What Percent to Tip on Handpays?

My first hand pay was on my first trip to Las Vegas. I hit a progressive RF over $1,600 at Sam’s Town. I had no idea that it was customary to tip the person who provided the service for the hand pay. I adequately tipped the cocktail servers, valet and maid but was not aware of the process for the hand pay. I have since adapted and usually do $20 gratuity for the service. Unfortunately I am not out too many twenties at this phase of my gambling life.

The “Tip” topic has always been popular on the LVA forums. I did a Google and found one of many tipping guides that began: “Don't find yourself in an awkward tipping moment.” I noticed that under the section of “Body Art” you should tip 10% to 20%. I am thankful to have learned that fact because I would definitely not want to find myself awkward should I have myself inked or pierced anytime soon!

I agree with other’s comments on the percentage theory for tipping. I think it can be a tool to use as a guideline but should be approached with common sense. The area I have the most awkwardness about is the value to percentage ratio; i.e. a big payout should get a bigger tip or a meal with a bottle of expensive wine should garner a greater gratuity than a cheaper vintage. The payout or decanting requires roughly the same amount of effort regardless of the $ but the perception that since one can afford a premium wine or gets a big payout means they should dig a little deeper for the tip is a little objection of mine.

I grew up in a financial family atmosphere based on parents and grandparents who survived the “Great Depression”. Frugality was a way of life and even though my father suffered from a broken back in WWII he would carry his own bags, (this was before luggage on wheels), to a hotel room to avoid tipping bell staff. He made it seem like they were stealing his luggage and holding it for ransom and he was determined to not let that happen. As I grew older it became my job to secure the luggage and see that the bags were in our room untouched by the enemy.

Legend suggests that the term "tip" originated from an innkeeper's sign, "To Insure Promptness." It is well know that Las Vegas is an environment that functions on the transfer of funds no matter what the transaction. I have found many occasions that a reasonable tip produced good service and was worth the effort. There have been other occasions when a hand extended palm up that only produced lightness in my pocket.

BEreFeRD

"I grew up in a financial family atmosphere based on parents and grandparents who survived the “Great Depression”. Frugality was a way of life and even though my father suffered from a broken back in WWII he would carry his own bags, (this was before luggage on wheels), to a hotel room to avoid tipping bell staff. He made it seem like they were stealing his luggage and holding it for ransom and he was determined to not let that happen. As I grew older it became my job to secure the luggage and see that the bags were in our room untouched by the enemy."

LMAO--charming and endearing.
we might be related/ thanks. So good to hear your stories, George

I've never had the pleasure of a handpay, but here are my quick thoughts:

1) Yeah, the breaking of the last 100 into twenties is a soft hustle, but I don't think I'd mind. It's likely I'd have plenty of bills in my wallet for that purpose.
2) My first thought it to get my money ASAP, with as few non-friendly people knowing as possible. TITO does this really well. But I understand the need for all those employees.
3) Something that would be really tip-worthy would be to delete that blasted W-2G from the system. But no honest casino is going to do that, so never mind.

Absent extremely poor service, I'd be embarassed to tip just $5 on a $1,000 win.

Just one player's opinion, but to me that's not acceptable, given that tips are a huge portion of such employees' income, for better or worse.

$1,000 win is not a win if you lost $5,000 getting there

On a $1,000 hand pay, I would tip nothing...its not a taxable win...just a hustle to get tips from the player. Most machines these days just add the credits to your total on non-taxable wins.

Most of my play is on $1 & $2 games...$20 on a $1 royal and $40 on a $2 royal. Sometimes a bit more if I know the attendant, like the great slot personnel at the Four Queens.

Along with the pain in the ass for you to get your money. Anything uner $1200 WIN should just print a TITO.

Someday somebody will explain why a percent is even used with a payout. $1200 or 12,000 is the same work. I just do not get it. And by the way, somebody in the back office probably did an equal amount of work to generate the paperwork.

That back office person may get a portion of the tip, be part of the slot tip pool. If not, that person almost certainly has a higher salary than their coworker who performed the handpay, to reflect that the back office person doesn't get a cut of the tips.

I think it's fair to say that handpays provide the only routine opportunity to tip slot personnel. So when a handpay comes about, take advantage of that opportunity. Leave a tip.

If you're playing quarter VP, and a handpay royal occurs every 40,000 hands, you'll wager $50,000 between royals. I really feel that tipping just $5 on $50,000 in wagering is really, really small.

Well, since the number of people walking this earth who've taken more money from VP machines than they've put in is probably five less than the number of toes in Zsa Zsa's socks, by this logic no one should ever tip a handpay.

We tip for the jackpot, not the miserable path we took getting it.

Seems like that works for you..I think it is very arbitrary...comes down to what people want to do at the moment....I feel there is no right or wrong...go with your gut!