Dealer Tip Protocols
I think at my local casino all tips get pooled and split equally for each shift but I have no clue.
Quote: heatmapIm interested in how and if there are different ways that casinos handle dealers receiving tips?
I think at my local casino all tips get pooled and split equally for each shift but I have no clue.
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There may be exceptions, but that’s SOP. I hate it. It’s just a pile of money that is essentially part of their salary. But the jerk who no one tips gets the same money as the hardest working, nicest dealer.
A few places I played would do daily pools; toke boxes were counted, cashed, and divvied up into one envelope per dealer per day. The split was almost (but not quite) even, adjusting for EO and an extra share for the toke committee.
Other places I played, dealers would take their toke box with them when they left the table, and the relief dealer would bring their own box when they came on.
That’s Keep-Your-Own. If they don’t have their own boxes, it’s pooled.Quote: Dieter… Other places I played, dealers would take their toke box with them when they left the table, and the relief dealer would bring their own box when they came on.
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Most poker rooms are KYO even though the pit dealers pool. Note that many poker dealers simply use their shirt pocket rather than a toke box.
As I understand it, in the pits, the Strat and Ellis Island are KYO. All other Vegas casinos, at least strip and downtown, are pooled. I think all Vegas poker rooms are all KYO.
Before Harrah's bought it out, the Horseshoe downtown was KYO. I remember playing craps there and the 4-man crew had a designated "toke-keeper" who indeed kept all the tips in his shirt pocket.Quote: DJTeddyBearThat’s Keep-Your-Own. If they don’t have their own boxes, it’s pooled.Quote: Dieter… Other places I played, dealers would take their toke box with them when they left the table, and the relief dealer would bring their own box when they came on.
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Most poker rooms are KYO even though the pit dealers pool. Note that many poker dealers simply use their shirt pocket rather than a toke box.
As I understand it, in the pits, the Strat and Ellis Island are KYO. All other Vegas casinos, at least strip and downtown, are pooled. I think all Vegas poker rooms are all KYO.
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This crew were all excellent dealers, but they also hustled for tips. I remember placing a dealer bet on the yo, and the dealer on my end said he would prefer the pass line! This was an a-ha moment for me. KYO dealers have "skin in the game," so to speak, more so than pooled tip dealers. This crew wanted their bets to have the best odds. So, I moved it to the pass line.
To this day, my dealer bets go on the line (and sometimes the dealers get "shoes"), even though I think many of today's dealers would prefer the higher paying (and higher edge) bets. If tips are pooled, they would see very little difference in their take-home at the end of the night.
But when you want to tip a dealer you can either
tip them at the end of a round and they are allowed to put that tip into their box
OR
you can place a chip on an uncommon or "user created" betting space that is usually on an outskirt of a normal betting area(but the dealer doesnt actually get to keep the tip in the case of a lost bet)?
Quote: heatmapOkay so a side question ... and im going to assume this is kind of a "rule created by a person that everyone seems to know".
But when you want to tip a dealer you can either
tip them at the end of a round and they are allowed to put that tip into their box
OR
you can place a chip on an uncommon or "user created" betting space that is usually on an outskirt of a normal betting area(but the dealer doesnt actually get to keep the tip in the case of a lost bet)?
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Correct. The placement of a dealer bet can vary from casino to casino and game to game. Just ask if in doubt. The biggest thing here is in blackjack or other games where you can add to a bet they do not want confusion for the eye so might want it placed just so. No big deal just ask and be polite and they will be thankful. They know people might not know the exacts and I promise you help people with it 10 times a day.
Do tip them, they make the waitress minimum as a base wage!
Quote: heatmapOkay so a side question ... and im going to assume this is kind of a "rule created by a person that everyone seems to know".
But when you want to tip a dealer you can either
tip them at the end of a round and they are allowed to put that tip into their box
OR
you can place a chip on an uncommon or "user created" betting space that is usually on an outskirt of a normal betting area(but the dealer doesnt actually get to keep the tip in the case of a lost bet)?
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There is also the "stacked" tip.
It's more complicated. If you're playing less than table maximum, you can add a chip for the dealer on top of your stack, and then pass the winnings to the dealer and ask that they drop it.
There are some peculiarities in blackjack that can make placing a bet for the dealer in this way less desirable.
The dealer must be "taken along" on a split, where this is optional if placing a toke bet on the edge of the box.
I knew a number of the dealers and was actually dating one at the time and she told me about exactly what they got the next day.
A phrase some of the Asian dealers use when I play is that "With you I drink champagne, with the others - only tea."
Sometimes when I am playing I think, well, what does this dealer care even if she wins $300. off me, divided among the shift it doesn't make a difference - but from the enthusiasm dealers seem to show for tips, it must add up to a lot. And then there are some sessions like the one above where the amount I end up tipping out becomes enough to add up to quite a lot even divided among the entire shift.
And almost every dealer I have given the choice has opted to have the bet ride alongside my bet versus just handing it over.
From what I understand, in Vegas two of the top dealer take home pays including tips are at Wynn and Cosmopolitan.
Quote: DeucekiesSo instead of playing $5 on the pass line for the crew, I play $1 on the pass line and back it up with the fullest odds possible. Where I play, they have 10x odds. Am I right that that's the better way to do it? Put as much of the tip on odds as possible?
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That’s better EV for the crew. By a few pennies per bet. My experience has been in pooled tip places they don’t care. I prefer to tip small more frequently than large less frequently. Usually after a particularly lucky win or draw.
Good point. However, it’s not much of a difference. $5 on the passline is worth $4.93 net of vig and $1 + $4 odds (average max at a 3-4-5 table) is worth $4.98Quote: DeucekiesSo instead of playing $5 on the pass line for the crew, I play $1 on the pass line and back it up with the fullest odds possible. Where I play, they have 10x odds. Am I right that that's the better way to do it? Put as much of the tip on odds as possible?
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Also, putting $1 on the line makes you look cheap until the dealers realize you’ll add odds to it. 1/3 of the time the bet will be resolved during comeout so the tip is just $1. Additionally, you’ll have to have plenty of $1 chips which I usually don’t
I believe your tip will be more visible and appreciated by putting the full amount on the line instead of backing with odds if/when a point is established
Quote: VegasriderIn Reno, Some piece of crap player from California hit the Pai Gow Progressive for $130k and tipped the dealer $25. Which is also pooled amongst the other dealers working that shift. How do I know? that’s been the whole discussion for over a week now from all of the dealers.
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Saw the same thing happen in Harrah's Philadelphia, not in Pai Gow, but Three Card, for $1M+ Guy left zero tip. Dealer was steamed, as were all the other ones. Dealer proclaimed "Yeah, it sucks, but he's going to give it all back within a year." Seems the guy was well known.
Two things I do whilst tipping on craps: I always call "player control", so the dealer bets remain for the next roll, and give dealer odds on all PL tips. I might have my terminology wrong, but I call the PL bet "shoes" and the odds bet "socks". Dealers seem to enjoy that. Lately I've taken to putting down place bets after my own place bets win, thus getting the dealers in on any streak that might be developing. This includes buy bets on 4 and 10. They love those.
It shows up in my players card, too. One time, I was doing dealer bets (I was poor, so dealers bets were only $1--$5), and just on a whim, I asked the pit boss what my rated play was. I was doing, max, $20-25 per point cycle, and I was astonished when the PB said "$60-120 for four hours". He leaned closer and added, "Thanks for the dealer bets." PBs don't share in them, but they have a vested interest in having happy crews.
Quote: BillHasRetiredQuote: VegasriderIn Reno, Some piece of crap player from California hit the Pai Gow Progressive for $130k and tipped the dealer $25. Which is also pooled amongst the other dealers working that shift. How do I know? that’s been the whole discussion for over a week now from all of the dealers.
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Saw the same thing happen in Harrah's Philadelphia, not in Pai Gow, but Three Card, for $1M+ Guy left zero tip. Dealer was steamed, as were all the other ones. Dealer proclaimed "Yeah, it sucks, but he's going to give it all back within a year." Seems the guy was well known.
Two things I do whilst tipping on craps: I always call "player control", so the dealer bets remain for the next roll, and give dealer odds on all PL tips. I might have my terminology wrong, but I call the PL bet "shoes" and the odds bet "socks". Dealers seem to enjoy that. Lately I've taken to putting down place bets after my own place bets win, thus getting the dealers in on any streak that might be developing. This includes buy bets on 4 and 10. They love those.
It shows up in my players card, too. One time, I was doing dealer bets (I was poor, so dealers bets were only $1--$5), and just on a whim, I asked the pit boss what my rated play was. I was doing, max, $20-25 per point cycle, and I was astonished when the PB said "$60-120 for four hours". He leaned closer and added, "Thanks for the dealer bets." PBs don't share in them, but they have a vested interest in having happy crews.
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jus looked at PAs laws and did a search for "tips"... and there is specifically a legal type of dealer tip in their laws
Quote: heatmapjus looked at PAs laws and did a search for "tips"... and there is specifically a legal type of dealer tip in their laws
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I didn't see it, but I sheepishly admit not looking very hard.
Did you happen to note which law?
Quote: DieterQuote: heatmapjus looked at PAs laws and did a search for "tips"... and there is specifically a legal type of dealer tip in their laws
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I didn't see it, but I sheepishly admit not looking very hard.
Did you happen to note which law?
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https://www.pacodeandbulletin.gov/Display/pacode?file=/secure/pacode/data/058/chapter465a/s465a.19.html&searchunitkeywords=tips&origQuery=tips&operator=OR&title=058%20RECREATION
Quote:(d) A patron may identify a wager as a tip wager. A tip wager placed at the table shall be played separately from the player’s other wagers. A winning tip wager shall be collected and deposited in the tip box after each round of play or after a roll of the dice which decides the outcome of the wager. A winning tip wager or part of a winning tip wager may not be wagered again. Upon receipt from a patron of a tip or gratuity, a dealer shall extend his arm in an overt motion, and deposit the tip or gratuity in the locked box reserved for tips and gratuities.
I see that it doesn't specify the manner in which a wager is designated as a tip wager, only that a wager may be so designated and how it must be handled after resolution.
