More on tipping

23 July 2019

By Frank Scoblete

Dealers should be tipped by putting up a bet for them. There are no rules of thumb that say what dealers’ tips should be, as there are guidelines with waiters and waitresses. A few bucks by a red chip player, a few reds by a green chip player, a few more reds, maybe even a green, for a black and purple chip player, every 20 minutes to 40 minutes would be generous. Or you can use the method of tipping that I will recommend with each individual game. These methods will save you money but can also make the dealers quite a lot of money if you only have, as the song from “My Fair Lady” says, “a little bit of luck.”

When you win an epic jackpot, a tip is generally expected by the person who pays it to you, or in our new credit voucher world, the individual who certifies the win. In the good old days, it was usually the change person (I don't quite know why, after all what did they actually do for you?). Follow your instincts here. Luckily I've never had to worry about this because I've never won an epic jackpot – I've never won a non-epic jackpot, either.

If you work out in the spa, it is customary to leave a tip if the attendants have been attending to you. Did they bring you water? Did they give you a towel? Ten to 20% of the spa fee is a generous tip. By the way, for masseuses and trainers different clubs have different rules. Don't be afraid to ask: "Is it customary to tip the masseuse and trainer?" when you make your reservation.

My wife, the beautiful A.P., enjoys a good massage, and she says, “Ten to 20% depending on how long the massage is and how much it costs." When I massage her, my tip is a warm kiss, which is fine with me.

If you use the barbers and hair-stylists at the casino a tip of 20% seems right.

Maids should be tipped generously. To me, they have the roughest job in the hotel (my God, they clean strangers' bathrooms!) and yet folks tend to give them $1 or $2 per day. No, no, a thousand times no. I'd rather stiff one of those good fellows who leads you to your table at a Las Vegas show, than be cheap with a maid. Give them five to 10 bucks a day! I prefer to give $20 if she is really attentive.

[Oh, please: I know a person who says, “I don’t want to hurt my bottom line when I am in a casino by tipping. It just costs me money.” Hey, if you can’t afford to tip a few bucks here and there, what are you doing in a casino? Go home and watch television!]

The problem for the poor maids is the fact that you tip them at the end of your stay in a casino-hotel, after you've (probably) lost all your money and when you're suddenly trying to economize. So to avoid that, to assure really, really prompt service, I tip the maid immediately upon my arrival. I find out who my maid will be, I introduce myself to her, tell her I'm staying in such and such a room, and that this (the money) is for her.

I also make it known that I will tip at the end of the trip as well. An important caveat here: sometimes the maid who slaved in your room is off on the day you leave to go home. You leave a tip and her substitute gets it. Make a point of finding out who your maid is and leave the tip with her directly or with her supervisor. And remember, she cleans your toilet!

For economical gamblers, you should figure in advance what and whom you will most likely tip and bring along a special "tip sheet" and envelope. This way your tips don't come out of your gambling stake. You don’t want to get to a point where you ever have to decide, “Do I tip this nice person or stiff him in order to gamble a little more?”

If you use limos or if the casino comps your limo ride, a tip of $10 to $20 would be a decent one. Often you tip based on how far the limo driver drives you. Also, find out if the tip has already been added to the cost of the fare as some limo companies automatically charge you a tip to use their service. If your service does this, then no extra tip is necessary – unless you have the driver lug your baggage.

What about taxi drivers? If you know they are taking the correct route to your destination and not screwing you by going the long way, a 20% tip would be appropriate.

I know that some people don't like to tip certain other people but let's face it – when in Rome, you do like the Romans; when in a tipping world, you should tip as well.

Being a George is a good thing. If you should hear the word “flea” applied to someone that is a bad thing. Fleas are not liked by puppy dogs or dealers or anyone who needs tips to survive.

All the best in and out of the casinos!

Visit Frank's website at www.frankscoblete.com.