winning, it seemed to me that the dealer worked the same for me whether I won or not, so why punish them if it didn't go well for me? That's why I thought it would be appreciated to tip them up-front so there would be no risk to them.

 

I suppose I could just hold the $25 back in my pocket and then give it to them when I leave the table.