Why, How Much, and Do Casino Dealers Keep All Tips They Receive?

The necessity of tipping at casino tables and the dealers’ retention of gratuities when given are frequent concerns or questions among casino patrons. Tipping is not required at poker, blackjack, or roulette tables, but it is customary good form to do so, particularly if you plan to play for a while. When it comes to how gratuities are handled and distributed, casinos use one of two main approaches.

We are aware that knowing why and how much to tip a casino dealer is important, so let’s find out!

Two rules for giving a casino dealer’s tip

We can’t help but question if the tip we give the casino dealer is intended only for the dealer once we give it. There are two scenarios to take into account, and it all hinges on the casino’s tipping policy for the dealers.

1. Keep-Your-Own
Keep Your Own (KYO) is a widespread tipping practice used by numerous casinos. According to the guideline, a dealer who performs well will be rewarded with larger gratuities, which they are free to keep all to themselves without disclosing or sharing with anybody else.

Because it allows for a performance-based incentive and immediately motivates the dealers to present and perform better, casinos favor this KYO strategy. The management of a casino develops a rotating schedule for its dealers in accordance with this policy to ensure parity and provide each dealer an equal chance to succeed.

The casinos also make an effort to present dealers who will create a favorable atmosphere at the table. They can anticipate receiving more tips from the gamblers if they do that. The Keep-Your-Own policy does not allow for differences, in contrast to the Tip Pooling scheme. Additionally, maintaining and tracking the specifics of a common pool of tips is simple. When dealers take home extra money, no questions are ever raised.

2. Tip Pooling
Another typical rule that some casinos use is tip pooling. In this, the dealers have a tip pool that is divided equally among all of the employees. The main goal of this policy’s implementation is to promote parity. Given that dealers at high stakes tables often receive larger tips than those at micro stakes tables, the concept is unquestionably well-thought out.

Casinos primarily aim to amuse patrons, regardless of how much money they are wagering. Tip Pooling takes away the chance that a dealer may feel bad about his meager payouts and become less driven to perform well at low-stakes tables.

Some casinos reserve a portion of the total tip pool, along with tip pooling, for the back of house workers, including porters, cleaners, and other less well-known employees.

Why giving a tip is necessary

Tipping is not required, but it is something that every player should do and typically does. The majority of dealers employed by casinos in Las Vegas and worldwide essentially live off of tips. Therefore, in order to assist them, it is imperative to thank them for their assistance.

From the player’s standpoint, leaving a tip is a method to both reward good service and ward off poor service. Additionally, at casinos that adhere to the Tip Pooling principle, tipping is much more essential. If a player chooses not to tip a specific dealer in these casinos for whatever reason, this will imply depriving everyone else in the casino as well, which is immoral and unethical.

In tipping Casino Dealers, how much do we give?

A player in a US casino should aim to tip the dealer at least $5 each hour. No matter how low the stakes are, you should tip the minimum amount required by the casino. The player’s willingness to tip the dealer isn’t constrained in any way. Generally speaking, you should tip more when the stakes are higher. Most crucial, whether you are currently winning or losing the game, you must tip this specific amount of money.

It is common to tip a dealer with casino chips rather of cash. You have a choice between these two methods when it comes to tipping the dealer. Simply putting the chip in the direction of the dealer and indicating that it is for him is a simple and direct approach to tip. Placing the stake for the dealer is another entertaining way to tip, and it also gets their support. The dealer will show you where to lay the chip after you have simply explained to him that you want to make a wager for him.

Along with tipping the dealer in poker, players also owe it to waitstaff, waitresses, bartenders, and valets to thank them for their assistance. $5 for the first drink and $2 for each additional drink would be a reasonable wage to give bartenders. In most restaurants and pubs, waiters and waitresses are expected to get a normal 15% gratuity. A casino valet will accept $5 as payment.

Tipping the dealers is therefore an option that a player chooses to take rather than something that is required. On the other hand, how this tip is given or received largely relies on the rules of each casino.