Today we’re going to explore some angles of playing table games. Dealers don’t have control over what comes out of the shoe or automatic shuffler, but they do take both abuse and credit for the cards nonetheless:
When you’re playing table games and people get upset at the dealers for crappy cards, the dealer says they have no control of the cards. When you win, do you tip them if they have no control of the cards? I do tip, but I just think why they don’t want to take blame for bad cards but want the credit if you win 🤷♀️
Laura S.
In some ways this falls in the same bucket as tipping the slot attendant when you get a jackpot handpay on a slot machine. Generally speaking, people feel more generous when they’re winning or have a really good gambling moment, as opposed to when they’re steadily losing.
So it’s not necessarily surprising that people are more likely to tip the dealers in a similar circumstance. Of course, tipping is personal, and should be done in the ways and moments a given player feels comfortable, but if you consider dealing a service, which we do, finding the right moments to tip can be good.
Dealers can have a positive or negative impact on your gambling session. A fun and friendly dealer can elevate it. Then there are the times the dealers are grouchy, pick fights with customers or just get plain weird.
Can you get up and find another table? Sure, although that’s not a guarantee given table game availability can be sparse, at least at the bet level and rules you wish to play. So sometimes your circumstances are governed by who’s available to deal to you.
So our take is it’s less about the cards being dealt and more about showing a bit of thanks to the person making your gambling night an entertaining one. But we certainly get that players may be more generous when they’re winning, and it can feel like rewarding the dealer for something outside their control. Perhaps a more comfortable way to consider it is tipping for service, and doing so when financially you’re in a better position.
Have a question? Submit yours here!
