How Much Do I Tip When I Hit a Jackpot?

 

You're never required to tip, but you will look very stingy if, after you hit a nice jackpot, you don't.

 

Like most tipping instances, there's no exact figure that's "correct" (unless a tip is added to a bill); there's always a range of acceptable or appropriate amounts.

 

The first thing to remember here is that you aren't in a popularity contest and don't need to feel pressured into giving an extra-large toke. Casino-floor employees always want a big tip -- they're human, after all -- but they're usually grateful for something even in the lower part of the range.

 

We recommend planning your tipping ahead, so you don't have to make instant decisions in the excitement of the moment, a time when you often overtip and regret it later. It's a good idea to keep small bills on hand so you don't have to depend on the jackpot payoff for the denominations of bills you want to give. (For example, floor people might show up with nine hundred-dollar bills and five $20s for a $1,000 handpay. If you don't have $5s, you'll have to hand out two $20 to the two floor people, when you intended to fork over $10. 

 

Many players use a percentage system for their tipping on top machine jackpots, generally ranging from .5% to 2%, but most commonly 1%.

 

Others use a graduated percentage system, starting at $10 (1%) for $1,000, but decreasing the percentage as the jackpot climbs, with $20 (.5%) for a $4,000 payout and a maximum of $40-$100 for higher jackpots of $8,000-$20,000. These people often go to the high end of the range when service is quick and/or especially pleasant, to the low end when it's slow and/or surly. 

 

Sharing of tips among casino employees is common, but you can't always assume that. And who's included in the share arrangement varies widely from casino to casino.

 

Often, supervisors and security personnel aren't included and sometimes aren't even allowed to accept tips. You can always ask one of the employees. We use a spread-it-around method, especially if we don't know the exact share arrangement. We keep the amount of the total tip we've decided on in small bills and give one to three bills to everyone who shows up (and is allowed to take a tip), including the porter tidying up nearby and the cocktail waitress walking past. This makes a lot of people happy … and makes us look more generous than if we gave the same amount to one person.