More on soliciting tips

John,

For many years I had jobs where I depended on tips to survive. Of course, I would never solicit a tip for myself. That said, when I was a chauffeur and I was talking to a passenger for another driver, I might say something like "gratuities are always appreciated."

Where I play poker in Florida, when they pay out a tournament player they always solicit tips for the dealers. It's done without any pressure. They might say, "Don't forget the dealers" and there is a tip container on the counter.

I guess in a perfect world those practices wouldn't happen, but the truth is that some people just don't appreciate that others work for tips. Maybe they have always been lucky enough to have a job that paid. My dad was a taxi driver and he always tipped for service even though he never had any money. I think a gentle reminder for those who aren't aware of the proper tipping etiquette is just a fact of life.

Just my 2 cents,
Bill

Bill,

Thanks for your reply to my column that contained a letter from a NY gaming attendant in which he or she questioned why it was okay for a cashier to have a tip jar, but it was not okay to tell a patron that the floor attendants can accept tips.

I disagree that your casino's soliciting tips for the dealers is done without any pressure. Having a tip jar is no pressure -- or, at least, gentle pressure, a reminder. Having a tip jar and actively soliciting the tip with a request that one not forget the dealers puts pressure on the patron to leave a tip.

We know we're supposed to tip a waiter and a taxi driver, even though they don't have tip jars. The casino cashiers can let patrons know they can accept tips by putting tip jars at their stations.

How can floor attendants like the one who wrote the letter tell patrons that they too can accept tips? Wear a sign? Strap tip jars to their legs?

I suppose in the end it's up to us to remember to tip the casino employees for the services they give us. If the employee is not able to accept the tip, he or she will politely decline it.

Best of luck in and out of the casinos,
John

Send your slot and video poker questions to John Robison, Slot Expert, at slotexpert@comcast.net. Because of the volume of mail I receive, I regret that I can't reply to every question.