Tips for Tipping in Casinos

In a casino attended by professional dealers, there are particular tipping practices you should follow to ensure a smooth gaming experience. Tipping is not dictated by standard gambling etiquette, and may even be prohibited for certain staff members in casinos, but for dealers everywhere tips are welcome. This short introduction should help you to organise your personal tipping behaviour.

Casino Tipping Background

Tipping culture is still evolving in the UK and Europe, although tipping has been the norm in America and elsewhere for decades. Tipping in casinos became legal in the UK in 2005, and is now as expected as anywhere else in the world.

Especially true in America, casino staff may receive more than half of their regular income from tips. This is not restricted to dealers: waiting staff, drivers and other staff members can all be tipped – although hotel staff and concierges may not expect tips, and may even decline them.

Particular casinos may have rules around tipping, including guidelines on maximum values and the form in which it is delivered - it’s important to be on the lookout for any notices, or ask at the front desk if you’re unsure.

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How to Tip

There are two primary methods of tipping casino staff on the gaming floor – either directly offer them chips from your stack, or offer side-bets. So, when you want to tip, you can either pass the employee a chip, or place an additional bet and inform them that they are entitled to the winnings. Some dealers may store a side bet chip for later – effectively accepting the bet value as a tip (much like if you offered to buy a waiter a drink).

When to Tip

It is generally acceptable to offer a dealer a single tip for a round of betting when you leave the table, or (if you stay longer) when the dealer is about to finish their shift. It is also expected, however, that you tip when you score a large win. This is true in all games – so whilst regular round tipping might be expected in Roulette, Blackjack or Craps, for instance, you may also want to tip any members of staff who help you with slots or Keno when you hit a jackpot.

How Much to Tip

Everything about the details of your tipping is up to you – just be aware that your tips should be relative to the value of your bets. A good starting point is to tip about 0.5% to 1% of a jackpot, or a few chips for a session. For a table with a £5 minimum bet, this might mean betting only a few pounds, for a table with a £100 minimum, tips should be considerably more. This should serve as a starting point for your consideration, but the details are a matter of personal preference.

If you’re keen to avoid a tipping faux pas, start by playing online, where electronic dealers eliminate the need for tipping altogether. You can also find the most quality casinos to play at right here.