Tipping Inside Casinos (always an interesting subject).
I wouldn't know about Nevada, but I've seen it in A.C. and CT.Quote: JerryLoganWhere do you play in Nevada that does not comp drinks while playing at the bar?
Quote: NicksGamingStuffThe Encore does not comp drinks while playing at the bar!
WTF?? Then what kind of idiot would ever play at an Encore bar? I know they comp drinks on the floor because I've played there. Isn't that kind of odd for a LV casino?
At the bar, you might also be paying for a different service level, and a different selection of beverages than what they will bring around to you on the floor.
Quote: DocI think the concept is that if you are going to a bar, you are expecting to pay for drinks. You can play a little VP while you are there, but they charge for the drinks because that's what you went to that location for in the first place. If you go instead to a row of VP machines on the floor, the assumption is that your reason for being there is to gamble, and if they choose, they can try to keep gambling customers happy by comping drinks. Yes, the difference is a bit subtle.
At the bar, you might also be paying for a different service level, and a different selection of beverages than what they will bring around to you on the floor.
If I'm not mistaken the bartops in Encore (& Wynn) are mostly up to the $10 level. So are you telling me a stiff on the floor playing quarters for 6 hours can get as many free drinks as possible, while the guy playing $50 a hand at the bar has to pay 5 or 6 bucks for a Coors Lite? Is Steve Wynn a cheapass or what?
I don't really think so. I think he just recognizes that a bar and a casino are two different types of businesses, although you might be able to both drink and gamble in either of them. If you don't like the tariff at the bar, don't go there.Quote: JerryLoganIs Steve Wynn a cheapass or what?
Quote: DocI don't really think so. I think he just recognizes that a bar and a casino are two different types of businesses, although you might be able to both drink and gamble in either of them. If you don't like the tariff at the bar, don't go there.
I won't. In fact, as a vp player to the $5 limit, being educated on this just made me go cut up my 2 player's cards from Wynn & Encore. I just called Wynn and they confirmed no drink comps to vp players at their bars either. My business will be going elsewhere. That policy just doesn't make any sense to me when everywhere else is just the opposite. I wonder, is it worth it for Wynn to lose a player such as myself, and who knows how many others refuse to play there because of it, over that? LV & free drinks to gamblers go hand-in-hand. Bye bye Stevie!
"...at a bar..."Quote: iamthepushi don't think there are any free drinks to be had at a bar in a nice casino.
That was my point exactly.
Perhaps I should hedge on my comments by noting that I do not consume alcohol myself, so I am relating impressions rather than personal experience. But I have purchased wine and other beverages for my wife at a number of casino bars and would not expect to see any patrons in those areas receiving free drinks, no matter what game they might be playing or how much they might be wagering while drinking there. I always thought of those bar counter games as a way to pass time while drinking and not a serious part of gambling.
Quote: Doc"...at a bar..."
That was my point exactly.
Perhaps I should hedge on my comments by noting that I do not consume alcohol myself, so I am relating impressions rather than personal experience. But I have purchased wine and other beverages for my wife at a number of casino bars and would not expect to see any patrons in those areas receiving free drinks, no matter what game they might be playing or how much they might be wagering while drinking there. I always thought of those bar counter games as a way to pass time while drinking and not a serious part of gambling.
i do drink, and i can tell you that you are correct.
Quote: JerryLoganI won't. In fact, as a vp player to the $5 limit, being educated on this just made me go cut up my 2 player's cards from Wynn & Encore. I just called Wynn and they confirmed no drink comps to vp players at their bars either. My business will be going elsewhere. That policy just doesn't make any sense to me when everywhere else is just the opposite. I wonder, is it worth it for Wynn to lose a player such as myself, and who knows how many others refuse to play there because of it, over that? LV & free drinks to gamblers go hand-in-hand. Bye bye Stevie!
Wynncore has one card for both of their casinos -- the Red Card.
The reason that casinos don't comp bar drinks is because your service is much faster at the bar. When you order drinks while playing slots or VP at a high end establishment like Wynn or Bellagio, expect to wait about 15 - 20 minutes for your drink to arrive; this keeps you at the slot machine and playing. Drink service at table games is considerably faster because the casino wants you to part with your money.
Besides which, Video Poker at the bar is usually a very bad play with the worst VP pay tables in a casino, and I don't know of any LV casinos where you don't pay for bar drinks, playing or not. In fact, serious VP poker players I think would avoid the strip casinos like the plague because their VP, in general, stinks.
Quote: boymimboWynncore has one card for both of their casinos -- the Red Card.
The reason that casinos don't comp bar drinks is because your service is much faster at the bar. When you order drinks while playing slots or VP at a high end establishment like Wynn or Bellagio, expect to wait about 15 - 20 minutes for your drink to arrive; this keeps you at the slot machine and playing. Drink service at table games is considerably faster because the casino wants you to part with your money.
Besides which, Video Poker at the bar is usually a very bad play with the worst VP pay tables in a casino, and I don't know of any LV casinos where you don't pay for bar drinks, playing or not. In fact, serious VP poker players I think would avoid the strip casinos like the plague because their VP, in general, stinks.
Huh? I play at bars all over Nevada and the only one I've ever heard of that doesn't comp drinks is Wynn/Encore. Paytables has nothing to do with anything and how serious a player is doesn't either.
Quote: JerryLoganHuh? I play at bars all over Nevada and the only one I've ever heard of that doesn't comp drinks is Wynn/Encore. Paytables has nothing to do with anything and how serious a player is doesn't either.
I concur, only place I know of that doesn't comp drinks playing VP at the bar is the Wynn/Encore. Some places even have pretty good pay tables, but most don't.
Quote: JerryLoganbeing educated on this just made me go cut up my 2 player's cards from Wynn & Encore.
i didn't pick up on this at first, interesting...
Quote: NicksGamingStuffTo be fair the Luxor also charged me for a drink while I was playing VP at one of their bars.
The only times I've been charged for drinks while playing vp are if I'm not playing full coin on at least 25c vp, or if I order a drink that's considered a "premium" pour. You're not going to get an 18-yr old Scotch for instance.
I have not paid for drinks at any Luxor bar, ever.
Quote: JerryLoganWhere do you play in Nevada that does not comp drinks while playing at the bar?
Quote: JerryLoganHuh? I play at bars all over Nevada and the only one I've ever heard of that doesn't comp drinks is Wynn/Encore. Paytables has nothing to do with anything and how serious a player is doesn't either.
I try to stay open minded, so I hadn't voted in the Douchebag thread yet.
But your selective memory here has given me inspiration to vote.
Can you guess which way I voted?
I've always gotten drinks comped at the bar in Las Vegas. I've done this playing at Ellis Island, Silverton, Main Street Station, Hard Rock, and at Trump Plaza in A.C. Usually what they will do is place a cup with a receipt in it in front of you that says "Bar Comp" or some such. You are expected to tip at least a dollar per drink. Only one guy at Trump Plaza seemed concerned that I be playing the max. Ellis Island didn't seem to care, but they are liberal with the free drinks (Only place I've gotten wasted in LV). Main Street and Silverton have (had?) full pay video poker at the bars.
Edit: The receipt sometimes says "Bar Comp: $1"
In BJ if you sit down with 20 units and play bs, how many hands until you lose 10, 15, and all 20 units?
The segment on tipping is done by gambling 'authority', Barney Vinson. I felt he was overstating the tipping rate. He said that at table games, 10%-15% is about right. While I thought that was high, it occurred to me that a $1 toke on a $10 bet is typical, and is 10%. But the way he presented it was a tip on EVERY WINNING HAND.
But then he talked about a hand-pay slot jackpot. He said somewhere between 3% and 5%. He was being paid $1,000, and claimed that 3% was difficult math, so he went with 5%. Yep, on camera, he was paid $1,000 and tipped the slot girl $50! Also in the scene was a slot host. After paying her, he asked about tipping him. Thank goodness she said that they split the tip. I think he was ready to recommend another 5% tip!
On the flip side, he also said that a bell hop should get about $1 per bag, plus $1. He only had 1 bag, but didn't want to look like a tourist, so he let the bell hop take care of it for $2.
All this was after the cab ride from the airport. He says how cabbies can be a great resource because they know all the best places to go. So after that, the tip he gave the cabbie, on a $12 fare, was a measly $3.
Quote: DJTeddyBear
All this was after the cab ride from the airport. He says how cabbies can be a great resource because they know all the best places to go. So after that, the tip he gave the cabbie, on a $12 fare, was a measly $3.
I usually tip cab drivers 20-25%, which is what he did. I don't see why it was "measly". I realize sometimes when it's a short ride there should be a "floor", but I don't think 3 bucks is too low for what must have been a very quick ride if it was 12 dollars.
I think $3 on a $12 taxi ride is about right.
But I also think $5, or at most $10, is plenty if you're going to tip a hand-pay slot jackpot of $1,000.
He tipped the hand-pay $50. And the $3 taxi tip was after saying what a wonderful resource the cabbie could be.
$3 for the cabbie is measly when compared to $50 for the hand-pay. That's all.
Quote: DJTeddyBearYou misunderstood.
I think $3 on a $12 taxi ride is about right.
But I also think $5, or at most $10, is plenty if you're going to tip a hand-pay slot jackpot of $1,000.
He tipped the hand-pay $50. And the $3 taxi tip was after saying what a wonderful resource the cabbie could be.
$3 for the cabbie is measly when compared to $50 for the hand-pay. That's all.
You are right it's funny how some people really like to throw more money around when they win, and are cheap(er) in other situations.
I think I said how the worst handpays I had were at the PA casinos when I bet like $250 in Electronic Blackjack, split (500) and doubled (750) and ended up "winning" 1500 credits, even though I spent 750 and was currently still down from my buy-in. So the game freezes and you wait for a handpay, because they consider it a slot machine and you "won" more than $1200 on the hand. It went against my better judgment to tip since it seemed that it wasn't a standard hand pay. But since I figured you don't ever tip the dealer on the electronic BJ normally, I suppose this was one of the few times when a tip is sensible when playing this game.
I wonder if you bet $400 (which I believe was the max bet in Bethlehem and Penn National), split and doubled 1x, or bet $300 and split and doubled 2x, if you'd get a handpay for a push. I have a feeling you would, because it would be paying out $1200.
Quote: DJTeddyBearI'm watching "Las Vegas FAQ" on the Travel Channel.
Just saw the Wiz describing Bac on the Travel Channel.
Quote: DJTeddyBear
But then he talked about a hand-pay slot jackpot. He said somewhere between 3% and 5%. He was being paid $1,000, and claimed that 3% was difficult math, so he went with 5%. Yep, on camera, he was paid $1,000 and tipped the slot girl $50!
5%? Eh, well good for him. I guess I'll just be a cheapskate.
Quote: DJTeddyBearI'm watching "Las Vegas FAQ" on the Travel Channel.
The segment on tipping is done by gambling 'authority', Barney Vinson. I felt he was overstating the tipping rate. He said that at table games, 10%-15% is about right. While I thought that was high, it occurred to me that a $1 toke on a $10 bet is typical, and is 10%. But the way he presented it was a tip on EVERY WINNING HAND.
But then he talked about a hand-pay slot jackpot. He said somewhere between 3% and 5%. He was being paid $1,000, and claimed that 3% was difficult math, so he went with 5%. Yep, on camera, he was paid $1,000 and tipped the slot girl $50! Also in the scene was a slot host. After paying her, he asked about tipping him. Thank goodness she said that they split the tip. I think he was ready to recommend another 5% tip!
On the flip side, he also said that a bell hop should get about $1 per bag, plus $1. He only had 1 bag, but didn't want to look like a tourist, so he let the bell hop take care of it for $2.
That network must love everyone on this board. Those episodes are years old yet we all still seem to watch. I was going to flip by it when I saw our own Wizard. Never knew who he was last time I watched so Inywa stayed tuned in for the last half hour.
Anyways, tipping a slot attendant that much is crazy. The slot attendant hands you some bills and a fedeal tax witholding form. The table dealers are the ones who deserve to be tipped more based on service provided, yet lets look at how they reallly get stiffed.
Take BJ at less that ideal (busy) conditions. Say 4 people sitting at the table, 40 hands per hour, and people play about 30 hands before they get up and leave. Here in PA my sources tell me dealers are getting $12-16/hr in pooled tips. As few people will tip < $5 I will use that as the average tip. So the dealer is getting one $5 toke each 20 minutes. Or one tip every 50+ hands each player plays. (40 HPH times 4 players = "160 player hands" divided by 3 tokes equals 53 "player hands" and some change.) or since eight people will sit at the table each hour, less than half (3) will tip anything.
Or take a less-than-jammed craps table with 6 people per side and 40 rolls per hour. Might be better here since the same $15 per dealer is really $60 per hour when divided by all 4 dealers (2 base, stick, on break) working the table. $60/5=12 tokes needed. Here each person will tip once, but if we assume people stay only the same 30 mins it is still onlh half the people tipping only $5. Craps will be more varriance since more people tip via a bet "for the boys." It is still low.
Remember, these are very, very conservative players and hand per hour numbers. On a jammed night there will be full tables an more hands. My math may be off, but my point is the poor dealers deserve better than a slot attendant gets.
When I finish a session , I will leave a red chip and the odd pink and white if I have any. Whether I've won or lost has no effect on my tipping. If the dealer has not met my expectations, there will be no tip.
These are my expectations - feel free to add your own.The dealer does not tell me how to play,does not roll his or her eyes when I double or hit a soft 8 or surrender 16 against a 10, does not whine about making minimum wage, and DOES NOT HUSTLE FOR TIPS.If I get constantly tip hustled the dealer will get nothing, even if I clean out the entire rack. On the other hand, if the dealer wants to give me 80% penetration...
Here's a hustle that's been showing up lately that seems to be taken right out of the slot attendants handbook- I'm betting green chips and after winning a couple or three hands , the dealer starts taking credit saying how we're all working together etc. etc. Then in a brazen display of nerve, said dealer pays my green chip win with four red chips and two pink.I nipped that in the bud by betting $27.50 every time that happened. I even got a blackjack on one of them and got paid $42.50 instead of $41.50.
I'm not complaining about the occasional good natured soft hustle but rather the "broken records". Dealers, if you hustle tips, you may want to rethink your tactics because they could be counter productive.
As usual, I was the low roller at a crowded table. When the dice came to me, I accompanied my $5 pass bet with $1 for the dealer. When I played double or triple odds for myself, I added double odds ($2) for the dealers. With an even-number point, I also placed $1 hardway for the dealers as I made an equal bet for myself. On a percentage basis (compared to bets for myself), I was probably the real George for the table, but the actual amount of dollars bet/won for the dealers was only moderate, even though I had a very good roll.
Each time my dealer bet won, all of the dealers expressed their appreciation. A bit profusely it seemed, considering the amounts. I made a couple of comments that I wished I could win real money for them (and myself) and they said not to be concerned about that at all.
The whole time, I was wondering whether tokes they got from me (probably in the range of $30 or so total including winnings) really meant that much to them or perhaps their gushing appreciation was an attempt to get others to contribute likewise. If others had matched my dollar amount, I guess the dealers would have been OK; if they had matched my percentage, the dealers would have had good reason to be elated. So, was this hustling or just appropriately showing appreciation?
Quote: DocThe whole time, I was wondering whether tokes they got from me (probably in the range of $30 or so total including winnings) really meant that much to them or perhaps their gushing appreciation was an attempt to get others to contribute likewise. If others had matched my dollar amount, I guess the dealers would have been OK; if they had matched my percentage, the dealers would have had good reason to be elated. So, was this hustling or just appropriately showing appreciation?
Absolutely they are trying to get other people to give, but I don't look at that as overt hustling. Usually they are also happy to be "in the game". I've noticed sometimes you get just as profuse a thanks when you lose and they are picking the loser up. Another reason why Craps is such a fun game: When you are playing Blackjack and you tip, you can get anything from silence or a grunt of thanks to profuse appreciation. But since there are multiple dealers in Craps, it's fun to see how the various dealers react, and even get mad at each other when the thanks isn't enough. "Hey...you've got shoes over there, Charlie...call that out!!"
The reason I was happy to tip is that they consistently tracked the way I played and made sure I knew when bets were not placed in a timely manner. I sometimes get distracted by my lovely wife getting money for slot play and they helped me keep from missing bets. They also allowed the play at a reasonable rate--getting the dice out but not pushing the 100 mph game that gets annoying to me. I want to roll but I also want the time to enjoy it when it is going well!
Others get smaller tips...or none...based on the service they provide.
I am a good tipper in restaurants also but they lose me when they had a 15% or 18% tip automatically. This happened last week at a fave place in the keys--they added 18%. I usually tip 25% at that place and the 18% was on less than the amount I was tipping on due to the owner "buying" us a round or two. She had the choice to include it or not (it is on the menu for 5+ guests but the other waitresses NEVER add it based on knowing us + they give us the "locals" 10% discount because we are frequent customers based on the owner's call...all of that adds to their tip...).
Anyway, I tip people who provide a service fairly well as a rule...those who don't get jack...
That sounds genuine.Quote: DocI made a couple of comments that I wished I could win real money for them (and myself) and they said not to be concerned about that at all.
Even if it's only a buck, any time a chip goes into the bucket rather than the rack, they're appreciative. After all, a buck might be no big deal, but they do add up.
Quote: JerryLoganI won't. In fact, as a vp player to the $5 limit, being educated on this just made me go cut up my 2 player's cards from Wynn & Encore. I just called Wynn and they confirmed no drink comps to vp players at their bars either. My business will be going elsewhere. That policy just doesn't make any sense to me when everywhere else is just the opposite. I wonder, is it worth it for Wynn to lose a player such as myself, and who knows how many others refuse to play there because of it, over that? LV & free drinks to gamblers go hand-in-hand. Bye bye Stevie!
just got back from vegas and thought of the thread while i was there. At the Flamingo you have to pay for drinks at the bar even if you are playing vp.
not sure what casinos you go to or if this has been discussed since wed of last week.
btw, i tipped a bj dealer a check because she was super nice and i was winning
When eating out, you are getting a dining experience and you tip for the service you receive. When playing in a casino, you are getting an entertainment experience and should tip for the experience you receive. I'm not saying you have to tip hundreds of dollars. Dealers are happy with .50 added to your bet here and there or a few bucks when you finish playing. It is a slap in the face to dealers to play for an hour or two and never tip a dime, unless the dealer was unpleasent, rude or gives you some other reason not to tip.
In my opinion, as a former dealer, current table games manager and long time gambler, a tip of $1 on a normal poker pot is good, a few dollars on a huge pot. On table games, a few dollars an hour bet for the dealer is fair, with a little more if you choose to if things are going well. This is for a nice friendly dealer who is working hard and wants you to win.
Quote: WizardI just had a long talk about this topic with a former dealer. She said she appreciated friendly and fun players above being tipped. In her opinion, tipping was truly optional and not expected. The only time she felt annoyed at a player over tipping was when a player turned $100 into $17,000, and left a very small tip. Not to say all dealers have the same opinion, but due to tip pooling, I think a lot of dealers would more or less agree.
Wizard, I am not really shocked by this answer, dealing looks like a terribly boring job (I am an accountant, so I know all about terribly boring jobs).......and just having a little fun at work would seem like a nice upgrade over some grump tossing you $5 at the end of his miserable gambling session.
Quote: PeeigWizard, I am not really shocked by this answer, ...
Thanks. I didn't want to get into another debate about the merits of tipping. I had a long response to the post above yours, but decided not to post it, lest it rehash the whole tipping in the first place argument. Personally, I've noticed dealers are nicer to me when I'm nice to them and don't tip, than when I do tip but ignore them. This does NOT hold true at "keep your own" casinos like Pechanga. This behavior does make sense at tip pooling casinos. If I had to split my tips with 100 other dealers then I would not be financially incentivized to hustle tips. I would still try to deal a fun game, but I would because it was my job, and hopefully the players would reciprocate and be in a better mood.
Quote: JerryLoganI'm not a pro gambler, and I take anywhere from $2k to $7k on each trip.
[...]
The argument about tipping floor people & dealers because they "depend on it for their income" is irrelevant. They couldn't care less how I earn my money and I don't care one bit how they earn theirs. It's a free society and other job opportunities are there. Aussie's partially correct (and it does make you think about why we tip so freely here) in that the wage should be an appropriate wage. However, if it isn't and you're not happy with the wage then you're the loser who took the job.
Well thanks for the insight Mr. Not-A-Pro-Gambler-Who-Takes-Tons-of-Money-On-Each-Trip-Because-I-Can
Hopefully someday you'll be in a spot where you'll have to be the "loser" who has to take the job because it's all that's available, for whatever reason. You sound like a complete idiot who's actually too full of himself to tip. Why else would you make a point to tell us how much you bring on each trip? How is that relevant at all? I bring $20 at a time, so what?
I do agree, however, that it should really be a non-issue since we ought to be paying people a decent wage regardless, and all this "tipping industry" crap is just an end-around on the minimum wage laws.
As opposed to the dealer that does nothing extra. Let me also ask this. On our losing days, does the dealer tip us back? Lets say I lay out 10 $5 chips. I get nothing on that spin.
Does the dealer give one of my chips back and say, "sorry about that sir, here's $5 back" I think not. If they could do something EXTRA for me, I would consider tipping.
My tipping in other areas are pretty good. Haircut, waitress, bartender, I tip rather well. Why the difference? I think its the whole notion of the dealer TAKING something from me, then WANTING something back. Ken
The house will offer you a rebate, depending on the amount that you are risking each trip. Consider this to be your "tip".
I suggest that you talk with your caino host. This must be negotiated in advance. Some casinos will offer you up to 10-15% cash back on your losses. They will often times comp your airfare, room, and meals as well.
-Keyser
That explains YOUR statement, "3.5 years and counting.....Yeah, its probably still luck. Thank the almighty Lord for gamblers fallacy! I owe ya one J.C." - In short, you don't play much.
The green player is the guy putting $25.00 cheques on the line. There are probably some threads here that discuss the use of players cards if anyone is really interested. I tip in a casino. I usually tip generously. I don't think I ever have or ever will see the casino tipping players at the tables. The closest they get to that is these Lucky Seat or Lucky Card promotions that randomly select players or these freebie coupons that get whimsically handed out for some burger and drink promotion at the Deli. Other than that any "tipping" the casino does is to comp players and such comps are in accord with the casino's established policies as to amounts and who can authorize what. This is not fantasy land. Don't expect the dealer to slide a few chips your way as a tip. If I wanted to read about absolute fantasy, I'd visit some sort of science fiction board.Quote: mrjjjThe 'green player' is the guy that uses a card.
