Who Pays the Tip at a Comped Dinner

My wife and I visited friends in Las Vegas last month. They're big slot players. They took us out to dinner on a comp that they earned for their play. Of course, I offered to pay the tip. But they flatly refused. They said the rule is that when you go out to dinner on a comp in Las Vegas, the party with the comp also picks up the tip, since they didn't have to pay for the meal. Didn't sound right to us. Were they just telling us that so we wouldn't argue?

We don't know why they said that it was the rule, but in our experience, the rule is the exact opposite.

The unwritten casino tradition is for the "compees," the guests of the "comper," to spring for the toke. That's plain old reciprocity and common sense.

However, if the compers are treating guests, especially if they're from out of town and have gone to a lot of expense to visit, they might want to pick up the toke too, since they're taking friends or family to a nice dinner for 15-20 cents (depending on how George they are) on the dollar. This really comes into play if it's a big comp at an expensive restaurant involving heavily marked-up wine or alcohol, where the tip can get astronomical in a hurry.

This was probably the case and your friends were just cutting off conflict at the pass. But now that you know better, you can use this QoD response as your proof that the compee traditionally pays the tip -- unless, of course, you don't really want to shell out the dough, in which case you can continue to play dumb!

After a comped dinner, who picks up the tip?

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Kevin Lewis Mar-06-2020

Here's my rule

If the comp is for a normally priced restaurant, one that all involved might normally patronize anyway, the guest picks up the tip. If, on the other hand, the comp is for Chez 500% Markup, I would make the assumption that the guest would never go there on his/her own and thus, I would make it a treat completely--High Roller Moi would cover the tip as well.

Parenthetically, if a waiter brings me a $100 bottle of wine, I don't think he deserves a $20 tip for that alone. But I have been tempted to do that so very many times when I'm dining to celebrate yet another several hundred thousand dollar win. You know, just like in those casino commercials.

Kevin Rough Mar-06-2020

Tipping

Mr. Lewis, if you leave your waiter a $20 tip for that $100 bottle of wine, that waiter isn't keeping the entire $20.  He probably has to tip out the sommelier or bartender as well as a busser.  And depending on the quality of restaurant, he probably also has to tip out any of the other people who stop at your table.

rokgpsman Mar-06-2020

Tipping

Tipping is a very subjective thing, you'll find a wide variety in how people feel about it. It's one of those things in life that people can have strong feelings about and can take it really personal, kinda like politics, religion and abortion (ok, maybe not quite to that level). Every discussion about tipping ends up with disagreements about taking care of the people providing the service. Some say everyone has their hand out for money in Las Vegas and it is out of control. The worker shouldn't have taken a low-wage job that depends on the kindness of customers or that their employer should pay the workers more. Other people feel that you should tip for the service you get if you appreciate what they did. I worked for over 30 years in aviation service and never got a tip, it wasn't expected. Most people with jobs outside of personal service things (like housekeeping, restaurants, barber and hair salons etc) don't get tips. Who tips their dentist or roofer or grocery store cashier?

Adam Cohen Mar-06-2020

No one answer

 Really this has two questions the first on tipping in general than on comps. I have seen this talked about in many forums. All I can say is it is best to talk ahead of time.  If you are inviting friends to dinner and you say I am taking you out tonight. I would assume I am paying for the whole dinner including the tip. It does not matter if comped. If I invite you to dinner as my guest I pay. If I say how about we go out and it is more of lets all chill together and split the bill each person pays.  Comps might be a bit harder, but I guess not in my mind. I have some comps and would like to take you all out means I pay for dinner and tips. I have some comps and want to take you all out but let’s split the tip is still a great deal, but the invite made it clear. If it is not stated upfront, I would assume I am playing for the tip. (Whether the guest might do something nice in return if it is a very nice dinner is another talk.)
As for tipping here in the US whether it is Vegas or

Dave in Seattle. Mar-06-2020

COMPS.

If it my comp,you tip. Period. Tip amount is based on the service you get,if it was full price. Low rollers like me go through $100 just in tips for 3 days.It's just part of the game.My biggest tip was $60.My knees buckled.

Ray Mar-06-2020

can go either way

rokgpsman hits on the issue of tipping other people (who are already making a living wage), people who are well-paid professionals, and the like. The real issue is the actual question. When it is agreed that it is proper to tip, who should pay. Personally, I believe the person who is treated should offer, either to split the tip or cover it all, depending on the situation. The treater then has the option to accept or reject the offer. So much depends on the tone of the invite that it could easily go either way. "My treat" usually means including the tip. "Let's go to dinner, the casino gave me some freebies" probably means dinner only, not tip.

Edso Mar-06-2020

I pick up the tip

When my wife and I take out invited guests to lunch or dinner on a comp, we almost always pay the tip, even if the guest offers.  We invited them, so just makes sense that we pay the tip.  There have been a few occasions that we split the tip with our guests if they are extremely insistent.

sassiebrat Mar-06-2020

Stay home tipper...

IF someone asked me to go to lunch or dinner and he or she told me they had comps, I would want to know right then and there if I was expected to pay the tip. Then, I could stay home!

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