Tipping in the US has reached an all-time level of bonkers. My favorite is the option to leave a tip at a self-checkout. Honestly, I’m often tempted because I feel I bag groceries at an above average rate and have had no official training.
The key is to work the shapes. Boxed items, try and group together. Bread, eggs, other fragile items, they absolutely deserve their own bag. Never overfill, take your time, and don’t be afraid to get creative with it. After that, the next puzzle begins with fitting them inside the trunk around the golf clubs, lawn chairs, jumper cables, and life-size Michael Jordan cardboard cutout you still haven’t gotten the guts to show your wife.
Casino Tips – Help!
Point is, when to tip, how much to tip, who to tip, can be tricky when it comes to the Casino environment. Wrong or right, below is my guide to tipping based on each scenario you may find yourself in.
Tipping a dealer at a table: I break this one down into three different categories:
You won a large amount of money – Sure the dealer doesn’t have any control over the cards, but if you hit a large sum of money or go on a heater in Blackjack, show some love to your dealer. The amount is your discretion, but have you ever heard “you get what you pay for”? Doesn’t apply here but something to think about.
You have a fun dealer – A fun dealer makes such a difference. We all like to be around enjoyable people. We have all been around less than enjoyable people. If the dealer is cracking jokes, laughing, and not looking at their watch every 2 minutes waiting for their break, then throw some tips their way. They will appreciate it, and you will be supporting the cause.
Superstitious – I get too nervous when I’m running well and don’t throw chips the dealers way. Call it Karma, call it superstition, just don’t call me Shirley. But seriously, don’t be stingy or the luck fairies will turn that car right around, mister!
Give Me a Hand
Tipping the hand pay attendant: “Call Attendant – Hand Pay”. The pop-up we all want to see on our screen in the casino. This big win is followed by a casino employee physically handing you the cash instead of the machine printing out a ticket. I’m not much of a slot player, so I haven’t ever been graced with those four little words.
My thoughts, well, I can see the argument for no tip, throwing the person a $20, or doing a percentage of the win. Do these attendants expect this tip? Is it simply good etiquette? Remember, you get to pay taxes on this win. This tip is weird to me.
Shaken, Not Stirred
Tipping a waitress: Probably the first tipping situation that comes to mind. You are thirsty. You are also lazy and prefer to keep your butt in your chair. This is quite the pickle. Insert a lovely waitress that will solve that problem.
This is a no brainer in almost any waitress scenario in life, but in Vegas, where drinks are “free” when playing, it seems some folks just embrace their cheapness and skip out on the tip. Don’t be that person.
My personal approach to tipping a waitress while gambling, if you’re going to be at the same location for more than 30 minutes, when that first drink arrives, welcome your waitress with $3-5 depending on the drink. After that, I usually fall back to $1-2 per drink.
Friendly service with a smile can warrant more. Although not a magic formula, this typically results in some splendid service. If you only tip in one category listed, make it this category. Be a good person.
Fun fact, they also will accept casino chips – no need to get that bulky, sweaty wallet out of your pocket.
Bank Vibes
Tipping the cashier: This tip falls in line with tipping the hand pay attendant. Is the cashier doing something more than their job? Ouch, I sound harsh, but I don’t tip the bank teller at my bank after they hand me money. Sure, if I have a couple singles and/or change then I’ll leave it, but I can’t say that I’m leaving much for the cashier.
I respect your hustle, but just because I’m cashing in these chips, doesn’t mean I’m not down $350 on the night already.
Tipping the casino security: You drank way too much. You got way too loud. You did one too many handstands on the blackjack table. The casino security throws you out with such grace, strength, and sheer force. If this doesn’t deserve a tip, what does?
Tipping the scales: Not an actual person to tip, but it was a neat saying that felt right.
Tipping the bathroom attendant: Do these still exist? If you’re in a bathroom that is being attended, you need to pony up, my friend.
Those are my tips on tips, casino edition.
