Take the Money & Run and publisher of the Blackjack Insider Newsletter.

Many blackjack players feel uneasy about tipping a dealer because they don’t know when to tip, how much to tip, and or even how to go about giving the dealer a tip (a tip in the casino industry is also known as a “toke”). Therefore, I’ve focused this article on how to go about doing it and present what I consider to be the best way to tip a dealer.

Why should a player tip a dealer anyway? After all tipping won’t miraculously change your luck or the odds. One can also argue that tipping has an expectation of –100% which means the money you tip is lost. And furthermore you are never under any obligation to tip when you play blackjack.

Basically, tipping will ensure that you will have a friendly and helpful dealer that will go a long way toward making your playing experience an enjoyable one. For most players, having a good time with a friendly dealer is reason enough to tip.

There are two common ways that most players will tip a dealer. The first way is to simply place a chip on the layout at any time and tell the dealer “this is for you”. Most players who tip this way do so at the end of their playing session after they have colored up their chips and are ready to leave the table. They simply slide a chip(s) on the layout toward the dealer saying, “this is for you.” (Note: In a casino, the rules forbid you from handing chips directly to a dealer which is why you must first place them on the layout and then let the dealer pick them up.)

A second more popular way to tip is to make a bet for the dealer on your hand. This way, the dealer will have a stake in the outcome and root for you to win (this usually will get their attention and smiles). For example, if you wagered a red chip ($5) on the hand, you make the tip bet for the dealer for placing a white ($1) chip just outside of your betting circle (or square). Essentially the dealer has a stake in the outcome of your hand. If you win, you will receive $5 in winning and the dealer will receive $1 in winnings for the $1 tip bet that you made for her. After the dealer pays off all the player’s winning bets and collect the losing bets, she will pick up the original $1 tip bet plus the $1 in winnings and place the chips in their toke box.

By tipping in the above manner the dealer has the chance to earn a $2 tip (or toke) if you win the hand. However, there is a downside to making a tip bet. If your hand loses, the dealer receives no tip (the chip that you bet for the dealer now become part of the casino bank). However, even if the hand loses most dealers still appreciate the player’s gesture.

This is a less common but what I consider to be a better way to tip the dealer. Instead of placing your tip bet outside of the betting area, place it on top of your bet (inside the betting area). When you do so tell the dealer, “this chip is for you.”

Let’s assume you bet $25 on the hand and you placed a red chip on top of your bet. If the hand wins the dealer will pay you a green chip and a red chip. You then give the dealer one red chip representing the win from the extra chip you bet on the hand (you keep the initial $5 chip for bet for the dealer).

Notice the difference between the two ways of making a tip bet for the dealer. Essentially, bets made outside of the betting area are controlled by the dealer (as opposed to bets made inside which are controlled by the player). When you place your red chip outside, the dealer will pay himself if the hand wins and earn a $10 tip (he keeps the original $5 you bet for him plus the $5 won on the hand). If instead you place the tip bet inside and the hand wins, the dealer pays you (not herself). You then turn around and give the dealer the $5 won for the $5 bet on the hand for her but you get to keep the original $5 chip..

This method of tipping saves you 50% of the money you give to the dealers compared to tipping outside of the betting circle for the same tip amount and it also gives you the option of betting the $5 chip again on the next hand (in fact I usually let the chip ride until I lose a hand). The latter will give you a lot of mileage for an initial $5 tip bet and the dealers will appreciate the fact that you are betting $5 for them on more than one hand.

Another advantage of making your tip bet on top of your wager is that the floor supervisor will rate you as a $30 player rather than $25 player. This will result in a slightly higher average bet and more comps for you.

Of course if your hand loses the dealer will receive no tip but they will appreciate your gesture of making a tip for them.

It’s perfectly acceptable to base your tips on how much you are betting. If you are a $5 player, I suggest a $1 or $2 tip bet for the dealer placed on top of your wager. If you wager $25 and up, betting a minimum of $5 is usually the norm for tipping.

The above are guidelines since how much you decide to tip is very much a personal thing. However, Jean Scott, author of the Frugal Gambler, said it best: “Tip nothing for surly service, on the low end for mediocre service, and on the high end for cheerful service”. My only caveat is that I never tip a dealer who doesn’t try to be friendly.