We’ve all got a game plan when it comes to paying a visit to the casino. If you’re unfamiliar with the the game plan, it looks a little something like this:
Step 1: Go to the casino
Step 2: Win a jackpot
In all seriousness, if you are lucky enough to score a sizable win at the casino, what happens after step two can be a little confusing, especially if you don’t collect handpays like Pokemon Cards.
While I certainly don’t score as many jackpots as Brian Christopher, I have been very lucky to score a number of handpays over the years. Fortunate enough to have lost count of the exact number, although I think it’s around 12.
After scoring your jackpot, it’s time to lock in. You’ll first need to consider how you are going to get paid out. You usually have three options: 1) get your entire payout in cash 2) get your entire payout as a check or 3) split your payout between a mix of the both.
I am a big fan of option three, asking for a portion of your win as a check and collecting the rest as cash. Just like how I will always encourage responsible gaming, I will always advocate for keeping some of your win, even if only $100, as cash so you can take a victory lap around the casino and enjoy playing some more games stress free.
I followed my own advice during the most recent Rudies Weekend gathering. I was fortunate enough to score a jackpot worth $4,215. Out of that jackpot, I asked for $3,000 as a check and kept the remainder as cash to play with for the rest of the weekend. I like collecting my winnings as checks, when available, because it helps me preserve my winnings and I am able to make a mobile deposit as soon as I leave the floor.
Note: Some casinos have a minimum check requirement. At The Plaza Hotel & Casino, for example, you have to win at least $3,000 to get it as a check.
There are two other things to consider when you score a handpay. We’re talking taxes and tipping. Depending on where you scored your lucky win, the casino may offer you the choice to take out the mandatory taxes. Like with everything gambling, this comes down to personal preference and how well you know yourself. If you want to take the stress out of remembering to save some of the winnings, you can elect to have the taxes removed. I prefer to keep the taxes in, taking my full jackpot amount. The amount that I ask for in a check more than covers the taxes. As soon as my check is cleared through mobile depositing, I move the money to a savings account for later.
Tipping is a deeply personal aspect of gambling. When a slot tech comes over to payout your jackpot, it is customary to tip. The amount varies per person. Brian will typically tip 1% of a win, meaning a floor of $20 with today’s jackpot rules. When I am playing, unlike Brian, I typically play at the same place and see the same people. While not traditional friends, the slot techs always chat and make me feel welcome. If I am playing at one of my “spots” I will typically tip any of the loose bills that come along with my jackpot. If I win $2,247, for example, I would tip something like $45, retaining the extra $2 for a drink tip.
Now comes the fun part, deciding what to do with your influx of cash! Some people opt for more extravagant purchases, leaning into the “treat yo yourself” mentality of Tom Haverford and Donna Meagle, while others opt for something a little more practical.
For me, all of my early jackpots came during a time in my life that helped take the financial pressure off- just a little. I was able to apply one handpay to a semester of graduate school, another I willingly and lovingly gave to my husband to help pay for my engagement ring, and another was put towards our wedding. These early jackpots were much smaller on scale compared to my more recent heavy hitters but were just as exciting.
During Rudies Weekend 2025, I scored my biggest jackpot worth a cool $23,752. At the time of that win, we had just recently moved into our first home and if you have ever purchased a place, you know where this is going.
Before they could even finish cutting my check, I had a list of things that I wanted to do to make our house feel a little more cozy with some added sparkle that I otherwise wouldn’t pull the trigger on. That sparkle I was after was my own fancy closet. Perhaps it was Cher’s fault from “Clueless” but I ALWAYS wanted a custom closet complete with lights and fancy glass shelves. A portion of my check went to getting those custom shelves, and the rest was set aside for arguably smarter spending decisions.
Speaking more to that vein of practicality, my next move was to pay off my car. Thankfully, I had been making steady headway on paying it off since I got it, but my jackpot win allowed me to completely pay it off and eliminate one bill off my list. The third thing I did was get some landscaping done in my backyard. Like a real adult, I ordered some bushes and even splurged on a new tree. (Was anyone going to tell us dirt, grass, and trees are VERY expensive?!)
In theory, your two step casino strategy should look a little more like this:
Step 1: Go to the casino
Step 2: Win a jackpot
Step 3: Decide on taxes and ask for a check plus some cash for payout
Step 4: Tip what you think is fair
Step 5: “Treat yo self” – either with something practical or fanciful
Good luck!
I have been going to our local casinos for 50 years, never won a Grand and only a handfull of Majors. Lady Luck does not like me.
Sorry to hear this Dana! It’s a challenge we’re certainly familiar with on the team. With the continued shift of slots to make all prizes available at all bets, at least there’s always a chance!