Tipping at the Casino: Dealers, Cocktail Servers, and Valet, Explained
Tipping at a casino is not written on any sign, and nobody at the cage will explain it. It is a set of local customs that vary by department, and getting them wrong either wastes money on staff who don't expect it or leaves out the people who service your visit. Here is who gets tipped and roughly how much.
How Tipping Works on a Casino Floor
Unlike a restaurant, a casino has no single service charge to reference. Each department runs its own informal norm, built up over decades and passed along by regulars rather than posted anywhere. Tips are almost always cash, handed over directly, not added to a bill.
Table Game Dealers
Dealers are tipped by placing a bet for them ("toke") or handing over chips when you leave the table. A common baseline is $1-5 per hour of steady play, more after a good session. Tipping every hand is not expected; a toke bet now and then is plenty.
Slot Attendants and Jackpot Hand Pays
Most slot play involves no tipping — the machine handles it. The exception is a hand-paid jackpot, where an attendant verifies the win and counts out cash. $10-20 for that few minutes of paperwork is standard, more for a large payout.
Poker Room Dealers
Poker rooms rake each pot, and dealers rotate every 20-30 minutes, so tipping happens per pot rather than per session. A dollar or two on a win is typical; skipping it on a small pot is normal.
Cocktail Servers and Bar Staff
Drinks brought to a table or RTP, volatility">slot machine are often complimentary, which is exactly why the server depends on tips — $1-2 per round is the floor norm. At a staffed bar, treat it like any other bar: a dollar or two per round.
Valet and Bellhop
Valet runs $2-5 at pickup, cash in hand as the car arrives. Bellhops handling luggage expect roughly $1-2 per bag. Both are hospitality staff, separate from the gaming floor, and their norms track a hotel more than a casino.
When Not to Tip
Pit bosses, floor supervisors, and cage cashiers are not tipped — cage staff are usually barred from accepting anything by policy. Self-service kiosks involve no one to tip. New to the floor generally? Our first-visit etiquette guide covers what comes before any of this.
21+ in the United States, 18+ in the United Kingdom. Gambling is entertainment with a built-in cost, not a way to make money. See our responsible gambling page if it stops being fun.
All content is fact-checked under our editorial standards.