Tipping $3 -$5 total is fine if you have a lot of luggage. Bingo and Keno Dealers: If you play for under 15 minutes, you are not expected to tip a Bingo or Keno dealer. However, if you are sitting at the same table for a couple of hours, try to leave a $1.00 to $2.00 tip. Card Game Dealers: Tip a dealer between $1 and $5, especially if you find. Only do it if you’re winning and it is wise to do it before you leave, at the end of your playing session. It doesn’t make any sense to tip the dealer if you’ve actually lost money. Moreover, the dealer doesn’t have any influence on the outcome of the game, so a tip won’t make him/her act more favorably towards you.

Of course, the blackjack dealer doesn’t always win, but many people feel the dealer wins a disproportionate number of times in blackjack. It’s a basic rule of the casino business that the house only offers games where it has an “edge”.

The house’s edge is baked into the game.

But the edge doesn’t guarantee the dealer will always win. Over the long run the dealer should only win slightly more often than a perfect player.

So what gives?

The old adage “perception is reality” works on one level because you play the game by how you perceive it. But on another level appearances can be deceiving. And sometimes the players themselves are responsible for the deceptive appearances.

Here are 7 reasons why the blackjack dealer always seems to win.

1 – Players May Not Understand Probabilities Well Enough

If you’re not trying to count cards, then you don’t even need to worry about the probabilities. Basic blackjack strategy takes all that into consideration.

In blackjack there are only two kinds of probabilities players should think about. The first and most well-known is the division between theoretical return to player and house edge.

Contrary to some players’ thinking, the house edge doesn’t predict how often the house wins. The house edge predicts how much money the house keeps. The assumption behind the house edge is wager-neutral.

Although the house needs to win a lot in blackjack to get ahead, the differences between payout odds and probabilities of card play create the edge. In any gambling game, if there is a statistical 50-50 chance of a certain outcome, the house will pay less than 1:1 on the odds.

The only other probability players need to care about is the probability that the next card they are dealt helps them. How many people are playing at your table doesn’t matter. What matters is what’s left in the shoe when it’s your turn for a card.

2 – The Number of Hands You Play per Hour Matters

If you’re playing head to head with the dealer, you can go through as many as 200 hands in an hour. If there are four other people at the table with you then each round takes longer. You’ll play fewer hands per hour.

Just using basic strategy against the house, you’ll lose money over time. The game is designed to pay slightly less than the true probabilities allow. So the more hands you play, the more likely the house will “win” your money away from you.

You should still win a lot of hands against the dealer. The house’s strategy is a long game. The more hands you play the more likely they’ll keep some or all of your money.

3 – Bad Game Play Provides the House with a “Hidden” Edge

The casino counts on most players making mistakes or bad calls. An inexperienced player makes a bad call. An experienced player who should know better makes a mistake.

Either way, if you hit or stand when you shouldn’t you make it more likely that the house wins.

If you split when you shouldn’t you make it more likely that the house wins. If you miss an opportunity to split it’s not so bad but you could win twice or more against the house on a favorable split.

Player strategy often enhances the house’s strategy. And whereas you decide your strategy on the fly the house is playing by a very simple rule book. House strategy never changes.

I imagine a guy dancing around a fight ring, trying to show off, while the dealer waits to whack him hard in the face. Your opponent isn’t going anywhere, trying to do flashy moves, or hiding anything. He’s just waiting for you to do something stupid.

With few exceptions players sometimes make it easy for the dealer by using the wrong strategy.

4 – The House Undermines Your Advantage Play

If you count cards the way most people advise you to, you’ll raise and lower your bets in a predictable fashion. This is like jumping up on the table, waving your arms, and shouting “hey, I’m counting cards!”

That strategy may have worked well in the 1960s but today’s casinos just shuffle the cards. All your counting is wasted time and energy.

This is why card counters like to work in teams. They can be more subtle, although the casinos still look for coordinated play.

Continuous shuffling machines may have ruined card counting forever. If not, the larger shoes and option to reshuffle on a whim make card counting a less rewarding strategy for most players.

If it seems like the house is winning more than you think they should, it could be you’re counting cards badly or needlessly.

5 – Are You Tipping the Dealer?

The dealer literally wins when you leave a tip. While this is considered a courteous habit and one I myself practice, it makes it all that much harder for you to get ahead.

I limit my tips to when I leave the table. I’ve seen some players split their winnings on big bets with the dealer. Assuming that’s completely legit, it still reduces the player’s winnings.

Whether you tip the dealer or not, the house is winning if you do tip the dealer. Those tips help casino employees pay their bills. I’ve seen some people argue against tipping because it “supports the system”.

I don’t think it’s fair to push casino employees into a moral quagmire. Either tip or don’t tip, but the tip costs you money. It does affect your win-loss ratio proportionate to how often and how much you tip.

6 – Is the Dealer Feeding You Bad Advice?

I’ve played a few tables where the dealers answered player questions. Blackjack dealers don’t have to be expert players. They only follow one strategy.

If you’ve got a friendly dealer who shares advice, he or she may be well-intentioned but that doesn’t mean they know the best strategy.

I’ve never questioned the integrity of a blackjack dealer. But they may push a progressive bet option. If you want a guaranteed way to improve the house edge in blackjack, go for the progressive wager on the side.

7 – Are You Using a Betting System?

Sooner or later someone sits down at the table with a betting system ready to go. Card counters raise their wagers when they believe the deck favors them but I’ve seen other betting systems.

One guy alternated his bets. He played $25 on one hand and $50 on the next. If he had played perfect strategy it shouldn’t have mattered.

When you talk betting strategies with people someone always brings up the Martingale System. The strategy is simple. Only make minimum wagers until you lose and then double your wager on the next bet to win back what you lost.

The Martingale System requires an endless supply of money, luck, or both. I’ve never met a great blackjack player who believed in a betting system. The best players I’ve sat next to had a set wager amount they always played and stuck to their games.

Conclusion

One of the most important things in gambling is to manage your expectations. The more you expect to win the greater your disappointment will be.

When people allow their expectations to get out of hand they try to make up for disappointment with risky bets. I’ve been one of those guys who got so frustrated he started making aggressive wagers.

When you stop caring about how well you’re playing you should walk away from the table. You can always go back later when you’re feeling better.

The only way the house doesn’t win is if you enjoy yourself and stay in budget. Dropping $200 at a casino is no different from buying $200 concert tickets.

If it’s all for fun and you enjoy yourself the house can’t take that away from you.

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Why is everyone talking about waitresses? This thread is about dealers, people. Obviously you tip a cocktail waitress a buck for your beer or she'll never come around again, and you can take your cheap ass up to the bar and pay $8 for one yourself.
And you tip something to the restaurant server, especially if you're a regular there. But dealers aren't going to spit on your cards if you don't tip, they're not going to pass you by when you have chips in the betting circle, and giving a big tip is NOT going to get you better cards next time. I couldn't give a shit if the dealer is surly or nice to me, just do your job and deal the cards. I'm not there to make friends, I'm there to make money.

If the dealer is a dick, sure, don't tip. But tipping under ordinary circumstances is not optional - sure, there won't be legal consequences to it, but dealers, servers, waiters, bartenders - everything is set up under the assumption that they'll be tipped, so if you don't tip them without a damn good reason, that is theft. It doesn't matter that you don't think it should be that way, it is.

Wizard would prolly put me in detention again if I truly spoke my mind on this asinine idea.
Speaking of dickish dealers...I had one Friday night and NO ONE was tipping him for 30-40 minutes till he was tapped out. I only play poker, but Friday I thought I'd unwind at a BJ double-deck game that was dealt face-down. I sat, and immediately there was a set-up change. Fine, I waited. First hand I got I reached down and peeked at my cards the way any poker player does and dealer screamed at me 'Hey! Stop bending the cards! God dammit, we just changed 'em! FLOOR!' Floor comes over and dealer whines the same lines to him. Floor looks at me and says 'These aren't poker cards, don't bend them.' 'Okay' I say. After that, the dealer pitched cards off the table 3 times to me, ogled the pretty girls walking by and shouted 'Seat open here Miss!', or if he liked her revealing top, he'd shout 'Hoooo, boy, purple's my favorite color! Seat open!', (one time he even called the floor over to compare one girl walking by to 'Jennifer', whoever she is), he watched the game on TV, he openly mocked players who couldn't add or acted too slowly. His small talk during the game was asking everyone's favorite movie western (or comedy, then our favorite prison movie), and then telling whoever answered why his choice was stupid. At one point, someone else had bent a card, and he called the floor over again. I said 'Isn't me this time', and he answered 'I know. It was this doofus over here.' as he motioned to a guy seated in the center. This idiot's arrogance, unprofessionalism and immaturity had me rolling my eyes at the depths he was willing to sink, and of course I never tipped him. No one did, ever.

The problem with casino dealer tipping is that the tip does not go to the person who deserves it, but rather into a vat which is their wage pool. The snarly mean dealer gets the same benefit from your tip as the nice one you WANT to tip. The casino does NOT let you actually tip a dealer, they let you put money into a pot for all dealers to share. This is the BIG difference between tipping a dealer and tipping the cocktail waitress, or restaurant waitress.

At Casino Arizona, the dealers would bring their personal tip boxes with them as they changed tables. I assumed that meant the tips weren't pooled, but I may be mistaken. At least all the dealers were friendly there. And at some restaurants, waitstaff tips ARE pooled. I would personally not want to work that way, having worked with some slack-ass waitpersons before.

Do You Have To Tip Casino Dealership

Why is everyone talking about waitresses? This thread is about dealers, people. Obviously you tip a cocktail waitress a buck for your beer or she'll never come around again, and you can take your cheap ass up to the bar and pay $8 for one yourself.
And you tip something to the restaurant server, especially if you're a regular there. But dealers aren't going to spit on your cards if you don't tip, they're not going to pass you by when you have chips in the betting circle, and giving a big tip is NOT going to get you better cards next time. I couldn't give a shit if the dealer is surly or nice to me, just do your job and deal the cards. I'm not there to make friends, I'm there to make money.

That right there - that's what I mean when I say tipping isn't optional. Not tipping dealers if they're jackasses is one thing, but not tipping dealers because there's little or no consequence to stiffing them is a lousy attitude to take, and yes, ethically tantamount to theft.
(And SOOPOO: while it's never fair to punish or reward an aggregate for the individual's merits, that's what ends up happening a lot in life, and it's no reason to screw them all - or reward them all, either. Besides, a lot of restaurants pool their tips, too, and not all casinos.)

The problem with casino dealer tipping is that the tip does not go to the person who deserves it, but rather into a vat which is their wage pool. The snarly mean dealer gets the same benefit from your tip as the nice one you WANT to tip. The casino does NOT let you actually tip a dealer, they let you put money into a pot for all dealers to share. This is the BIG difference between tipping a dealer and tipping the cocktail waitress, or restaurant waitress.

As it works out, pooled tips still have an incentive effect of helping dealer's attitudes.
First of all, all gratuity income is known to be based on courteous service, so that incentive always remains, pooled or not.
Secondly, dead-beat dealers hear from the hard-working dealers about 'stepping up service - as you're killing us all.'

Do You Have To Tip Casino Dealerships

I was talking about tips with a floorman who works as a dealer at another property, discussing those players who constantly say, 'I would TIP if I WERE WINNING -' like dealers have the option to stack the cards or swap in loaded dice.
To this, I usually say,
1. 'If I could stack the cards, we'd start a business, wearing Orange jump suits' or
2. 'You don't have to tip, and you don't need to explain yourself if you don't tip. Just play.'
Other dealers are more direct if a non-tipper tries to explain his cheapness:
'Tipping is like sex: you either do it, or you talk about it.'
Basically, there are three types of players on this subject:
1. Tippers;
2. Stiffs,
3. and the talkers.
Personally, if a player is well-behaved and a good player, I am little concerned if he tips or not, knowing that 90% of our tips come from 10% of the players.
The last thing I ever do it worry about tips. I figure, if I pay attention to my game and my players, the tips take care of themselves, - and they do.

Do You Have To Tip Dealers In Vegas

Most people in a casino aren't poor, though many may be cheap, but it is not something to ever worry about so as long as you take care of your table and your players. Comes with the territory, what else is new.

...it's customary to tip dealers.

Up until a few years ago it was illegal to tip dealers in the UK (or indeed for them to 'fraternise' with customers in any way). The rules were very strict, it was a sack-able offence, and they weren't even allowed to say hello to you outside the casino unless you did first. One dealer nearly lost their job offering an elderly punter a lift home.
We have high street and racetrack bookmakers; and you would never even consider tipping a bookie. Indeed, I'm not a big punter so wouldn't know, but I would expect him to treat his largest punters to something for Christmas. Similarly my local casino sometimes buys their punters a drink or pays for their taxis home, in the old days we even received free meals occasionally.
The dealers I know in the UK are obviously happy that they can now receive tips, but I'm glad to say that rather than expecting them they are appreciative of any that come. Also usually there's no expression of disappointment or expectation. So I have tipped dealers if I've enjoyed the game, had a fun time and usually a good atmosphere built up amongst the table I was playing. However I also find it quite offensive if a dealer pays with two 2.50s after a Blackjack expecting a tip.
As a question - I imagine there are some here who can actually eek out a profit (or reduce their losses to negligible) through various counting or strategy techniques. What would be the point of playing if you were, expected to hand over most of your advantage as tips? Surely it makes it pointless playing?
I like to think a tip is either a personal appreciation for a job well done or, say at a bar, an advance payment to ensure you are served well and have an enjoyable evening. Thus I can see the logic of tipping a craps dealer up front.
PS I will always tip the waitress even if it's only just a plastic cup coffee.

As a question - I imagine there are some here who can actually eek out a profit (or reduce their losses to negligible) through various counting or strategy techniques. What would be the point of playing if you were, expected to hand over most of your advantage as tips? Surely it makes it pointless playing?

First of all, most gambling sessisons are of a recreational nature for the player, and not of a business enterprise or income-generating nature. Similar to dining out, when we can eat at home, we want to have enjoyment and be serviced, in a polite way. [ahem...]

Do You Have To Tip Casino Dealers Near Me

Secondly, some winning sessions are of a windfall profit: you hit a Royal, or go on an amazing streak. You have got to admit most sessions aren't of a 'well, I made $10 on my $500, better lock that in!' nature.There are of course card-counting 'grinders' seeking to obtain a small profit on a consistent basis by any means possible, but they are not a part of the recreational gambler realm who is out on the town for the night. From the grinders, we don't expect tips, just headaches, and are seldom dissapointed. Again, we get 90% of our tips from 10% of the players.

I like to think a tip is either a personal appreciation for a job well done or, say at a bar, an advance payment to ensure you are served well and have an enjoyable evening. Thus I can see the logic of tipping a craps dealer up front.

Should You Tip Casino Dealers

That is the spirit of a tip.